Interpersonal
conflict is common in our life. Tension arises when the people we are working
with fail to share and agree on the same views, and have different interests or
goals. As students, we tend to encounter conflicts most frequently when we are
doing project work.
I have a personal experience that some of us may have experienced before. My friend and I were part of a six person project group. My friend and I were third year students while the other four persons were final year students. During the first meeting, all the final year students claim that they had FYP and may not have so much time for the project. My friend and I understood their situation and agreed to do more for the team. We were voted to be the leaders of the team
Initially, they were very cooperative and they did their assigned part of the work dutifully. However, as the deadline for their FYP approached, they started to lose focus on the project. While me and my friend tried our best to accommodate their schedule, they still couldn’t turn up for meetings and did not complete their assigned task on time. We tried to reason with them that everyone had a part in the project and wanted them to stay focus.
I have a personal experience that some of us may have experienced before. My friend and I were part of a six person project group. My friend and I were third year students while the other four persons were final year students. During the first meeting, all the final year students claim that they had FYP and may not have so much time for the project. My friend and I understood their situation and agreed to do more for the team. We were voted to be the leaders of the team
Initially, they were very cooperative and they did their assigned part of the work dutifully. However, as the deadline for their FYP approached, they started to lose focus on the project. While me and my friend tried our best to accommodate their schedule, they still couldn’t turn up for meetings and did not complete their assigned task on time. We tried to reason with them that everyone had a part in the project and wanted them to stay focus.
However,
things got ugly when one of the year 4 students complained to our project
supervisor about us being too autocratic. We were shocked and felt betrayed by
this member. Our team was scolded by the supervisor that our team lacked
teamwork and communication. In the end, although we managed to come together as
a team to finish up the project, we got a bad grade as we gave our supervisor a
very bad impression.
I felt that our teammate could have communicated with us first before approaching the supervisor. What did you all think? And if you were in my shoes and find that someone complained about you , how will you all feel and what will you do?
I would appreciate to hear comments from you guys. Thank you and see you all next week!
I felt that our teammate could have communicated with us first before approaching the supervisor. What did you all think? And if you were in my shoes and find that someone complained about you , how will you all feel and what will you do?
I would appreciate to hear comments from you guys. Thank you and see you all next week!
Hi siu chung,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the friend could have communicated with the team before approaching your supervisor. By doing this, the supervisor will get the idea that the entire group is unable to cooperate and it will create unnecessary tension within the team.
As you were the leader of the team, I could not help but wonder if you had confronted him and actually intimidated him when you tried to convince them to stay focus. He may felt that you were getting over-demanding and even autocratic. Perhaps if I were you, I would have asked another teammate who was doing his FYP project to talk to him first. Under similar stressed circumstances, other FYP students could better understand this teammate’s problems and may suggest a better plan for the team. If it comes to the situation when you have to approach him personally, you could try to be extremely tactful and emphasize the fact that other teammates were doing a lot more work due to his neglect.
All in all, I understand that it is hard to remain nice and tactful during stressful situations. Sometimes we just want to get our work done. So lets work hard together in improving our communication skills!
cx
Hi Siu Chung!
ReplyDeleteI have to say that you were unlucky to get group mates like these. It is something that happens occasionally.
If we can carry out the entire project again, what will we have done differently? For example, minutes can be taken to note who attended the meeting, who accomplished tasks and who did not etc. This document is open to everyone and holds nothing against anyone. It lists nothing but the facts.
Strictly speaking, FYP is no excuse for doing less as they failed to plan for more time in the final semesters. Setting a fixed weekly meeting time will be crucial after reviewing everyone's schedule.
I feel the only good communication that you can do over here is to constantly remind them of the tasks to be accomplished in a non-pushy manner. Since we know that the project will not be the biggest thing on their minds, it will be good to probe them frequently with the right choice of words and in a polite tone. Most of the time, people will understand and carry out the tasks to deliver as long as you don't sound unreasonable. If they don't, there are the minutes to record how the progress of the project has been affected.
I think there is little that you can do to control what the members will say to the supervisor. However, there is always a way to clarify the actual facts with the supervisor. Finally, about the grading, I feel there is nothing much that you can do about it due to the lack of input from all members even if good communication tries its best to save the project. In any case, effective communication must be used whatever the situation or results turns out to be!
Hope it helps!
William LIm
Hi siuchung, it must be an unfortunate experience for you. Yes, i agree with you that your group mate should have approached you before even heading to complain to your supervisor.
ReplyDeleteSince they are year 4 students and they have their FYP to complete, they should have already know that they will be very busy nearing their FYP dateline. It all points down to their time management for their assignments. If i were you, i will talk to them about it in a tactful and effective way such that they do not feel offended. If things still remain the same and the project has to continue, i will suggest minutes to be taken down to acknowledge project members who has done most of the parts of the project. A peer review can be improvised at the end of the project and handed in with your project to your supervisor. This will help to reduce your discomfort for doing more and to make the year 4 conscious about their actions for the project.
This might be quite childish but i guess it will be effective. After all students are all afraid of being marked down due to low input.
Thank you everyone for the comments!
ReplyDelete