Business IT Support Company: Team Building Exercise Report Analysis

This assignment presents a comprehensive report on a team-building exercise conducted within a Business IT Support Company, Team Tech. The report begins with a detailed schedule for event planning, outlining timelines and resources. It then delves into the design of a training pack that includes various activities such as seminars on team building, group behavior, and practical team-building sessions. A PowerPoint presentation based on team dynamics is also included. The evaluation section assesses the effectiveness of communication, interpersonal skills, and teamwork fostered by the exercise. It explores the dynamics within a team, including the impact of leadership, communication, and problem-solving techniques. The report provides insights into the importance of team dynamics and the factors that influence group behavior, such as personality styles, assigned roles, and team culture. Finally, the report emphasizes the importance of communication, effective feedback, and the impact of team-building activities on the workplace environment, offering a critical analysis of the exercise's outcomes and implications for continuous professional development (CPD).

Running head: AN EXERCISE IN TEAM BUILDING.
Topic: AN EXERCISE IN TEAM BUILDING.
Students Name:
Student ID:
University Name:
Author Note:

1A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.
Table of Contents:
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................2
Task 1: Scheduling task.............................................................................................................2
Part 1:.....................................................................................................................................2
Schedule for event planning...................................................................................................2
A training pack will include these activities:.........................................................................4
Part 2: PPT.............................................................................................................................4
Task 2: Evaluation......................................................................................................................5
Task 3: Problem solving procedures:.........................................................................................8
Task 4: Continuous Professional Development (CPD):...........................................................11
Part 1:...................................................................................................................................11
Part 2:...................................................................................................................................12
Part 3:...................................................................................................................................12

2A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.
Introduction:
The Overview to this assignment is
I am working as a Business IT Trainer within Team Tech, a large business IT Support
Company. During the recent appraisal process it was identified that staff required further
training with regards to their employability skills.
Task 1: Scheduling task
This is a professional schedule to support the planning of the event, which demonstrates the
timings and resourcing prior to the two-day event.
Part 1:
Schedule for event planning.
Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecesso
rs Resource Names
Planning a team
dynamics event 30 days Thu 11/1/18 Wed
12/12/18
Planning the design
process. 9 days Thu 11/1/18 Tue 11/13/18
Identifying the need for
development 1 day Thu 11/1/18 Thu 11/1/18 Project Manager
1
Motivations and
outcomes of the team
building are made clear.
0.5 days Fri 11/2/18 Fri 11/2/18 2 Organizer,Project
Manager 1
Reviewing the team
building activity 1 day Fri 11/2/18 Mon 11/5/18 3
Project Manager
2,Project
Sposnor
Duration of the event 1 day Mon 11/5/18 Tue 11/6/18 4 Organizer,Project
Manager 1
Identifying various
measures for success 0.5 days Tue 11/6/18 Tue 11/6/18 5
Project Manager
2,Project
Sposnor
Team members are
consulted and their
feedback is taken
5 days Wed 11/7/18 Tue 11/13/18 6 Project Manager
1
Approved logistics for
the event 5 days Wed
11/14/18 Tue 11/20/18
Budgeting for the event 2 days Wed 11/14/18 Thu 11/15/18 7 Project Manager
2
identification for the
event 1 day Fri 11/16/18 Fri 11/16/18 9 Project Manager
2

3A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.
chosen venue for the
event 1 day Mon 11/19/18 Mon 11/19/18 10 Organizer,Project
Manager 1
Logistics required for
the event – AV
requirements, flipcharts /
stands / markers /
0.5 days Tue 11/20/18 Tue 11/20/18 11 Operation
Manager
programing and agenda
for the event 0.5 days Tue 11/20/18 Tue 11/20/18 12 Project Manager
1
employee organisation
into groups 9 days Wed
11/21/18 Mon 12/3/18
Team members are
consulted and their
feedback is taken
1 day Wed 11/21/18 Wed 11/21/18 13
Operation
Manager,Project
Manager 1
Response of team
members is tracked and
attendance list is prepared.
0.5 days Thu 11/22/18 Thu 11/22/18 15 Project Manager
1
Group makeup and
composition 1 day Thu 11/22/18 Fri 11/23/18 16 Project Manager
2
Run an issue based
agenda 0.5 days Fri 11/23/18 Fri 11/23/18 17 Project Manager
1
participant organisation 1 day Mon 11/26/18 Mon 11/26/18 18 Project Manager
2
Detailed information is
sent to team members. 2 days Tue 11/27/18 Wed 11/28/18 19
Project Manager
2,Project
Sposnor
Group makeup agenda
is recognised. 1 day Thu 11/29/18 Thu 11/29/18 20 Project Manager
1
Agenda is recognised
for the event 2 days Fri 11/30/18 Mon 12/3/18 21 Project Sposnor
Running the event
accordingly 5 days Tue 12/4/18 Mon 12/10/18
clearly explain the
process to the team
members
0.5 days Tue 12/4/18 Tue 12/4/18 22
Project Manager
1,Project
Sposnor
see to it that everyone
reaches their objectives 0.5 days Tue 12/4/18 Tue 12/4/18 24 Project Manager
1
checking the
expectations of the team
members
1 day Wed 12/5/18 Wed 12/5/18 25 Project Sposnor
the benefits the event
would have on the
organisation, team and
individual level..
0.5 days Thu 12/6/18 Thu 12/6/18 26 Project Manager
1
running activities 1 day Thu 12/6/18 Fri 12/7/18 27
Project Manager
1,Project
Manager 2
10 de - brief the
activities to the team 0.5 days Fri 12/7/18 Fri 12/7/18 28 Operation
Manager

4A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.
Analyse the action plan
for the event, and its
output
1 day Mon 12/10/18 Mon 12/10/18 29 Organizer,Project
Manager 1
Follow up activity for the
team 2 days Tue 12/11/18 Wed 12/12/18
Circulate the action
planamong the team
members
1 day Tue 12/11/18 Tue 12/11/18 30 Project Manager
1
Do follow up meetings
with the employees. 1 day Wed 12/12/18 Wed 12/12/18 32 Project Manager
2
A training pack will include these activities:
Activity Time Objectives Resources
Seminar on team
building and team
participation.
10:30 am Develop
communication
skills, team work,
and cooperation and
leadership roles.
Projector, laptop,
team activity
planner.
Seminar on group
behaviour and
dynamics.
12:00 pm Develop group
bonding and
working as a unit
Projector, laptop,
team activity
planner.
Team building
activity
1:30 pm Develop team
participation and
team building
Games, indoor
activity equipment,
office supply.
Break out session on
team work
2:30pm Develop individual
participation in the
team.
Games, indoor
activity equipment,
office supply.
Projector, laptop
Break out session on
leadership
3:00pm Develop leadership
roles and assign
responsibility.
Projector, laptop,
team activity
planner.
Workshop session
based on ‘team
dynamics’.
4:30pm Make individuals
aware of Team
dynamics with
respect to team
building.
Projector, laptop,
team activity
planner.
Part 2: PPT
A PPT on a 10-minute presentation, based on the workshop session based on ‘team
dynamics’.
Duration: 2 hours.

5A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.
Task 2: Evaluation
Effective and efficient communication is essential to business communication, Team
building starts with effective and personal and interpersonal skills which are important to
organisational structure. Team building creates team work and fosters a positive environment
in the sphere of any group activity. In designing and implementing this team building session
I have, understood that the various group activities are designed to motivate the employees to
work better and more coordination among the employees is achieved. The observations show
the importance of building interpersonal skills that helped achieve different targets of the
activities assigned to the individuals. Through the many activities I have noted that
employees having an excellent communication skill set can very efficiently contribute to the
workplace environment and provide an enriching experience to both employees and the
management. Effective communication skills are very essential to any cooperation and
collaboration within the projects assigned during the team building exercises, also for project
implementation, providing competent service to customers, sharing of ideas in training
sessions and participating in other varied business scenarios. Through this exercise, my
effective feedback is that team building events and activities have improved the cooperative
and teamwork culture within the study group. This has led to an effective application of
interpersonal skills and team dynamics within my team during the design and delivery
process.
My own interpretation of this team building session has been to understand and implement
the importance end dynamics of working within a tem, and the team’s own workings when
placed in diverse working environments, such as the many exercises that the teams and
employees were subjected to. The exercises were all designed to properly activate the teams

6A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.
into perusing their individual goals in a team setting. The groups, through the tasks, were
subjected to many activities where their group dynamics were showcased. The teams
themselves were very complainant and they learnt to understand the division of labour within
the group. Team leaders came up who structured the teams, allocated the individual tasks and
were effectively responsible for the operations of the team, the progress of the task or project
and ultimately the delivery of the task by the entire team. The individuals thus developed the
team building exercise and efficiently delivered on the tasks. Th employees learnt to work
within the team and work together within the groups to achieve the targets and set their
individual goals. The individual tasks sand goals were set and a follow-up of the activities
revealed that the individuals had themselves organised themselves into an orderly fashion to
achieve the desired goals.
Team dynamics are the interactions that take place within a group of individuals in a team.
These interactions can have a strong impact on the dynamics and how a team operates within
themselves and how these interactions influence group dynamics and group behaviour, these
can have complex effects on team dynamics. Team dynamics can be understood from factors
that impact group behaviour. These namely personality styles of team members, team
assigned roles, team tasks and dynamics of allocation of different tasks, team culture that
organisational structure and processes and procedures of problem solving techniques to solve
these problems.
Group dynamics, describes the effect of different behaviours in group members, and on the
overall group. Any group with a positive group dynamic is very easy to spot, it has a level of
trust amongst the group members, they trust each other in a collective decision making
process, the creativity of the individuals of the group increase as a whole in any6 group
exercise. Within a group with poor group dynamics, individual behaviour influences group
outcomes. The result being, the group decisions may not be influenced altogether, or the

7A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.
group might make the wrong decisions, it is because the group members did not properly
explore the different options very effectively. Bad group dynamics are caused by many
factors some of which include, an overall weak leadership, if a team lacks a strong and
capable leader, nay other dominant leader can essentially take over in his place, within the
group, this leads to lack of focus or direction and infighting within the group. Excessive
obsession with gaining authority, this might happen when individuals who want to be
associated with any of the decisions of a leader and very often hold back, from expressing
their opinion to any member of the group. Another dynamic that takes place within a group is
blocking of any flow of information within the group, individuals can become the aggressor
as the person who is inappropriately outspoken. The individual who is often times critical of
other group member’s ideas, the withdrawer is the person who avoids any participation in any
discussion process, there are also individuals who are boastful or dominates the
conversation at times. Group thinking is also a team dynamic that happens when people reach
a decision solely for the desire to adhere to a group consciousness. This prevents alternative
thinking. Free riding off others backs is also a form of group dynamic in which some group
members do not sufficiently participate in the group. Some team members' perceptions can
also lead to negative and poor group dynamics, this happens when team members feel that
they are being very harshly judged in the team.
My own assessment of the group involved me knowing the team better in order for me to
effectively participate in the process and provide a proper assessment of the team building
activity as a whole. It started with knowing my team properly. Being a leader, I needed to
provide guidance for the development of my group, so I started by learning about the
scenarios that a group undergoes as it develops itself accordingly. Next was identifying the
positive and negative group dynamics accordingly, and how they would impact the group and
in what ways. This helped me deal with any potential problems that arisen through team

8A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.
conflicts. I had to define the roles and responsibilities very carefully, I created a team
character. Teams often lack focus or direction very quickly and people struggle to understand
their individual roles within the group. I focused on breaking down barriers to team building,
using team – building exercises to help every member to get to know each other much better,
the exercises eased the process of new colleagues to join the group, and thus any difference
was swiftly eliminated. I also focused on effective communication both intra and inter group
communication was encouraged by me, to foster a sense of understanding and focusing that
everyone within the group is communicating very effectively and all channels and forms of
communications are encouraged like emails, messages, mails, meetings, and peer shared
documents, for example – to avoid any unnecessary ambiguity. I also paid individual
attention to individual team members to focus on activities and foster a sense of ownership
and individuality within the group.
Task 3: Problem solving procedures:
While conducting this group activity study I have encountered several problems
regarding group interaction and group dynamics. This involved my, discussing and problem-
solving and its importance when I was planning and running my training event. Three were
many challenges that were discussed previously in my study. Such activities involved the use
of critical problem solving skills, their correct identification and proper management of
resources to identify a roadmap for problem solving. The report also includes a discussion of
various problem-solving techniques and approaches. It tries to justify the solution
methodologies used during task.
At first I would like to discuss the various critical problem solving techniques that were
employed in the team building exercise. When a group of employees is engaged with one
another the group potential increases. If the team needs creativity an unproductive session
make occur. Employees might not participate, they may over participate, they may discuss

9A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.
the problem but without a vision towards actionable steps, meetings may take too long,
wasting time, a solution might never come.
There many strategies to better group problem solving,
These include selecting a leader, identifying them, to assign responsibilities to them such
assign responsibilities to these people, the person must be put in charge of a number of
responsibilities. This person must be the final decision maker, the final idea must come from
them, and this person must be the final person who will close the plan and be the final
arbitrator of all assigned actions of the team. The right team must be selected in order to take
the steps to create the brainstorming sessions and group activities of the teams. People must
not be selected for the purpose of selection alone they must be properly assigned to the teams.
The most productive candidate must be chosen for the task and proper duties must be
assigned to them for the optimum effect. The participants must be mandated to participate in
proper idea sharing of ideas. All people in the team must be properly included in a group
building exercise. The problem must be properly identified and defined for any team activity
to identify it is done. The right questions must be asked in order to probe the right assigned
team task. The explorative thinking must be there for every team member to properly identify
the issues and then propose proper ways in order to identify the problem accordingly. Proper
criteria must be identified for any assessment to properly take place, properly identifying the
methods of problem solving methodologies must be identified, any distinct criteria must be
clearly be mentioned. The problem must be very acutely be analysed so that the team is
engaged in the operation of the task. Proper problem identification must be there so that the
individuals associated with the task must be made aware of all the problems. All ideas must
be properly analysed so that any plan of action can be properly be identified by the team very
effectively. Another form of problem identification is that alternate solutions must be
identified so that the terms of the assignment is properly met by the team members. Alternate

10A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.
solutions must be properly met so that the team is aware of any alternate plan of action. The
evaluation must be properly done to assess the situation and proper problem identification.
An action plan must be set in motion to properly analyse and develop the plan accordingly.
The action plan must be properly be implemented so that the teams have a proper
understanding of the problem scenarios and be prepared for any outcomes. However the
action must be followed up by a proper feedback mechanism so that the terms of the plan
must be properly be met according to the requirements of the problem. The outcomes of the
entire must be properly be studied and follow-up must be properly done on account of the
action.
Next the process of critically discussion of the task is evaluated on principle. I have taken the
responsibility of proper evaluation of the task and have taken up certain measures to identify
the parameters of the problems that have arisen. Critical problem solving involves the proper
categorical broad problem solving of the team building activity undertaken. This involves the
broad base system of identification of problems and finding out their solutions, formulating
the arguments, constructing knowledge to apply these concepts in the process of arriving at
any solution of the problem. To be effective thinkers, the teams need tolerate proper claims
have proper assessment and proper understanding capacity to understand and analyse vast
amounts of data and form well-seasoned claims on the subject. In addition, to developing
strong problem solving skills, teams need to build up capacity to analyse diverse situations,
and devise strategies for solving problems, implement proper strategies, and then evaluate
both their solutions and their processes. Three aspects of critical thinking need to be
implemented in order to critically analyse and evaluate the performance the team’s
performance. Effective Reasoning is one such process, is defined as the ability to create
claims and support them with logical evidence, implement a logical course of understanding
a logical course of action to any problem solving process. The reasoning is the most vital

11A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.
function to a critical analysis of a problem solving action. Decision Making is the next most
critical process of problem solving. The ability to identify positions for a choice, to articulate
the criteria for evaluating those criteria, and to evaluate those options based on the mentioned
criteria, thus it is a crucial process of process evaluation. The final process is actually solving
the problem based on the understood principles of problem solving and critical thinking .The
ability to properly identify the key questions is a major problem, it is used to develop possible
plans for solving the issue, to follow through on the plan of action, and to evaluate and
revaluate both the success of the plan and solution and even analyse potential failures of the
team activity. Thus, this concludes the critical thinking aspect of this critique on the
application, of critical reasoning and my experience of it during the planning and delivery
process of the event plan.
Task 4: Continuous Professional Development (CPD):
A reflection of my own employability skills and consideration of my own Continuous
Professional Development (CPD) needs. The analysis is subdivided into three parts described
below.
Part 1:
With regards to my personal development agenda, I set aside my CPD goals for long term
plans. I am presently working as the IT trainer with Team Teach, a IT support company. I am
primarily engaged with the task of providing IT training, and in this current assignment as
team building practices relating to CPD of employees. The actions that would make achieve
these goals are outlined in five clear smart targets that I have defined below:
 Work based learning that takes place by perusing the current job role, by experimental
learning, learning from experience, expanding the job role. Perusing orientation
programs, work shadowing, peer review of work.

12A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.
 Professional activities that support participating in management of a professional
body in the company, thus developing skills and knowledge. Involvement as an
organiser, committee member, being and examiner, being a supervisor. Organising a
conference, membership in a technical or research group, teaching or coaching the
group.
 Another type of professional CPD is participation in academic activities, attending
training programs, attending training or scientific meetings, undertaking distance
learning activities, reading journals and writing academic research papers, preparing
training materials for academic courses.
 Self-directed learning is also on the horizon, it is the process of developing the self-
initiative to diagnose the self-learning needs for myself. This is not only limited to
personal evaluation, it also includes identifying and formulation of new resources.
The examples of this kind of assessment include reading books, articles and research
journals. Upgrading knowledge through internet searches and IT enabled systems.
 Other activities that influence CPD skills help to development of self-assessment
transferable skills and gain experience that is valuable in developing the future career
directions. These involve strategic thinking such as organisational restructuring,
effective planning, proper resourcing. This also includes planning skills and
organisational development skills.
Part 2:
The PPT is included in the Task folder.

13A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.
Part 3:
This report discusses the use of CPD within organisations (Mulvey, 2013). CPD
provides an individual with the option to regularly evolve and update oneself with the proper
important areas of development and training to effectively reducing any shortfalls in their
knowledge (DuFour, R., 2004). An individual must be competent enough with the knowledge
to properly differentiate themselves from their peers. This is done to provide proper self-
evaluation and proper knowledge to the employee and creates an exciting and motivating
environment.
CPD is important for many factors for the employee, it measures effectiveness of it in
helping the employees, to properly achieve their goals while effectively using their time and
resources. Some reasons are the employer can save training costs by allowing the employee
and allowing time for professional skill development programs (Billett, 2001). Supporting
the CPD can help the employers increase the retention rate and properly motivate the
employees with regards to the employee. This support goes a long way in skill building
activities for the employee. The CPD can increase the skill sets of the employees (Kennedy,
2014). Supporting CPD improves the job performance of the employees and increases their
output. It is observed that continuing the CPD can improve the overall job security and the
skill level of the employees. CPD can also be integrated in the job performance of the
employees, it can also be integrated into the other HR matters of the company and it helps in
the long term growth of effective HR policies. Through an effective appraisal system the
team can develop its skill sets, that will further the objectives of the organisation (Guskey and
Huberman, 1995). CPD can encourage the staff to take control of their own training and
development. Regular CPD activities can influence the employees to go the extra mile to
peruse the activities relating to the organisation and sufficiently improve their own self goals

14A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.
in the process (McCauley and Hezlett, 2002). Supporting CPD can increase the professionals
own willingness to improve themselves and the organisation. It shows the willingness of the
organisation to improve their HR value to the employee (Cate et al., 2015). The reciprocal is
done by the employee. Strong employer support for CPD helps the company to aid
recruitment for the company. It becomes good for career growth and development in the long
term. (Dall’Alba and Sandberg, 2006).
CPD has helped me in my own learning and development process. I have perused
CPD in my work as a training individual. By perusing CPD I have achieved long term goals
in my professional work. I have taken academic study leaves to pursue my Professional
higher education goals. Thus I have learned new ways to improve my professional learning. I
have also taken study tours to foreign countries for the purpose of continuing my professional
standards. From learning new skills to developing my overall development CPD programs
have made me a better professional and supported me in the long run. It has helped me set up
long term goals and provide my level best to my company (Bailey et al., 2013). CPD has
helped me plan out a future course of action with regards to my long term goals in the
company, like reaching higher management positions, bettering my team management skills,
build my technical expertise, helping me achieve my set targets and develop team building
and cooperation skills.
References:
Bailey, S., Bullock, A., Cowpe, J., Barnes, E., Thomas, H., Thomas, R., Kavadella, A.,
Kossioni, A., Karaharju‐Suvanto, T., Suomalainen, K. and Kersten, H., 2013. Core
continuing professional development (CPD) topics for the E uropean dentist. European
Journal of Dental Education, 17, pp.23-28.

15A TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE.
Billett, S., 2001. Learning in the workplace: Strategies for effective practice. Allen & Unwin,
PO Box 8500, St Leonards, 1590 NSW, Australia.
Dall’Alba, G. and Sandberg, J., 2006. Unveiling professional development: A critical review
of stage models. Review of educational research, 76(3), pp.383-412.
DuFour, R., 2004. Leading edge: The best staff development is in the workplace, not in a
workshop. Journal of Staff Development, 25(2), pp.63-64.
Guskey, T.R. and Huberman, M., 1995. Professional development in education: New
paradigms and practices. Teachers College Press, 1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY
10027 (paperback: ISBN-0-8077-3425-X; clothbound: ISBN-0-8077-3426-8)..
Kennedy, A., 2014. Understanding continuing professional development: the need for theory
to impact on policy and practice. Professional development in education, 40(5), pp.688-697.
McCauley, C.D. and Hezlett, S.A., 2002. Individual development in the workplace.
Mulvey, R., 2013. How to be a good professional: existentialist continuing professional
development (CPD). British journal of guidance & counselling, 41(3), pp.267-276.
Cate, O., Chen, H.C., Hoff, R.G., Peters, H., Bok, H. and van der Schaaf, M., 2015.
Curriculum development for the workplace using entrustable professional activities (EPAs):
AMEE guide no. 99. Medical teacher, 37(11), pp.983-1002.