doku a&it teambuilding workshop 2008-12
TRANSCRIPT
transfer beratung & training
Ulrich ZeutschelAlter Postweg 26a
D-24558 Henstedt-UlzburgFon (+49-4193) 77 98 96
Mobil (+49-170) 380 06 74
eMail: [email protected]
Documentation
Haus Nordhelle
December 01-02, 2008
A&IT Teambuilding Workshop
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
1
Orientation: Goals and Agenda
The agenda on the right reflects
the actual sequence and timing
of topics.
Agenda December 01
10:15 Orientation
10:45 Who is here?
ā¢ Personal posters (individual work)
ā¢ Presentation in plenary
ā¢ Reflection
11:45 The First 50 Days of A&IT
ā¢ Positive & challenging experiences
12:45 Lunch Break
14:15 ā¢ Presentation of group findings
15:45 Coffee break
16:00 FEDs and how to deal with them
ā¢ Input by Siegfried Stumpf
ā¢ Strategies to overcome FEDs(breakout groups and presentations)
18:45 Dinner
20:00 Perceiving and handling intercultural differences (Input and reflection)
21:00 Closing round
Recreation activities (table tennis, etc.)
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
2
Personal Posters: The Studio
In order to disclose relevant
background information about
themselves to share with the group
participants prepared personal
posters and presented them to the
entire group, answering additional
questions.
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
3
Personal Posters (1)
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
4
Personal Posters (2) ... ... and Insights
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
5
The First 50 Days of A&IT: Breakout Groups
Taking stock of the first 7 weeks on
the A&IT program, participants
worked in four breakout groups to
exchange about their impressions
and experiences with regard to the
A&IT group, study and university life,
and the German community.
Particularly positive impressions and
challenging or frustrating experi-
ences were summarized on green
and orange cards, respectively, .
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
6
The First 50 Days of A&IT: Findings (1)
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
7
The First 50 Days of A&IT: Findings (2)
As a conclusion, major impressions
from the overview of findings were
discussed in the plenary and are
documented at the right.
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
8
FEDs and How to Deal With Them
Multiple Objectives
FEDs Reported by Foreign Students
ļæ½ Getting in closer contact with Germans
ļæ½ Mastering daily routines
ļæ½ Segregation and isolation
ļæ½ Complying with rules and regulations
Basic Adviceon How to Overcome FEDs
ā¼ Try to come in more intensive contact with Germans:
ļæ½ work with them,
ļæ½ in small groups in order to reach a common goal
ā¼ Learn the German language
ā¼ Try to understand German cultural standards
ā¼ Try to win German friends
ā¼ Try to come in contact with the beautiful aspects of German culture (landscape, sightseeing, cultural achievements)
Goals
Reaching final degree in one's
field of study
Learning a lot in one's
subject area
Under-standing a different
culture and learning from it
Learningthe German
language
Finding (German) friends in Germany
To put the A&IT groupās experiences
into perspective, Siegfried Stumpf
presented āFrequently Encountered
Difficultiesā (FEDs) reported by
many foreign students.
Becoming aware of other objectives
besides academic goals as well as
some hints on countering FEDs
could help to develop coping
strategies.
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
9
Strategies to Overcome FEDs
Focusing on main challenges from
the first 50 days, three breakout
groups worked out advice and good
practices. The results were then
presented in the group plenary
[sorry, the poster on āMeeting the
Germansā somehow escaped my
camera ā I tried to reproduce it from
memory].
A fourth group worked on Proposals
for the A&IT program structure; their
results are documented on page 20.
How to Get into Contactwith Those āRigidā Germans
* Take the initiative
* Use the German language, even just a few words
* Work with them, or find a topic of
common interest for serious and in-depth discussion
* Join sports clubs (handball, basketball) or church groups
* Be persistently friendly
* Get a German girlfriend (or boyfriend)
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
10
Developmental Phases* in Handling Cultural Differences
(1) Denial
(2) Defense
(3) Minimization
āReally ā there are othercultures?ā
āDifferences always carry value ā and we / the others are superior!ā
āDifferences are marginal, because weāre all equal(in a way that I see it).ā
EthnocentrismEthnocentrism EthnorelativismEthnorelativism
*Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity
(DMIS), Milton Bennett, 1986
(4) Acceptance
(5) Adaptation
(6) Integration
āDifferent strokesfor different folks.ā
āTo get along with othersI need to understand them
āfrom withinā.ā
āUnity in diversitymakes us successful.ā
NOTE: The presentation slides on the DMIS were handed out
in the workshop. An article by Milton Bennett describing the
model in more detail is available as a separate .pdf document.
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
11
Entering Day 2
As a warm-up and as introduction
into the topic of group cooperation,
the āPipelineā Exercise served to
reflect on helpful ways to organize
project and study groups effectively.
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
12
Group Cooperation: The Pipeline
It took only few attempts at self-
organization to solve the task of
transporting a small wooden ball
from one end of the room to the
other, even on an obstacle course.
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
13
Debriefing of Pipeline Exercise
After an immediate reflection on
helpful practices with regard to the
Pipeline task, potential learnings for
collaboration in A&IT project and
study groups were discussed.
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
14
Dimensions of Group Cooperation (1)
From an input on aspects of group
cooperation (see below),
the question
What is important to mein working together in
A&IT project and assignment groups?
was discussed in four breakout
groups.
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
15
Quality Criteria of A&IT Group Cooperation (1)
(1) Goal Achievement
ā¢ To achieve our set goals (for the group)
ā¢ Achieve the goal
ā¢ Get the best result
(2) Work Process Mgmt.
ā¢ Less errors / error-free because we check on each other (better understanding tasks)
ā¢ Easily manageable and more productive
ā¢ To reduce work load, able to do the task in a shorter time
(3) Communication
ā¢ Appropriate group size yields better communi-cation structure
ā¢ Exchange ideas
(4) Knowledge Mgmt.
ā¢ Exchange experience
ā¢ Possibility to learn from
others
ā¢ Getting benefits from
othersā expertise and vice versa
ā¢ Better understanding of
individual subject knowledge
ā¢ Gain additional knowledge
ā¢ To improve our cultural/ language skills; broaden
our horizon
(5) Group Atmosphere
ā¢ Good atmosphere for work
ā¢ Working as a group is more interesting
The group results were clustered
into nine quality criteria, which were
assigned short headings.
(See also following page)
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
16
Quality Criteria of A&IT Group Cooperation (2)
(6) Recognition
ā¢ Respect otherās ideas
ā¢ Individual recognition (giving credit)
ā¢ Group performance: recognition from the outside body
(7) Conflict Mgmt.
ā¢ Better conflict management
ā¢ Donāt blame others
(8) Committment
ā¢ Feeling of commitment (time bound)
ā¢ Being effective and active
ā¢ Others should do their jobs
(9) Mutual Support
ā¢ You are not alone
ā¢ To be supportive and helpful
ā¢ To enhance personal relationships
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
17
The A&IT Group Monitor
Working individually, participants
rated each of the nine quality criteria
according to the question
How satisfied am Iwith regard to this dimension
at the present time?
The individual ratings were then
transferred to the group poster, and
the resulting distributions were
discussed by the entire group.
Communication, Group Atmosphere,
Commitment, and Mutual Support
were rated highest, while Work
Process Management and
Knowledge Management were
regarded to be closely correlated,
and the latter dimension was seen
seen as particularly important in an
academic work environment.
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
18
Open Questions and Responses
Prof. Scheuring and Prof. Klasen
joined the workshop at noon on the
second day and responded to open
questions and proposals (see next
pages) which had been prepared
by the group beforehand.
Responses by Program Management
>1) MEng and MSc have the same value in
Germany; MEng was chosen for the A&IT Program to indicate subject focus
>2) Information available at International Office at
Cologne campus; there will be an extension of that office at Gummersbach campus after February 2009 (also as liaison to AuslƤnder-
behƶrde); please provide information on specific visa requirements to Prof. Scheuring!
>3) Three on-campus projects in third semester, counting 10 credit points each; no standard
lectures
>5) Collaboration with other universities or with industry is possible, if relations to FH Kƶln
exist already or can be established directly (needs to be arranged individually).
>4) Thesis project is provided by university, or can be arranged elsewhere, as stated under (5)
Workshop on employment perspectives can be
organized (e.g. by International Office extension in Gummersbach) at the end of the second or at the beginning of the third semester.
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
19
Proposals (1)
Comments by Program Management
ļæ½ Language course only as an add-on -
it can not be integrated into the credit-
point program
ļæ½ The groupās design proposal will be
considered (contact: Prof. Scheuring)
ļæ½ Mandatory German course (full time,
4 weeks in September) is endorsed by
group and will be considered by
Program Management
- Support from Internationalization
Office?
- Collaboration with Cologne Campus?
ļæ½ Please send information on personal
experience with external courses
(e.g. 3-months DAAD course)
to Prof. Klasen
Comments by Program Management
ļæ½ Acquisition of subject literature in English at
university library is currently under way
ļæ½ Please notify Prof. Scheuring if lecture slides in
German continue to be a problem
ļæ½ Administration forms will be available in English for
the next A&IT program cycle (responsibility of
university administration
ļæ½ Instruction leaflet for internet portals (esp. PSSO)
will be prepared
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
20
Proposals and Comments (2)
Proposal: Info on exam regulations
ļæ½ Clarify exam regulations (requirements,
procedures, deadlines, etc.) in each course during the first two weeks
ļæ½ Provide students with written documen-
tation of the agreements reached.
Comments by Program Management
ļæ½ Extensive āPrĆ¼fungsordnungā (legal text) is
part of program certification requirements
ļæ½ There is some flexibility with regard to
course specific regulation, e.g. a choice of
written, oral, or presentation exam formats
ļæ½ Grades a weighed by credit point number for
the specific course
ļæ½ Exam procedures are described in module
outlines (that document will be mailed to
participants by Prof. Scheuring)
ļæ½ PSSO registration for exams is not neces-
sary for A&IT group
ļæ½ Prof. Stumpf as head of the Examination
Committee supports the proposal (see
above) of clarifying exam procedures within
first 2 weeks of the semester;
Prof. Scheuring will inform the staff
accordingly
Comments by Program Management
ļæ½ Prof. Scheuring will discuss with Prof. Kamp-
mann and Prof. Holland-Moritz solutions for
teaching basic contents to students without
Bachelor background in the subject.
ļæ½ Options for ācatching upā on basic course
content:
- tutorial at beginning of semester
- extending courses into semester break
ļæ½ Further option: differentiating standard and
advanced course levels:
- Standard: being able to work in the field
- Advanced: acquiring specialized expert
knowledge
ļæ½ Prof. Scheuring will discuss course contents
and program structure in general with A&IT
teaching staff and students.
transferberatung & training
FH Kƶln, Campus Gummersbach
Master Program āAutomation & ITā
Teambuilding Workshop
Haus Nordhelle, December 01-02, 2008
21
Review of Workshop
ļæ½ From an initial āIs is necessary ..?ā to insights about others in the group, about integrating into the German community, and about group cooperation
ļæ½ Giving feedback to professors [2x]
ļæ½ Becoming aware of problems and of strategies to resolve them
ļæ½ Break of normal routine to reflect, and to get to know each other better
ļæ½ Learning about German culture (ārigidnessā)
ļæ½ Constructive feedback from Program Management to questions and proposals
ļæ½ First-time experience: intercultural insights, group cooperation, getting to know background of other group members, and exchanging about problems encountered
ļæ½ Changed conception of negotiating with professors
ļæ½ Regained perspective on challenges from first 50 days
ļæ½ Better understanding of problems as basis for possible solutions
ļæ½ Good timing of workshop after 50 days on the program ā refreshed personal commitment
ļæ½ Interactive, participatory format of working, leaving room for new insights
ļæ½ Concerns were listened to openly (this gave new direction)
In a closing round, comments from
everyone to the guiding question
How did I got into this workshop āand how do I go out of it?
were documented as summary
statements.