Managing Teams in Organizations

BMGT-484 (3)

University of Maryland
University College

Electronic Distance Education
Heidelberg, Germany
DE Term 2, 2001-2002; Dates: 5 Nov. 2001 - 1 Mar. 2002

(3 sem. hours via Electronic Communications)

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[If you have specific questions about this course, please email me.]

Course Goal: To enable you to

Understand current teamwork theories and models based on a current, rigorous research;

Apply teamwork theories and models to typical real world examples and situations; and

Evaluate alternative teamwork initiatives, tools, and techniques in a variety of organizations.

Course Description:

Prerequisite: BMGT 364, MGMT 300, TMGT 302, or equivalent.

An examination of how and why team development can be effective in organizations and when it is appropriate. Topics include group dynamics, stages of group development, team-building techniques, team goals and leadership, and interpersonal and individual skills to foster cohesion and effective performance.

Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: BMGT 484, BMGT 498H or (former course) MGMT 498H.

One would think that we should know all about working in teams. We have been doing it long enough, but evidence shows we need to do a better job. This course takes a long look at many examples of success and failure of teams in modern organizations.

Want to learn more about how teams should operate in organizations?

Then take this course.

Our text is a gold-mine of current practice and lessons learned, and offers both "why's" and "how's" of teamworking. We will use the UMUC on-line database and other Internet-based sources extensively to amplify the text information.

We will look at how to build and sustain teams that will support an organization's long-term success. You will work in ad hoc and project teams throughout the course. There will be monthly case studies (four in all) that will allow you to apply the principles you are studying. So come join in the fun.

Assignments/Evaluation/Grades:

We use WebTycho as our virtual classroom. Discussions take place there and documents are posted for exchange there as well. We will use email as our back-up mode of contact.

Class Participation: (15% of course grade)

  • individual work,
  • a journal in which you reflect on your process of learning and sharing during the course, and
  • small group work.
 I will look at these three things that I ask you to do on a continual basis. You will be graded on your consistent, steady progress through this course.

Case Analysis: (35% - 5% for the first, then 10% each for the next three).

  • I will divide the class into project teams twice so you will keep with one project team for two months. Each project team will analyze, research and report on two cases.

I will provide you the real world cases to be studied.

  • You will apply the models and principles from the text to the case.
  • You will research the company and situation on the Internet to obtain more background and improve your understanding of the teamworking situation.
  • You will evaluate the effectiveness of the team and support recommended improvements in procedures, processes, structure, etc.
  • Use my case analysis guidelines, among others, to help you.
  • The first case is due in Week 4, the second in Week 7, the third in Week 10 and the fourth in Week 14.
Midterm: open-book, take-home (20%). You will have 48 hours for each of these tests.
Final exam: open-book, take-home (30%) .

This is not a correspondence course. Your presence in our virtual classroom is a vital part of the learning experience for everyone in this course. Consequently lack of consistent participation 2-3 times weekly in spite of long hours at work, computer problems, deployments, vacations, business trips, other courses, etc. may earn you a grade of F(n) as such action overrides the grading percentages shown above.


I will try to help every student earn an "A" by demonstrating a mastery of course concepts. I do understand that students have many other responsibilities, but it is your responsibility to your own learning and to assisting the learning of others in this class that I will be most concerned with. I will work with every student within reason to help her or him complete this course successfully. I grade each exam and assignment on a relative scale (A-F; 70-0 points typically). Your final grade is a weighted average of your separate grades in this course with some allowance made for technical problems imposed by the delivery method (WebTycho with email backup). It will come as no surprise that for a variety of reasons a number of students each term choose not to earn an "A".

Policies/Procedures:

Consistent, quality participation and effort are essential if both you and the class as a whole are the reach our goals. You must check your WebTycho and your email at least once every 48 hours and respond to queries within one day (even if just to say when you will be able to give a more complete answer to the request). I will try to allow you time to explore the subject both individually and in small groups while giving you feedback on completed assignments.

Students will take turns leading group discussions.

Finally, do not fall behind. Work ahead if possible. Do some work on this course every day or two. Set aside time to do this. If confused, in doubt, or in need of a clarification on any aspect of the course, contact me first.

This then is the plan. Like all plans, it is subject to change as the course develops so stay tuned.

Phil Richardson; prichard@faculty.ed.umuc.edu Revised 23 Sep. 2001