Army Crew Case

1. Army Crew Case • Question 1. Type of Task • Pooled and Reciprocal Interdependence (a mixed task) elements of both. • Not compensatory • Conjunctive task • Can’t subdivide Similar and different to USA Basketball, Rider Cup, Project Team

2. Question 2 (b). Impact of the Selection Process • Did not consider teams of 8 • Not Consider interpersonal skills of team members • Created Us versus Them—Not help or learn from each other • Created Clear Status Differences-ego differences –”have it made” attitudes • Emphasis on individual skills (ability, strength) in selection

3. Question 3. Why does the varsity team lose to the JV team? • Varsity team higher status than JV. Had nothing to gain through competition. JV has nothing to lose. • Racing under similar conditions—if lose then tended to look at their individual effort- If members felt he was working hard-tended to blame other people. • Competition tended to bond the JV but dysfunctional for the Varsity. Varsity was better individually (but not as team)—JV not as good individually but could be better as a team.

4. Sometimes effective teams get better over time but ineffective teams become worse. (get caught in a virtuous or vicious performance cycle). • Team performs well may attribute poor performance to temporary factors (bad day) • Team perform poorly make may more stable types of attributions (attitudes, people not trying) • Team members that are blamed may take this personally and makes it hard to be productive members. • Increases team conflict • Self-fulfilling cycle, --not sure we can do it and end up not doing it

5. Lack of team Social Identity or Identity Team Members Wanted to Avoid • People when they identify with a group indicates an emotional connection to the group (UTA) and the people in that group. • When strong identification people feel secure and valued in that group by other people in the group • Team members that identify with the group are strongly motivated, loyal trustworthy, place team goals above their goals. • Team social identity is stronger when it contributes to feeling of self-esteem-but if negative evaluation associated with being a member of the team than opposite impact

6. Lack of Trust Among Team Members • Task highly interdependent. Combined efforts of team members critical. • Trust is in part dependent on a positive social identity with the team • Trust is particularly important when you can’t monitor the behavior of the other team members. • Trust declines when in a negative performance spiral

7. Question 4. What could the coach do early to reverse the spiral? • Try to reverse the negative performance spiral and build a Positive Social Identity • Change the nature of the competition-beat best time • Orchestrate some early success for the Varsity • Give the Varsity a chance to bond together. Have some fun. • Try to create trust among the team members. Team building exercises—Ropes

8. Look to internal leadership on the team. • Changes discussion from individual focus to help each other become better as a team. Exercises that they could do together.