Professional Skills
Successful team working
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Successful organisations rely on successful teams. That is to say, successful organisations rely on collections of individual staff members who can recognise the difference between being a team members and merely being a member of a group, and those who can work together successfully. Most staff members are, in fact, members of several different teams, working with different people on different things at different times and under different constraints. In one team they might be the leader; in another, a team member. This course is aimed at developing their skills and abilities to become effective and successful team players.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | GB072 |
| Credit points | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
What you will study
This short course has been designed to allow you to explore in depth, through case studies of successful teams, six different types of team from action teams to virtuoso teams.
The ability to work with or in a team and, most importantly, to contribute to successful teamworking has become one of the essential competencies looked for by organisations. Understanding why and how successful teams work can make all the difference in developing this ability.
The course begins by establishing an appreciation of just what a team is rather than, say, merely a group of employees, and why teamworking matters. Subsequently the course provides you with an opportunity to examine twenty-five teamworking issues from the differing perspective of the six types of team. Among the issues that you will consider by drawing on various management theories and techniques are:
- Followership and Feedback
- Motivation and Multicultural teams
- Team culture and Team roles.
You will learn to:
- define and identify types of teams
- recognise the differing needs of different types of teams
- identify and categorise different team players
- examine your own individual performance as a teamworker
- work with others to improve overall team effectiveness
- evaluate the effectiveness of different teams.
The strong link between course learning and your work practice creates relevant, enduring and transferable outcomes. The course will take 30 hours to study and includes Web text, self-assessment questions and activities. The course contains a series of bite-size chunks making studying more manageable. Register online today and start tomorrow – no need to wait!
The course features the distinctive strengths of The Open University from its years of expertise in work-based learning:
- The convenience of accessing its clearly presented and sequenced materials, activities and support whenever suits you and wherever you have access to the dedicated website – if you prefer, you can print key materials to work on them offline.
- The support of an expert learning adviser who can clarify study materials, answer questions and help you relate the course to your specific needs.
- A work-based activity helping you to connect the course to your individual and organisational context and needs. This is built up from short activities during the course, leading to a Personal Development Plan. At the end of the course you send this to the learning adviser, who provides personal feedback.
- Certification of completion from the OU for those who complete the course. You can use this to demonstrate your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activity to your employer and/or professional body. (NB The course does not carry academic credit points.)
Entry
Although there are no formal academic requirements to study any of our CPD courses, you are expected to have some experience in the field and the course assumes a familiarity with the subject.
For each course you can register and begin at any time during the life of the course. You can study at your own pace and submit your work-based activity at any date before the final submission date for the course. Information about the final submission date is available when you register for the course.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The study materials are delivered wholly online. Learners who use screen readers or who cannot use a mouse will not be able to access some course material or some course activities without assistance. Written transcripts of the audio interviews are available on the website. If you are a new learner with the OU, make sure that you have our publication Meeting Your Needs.
Study materials
What's included
All learning materials, exercises, study support and work-based activity are delivered entirely online.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Learner support
Expert, confidential learner support is available when you need it from a learning adviser, who will respond to you direct within 24 hours. Other support is available via the GB072 forum, library, StudentHome website and computing helpdesk.
Work-based activity
The work-based activity for this course is a written report and has been designed as an integrated ongoing activity that you submit at the end of your study. It will allow you to reflect on your learning and how to use it in your professional work.
Professional recognition
Successful completion of the course enables us to recognise your achievement of the course learning by issuing an OU certificate that you can use to document your commitment to continuing professional development in your personal portfolio, or to provide evidence to employers or professional body.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | GB072 |
| Credit points | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Study explained
- Special fee arrangements
- - the OU has relationships with many professional bodies, and as part of those relationships members may be entitled to special fee arrangements.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Your questions
We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.
Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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