Date of Award

1997

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Business

First Advisor

Michael Castro

Second Advisor

Ben Keuhnle

Third Advisor

Gareth Gardiner

Abstract

This project explores the issue of communications between people who have different educational backgrounds, experiences, and social styles, yet who are bound together as a team through membership in an organization.

A common definition of the word team is "a group of individuals working collaboratively toward a common goal" John Scott). Teamwork can be accomplished by utilizing communication, cooperation, and collaboration. An easily remembered acronym is:

Together Everyone Achieving More

This study will establish ways that people of varying communications and social styles can work together in a way that will ultimately prove to positively effect the lives of many individuals.

The rework and redesign of Mallinckrodt's Professional Services Department's Vision and Mission is the hallmark cooperative effort that is studied in this culminating project. Under times of much change, distress, and uncooperative attitudes, the people of differing communications styles who were involved in this effort found that they could work together toward a common goal and achieve great things. This common goal was reached through dedication, a concerted effort from the majority of the group members, and the leadership of the group's director. Any organization or group would be wise to participate in the same type of team building sessions that were undertaken by this group. While the process has not been easy, the results of our work and perseverance have begun to pay off. The group sees itself more as a team working together the group's director. Any organization or group would be wise to participate in the same type of team building sessions that were undertaken by this group. While the process has not been easy, the results of our work and perseverance have begun to pay off. The group sees itself more as a team working together toward a common goal; we were previously individuals who had no common goal, and many did not seem to have individual goals.

Supporting the discussion are results of the Myers Briggs type indicator test, results of a Social Style Series that every member of the Department participated in, results of an interpersonal communication inventory, and much formal research (books, articles, interviews) reflecting a range of perspectives on contemporary communications issues.

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