Mixing a Heterogeneous Mixture

Third week of January, year 2010.

Second CG1108 “Electrical Engineering” laboratory meeting.

First graded requirement.

The NUS Computer Engineering students were tasked to create a forklift robot using LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 Robotics Kit. It must traverse through a course, pick up a load and deliver the load to a platform.

We had three hours to work on the challenge: two hours to build and program; one 5-minute timeslot to demonstrate a successful run; the rest was grace period.

This challenge was presented to the class a week earlier. The teams were formed and assigned and I found myself working with a very multicultural team of FIVE: five members, five native tongues, five religious beliefs, four nationalities and four races - all these differences in one team. We all met each other in this module the first time.

Given this intercultural scenario, the following are highly probable: there could be language barriers to effective communication that we might likely encounter and cultural differences that might introduce conflicts.

With the pressure of finishing the task under a constrained environment, effective team communication was of the essence.

So how did the heterogeneous team proceed with work in spite of these two foreseen difficulties?

We communicated consciously and sensitively.

If one had difficulty speaking to convey his idea, he or she would try to explain visually while the other party focuses on having listening eyes to understand. Everyone consciously tried to communicate in a manner that each understood and was being understood.

We bridged gaps and built connections.

We quickly set-up an online communication platform and made a point to hold a meeting prior to the testing day. The meet-ups and constant communication developed a relationship among the team members. Shyness and inhibitions were overcome. Trust was developed. An open intellectual exchange of ideas became easily achievable.

Thankfully, after successfully working in a heterogeneous intercultural team, the motivation to overcome the challenges made all of us reach our homogeneous goal - finishing the forklift robot challenge. As an icing to the cake, we even achieved one of the fastest times to finish in our laboratory group.

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REFERENCE

1. LEGO.com Mindstorms Homepage (Content): http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/default.aspx
2. NXT Forklift Building Instructions (Content): http://www.nxtprograms.com/NXT2/forklift/steps.html
3. CG1108 Electrical Engineering Forklift Challenge - G02 Performance Test (Video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhQ5tq4ViHs

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Communication, Teamwork, and Success

To be a successful team, there must be teamwork. To have teamwork, there must be effective communication.

We use communication every day and every time. We send messages to recipients by means of spoken words, written messages, body movements, and non-verbal cues.

We show our feelings, concretize our thoughts, and express our opinions – everything through communication.

Teamwork is about a group of people who works together to achieve a common goal that will benefit the whole team. To mobilize a team, clear objectives must be set. Before commencing actions, planning must be done. To progress towards the realization of a goal, the members must contribute and bring something to the team’s table.

In doing so, it is hard to remove the elements of the communication model in a collaborative environment. There is a need to pass an idea from a sender to a recipient. Moreover, there is a need to send a feedback (another idea) related to the idea. This is present in every stage of a functioning team and this cycle is a never-ending pattern within the team’s setting.

Can you imagine a brainstorming session where no one shares his ideas?

It must be a very unproductive session, if it is so.

As such, communication is an inevitable part of teamwork. For me, effective communication plays a vital role in the success of a team.

Imagine a piece of a wooden stick. A stick can be easily broken into smaller pieces.

Imagine a group of wooden sticks. Bundle them together in an orderly fashion. Even if bent, it will be hard to break a bundle of sticks.

Same goes with a team. When a group of people bonds with each other, decides to work together and aligns their vision towards a common goal, they will begin to realize that achieving their goal will not be too far away.

How do we achieve this?

We COMMUNICATE.

To gain what?

TEAMWORK.

Why do we need teamwork?

To achieve SUCCESS.

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REFERENCE

1. Teamwork Inspirational Banner (Image): http://www.sirhc.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/teamwork.jpg 
2. Aesop’s Fable – The Father and His Sons (Content): http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_aesop_father_sons.htm 

3. The Communication Process (Image): http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/CommunicationIntro.htm

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