Teambuilding and Problem Solving in the Workplace

220 pages, softbound Price: $15.95 (Minimum order 20 books) ISBN 0-9660869-1-0 Order a sample

This book is designed for students at any level. All team issues and problem situations are workplace-oriented and age-independent.

The content is the same as that used by co-author Dan Farley in his full-time job as a Human Resource Training Manager at Cisco Systems in Silicon Valley, so you can be sure the material is state-of-the-art and valued by employers.

The text is divided into two parts:

1. Part One: Teambuilding
2. Part Two: Problem Solving

Part One: Teambuilding

The first half of the book provides students fundamental skills and tools they can use to be a valued member of any team. The material focuses on two primary areas:

• Team roles
• Team goals

Through extensive exercises the student understands the different roles of members of a workplace team, and how the creation and execution of goals and objectives is one of the primary factors of team success. The student will also learn other important teambuilding skills such as:

• Making meetings effective
• Facilitating meetings
• Making decisions as teams

Part Two: Problem Solving

The second half of the book provides practical problem solving skills that can be used to approach and solve almost any problem presented in the workplace. A five-step approach is introduced to the student.

1. Problem identification
2. Finding a root cause
3. Selecting a solution
4. Implementing a solution
5. Monitoring the solution

Throughout this half of the book, a visit to the doctor is used as an analogy to make these concepts understandable and accessible to the students.  The same steps a doctor would used to identify and solve a health problem are the same steps used to solve workplace problems. This analogy demystifies problem solving, and also promotes retention of the concepts.

Working through extensive exercises for each of these steps, students learn other critical skills such as:

• Creation and interpretation of charts and graphs
• Group decision-making skills

Table of Contents from Teambuilding and Problem Solving in the Workplace

Part One - Teambuilding

• What Is a Team?
• Lost on the Moon Exercise
• Basic Team Roles
• Being a Facilitator
• Helpful Team Roles
• Communicating with Teammates
• Building Consensus
• Setting Team Goals
• Holding Effective Meetings
• Team Leadership

Part Two - Problem Solving

• Identifying the Problem
  • Who Is the Customer?
• Finding the Root Cause
  • Making Observations
  • Interviewing People
  • Putting It in a Picture
    • Run Charts
    • Pareto Charts
    • Problem Maps
  • Identifying the Root Cause
• Selecting a Solution
• Implementing a Solution
• Monitoring Your Solution

Work Skills Associates 712 Matadero Avenue | Palo Alto, CA 94306 Phone (650) 493-8718 | Fax (650) 493-2887 dfarley@workskills.net