This course is designed to improve cadets' understanding of human behavior in small group/team settings. Course content includes structural characteristics of teams such as size, status, roles and norms in addition to the effects of task and environment. Cadets then use their understanding of these constructs to analyze team phenomena such as cohesion, performance, decision making, problem solving and conflict resolution. We also devote a number of lessons to current issues such as electronic and virtual groups, high performance work teams and shared leadership in a team environment. The course is particularly relevant to professional development in that cadets gain a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of small group and team interaction. This allows them to develop and implement creative leader actions that will maximize unit/team effectiveness. |