Embedded Files
together, everyone achieves more
together, everyone achieves more
Team Decision Making is one of the most important skills that we as emerging professionals in the field of landscape architecture can develop. It is a skill which is required across many disciplines, especially those which involve the design process. As landscape architects, we work with other LA's, engineers, city planners, horticulturalists, ecologists, landscape companies, contractors, and, of course, clients. The ability to work well in a team is perhaps the most important skill throughout the entirety of the design process. Working in a team encourages design creativity, ensures quality of work, and enhances communication among professionals. One of the most important aspects of working well in a team or group setting is the ability to make decisions as a team.
learning the skill
learning the skill
Here are seven important strategies to team decision-making, according to Harvard Business Review:
When it comes to making important decisions, maintain a small group of decision-makers
Diversity in a group or team benefits the decision-making process
Appoint one or two 'Devils' Advocates'
Collect a team's individual opinions before collaborating as a group
Ensure that the team space is a safe space
Research when necessary - do not blindly trust expert opinions
Share collective responsibility
After a quick literature review, and using my own experience from teamwork in this Community Landscape Lab setting, I have created a step-by-step list of how to achieve good team decision-making below:
Define and understand the problem
Define roles of individuals and expectations of the team
Confirm a timeframe of work: create deadlines and update these deadlines as needed throughout the process
Solutions: brainstorming as a team requires the following considerations
Expect and manage disagreements
Create a safe space to share ideas and foster creativity
Encourage critical thinking and challenge solutions
Narrow-down solutions. Strategies to do this may include pro/con lists, outside opinions, or team meetings
Deliverables: assign and create deliverables necessary to showcase the agreed-upon solution
method in action
method in action
In the Community Landscape Lab, the Bigger Vision team applied team decision-making to their design process very well. This is described in further detail below.
Bigger Vision Project Introduction
Bigger Vision Project Introduction
A team of three landscape architect students worked with the staff of Bigger Vision Homeless Shelter in Athens, GA, to design a landscape plan for Bigger Vision. The students worked with the staff of the site as well as performed multiple outreach activities to involve the guests of the shelter in the design process. Team decision making was used in all phases of this project. It was utilized by the design team amongst each other, when discussing ideas with the clients (Bigger Vision staff), and when engaging the guests in the project design. Team decision making was necessary for all steps of the design process and among all stakeholder groups because it allowed for the project to move forward at a consistent pace, and for each group to get a chance to share ideas and mold the design to fit their wants and needs.
Team Decision Making in the Project
Team Decision Making in the Project
The Bigger Vision design team applied Team Decision Making skills through the following strategies:
Consistent and Clear Communication
Checks and Balances
Divide and Conquer
Shared Responsibility and Investment
Consistent and clear communication was enacted among the design group as well as between the design group and the clients. Client communication was mainly acheived through email. 'Checks and Balances' refers to the quality control system implaced in the design team: the three designers laid eyes on everything the others produced, to ensure that no mistakes were passed along to the clients. 'Divide and Conquer' refers to the system implaced by the design team regarding deliverables: when the client or professor required a deadline, the design team divided the necessary renderings, plans, etc. among themselves to assure the deadline would be met. The most important key to the design group's success, however, was a shared responsibility and investment in the project. Because all three students were interested in the success of the project, work was evenly distributed and the project moved forward efficiently and effectively.
Outcomes
Outcomes
The Bigger Vision design team's successful team decision-making skills allowed for the project to move forward efficiently and effectively. Consistent communication and input from the clients allowed for the design to meet client needs and satisfaction levels. Successful teamwork within the design team fostered creativity of design ideas in such a small site, such as a 'positive message board' and beautiful murals. This skill also allowed for a successful planting palate which will survive the climate and microclimates of the site. The team decision-making skills were useful in keeping the project at a consistent pace; this skill was never not-useful in the design process.
Reflection
Reflection
Lessons learned from utilizing team decision-making processes in the Bigger Vision design process include:
Make sure everyone is on the same page, always. From defining roles in a design group to expectations from a client, the most important take-away from our experience working well as a team was that everyone should always be on the same page. No person left behind.
Encourage critical thought. No design will be successful without a boss, professor, teammate, or client to question its reasoning. The benefit of having teammates is to question design decisions, which is a necessary process to design quality assurance. A safe space is necessary for this to be accomplished, and mutual respect among designers.
Shared sense of responsibility. The Bigger Vision project would not have been such a success if it not had been for the sense of responsibility among all three design students. Because these students shared the interest in the success of the project, they all did their best to ensure the success of the project, while maintaining respect for the clients, respect for the guests, and respect for each other.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse