Goal
The goal of the project is to figure out how Jessica works within a group to determine the best fit for her and explore topics she is interested
Rationale
The questions are structured in a way that explores her habits within a group. I think that a successful group is one without too many alphas. A variety of personalities in my experience has usually produced the most camaraderie. I also wanted to explore her limits on what she likes and dislikes for her topics. The questions will ask for noticeable, subconscious, and disinterested topics.
Transcript:
How active are you in a group and what role do you typically play?
I usually try to be fairly active when I’m participating in group projects. I usually play the researcher and designer. Sometimes I do want to take more of a leadership role, however, it really depends on if I’m passionate about the topic enough to take charge.
If there is a conflict within a group, what do you do?
I usually try to stay out of the conflict unless it is contributing to the group negatively. Then, I try my best to communicate well with every member and try to resolve the issue. Usually it’s just miscommunication and misunderstandings. I remind myself that teamwork teaches essential communication and social skills such as active listening and effective speaking. I think it’s important for team members to recognize that speaking is not the same as talking and listening.
How would your teammates describe you in a group setting?
I like to stay out of the spotlight and let the work do the talking. I always make sure I put in my best efforts.
What is your biggest pet peeve in a group project?
When someone doesn’t do any work and cancels scheduled meetings.
How headstrong are you about your ideas in a group discussion/direction for the project?
I try to be headstrong when it comes to topics I’m passionate about or know I have a lot of knowledge about.
Do you prefer random or chosen partners? Why? If you were the teacher, how would you arrange groups?
I prefer chosen partners because it’s a chance to meet new people and collaborate with people you’re not familiar with.
What topics are you passionate about and what topics could you care less about?
I’m passionate about health tech, data privacy, and sustainability. A topic that I could care less about is fashion.
What are some of the themes of your recent browser search history?
- NASA and space stuff
- Gamestop/stock market articles
- Honne (Band based in SF)….music?
- Mentorship
- Valentine ideas to do
Are you interested in exploring a topic you know nothing about?
I prefer to work on topics i’m interested in.
Analysis
Based on her responses it is clear that she would usually not assume leadership of the group, but will not tolerate slackers. I have sorted her responses into this empathy map to categorize her thoughts:
Her responses also show that she is a pacifist when it comes to maintaining group synergy. She values unity and collaboration over all else. During the group meetings, she will definitely have no problem when it comes to voicing her opinions on the direction of the project.
Her thoughts about topics seems to be a high priority. She has a relatively broad range of interested topics. However there are topics, such as fashion, that she prefers to not delve into. If she is uninterested in the topic, she will usually take on a more background teammate.
Insights
The level of interest in the topic will determine how big of a leadership role she will take.
She is interested in growing from new experiences in teamwork.
She is interested in Science and technology themes.
