Look at the descriptions of the following four different work styles:

• Task-oriented people, who believe a group’s main job is to get down to business as soon as possible 

• Relational people, who believe that group work can be fun and that getting to know each other is part of the fun 

• Systematic decision makers, who believe in gathering all the facts and weighing them before deciding 

• Intuitive decision makers, who assess a situation instantly and leap to a conclusion

a. Each of the four work styles should be assigned to a different corner of the room. Then, without thinking about it too long or too hard, go to the corner of the room that represents the work style most like yours.

b. Elect a reporter to record your group’s responses and report to the class at the end of the session.

c. In five to six minutes, write down all the advantages people like you have to offer a group.

d. In five to six minutes, write down all the disadvantages people like you bring to a group.

e. Reconvene the class as a whole, and have each group report, first the advantages and then the disadvantages, while a class member or your teacher writes each one on the board for all to see.

f. After each group has presented its list, the other groups may add advantages or dis-advantages to the list.
g. Talk as a class about what you learned from this exercise and what you perceive can be the advantages of such diversity of approach represented in the group.