Team Service Project Guidelines
(2011 Version)
# 1 All-Time Success Strategy: “Tackle the project early and often!”
Purpose. There are two primary purposes for having a team service project (TSP) in this course.
First, it is a means. It provides a context for you to apply many OB principles to a real situation—
including how to work effectively as a team. Second, the TSP is an end. That is, it gives an
opportunity to practice what we espouse—it gives a chance to serve others. In doing so, members
often experience a sense of deep personal satisfaction. These are the reasons I ask for the investment
you are making in the TSP
TSP Requirements. Each of the following requirements must be satisfied in your selection of a
project to receive maximum points:
a. The recipient(s) of your efforts should assess your project as having direct and personal
value to them. Your project must have impact for at least one other human being that you
personally interact with. (The evaluation rubric requires that teams make the case that the
recipient(s) have drawn this conclusion. This requirement rules out projects do not directly focus on a
directly personal need like recycling projects, fundraisers, collection drives, Humane Society, or
projects that provide indirect assistance to your recipient(s). It is also intended to rule out providing
assistance to some worthy worker, manager, or official working in, or for, some worthy organization.
b. Proposed projects must be perceived as being worthwhile for team members. Did the team
effectively make the case that the project was worthwhile? Projects that are challenging—those that
had goals that stretched the team are worthwhile. Projects that challenged the team are assessed as
worthwhile. It is often a good idea to allow each member time in the presentation to give their
personal evaluation.
c. Projects must be an intact whole. That is, the team must identify a specific human need,
develop a plan to address the need—from scratch! Then, the team carries out the plan to completion.
This guideline rules-out participation in, or contributing to, an existing organizations and its projects,
or environmental projects. Would working with a Habitat for Humanity homeowner around an intact
project like conducting the final exterior landscaping work? Probably, as long as the project is taken all
the way from design and resourcing to completion of the project.
d. Projects should include a sustainability component. In most cases teams should be able to
conduct the project in such a way that some of the team’s goals might be achieved in an ongoing way.
For example, if a goal was to get neighbors to know each other better and perhaps that neighbors might
be involved with the recipient in the long-term, how might the project be crafted to increase the
likelihood that this might happen?
e. Students must secure appropriate resources for projects without incurring any personal
expense.
Keys to Success.
Take EVERY opportunity to get to know each other early in the course… take team exercises
seriously—and develop reliable communication mechanisms.
Pursue several alternatives relying heavily on face-to-face meetings until you determine final
“feasibility, suitability and acceptability” of a project. Avoid a premature decision. Avoid emails, and
telephone coordination as you investigate potential projects.
Choose a project that is big enough to involve all members that challenges the entire team.
Think big—take a risk. Risk taking is always rewarded in this course! Remember, “big”
results do not always require “big” effort. Why might this be true?
Once a project is identified invest in detailed planning always looking for the ‘magis.”
Limitations. Avoid work projects that post unreasonable safety risks. Risks might include physical
situations that might endanger team members or others. Discuss risks with the instructor.
First Meeting to Discuss the TSP (I suggest that this occur after the Team Charter Meeting.)
- Decide how to proceed. Talk about how the team will decide(!) on a project.
- Identify potential goals for the TSP? In other words, identify what each of the team wants to get
out of the project. Identify specific, attainable, measurable and worthwhile goals. Goals focus
not just on what we will do, but also, how we will go about it—the “means” matter.
- Candidly discuss your personal priorities and schedule for the semester.
- Assess ways you are most suited to contribute (role clarification—review Strengths).
- How should we go about identifying potential projects? Have members commit to individually
developing at least 2 viable alternative ideas for a project.
- Develop a set of criteria for what a viable project should include. Decide how to decide!
- Draw upon member’s contacts in the community-develop a wide network.
- Seek to broaden your networks as they for donor base to assist in finding “resources.”
- Develop a timeline to guide your early efforts… and stick to it.
- Think about how accountability will be established for each deliverable.
- Above all else…. Remember rule #1 (at the very top).
- Commit to face-to-face meetings with potential project facilitators.
Where Might We Get Ideas?
- Talk with friends. Ask about volunteer organizations that they are involved with.
- Look through the various local and metropolitan wide civic directories.
- Blue pages in phone books—call local governments.
- Previous Service Project reports (see instructor)
- Look up “non-profits in KC” on the Web.
- Make lots of calls—but mostly visits to ask who might know in a worthy situation!
- Look into the ideas that the University’s Service Learning Center might have.
Subsequent Meetings.
- Keep as many potential projects “in the hunt” for as long as possible.
- Make it a point to meet face-to-face with appropriate points of contact in prospective project
organizations. (not all members need attend, but, as many as possible should)
- Are we holding each other accountable for commitments and plans we agreed to?
- Be sure that you have enough information in order to make a decision about your project.
Once a Project is Selected.
- Meet on-site face-to-face with recipient(s)—as soon as possible. This is imperative and will be a
big help in refining your plans.
- Develop/refine specific aims/goals that might allow for more participation by other members
of the community—you don’t have to do all the work yourself! Involving others allows them to
be a participant!
- Ensure that the sustainability goal is addressed.
- Seek to conduct the activity/work as early as possible.
“Detailed planning and flexibility in execution” are keys to success.