In college in project my team refused to do anything, my counter measures too harsh?

arleitiss

Deleted User wrote: »

You'll probably have a project in your 3rd or 4th year, where either your lecturers will put you together or you'll pick your own team. Something else you could do is instead of appointing yourself as the leader, put it to a vote.

Then make sure you all sit down for an afternoon and discuss your backgrounds, your skills, strengths and weaknesses, so people can be assigned tasks based on these. In a previous project, I found I was the best at coding, someone else at design, and someone else at the marketing/business/documentation side, so we assigned everything around these. Everybody felt comfortable with what they were doing.

Also in year 3: 1st semester is team project and 2nd semester is work placement.
4th year is a solo final project (thank god) where you have to develop something big as usually Paul Rellis (CEO/Manager/Director [not sure specifically] of Microsoft Ireland) is coming to college and giving offers and looks at best final year projects)

Solair

I think the main thing is to treat it as a learning experience.
You've learnt (the hard way) about team formation and the potential pitfalls of project management.

It's one to remember when someone asks you how you overcame a problem when you're in a job interview in 2 years time!

Main thing is get it done.

You need to sit down as a group and figure out a strategy (in a nice, cooperative way) to achieve the completion of the project.

If its a problem ask for an extension and meet with your lecturer / tutor ASAP.

Don't hand it in late or incomplete if avoidable.

Most lecturers are very reasonable people and understand these things happen .

Believe me, they regularly happen in academia at the highest levels and in work situations !!

Main thing is chill, step back a bit and analyse what's gone wrong and work out a mutually agreed strategy for getting on with it!

Maybe just all grab lunch? Go for a pint or something to calm troubled waters!

PizzamanIRL

OP you need to relax.

arleitiss

Solair wrote: »

I think the main thing is to treat it as a learning experience.
You've learnt (the hard way) about team formation and the potential pitfalls of project management.

It's one to remember when someone asks you how you overcame a problem when you're in a job interview in 2 years time!

Main thing is get it done.

You need to sit down as a group and figure out a strategy (in a nice, cooperative way) to achieve the completion of the project.

If its a problem ask for an extension and meet with your lecturer / tutor ASAP.

Don't hand it in late or incomplete if avoidable.

Most lecturers are very reasonable people and understand these things happen .

Believe me, they regularly happen in academia at the highest levels and in work situations !!

Main thing is chill, step back a bit and analyse what's gone wrong and work out a mutually agreed strategy for getting on with it!

Maybe just all grab lunch? Go for a pint or something to calm troubled waters!

As mentioned before, I offered to stay back lots of times, but after class ends many just run off I don't even get a chance to say bye, and no! it's not because they are running from me, it was like this in semester 1, when I knew these guys, from any class at any day they just run off like in a rush or something, I thought they have jobs or so, so over past few months I've been taking to them, one of group members runs off on thursday because he has job (I never stop him, I don't mind, it's a paid job afterall), other person runs off on wednesdays (job as well), and one person runs off every day because he wants to catch a specific train which is like 10 minutes after class finished and next train is usually in 2 hours time so he doesn't want to wait.

Personal reasons - I agree, I have no right to stop them.

As you wrote:
Main thing is get it done. - That's what I thought I should've done in start of semester, given tasks to people and their bits, and tell them final delivery deadline, and they can work the way they want, but it seems I went the **** way.

Giblet

Here's the problem. You are trying to show off and the project you chose is too difficult. I understand you love programming, and want to do your best. In group projects, you need to plan a project that everyone can contribute to, and by valour of your skills, make that the best project it can be even if it has limited scope. Creating games and such is nice and all, hell my own project was a 3d engine and I had all the Microsoft attention yadda yadda, but that was my 4th year project, and I worked alone. Every other project I did, I ensured that everyone could do their part, and we all got A's due to the fact it was a well executed project. Not software, the project as a whole. That includes how the team works together and the documentation. You are far better off doing your own personal projects, and cruising through the exams and turn in excellent results with your stuff. Remember that you are probably dedicating 5 times the effort for a single project than any other exam you may have, even with a higher credit bias. You will do fine as a programmer, but in the real world, programming is only half the battle sometimes.

Pinewoo

There's a lot of negativity directed towards the OP from people here (myself included in earlier posts) so I'd just like to contribute something positive now in relation to the "big picture". The future of the IT industry in Ireland (which keeps us all in jobs) depends on our colleges and universities producing high-quality graduates who are industry ready, and OP - it's refreshing to see someone with your enthusiasm and motivation about software and like others said - once you get your degree you will have no problem getting a graduate position.

This applies both to the large multinationals (who need a continuous stream of high-quality graduates), and even more to the smaller companies who may not have the resources to file visas for importing foreign workers.

Keep on truckin' is what I'm trying to say here.

Chucky the tree

arleitiss wrote: »

Yes they will be giving reflections, when I posted all deadlines etc.. I encouraged them to go onto college network and where in forum I posted all deadlines (seen by my group and lecturers) I encouraged them to write do they think it's fair or not, and why.
Some said it's fair measures and one girl said it's unfair and complete crap.
.

arleitiss wrote: »

Another question appears: Why the hell do they not say anything? I said that they should write if they think it's fair or not, I asked their opinions, I always ask their opinions on my parts, they never say anything.

Did you change the deadlines when the girl said it was complete crap?

will.i.am

Well OP most people on here feel that your team leading skills are poor and you are a poor motivator.
In my past experience of teams there is always one person who does very little and there is very little you can about that. I have being on many teams in college and they always have being a success and we always got on grand. I was a team leader of 9 people before and everything ran smoothly. We had a group meeting every 2 weeks discussed any issues and if anybody needed help and if they did we sorted the problem and that was that we all went out for a drink that night no matter what the issues were they were forgotten about.
I know a girl who sounds exactly like you who was a team leader in the past and here team found here very bossy and could not stand here so they went off and did there own project and when they had to submit there project they just told the lecturer that ****** was impossible to work with and refused to listen to there suggestions etc. Be careful this doesn't happen to you.

Jack B. Badd

Pinewoo wrote: »

The future of the IT industry in Ireland (which keeps us all in jobs) depends on our colleges and universities producing high-quality graduates who are industry ready, and OP - it's refreshing to see someone with your enthusiasm and motivation about software and like others said - once you get your degree you will have no problem getting a graduate position.

He also needs the ability to work as part of a team (especially if he has aspirations to management) and this isn't coming across. Part of it is possibly age, a few years in a professional environment will hopefully knock the edges off him. But to get and keep a job he needs to prove that he is a manageable resource and a team player. If he's a brilliant programmer who can't work well with others then he's going to have a hell of a time in most professional environments.

arleitiss

Just got home, was on interview for intership for summer, and surprise surprise..... The guy I was interviewed by was project manager for many projects in his life, hes' been into teachings a lot too, and after showing him application that we are making, I explained everything and said everything as it is, he said that it looks like a pretty much completed application. He also told me that I will be able to learn a lot from working in their company including leadership skills. So guess that's one way to go as well. Got accepted.
Starting from next week I will work part time as software developer/website developer and bit of media, and from 15th of may (when my exams finish) I will work full time day to day. Guess this will give me more experience in all kinds of things..
He said pretty much same thing as everyone here, that I don't have a proper required leadership developed yet but it can be improved while working there as this guy has been into teaching lots of times on different courses and has long history of educations/developments of projects/media and so.

Not sure if everyone thinks this direction or just my course but: I don't care that intership isn't paid job, I need experience to get proper job. So hope that will make next academic year bit easier.

ivytwine

First off congrats on the internship! It'll be a great experience for you.

As you have seen for post after post, you have handled this project badly. I'm not going to go into all that as plenty of other people have given you excellent advice.

However OP have you considered that your teammamtes are simply last minute people? You have three weeks to go before this project gets handed up. I know when I was in college I did practically everything the night before.

You really do need to calm down and relax about this stuff. You have another two years to go, you will give yourself heart failure by the end of fourth year. College is about education, of course it is, but it's also a place to learn life lessons, gain experience and have fun!

Good luck

will.i.am

I wish you the best with your internship.
Just a bit of advice for you. You say the word I a lot and there is no I in team!!

omahaid

Hi OP, I had a similarish problem when doing my own computer science degree. I took the hit and did most of the work myself. Fortunately the team recognised this and as we were allowed decide how the percentage should be divided they gave me credit for my work.

The software business in Ireland is very small, your reputation starts in college and networking is vital. I'd take the hit, either do the work yourself or take a bad grade.

Taltos

OK OP

This thread has gone on long enough.
5 pages of advice and criticism, some harsh, much constructive and yet you will not accept the key message all are trying to convey to you.
As a wrap up and as someone who works in the industry you are aiming towards can I sincerely request that at the end of this project you request full and honest feedback - preferably through your class tutor - it has to be anonymous and with no threat of retribution.

I think you have a chance of learning a lot from it.
Best of luck with the internship - please keep your mind open to other ways of doing things and don't focus quite so much on the goal, while important if you burn your bridges next time it will not be achievable at all.

All the best
Taltos

Thread closed!