Each team has two drivers and they travel with both of them to every race around the world in an effort to help them achieve the best possible result. Some are deployed to take care and maintain tyres, while others like technicians are trained to repair the cars quickly when they are damaged in racing accidents.
There are also other key specialists who monitor the performance of the cars on track through computers linked to satellites or plot strategies for the drivers. On race days there is also a crew of about 20 men who are highly trained to refuel and change tyres for the cars when they get into the pitlane in the fastest time possible.
Most of the interaction during a race is done via headphones from the garage and pitwall to the driver on track to guide him on his race position, his fuel levels, as well as engine and tyre performance
This brings us to the second element of a group: goal orientation. Each member in the team has the responsibility to perform his task with the main goal of attaining first position. Everything is well-rehearsed so that every member is geared towards achieving the highest possible coordination with the team as the slightest error can mean the difference between winning and losing.
Although the driver is the focus of fans, his teammates are very much a part of his success. During a pit stop, it is their efforts to re-fuel and perfect the car within the shortest possible time, that play a vital role in getting him to the finish first. With a common goal, teammates are geared to help each other to succeed and bring out the best in each one of them.
The structure within a group determines whether a team is able to achieve the optimum result. In the case of a Formula 1 race team, a clear division of sub-groups exists to prevent a clash of responsibilities, especially on the day of the race. Different classes of work are assigned to specific members who will then carry them out within their respective sub-groups. In the end, winning a race or the title is a team effort. While the driver take centrestage, a lot goes on behind the scenes that help get him there, and these people are equally the champions as the driver is.
I highly agree that clear divisions are important in ensuring that the same work is not done twice and ensures little work overlaps each other. this will greatly ensure that time and effort are maximized and any work done is not gone to waste.
ReplyDeleteAs in the many projects we have done in school, we also assign different parts of the requirements to each member so that minimal work can be done to achieve maximum results.
i also feel that team work is gettin more and more important in daily life as we get more and more interdependent on one another in the global village.
I think that group performance and communication absolutely determines the performance of any group or organization. In many ways, things cannot be done alone. From air travel, to soccer in a field and even giving a hi-5, you need two hands to do so.
ReplyDeleteHowever the one difference from giving a hi-5 and F1 racing or a team sport for example would be a good leader in a team. In sports the leader we are talking about would be the manager of the team or in closer context, the captain. Good leadership also governs the results and performance of a team. If a leader is a good motivator, he can steer his men to the bearing they need to go towards to achieve the goal. The leaders can groom and manage their men so that when it comes down to the crunch, the team will be able to effectively utilize their teamwork knowing their roles, and guided when they loose sight of their task. Indeed communication top to bottom and even from bottom to top will give any team an edge.
i definately agree on having one who is motivated to lead the group to excel. a leader is needed for organization within the group so each memeber can be clear of their task and specific role to perform.
ReplyDeleteAnje also made a valid comment where in today's society, contacts are essential due to a rise in a globalized interdependent network.
ReplyDeleteYes, eventually a group effort pays off way beter than just individuals working along. Also, with each member of the group assigned to different roles, we make sure that that groupwork turns out to be efficient. Apart from F1 Racing, even obvious groups like bands have their own frontman, drummer, basist, guitarist, etc. Even if all the members are singers, they are each in charge of a certain part of the song/performance.
ReplyDeletePlus, the role of a leader also helps to keep each member on track and not stray off. Remember the survey we did in comms on what type we are? The 'process' people usually end up doing such tasks, but that doesn't mean the 'ideas' or the 'people' can't play important roles in the group(:
Marilyn,
ReplyDeleteI think Formula 1 provides with a good example that no man is an island. Whether it is in motor racing or other things in everyday life, like getting a degree, we can’t achieve it alone. We depend on a team-mate, teacher, family and sometimes friends to achieve our goals.
Although the driver in an F1 team is the person who wins the race in the end, each team member has his own goal to achieve. The guy who changes the tyre of the car when it comes into the pits has the goal of making sure he puts the new one correctly into the car, but he depends on other team members to make sure the tyres are the right size and condition. He may have a hire goal of getting promoted in the team to do something better and can only achieve this if his superiors recognise his good work and move him higher in the team.
Similarly, while we may work hard in school or in our jobs, it will depend on others to recognise what we do before they promote us to allow us to move to the next level. This is another way of looking at team work and the reality that we cannot live as though we are alone in this world.
For a team to work well, there must be a strong leader who is not afraid to make bold decisions that run the risk of failure. Many leaders are too passive and the biggest mistake they can ever make is try and please everyone, which can only result in wishy-washy decisions and huge mistakes.
ReplyDeleteA good leader is one who can convince the team of his decisions and to follow him without hesitation or argument. In a sport like F1 this is crucial and makes the difference between winning and losing.
I feel that the choice of F1 to depict group communication is an excellent one. As mentioned, the F1 teams consists of a large group however, very well organized where each member has an important role to fulfil. A lot of media attention though focuses on the driver, giving a false impression that the he holds the most responsibility of allowing his team to win. At the end of the day, everyone know who Lewis Hamilton is but unaware of the men behind the scenes, those who made it possible for him to achieve first. Then again, it is probably due to the fact that there are many techinicians, computer personnel but only one driver.
ReplyDeleteThat aside, the idea of working in a group seems necessary as one person cannot possibly drive and yet change his own tyres and refuel his own car. All in all, team effort seems evident in this case.
I think we can see a great example of group communication in a family. Everyone have their specific role in making sure that the home they live in is comfortable and promote happiness. If no one is given the task to tidy it or cook or buy meals, it will be a miserable place to live in. And at least someone, usually the father, has got to make sure he earns enough to keep the family going. The best run family is one where everyone contributes to make it a happy home, and not leave everything to one person.
ReplyDeleteGood topic, Marilyn.
ReplyDeleteGood team-work is the spine of any successful outfit and society, and it comes through good group communication. I think we can take it on a larger scale to see how a country is administered. When a government does not communicate its policies well to all its agencies and its people, chaos will erupt, especially when leaders are more concerned with their well-being. There is enough examples of Third World countries, where poverty is commonplace. On the other hand, a country may have people with differing opinions and ideas, but when its leaders are able to come out with good policies and communicate them to its people that it can make the right decisions and to get them to work for it, society will prosper.