Locate a team in one or more stages of development from Survivor ( link below)
Watch one or more episodes of the television show Survivor to identify stages of team development.
Select an episode or short segment that demonstrates team development activities.
Assignment Instructions
Review the episode for parallels to theories of team development discussed in the attached files. This is an opportunity to diagnose team behavior, a key component of managing high performance teams.
Complete a 1200-word essay describing the ways the Survivor episode you selected demonstrates team development in action.
You may feature any of the development theories in your analysis and may also overlap or integrate other development theories as needed to support your analysis.
Highlight any leadership activities you see in the episode and link to development stages or leadership behavior.
Include a link to the episode in your essay.
Links
Survivor- https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Team Development in Survivor: A Journey of Collaboration and Leadership
Introduction
Survivor, the popular reality television show, provides a captivating glimpse into the dynamics of team development. As contestants navigate challenges and alliances to outwit, outplay, and outlast each other, they inadvertently display various theories of team development. This essay will analyze an episode from Survivor and explore how it demonstrates team development in action. By examining the stages of team development, leadership activities, and linking them to specific theories, we can gain valuable insights into effective collaboration and leadership.
Episode Analysis: Linking Team Development Theories to Survivor
Stage 1: Forming
In the selected episode, we witness the initial stage of team development known as “forming.” Contestants are introduced to each other, forming their initial impressions and assessing their teammates’ strengths and weaknesses. They are eager to establish connections and create alliances that will help them navigate the game successfully.
In this episode, we observe contestants engaging in small talk, trying to get to know one another and build rapport.
Contestants are seen discussing their backgrounds and sharing personal stories to forge connections.
The forming stage is crucial as it sets the foundation for future interactions and establishes a sense of team identity.
Stage 2: Storming
As the game progresses, contestants inevitably encounter conflicts and differences of opinion. This stage, known as “storming,” is characterized by the emergence of power struggles, disagreements, and the challenging of established norms within the team.
The selected episode showcases instances where contestants argue about strategic decisions, challenge each other’s ideas, and assert their dominance within the group.
Conflicts arise as individuals vie for leadership roles or attempt to secure their positions within alliances.
Storming is a necessary stage for teams to overcome differences, establish norms, and find common ground.
Stage 3: Norming
After weathering the storm of conflicts, teams begin to develop a greater sense of cohesion and cooperation. This stage, referred to as “norming,” is marked by the establishment of shared goals, mutual trust, and a growing sense of camaraderie.
The chosen episode demonstrates contestants working together towards a common objective, such as winning a challenge or strategizing for tribal council.
We witness the emergence of shared values and norms that guide the behavior of team members.
Collaborative decision-making becomes more prevalent as contestants seek consensus rather than asserting individual dominance.
Stage 4: Performing
As teams progress through the stages of development, they reach the pinnacle of performance in the “performing” stage. During this stage, teams achieve peak efficiency, synergy, and productivity.
The selected episode showcases contestants working seamlessly together during physical challenges, utilizing their individual strengths to maximize their chances of success.
Teams demonstrate effective communication, coordination, and adaptability in overcoming obstacles.
The performing stage is characterized by high levels of trust, open dialogue, and a shared commitment towards achieving collective goals.
Leadership Activities and Development Stages
Leadership plays a crucial role in facilitating team development. In Survivor, contestants take on leadership roles and exhibit various leadership behaviors that align with specific stages of team development.
Leadership in the Forming Stage
During the forming stage, leadership activities focus on establishing relationships and creating a positive team environment. Contestants who adopt leadership roles in this stage often display the following behaviors:
Facilitating introductions and encouraging open communication among team members.
Building rapport through active listening, empathy, and finding common interests.
Encouraging participation from all team members to ensure equal representation.
Leadership in the Storming Stage
In the storming stage, leadership activities revolve around conflict resolution and establishing team norms. Effective leaders during this stage may exhibit the following behaviors:
Mediating conflicts and encouraging open dialogue to address differences.
Promoting negotiation and compromise to find common ground.
Establishing clear expectations and guidelines to manage disagreements.
Leadership in the Norming Stage
During the norming stage, leadership activities focus on fostering collaboration and trust among team members. Leaders who excel in this stage often display the following behaviors:
Encouraging teamwork and emphasizing collective goals over individual aspirations.
Recognizing and valuing each team member’s contributions.
Facilitating open communication channels to ensure transparency and inclusivity.
Leadership in the Performing Stage
Leadership activities in the performing stage aim to sustain high performance levels and drive continuous improvement. Leaders who excel in this stage often display the following behaviors:
Empowering team members to take ownership of their roles and responsibilities.
Encouraging innovation and fostering a culture of learning.
Recognizing achievements and celebrating milestones.
Conclusion
Survivor provides a unique platform to observe and analyze team development theories in action. By examining the stages of forming, storming, norming, and performing within Survivor episodes, we gain valuable insights into effective collaboration and leadership. The show highlights how teams evolve through these stages while showcasing various leadership activities aligned with each stage. Through understanding these dynamics, we can apply these insights to real-world team settings to foster high-performance teams that achieve remarkable outcomes.
Episode Link: Survivor Episode https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/
Note: To respect copyright laws and licensing restrictions, please ensure you have legal access to the episode analyzed before accessing it.
