or prepares team members to work more effectively and/or efficiently in the group. The facilitator should therefore: 1) hold a series of introductory sessions in which team members identify themselves and their skill sets and agree via consensus on their individual roles and responsibilities; 2) develop tentative action plans to solve problems related to task requirements; and 3) establish a schedule for completion of individual and group tasks. By creating an atmosphere of mutual cooperation and assistance early in the life of the group, the facilitator will also establish open channels of communication (Ivancevich, 1998).
A second essential strategy for ensuring group success that depends upon the facilitator is developing and maintaining a schedule for task completion. The facilitator should take charge of the schedule and of the responsibility for identifying the methods to be used for solving problems. Scholl (1999, p. 1) r
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