The Consultant on Teamwork Challenges - CD-ROM covers issues of teamwork - Brief Article

Training & Development, Sept, 2000 by Jan Hayes

The Consultant on Teamwork Challenges CD-ROM offers practical methods for handling 10 common issues that impede teams, including clarity of purpose, roles, meeting management, conflict, group dynamics, member behavior, and decision making.

Learners can review all 10 topics in 44 minutes of continuous play or focus on individual issues. For additional review, each lesson uses a Q&A section and action steps; however, the same questions are used for every topic.

From a content perspective, the producers have succeeded in identifying common issues that plague teams, and the program delivers practical advice. But teams that have received good basic teambuilding training may find this information redundant and helpful as a process check tool only.

Technically, the installation was trouble free, but the eye-straining soft video images and slightly jerky movements were distracting. At times, I found myself wishing I could just pop in a video. However, a tape wouldn't give me the flexibility to select topics out of order with a simple mouse click. I did experience some delays and frozen screens when I jumped between lessons. Though that might be an anomaly with this CD or my computer, the same thing happened during a preview version. Overall, the medium was good, but the image quality needed improvement.

I would recommend this program to organizations that need a self-study tool for teams. Teams will find it helpful, regardless of their particular problem, to review and refresh processes that can sometimes compromise their effectiveness. But for organizations that need a basic team training package, this isn't your best resource.

Whether used as a self-study package or as a tool for trainers and consultants, it's a practical tool for diagnosing team ailments and prescribing first aid.

Order information: The Consultant on Teamwork Challenges, CD-ROM, 1999, VideoLearning Systems: 800.622.3610, videolrn.com. Purchase US$795.

The Consultant on Teamwork Challenges

*** Ease of installation

*** Holds user interest

** Production quality

*** Degree of interactivity

*** Value of content

**1/2 Instructional value

** Value for the money

NA Documentation

*** Overall rating