Group+Meetings-+Survey+Results

   ==USER STUDY Survey Questions/Results ==

1. What kind of work are you doing? Candidate 1 : I am doing group work for my Hotel Management Program. The class is called Introduction to Lodging & Accommodation and the group project is opening an Intercontinental Hotel. Candidate 2: I work in the fitness industry, selling my service, preventative maintenance, and giving quotations to clients. Candidate 3: School, business meetings. Candidate 4: Creating presentations.

2. How many people usually meet? Candidate 1 : Five. Candidate 2: Anywhere from 2 to 7 people. Candidate 3: Five. Candidate 4: Four or five.

3. What sort of environment is most preferable when meeting/working with others? Candidate 1 : The library, or cafeteria. Candidate 2: In my office or their office. Candidate 3: A quiet environment. Candidate 4: A coffee place or home.

4. How long are your meetings? Candidate 1 : About Half an hour. Candidate 2: Anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. Candidate 3: Approximately 30 minutes to an hour. Candidate 4: Around half a day.

5. What would make your meeting more productive? (Tools, etc.) Candidate 1 : Access to more computers, because it is usually busy at the times that we can meet. Candidate 2: A tape recorder to tape our meetings would be more helpful since writing notes takes up time. Candidate 3: Creative input from every member, if everyone would contribute. Candidate 4: More computers.

6. Are there designated roles assigned to each member in the meeting? If so, what are they? Candidate 1 : Yes, there is a list of tasks that need to be done for the project and they are each worth a certain amount of marks. We evenly distribute what we are all in charge of so that everyone's responsibilities are equal and so that everyone is responsible for the same amount of marks. Candidate 2: The meetings are usually conducted by one person, discussing the tasks for the week, and then we assign the role of lead installer and someone who is in charge of loading the trucks. Candidate 3: No, everyone contributes ideas, if they have any. Candidate 4: Recorder of information, task delegator, itinerary, etc. Candidate 5: Candidate 6:

7. What are the most common distractions for you when doing group work/having a meeting? Candidate 1 : A noisy atmosphere. It is hard to concentrate when a lot is going on around you. Candidate 2: The phones ringing in the office. Candidate 3: Everyone bringing a laptop to the meeting and not paying attention. Candidate 4: Food, chatting, too many opinions.

8. Are there specific organizational methods that are utilized during meetings to ensure that everything gets done (lists, timekeeping, etc.) Candidate 1 : Yes, everyone is assigned a number of tasks and each week we discuss what we will have done by the next meeting. Candidate 2: Yes, we make checklists for the tasks that need to be completed for the week, and we have a schedule board where we refer to the job appointments that have been made. Candidate 3: Yes, a pre-set itinerary Candidate 4: Lists and agendas.

9. What technologies are commonly used when doing group work/having a meeting? Candidate 1 : The computer (email) and telephone. Candidate 2: Pen and paper, whiteboard, and the computer. Candidate 3: Laptops. Candidate 4: Lists Candidate 5: Computers.

10. What are some of the common issues/problems that are encounter with group meetings? Candidate 5: • Finding a place to meet, as well as a common time that works well with everybody. • Being able to thoroughly write down all the information that is exchanged during the meeting, and distributing that information to all the group members. Making sure everyone attends. Candidate 6: • Developing a group agenda, making an agenda to follow to make sure the meetings have a defined schedule. • Making sure that the meetings stay on time. Developing an amount of time that each different topic should take, and sticking with that time. (Time slots) • Writing down everything that is said during a meeting. • Disorganization. • One topic seems to dominate (can get sidetracked during discussions = eating up time).

11. What does a successful group meeting look like? Candidate 5: • Meetings start and end on time (or before) • All of the topics of discussion get covered. • Information and ideas that are exchanged get written down and distributed to all the people who attend.