[DeletedUser]

Workshop 3

1. Why does the Varsity Team lose to the JV Team?

The Varsity Team loses to the JV Team because the Varsity boat does not have any leaders on it, as well as too many disrupters. While the crew of the Varsity boat had the best metrics for strength, Coach P. failed to account for the chemistry of the crew, and how well they worked together. Quite accidentally, the coach also created a great crew for the JV boat, who bonded together and consistently worked to improve their strength and technique. The fact that the JV crew started beating the Varsity crew on a regular basis only served to reduce the Varsity’s morale further, allowing the disrupters on the boat to reduce spirits even further.

2. What should the Coach P. have done differently earlier in the season to resolve this problem? Exactly what point should he have intervened differently?

Coach P. should have placed his rowers differently. He selected only based off of individual performance data, but when operating in a team sport, individual strength is not the only thing that matters. The coach should have observed how different crews worked together for a longer amount of time instead of stopping his decision making process once he figured out who the strongest rowers were. He should have found the strongest leader to be the crew captain regardless of strength, and placed the disrupters on the JV boat even if they were among the eight strongest rowers.

3. At the end of the case, what action should Coach P. take on Tuesday? Why do you recommend this action? How should he implement this action?

It was a bit disappointing that the results from the Nationals weren’t included in this case study. If I were in Coach P.’s shoes, I would have swapped the JV and Varsity titles before the big race. After their picnic table meeting, it was clear that no amount of coaching was going to undo a whole season of morale rot on the Varsity team. They likely still would have done well at the JV level, seeing as they were still the strongest rowers overall. Meanwhile, the JV team continued to improve their skills and morale throughout the season. If the Varsity team was finishing the middle of the pack in their races, and the JV team was commonly beating the Varsity, then they certainly would have done well at the Varsity level instead.

[DeletedUser]

Great points made here Phillip. To many headstrong individuals that all think they know they are the boss and this definitely creates a rift among them all. Its quick for this to escalate to the downward spiral they are feeling and cohesion as a unit goes right out the window as blaming will inevitably raise its head and create even more of a rift.

[DeletedUser]

Assignment Questions for the Army Crew Team case.

1. Why does the Varsity Team lose to the JV team?

They thought they had the JV licked from the get just in the fact that they were picked as first stringers. They lost from the beginning in just their mindset.

2. What should Coach P. have done differently earlier in the season to resolve this problem? Exactly what point should he have intervened differently?

He should have put them into the field to see how they all performed and made his decision from that. Coach should have done this at the very beginning instead of relying on objective data.

3. At the end of the case, what action should Coach P. take on Tuesday? Why do you recommend this action? How should he implement this action? Please be specific.

Depends on if he wants the better rowers to try and win. Odds are 66% in favor of the JV team being the better team to compete, and if the Varsity team is feeling the downward spiral, they most likely won’t be bringing their “A” Game and the JV team wants to prove themselves. He should have them row against each other again and best two out of three goes on to the real event. This gives everyone something to fight for, might bring the varsity out of their funk and would probably be viewed as fair.

4. How would you compare the Army Crew team to other types of organizational teams? What are the key similarities and differences? What lessons can we learn from the Army Crew Teams?

Its easy to get locked into a certain way of doing things and by thinking you are at the top and not keeping an open mind, it can be easy to get passed by. This applies to all avenues that we may find ourselves in in life. If we aren’t careful, we will reap the rewards of Hubris.

[DeletedUser]

Giving the Varsity team a two out of three challenge is a better option than just switching the team titles outright. It gives everybody a chance to redeem themselves before the big race. Having an open mind in any situation is key to avoiding situations like Coach P. found himself in.