NEADS Team Case Study
The entire framework of the National Education for Assistance Dog Services program is built on the concept of teamwork. Appropriate puppies are first identified and suggested for selection by breeders and workers in animal shelters. At around 8 weeks old the puppies arrive at the Laura J. Niles Early Learning Center and begin training for socialization. For approximately 90-95% of the puppies inmate trainers located in correctional facilities across New England are typically the next teammates that make a 12-18 month commitment to continue the training process and continue the socialization process ("NEADS, Dogs for deaf and disabled Americans," n.d.). After specific training for the dog is completed to match the needs of the future client
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The team has achieved high levels of cohesion and are committed to a common as described by Sheila O’Brien. The team cohesion is supported by the high levels of interdependence of each group on the next group involved in the process, each step is dependent on the one being successfully completed before. One characteristic of the team that displays cohesive qualities are having clearly defined team member roles and responsibilities – specific parts of the training process are done by specific individual people. Another example of an effective cohesive characteristics is the high level of communication during the training process. For instance, the “staff receives weekly progress reports from weekend volunteer puppy raisers and prison inmates, monthly progress reports from full-time puppy raisers, and additional documentation from volunteer veterinarians and trainers” ("NEADS | Dogs for deaf and disabled Americans," n.d.). Having the detailed information allows the NEADS staff to have current information on each dog and identify more accurate client matches ensuring success. In order to facilitate cohesion the NEADS team relies on each other in a strong pattern of team-member exchange that Lussier and Achua (2016) describe as social exchanges with peers involving “mutual
The team has achieved high levels of cohesion and are committed to a common as described by Sheila O’Brien. The team cohesion is supported by the high levels of interdependence of each group on the next group involved in the process, each step is dependent on the one being successfully completed before. One characteristic of the team that displays cohesive qualities are having clearly defined team member roles and responsibilities – specific parts of the training process are done by specific individual people. Another example of an effective cohesive characteristics is the high level of communication during the training process. For instance, the “staff receives weekly progress reports from weekend volunteer puppy raisers and prison inmates, monthly progress reports from full-time puppy raisers, and additional documentation from volunteer veterinarians and trainers” ("NEADS | Dogs for deaf and disabled Americans," n.d.). Having the detailed information allows the NEADS staff to have current information on each dog and identify more accurate client matches ensuring success. In order to facilitate cohesion the NEADS team relies on each other in a strong pattern of team-member exchange that Lussier and Achua (2016) describe as social exchanges with peers involving “mutual