Response to the case "A Difficult Task Force"

         For this formal task group, I think leadership and motivation were the main problems.  The group did not seem to feel committed or motivated toward accomplishing the goal at hand.  If I were a consultant working on this case, there are a few things I would recommend.  According to the four-step framework introduced in chapter 9 of our textbooks, this group is clearly in the first stage of group development: mutual acceptance.  The group members are from diverse backgrounds and locations and do not know eachother well.  However, Jose immediatley jumps into the work.  Perhaps the group members would have been more motivated, stimulated, and more comfortable sharing ideas if they had been allowed to finish the group development process.  If they had been allowed a brief introduction period for the members to mingle and introduce themselves, they may have performed better.  Allowing the group to progress through the stages of development will make the group more productive according to our group.  However, this is a pretty liberal and radical approach.  I think if I had been in Jose's position, like him I would have expected the others to get down to business immediately and when they didn't, I would not have simply allowed them to go play golf before the work was finished.  I think in this case, if Jose did not choose to allow the group to get further in the development process, than he needed to be more firm with them and simply state that the meeting will not be dismissed until the job is finished.  This approach may create some anamosity from some of the members but since everyone at the meeting was of high standing and ranking, it should be expected that they would have acted accordingly.