Unreliable People!

[swiftdog2.0]

URRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!

OK, full disclosure, this is rant about unreliable people. The opinions, attitudes, and concerns expressed in this opening statement are solely those of SwiftDog2.0 and do not represent the feelings of this board, or the general population at large.

I'm taking a Human Resources Management class this semester. It's a snoozefest to begin with. Not my favorite subject but it's a degree requirement so I have to take it. The material is dry but the Professor is good so It's not a total wash.

Unfortunately, our mid-term and final assignments are group projects. I absolutely HATE group assignments in school. This puts control of my grade in someone's hands other than my own. I have had nothing but horrible experiences with group projects in college. There are always people that don't pull their weight which pulls everyone else on the team down with them unless others step up and do more than they should have to.

This assignment has been no different. There are 7 people on the team including myself. Two of which have not contributed a single, god*n thing to the project! No research notes, no reference citations, not even a single lousy post on the assignment board. One of these people was supposed to be creating the PowerPoint presentation we have to present in tomorrow's class!

I volunteered to write the paper as I knew something like this would happen. I had a draft of the paper done and posted on our assignment board last Tuesday. I asked for feedback by end of day on Thursday so I could make revisions in time to hand the paper in tomorrow (9/28). Heard back from 4 of the other 6 people on the project. Haven't seen anything from the person that was supposed to do the PowerPoint. I had to prod the others that did respond to get someone to offer to do the PowerPoint. We have one now but we have two people that are supposed to present that we have not heard from.

This is so beyond frustrating. I could narc on the no-shows to the professor but SwiftDogs don't believe in snitching. I am tempted to leave the deadbeats folks off the title page of the paper when I turn it in though. Would serve them right. My attitude at the moment is "Flunk You!" you wastes of space.

What gets me the most is that these are all adults I'm dealing with. If they were traditional college aged students I might be a little more forgiving because I could understand, and would quite frankly expect, some level of immaturity and lack of ownership. But from grownups that are supposed to know better? I have no tolerance for this act of laziness and selfishness.

What are your thoughts on the situation? Should I rat out my classmates to the professor? Should I leave them off the paper's title page? Should I let them reap the benefits of the rest of the team's work?

 

[danie]

URRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!

OK, full disclosure, this is rant about unreliable people. The opinions, attitudes, and concerns expressed in this opening statement are solely those of SwiftDog2.0 and do not represent the feelings of this board, or the general population at large.

I'm taking a Human Resources Management class this semester. It's a snoozefest to begin with. Not my favorite subject but it's a degree requirement so I have to take it. The material is dry but the Professor is good so It's not a total wash.

Unfortunately, our mid-term and final assignments are group projects. I absolutely HATE group assignments in school. This puts control of my grade in someone's hands other than my own. I have had nothing but horrible experiences with group projects in college. There are always people that don't pull their weight which pulls everyone else on the team down with them unless others step up and do more than they should have to.

This assignment has been no different. There are 7 people on the team including myself. Two of which have not contributed a single, god*n thing to the project! No research notes, no reference citations, not even a single lousy post on the assignment board. One of these people was supposed to be creating the PowerPoint presentation we have to present in tomorrow's class!

I volunteered to write the paper as I knew something like this would happen. I had a draft of the paper done and posted on our assignment board last Tuesday. I asked for feedback by end of day on Thursday so I could make revisions in time to hand the paper in tomorrow (9/28). Heard back from 4 of the other 6 people on the project. Haven't seen anything from the person that was supposed to do the PowerPoint. I had to prod the others that did respond to get someone to offer to do the PowerPoint. We have one now but we have two people that are supposed to present that we have not heard from.

This is so beyond frustrating. I could narc on the no-shows to the professor but SwiftDogs don't believe in snitching. I am tempted to leave the deadbeats folks off the title page of the paper when I turn it in though. Would serve them right. My attitude at the moment is "Flunk You!" you wastes of space.

What gets me the most is that these are all adults I'm dealing with. If they were traditional college aged students I might be a little more forgiving because I could understand, and would quite frankly expect, some level of immaturity and lack of ownership. But from grownups that are supposed to know better? I have no tolerance for this act of laziness and selfishness.

What are your thoughts on the situation? Should I rat out my classmates to the professor? Should I leave them off the paper's title page? Should I let them reap the benefits of the rest of the team's work?

Swifty,
I wouldn't say a word to the professor. They are used to this happening every time they assign these stupid projects. But I would so leave the unreliables off the title page. Why should their names be there when they didn't contribute a damn thing?

Will you be speaking during the presentation? I would have no trouble alluding to, during the presentation, that since not everyone did his part, you feel bad that the presentation wasn't up to your usual standards. Then again, I'm 51, and have learned to not care what anyone really thinks about my telling the truth and calling people out on ridiculous behavior (not sure how old your are).

Good luck. I hope you at least get a grade with which you can be satisfied.

 

[80sFan]

That's a tough call. I'd maybe message the deadbeats privately and ask them why they didn't contribute. If they don't have a good reason (or, more likely, just ignore your message) I'd mention to the professor who DID put effort into the work so they know who dropped the ball. It's not being a snitch, exactly, but why should people who didn't contribute get the same amount of credit as those who did the work? This is why I also hate group projects. There is ALWAYS at least one jerk who doesn't do their fair share.

 

[Dana Jean]

URRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!

OK, full disclosure, this is rant about unreliable people. The opinions, attitudes, and concerns expressed in this opening statement are solely those of SwiftDog2.0 and do not represent the feelings of this board, or the general population at large.

I'm taking a Human Resources Management class this semester. It's a snoozefest to begin with. Not my favorite subject but it's a degree requirement so I have to take it. The material is dry but the Professor is good so It's not a total wash.

Unfortunately, our mid-term and final assignments are group projects. I absolutely HATE group assignments in school. This puts control of my grade in someone's hands other than my own. I have had nothing but horrible experiences with group projects in college. There are always people that don't pull their weight which pulls everyone else on the team down with them unless others step up and do more than they should have to.

This assignment has been no different. There are 7 people on the team including myself. Two of which have not contributed a single, god*n thing to the project! No research notes, no reference citations, not even a single lousy post on the assignment board. One of these people was supposed to be creating the PowerPoint presentation we have to present in tomorrow's class!

I volunteered to write the paper as I knew something like this would happen. I had a draft of the paper done and posted on our assignment board last Tuesday. I asked for feedback by end of day on Thursday so I could make revisions in time to hand the paper in tomorrow (9/28). Heard back from 4 of the other 6 people on the project. Haven't seen anything from the person that was supposed to do the PowerPoint. I had to prod the others that did respond to get someone to offer to do the PowerPoint. We have one now but we have two people that are supposed to present that we have not heard from.


This is so beyond frustrating. I could narc on the no-shows to the professor but SwiftDogs don't believe in snitching. I am tempted to leave the deadbeats folks off the title page of the paper when I turn it in though. Would serve them right. My attitude at the moment is "Flunk You!" you wastes of space.

What gets me the most is that these are all adults I'm dealing with. If they were traditional college aged students I might be a little more forgiving because I could understand, and would quite frankly expect, some level of immaturity and lack of ownership. But from grownups that are supposed to know better? I have no tolerance for this act of laziness and selfishness.

What are your thoughts on the situation? Should I rat out my classmates to the professor? Should I leave them off the paper's title page? Should I let them reap the benefits of the rest of the team's work?

JMO. I don't like the term "ratting out." This isn't about that. This isn't about a friend telling you a secret and asking you not to share. Or someone playing hooky from school and going to a movie instead and asking you not to tell. Ratting out is kid stuff. These are adults. And adults should accept the consequences for their childish behavior. Your grade depends on this. This is a reflection on you. Not only the project, but how the group worked together, and it is a lesson on how you handle things. Are you going to go through your life covering up for the non-contributors at your work place? Are you going to be the doormat? Set a standard of what you expect and stick with it through your whole life.

I have a high sense of fairness and responsibility, especially when others are counting on me. It's called integrity. When someone blatantly disrespects a group of people counting on them, then they shouldn't be too surprised when consequences follow. In this world of everyone gets a trophy, everyone gets the same raise, no one gets singled out for excellence (yes, some places don't) -- I WILL drag you under the bus that you just threw me under by not doing your part.

I don't have a lot of tolerance for people who have no integrity.

 

[Maskins]

I would give them one chance on the board for the assignment and say if I don't hear from you in like one hour, you are not going on the assignment since you did not contribute. I would thank all the people who did contribute (no matter how lax they were).

When they inevitably respond, you can ask them why they didn't bother. Worst excuse gets left off!

 

[not_nadine]

Truth, I probably would keep quiet and burn with it. Not good.

Say something.

 

[PatInTheHat]

I feel ya brother, I sure do feel ya.

 

[not_nadine]

JMO. I don't like the term "ratting out." This isn't about that. This isn't about a friend telling you a secret and asking you not to share. Or someone playing hooky from school and going to a movie instead and asking you not to tell. Ratting out is kid stuff. These are adults. And adults should accept the consequences for their childish behavior. Your grade depends on this. This is a reflection on you. Not only the project, but how the group worked together, and it is a lesson on how you handled things. Are you going to go through your life covering up for the non-contributors at your work place? Are you going to be the doormat? Set a standard of what you expect and stick with it through your whole life.

I have a high sense of fairness and responsibility, especially when others are counting on me. It's called integrity. When someone blatantly disrespects a group of people counting on them, then they shouldn't be too surprised when consequences follow. In this world of everyone gets a trophy, everyone gets the same raise, no one gets singled out for excellence (yes, some places don't) -- I WILL drag you under the bus that you just threw me under by not doing your part.

I don't have a lot of tolerance for people who have no integrity.

Yes. Great post.

 

[Dana Jean]

Yes. Great post.

 

[danie]

Notifying the derelicts is fine, but I'm more of an Element-of-Surprise girl. Your telling them they're not doing their share probably won't make a difference in their contributions, but you can try it. I prefer to act like everything is fine, then drop the bomb during the presentation, letting them be shocked that their laziness actually affected other people. It's more difficult, but oh so much more satisfying.

 

[swiftdog2.0]

Put one last reminder on the board and asked those that did contribute how we want to handle the slackers. We'll see what happens.

 

[80sFan]

Put one last reminder on the board and asked those that did contribute how we want to handle the slackers. We'll see what happens.

Perfect!

 

[GNTLGNT]

...Do what you have to do to get your project finished and a passable grade...I share your loathing of "group" work, and it matters not what age people are, slackers abound...I would modify the opening of the PowerPoint to call them out by name-and do some public shaming-and if that doesn't have the desired effect-then kick em in the scrote.....

 

[Dana Jean]

Ahhhh yes, the Scrote Kicking 101. I forgot about that class.

 

[skimom2]

Don't put them on the report's title page, for sure. If you are the presenter or speak at the end of the presentation, congratulate the person who actually did the PowerPoint for their great work under pressure and with little time to do the work. Looks better than apologizing for someone's work--less passive/aggressive. If the prof cares at all (some do, some don't), he or she will ask for clarification. At that point, you're answering a question and not being a tattle tale. Half of making a great presentation is being proud of what is there and showing that you're confident in your work. If you apologize for any part, people start looking for flaws in the whole. Group projects SUCK, but (depending on your job) school is a great time to learn that, and to learn how to be saddled with those who do nothing and STILL shine individually. Good training for the actual job market, when you think of it, and your pay/reputation isn't on the line like it will be later. Just a thought

 

[swiftdog2.0]

Don't put them on the report's title page, for sure. If you are the presenter or speak at the end of the presentation, congratulate the person who actually did the PowerPoint for their great work under pressure and with little time to do the work. Looks better than apologizing for someone's work--less passive/aggressive. If the prof cares at all (some do, some don't), he or she will ask for clarification. At that point, you're answering a question and not being a tattle tale. Half of making a great presentation is being proud of what is there and showing that you're confident in your work. If you apologize for any part, people start looking for flaws in the whole. Group projects SUCK, but (depending on your job) school is a great time to learn that, and to learn how to be saddled with those who do nothing and STILL shine individually. Good training for the actual job market, when you think of it, and your pay/reputation isn't on the line like it will be later. Just a thought

The thing is I manage projects for a living. At work, if someone isn't pulling their weight I have disciplanary and other shaming techniques I can use to get results. In a class situation I have no other recourse other than not giving people credit.

 

[blunthead]

JMO. I don't like the term "ratting out." This isn't about that. This isn't about a friend telling you a secret and asking you not to share. Or someone playing hooky from school and going to a movie instead and asking you not to tell. Ratting out is kid stuff. These are adults. And adults should accept the consequences for their childish behavior. Your grade depends on this. This is a reflection on you. Not only the project, but how the group worked together, and it is a lesson on how you handle things. Are you going to go through your life covering up for the non-contributors at your work place? Are you going to be the doormat? Set a standard of what you expect and stick with it through your whole life.

I have a high sense of fairness and responsibility, especially when others are counting on me. It's called integrity. When someone blatantly disrespects a group of people counting on them, then they shouldn't be too surprised when consequences follow. In this world of everyone gets a trophy, everyone gets the same raise, no one gets singled out for excellence (yes, some places don't) -- I WILL drag you under the bus that you just threw me under by not doing your part.

I don't have a lot of tolerance for people who have no integrity.

Right on, per Deej. Feeling intimidated to "tell on" a deadbeat; what have we come to as a society? It's not like somebody's then going to drag them outside and shoot them. Is it?

 

[GNTLGNT]

Ahhhh yes, the Scrote Kicking 101. I forgot about that class.

....it's a special elective for chronic underachievers.....

 

[GNTLGNT]

Ahhhh yes, the Scrote Kicking 101. I forgot about that class.

 

[swiftdog2.0]

Right on, per Deej. Feeling intimidated to "tell on" a deadbeat; what have we come to as a society? It's not like somebody's then going to drag them outside and shoot them. Is it?

It's not a matter of intimidation. It's a matter of not having to bring in "the man" to resolve the situation.