Running head: Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

A Gift to a Soldier Submitted by Group 4 (Clark, Skyler. Kington, David. Larsen, ade. !a"Donald, #ret. $ydal"%, Aubree. &uinei, Ale'.( Salt Lake Community College C)!! *+*+,-4 April ./, .+*0

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

Table of Contents 1'e"utive Summary . 2ro3e"t Des"ription 0,4 !et%ods 4,*. 2roblem 4uestion 5 Analy6ing t%e 2roblem 5,/ Setting Criteria / #rainstorming Solutions /,*+ Analy6ing Solutions *+,** 7mplementing t%e Solution **,*. Con"lusion *.,*0 8orks Cited *4 Appendi"es Appendi' *9 &eam Contra"t *5 Appendi' .9 Comparison C%art *: Appendi' 09 2arti"ipation 2oints *-

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

Executive Summary &%is report summari6es Group 4;s efforts to <ork toget%er as a team to identify a problem and "ome up <it% a solution. As seen in "%apter - of our "ommuni"ation book it dis"usses t%e importan"e of <orking as a team. As <ell as t%e greater effe"tiveness t%at <orking as a team to a""omplis% tasks "an provide. 8e also "ommuni"ated effe"tively as a group enabling us to %old meetings and distribute t%e <orkload among team members so t%e <ork <as able to be "arried out in t%e best manner possible. &%e benefit of <orking in a group is t%at <e =en%an"ed our "reativity> to refle"t on <%at <as t%e best possible <ay to "omplete t%is assignment. 7n de"iding our =problem ?uestion> bet<een, =@o< "an <e, as a group of si' students, s%o< meaningful support to our A.S. troopsB> or =8%at;s t%e most effe"tive <ay <e "an support our individual troop memberB> <e <ere fa"ed <it% our first group de"ision. 8e "%ose t%e se"ond ?uestion and as a group de"ided t%e best <ay solution to t%is problem <ould be to gat%er up some A. S. Army approved items su"% as books, movies, peris%ables, et". and send t%em in a "are pa"kage to one of our group member;s (Ale' &uinei( son t%at is serving in Afg%anistan. @e <ill t%en give it to a soldier <%o %asn;t %ad t%e good fortune of re"eiving many pa"kages. Ale' said t%at it makes any soldiers day <%en t%ey get any sort of mail so t%is is t%e best possible solution for a group of si' students. 8e all agreed on t%is solution as it best suited our s"%edules, <e <ere all able to parti"ipate in =Giving a Gift to a Soldier> t%at <ould bring a smile to %isC%er fa"e or at least some entertainment. Project Description Ale' &uinei;s son, "urrently stationed in Afg%anistan <ill be instrumental in our pro3e"t. @is son kno<s "ertain soldiers <%o don;t re"eive mu"% post <%ile overseas. 8e are <orking as a team to support our troops overseas, and as su"% %ope to brig%ten a soldier;s day <it% a small "are pa"kage. 8e reali6ed t%at t%ere are many <ays to support servi"emen overseas, but t%is one really interested us as a group. 1a"% member of t%e group kno<s someone <%o is in t%e military, <%i"% is t%e reason <e "%ose t%is task, <%i"% <e "an all relate to. 8e are Group 4, a task group in C)!! *+*+. )ur assignment <as to apply t%e refle"tive t%inking se?uen"e in finding a <ay to support our troops. )ur group met five times and dis"ussed ea"% step of t%e refle"tive t%inking se?uen"e, as <ell as implemented t%em to develop a plan of a"tion to support t%e troops. 8e integrated information from t%e te't in all our dis"ussions, en"ouraged "riti"al t%inking and parti"ipation of every member <orking %ard in order to su""essfully "omplete our pro3e"t toget%er. 8%et%er sending t%e pa"kage to a family member, friend, or total stranger, s%o<ing t%e true appre"iation t%ese people deserve for t%e sa"rifi"es t%ey are making <ill not only make t%eir day, but t%e sender;s as <ell. #ot% t%e men and <omen serving in t%e military are a<ay from t%eir families for e'tended periods of time. !any male soldiers %ave sons or daug%ters born <%ile t%ey are a<ayD many female soldiers must leave t%eir little ones be%ind for someone else to raise <%ile t%ey serve t%eir "ountry. 8%en pla"ed in t%is perspe"tive, it is %ard to imagine t%at somet%ing as simple as a "are pa"kage makes a differen"e, but it does. ust saying =&%ank you> and s%o<ing enoug% love to take t%e time to prepare and send a token of appre"iation not only

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

%elps keep our soldiers spirits up, but also reminds t%em of <%y t%ey are serving in t%e first pla"e, &o prote"t t%is great "ountry. )f all t%e possible solutions <e proposed, t%e solution <e "%ose <as to send a "are pa"kage <it% items t%at <ill be %elpful for t%e soldiers. 8e are going to find t%ings around t%e %ouse t%at <ould be useful for soldiers, su"% as9 old books, saniti6ed <ipes, maga6ines, movies, %and <armers, foot <armers, toot%brus%es, mout%<as%, body <as%, "omi" books, de"ks of "ards, suntan lotion, pi"tures from %ome, blue and bla"k pens, notebooks, "ross<ord pu66les, <ord sear"%es, and soduku. Methods 1very de"ision re?uires t%oug%t. 8%en "ontemplating a met%od to serve ot%ers, t%e t%oug%t pro"ess "an be %uge. 8it% so many positive and benefi"ial met%ods of servi"e, it "an be diffi"ult to "%oose t%e mean best suited to t%e "ause and t%ose <it% <%om one <ould <is% to "arry out t%e servi"e. 7nitially as a group <e <ere re?uired to "%oose <%at s%ould be evaluated and reported on toget%er. 7n t%e end <e "%ose to find a means of supporting our troops, making our dis"ussion of more value, and "arry more <eig%t for ea"% group member individually. 8e first analy6ed many different ideas for dis"ussion from <%i"% <e "ould "%oose. After "%oosing to report on t%e support of our nation;s soldiers overseas, <e began to devise a plan to benefit one of t%ese individuals. Alt%oug% t%ere <ere many different met%ods to "%ose from, <e eventually "%oose one t%at <e felt most fitted to our group and most benefi"ial to our soldiers. @o<ever, even after our long t%oug%t out de"ision <as made, <e %ad to "%ange our plan of a"tion to a""ommodate a limited time s"%edule, after learning t%at our initial plan <ould not be possible <it%in t%e time given to us. &%e refle"tive,t%inking se?uen"e <as used at ea"% step of our pro3e"t. Eirst defining a problem, or in t%is "ase, <it% "%oosing a topi". 8e <ere t%en able to analy6e t%e problem, establis% "riteria for a solution, "onsider our solutions, and implement t%at solution, and are no< a<aiting t%e results. 8e %ave used t%is met%od in all of our meetings and our dis"ussions on %o< to "arry out our plans, as <ell as our end evaluation of our servi"e. After %aving formed a &eam Contra"t <%i"% re"orded t%e group rules, and t%e roles ea"% parti"ipant <ould play, (see Appendi' *( <e applied t%e refle"tive,t%inking se?uen"e (Adler F 1lm%orst, p. .4G( to solve our problem. &%is met%od made our group more "o%esive and produ"tive. !ore importantly t%e refle"tion t%inking pro"ess eliminated t%e potential to fall into a pattern of =groupt%ink> t%at <ould be detrimental to our pro3e"t (Adler F 1lm%orst, p. .:4,:5(. 7rving anis, as ?uoted in t%e te't Communicating at Work defines t%e groupt%ink p%enomenon as un<illingness to "riti"ally analy6e a situation in order to retain %armony. &%is pro"ess enables t%e group as a <%ole, and ea"% of its members individually to <eig% t%e positive as <ell as negative "onse?uen"es of ea"% de"ision and possibility. #elo< our met%ods and out"omes for ea"% step <ill be des"ribed. )n "ompletion of our pro3e"t, <e <ill a<ard parti"ipation points to ea"% group member based on t%e ?uality and effort of t%eir parti"ipation in t%e pro3e"t. (see Appendi' .(.

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

Part I: Problem

uestion

A""ording to SLCC 8ebC&, it is %ig%ly important to state our problem as an open,ended ?uestion (C)!! *+*+ 8ebC& page, .+*+(. After being formed into a group <e %ad to gat%er resour"es and find <%at topi", or problem, <e <anted to evaluate, dis"uss, and a"t on toget%er. &%is step <as relatively easy for us, as <e <ere able to find a topi" <e all <anted to <ork on toget%er on a list of possible topi"s provide us by t%e instru"tor. )n"e <e %ad "%osen our topi", supporting our troops, <e <ere t%en able to move on and analy6e all aspe"ts of t%e problem. Apon "onsensus <e formed t%e follo<ing ?uestion to lead our pro3e"t9 =@o< "an <e best serve to a"kno<ledge and support our troopsB> Part II: !nalysis of the Problem A full understanding of t%e problem is %ig%ly important. 8it% a full understanding one is better able to determine t%e best and most appropriate solution to ea"% problem. @istori"ally it is evident t%at <%en a problem is not <ell understood it is mu"% more likely for a poor de"ision to be made <%i"% is t%en damaging to t%e group in ?uestion. Analy6ing t%e problem "an prevent mistakes and save time as <ell as frustrated <it% un<anted out"omes. During analysis of t%e problem <e as a group refle"ted on t%e "%ara"teristi"s, stake%olders, %istory, and poli"ies of t%e problem t%at "ould potentially %ave an impa"t on our solution. 7n addition, <e identified means by <%i"% <e "ould potentially solve our problem, and %o< <e <ould report on our efforts. A. C%ara"teristi"s *. La<s and $egulations9 7n t%e past t%ere %ave been un<anted and even dangerous pa"kages sent to servi"e members. Eor t%is reason, it is no< impossible to send a pa"kage or letter to =Any Soldier> as %as been possible in t%e past. &%ere are different regulations set in pla"e by ea"% State, Hation, and t%e military regarding donations, and post sent to overseas servi"emen. (AS2S."om( &%is means t%at <e <ill %ave to find a <ay to send a pa"kage dire"tly to a parti"ular servi"e member. 8e "ould %ave possibly retrieved a list from a servi"e <ebsite, or found a servi"e member t%at is kno<n dire"tly by a group member to dire"t our post. 8e "ould %ave also potentially "%osen to do somet%ing t%at <ould not re?uire us to send anyt%ing overseas. &%e military %as poli"ies in pla"e to prote"t soldiers. 7f any pa"kage does arrive for =Any Solider> t%e pa"kage <ill not be dispersed as to prevent any atta"ks or t%reats to t%e soldiers. Eurt%ermore all post is s"reened to ensure t%e safety of all troops. &%is "ould potentially "ause us problems if it is t%e "ase t%at t%e soldier must dire"tly kno< t%e party to %ave sent t%e pa"kage in ?uestion. .. 1ffe"ts a. 2arents9 &%e effe"t of overseas deployment on parents of servi"emen young and old is very similar. &%e feelings of an'iety and stress are "ommon to all parents <%ose "%ildren may be in danger, and t%ose supporting members of t%e military are no different. 2arents may feel over<%elmed <it% t%e <orries t%at %aving loved ones in unkno<n

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

territory provide, as <ell as <orry for t%eir families,,,for t%ose of t%em t%at %ave families. Eor some parents, <%o may be older and re?uire "are from t%e "%ild serving abroad, t%eir deployment may "ause %ards%ips as t%ey try to seek ot%er "aregivers, anot%er %ome, or even someone to talk to. (Hational Center for !ental @ealt% 2IJ2, .+*+( b. Eamilies of servi"emen9 &%e families of t%ose serving far from %ome are also greatly impa"ted by t%eir family member;s servi"e a<ay. &%ey also benefit from "are given to t%eir loved one, or to t%em as t%ey strive to fill t%e void left by t%at family member. Eamilies often re?uire some assistan"e in t%eir daily lives. 7t may be t%at a mot%er <%ose %usband %as been stationed a<ay from %ome <ill need a steady babysitter for %er "%ildren, or %ave need of a day,"are fa"ility, or even "arpooling for various a"tivities su"% as sports, or s"%ooling. )ver -++,+++ A.S. "%ildren %ave a parent <%o is deployed in t%e military (Same Sky S%aring(. &%is means t%at t%ere are many "%ildren <%o %ave e'perien"ed t%e loss of a fat%er for an e'tended period, and may re?uire some "ounseling in later years. &%e effe"ts of t%is period of absen"e <%i"% deployment provides "an be very ta'ing for bot% t%e offspring, as <ell as t%e partners of t%ose deployed. 0. Communi"ation9 7n an age of te"%nologi"al advan"ement, it is simple for families to "ommuni"ate, despite larges stret"%es of land and sea to separate t%em from one anot%er. @o<ever, t%is is not ne"essarily a positive t%ing at all times. 8it% t%e possibility of near instantaneous "ommuni"ation it is often t%e "ase t%at "ommuni"ation is taken for granted. Long absen"es, and s%ort messages may lead to %urt feelings or offense, a""ording to a study done by t%e Aniversity of !issouri. (8all, .+*0( #. Stake%olders *. Servi"emen9 &%e soldiers overseas oug%t to feel t%at t%ey are appre"iated and valued for t%e servi"e t%ey render to t%e "iti6ens of t%is nation. Soldiers are a<ay from family, friends, and loved ones, making t%em liable to be lonely, or depressed in t%eir "ir"umstan"es. .. Eamily of Servi"emen9 !any members of t%e armed for"es %ave families. Eor a <ife or %usband and maybe "%ildren <%o t%ey %ave left be%ind in t%e "ountry, it is "omforting to t%e families of t%ese soldiers to kno< t%at t%ey are supported by t%eir "ountry and its "iti6ens. &%ey "an also benefit from positive attitudes, and servi"e to<ards t%ose <%o are serving overseas. &%ere is also a potential to serve t%e family of a servi"e member in order to serve t%e soldier. 7t "an also be "omforting for a solider to kno< t%at %is or %er family is being "ared for in t%eir time of absen"e. 0. 2arents of Servi"emen9 &%ere are also servi"e members <%o are of a younger age and <%o do not yet %ave families. 2arents of servi"e members <%o are already married are "ertainly "on"erned for t%e <ell,being of t%eir "%ildren, but <%en t%at individual %as not yet started t%eir o<n family, parents play a mu"% bigger role in t%eir lives. 2arents <ill also %ave less <orry <%en t%ey be"ome a<are of general "on"ern for soldiers from ot%er "iti6ens.

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

4. !ilitary Leaders9 8%en t%e members of t%e team, troop, platoon, "ompany, unit, s?uadron, brigadeKor t%e army in general for t%at matterKare %appy, t%en so are t%e leaders. An organi6ation runs mu"% more smoot%ly <%en t%e parti"ipants are %appy. #y benefiting one soldier, <e "ould potentially also lig%ten t%e load of %is leader, <%i"% <ould in turn t%en make t%ings more en3oyable for t%e entire unit under t%at leaders "ommand. 5. Eello< Servi"emen9 &%ose individuals <%o <itness an a"t of kindness are likely to empat%i6e and also re"eive a degree of "%eer from t%e gesture. 7t may be t%at t%e soldier re"eiving t%e servi"e %as been a burden on ot%er members of %is group in some <ay, and t%at t%is gesture puts t%e individual in better spirits, lig%tening t%e burden on ot%er soldiers <%o asso"iate <it% t%at person. C. @istoryC#a"kground *. 2ast &reatment9 @istori"ally, Ameri"ans %ave given good support to its military. &%e Anited States is a "ountry t%at <as born of <ar, and <ar %as sustained it, and even %elped it to t%rive. Soldiers %ave al<ays been respe"tedD at least until t%e time of t%e Jietnam 8ar <%en many "iti6ens felt t%at t%e <ar <as un3ust, and <rongfully took out frustrations on soldiers be"ause of t%eir strong feelings. )verall %o<ever, soldiers %ave been <ell respe"ted by Ameri"an "iti6ens, and <ell "ared for during times of <ar. .. Civilian $esponse9 8artimes %ave proved to "%ange our nation;s "ulture. !ot%ers and <ives <ould support t%eir loved ones during t%e Civil 8ar <it% "lot%es and blankets, and <ere also "alled up to do some ne< t%ings. =As %usbands and fat%ers departed for t%e battlefield and politi"ians and 3ournalists urged "ivilians to do t%eir patrioti" duty, <%ite <omen <ere "onfronted <it% t%e strange ne< e'pe"tation of demonstrating aut%ority and "ivi" involvement.>(8rig%t, .+*.( 7n addition many <omen took up men;s 3obs during t%e t<o <orld <ars, <%i"% <as a <el"ome and needed support not only to t%e "ountry, but to t%e soldier;s abroad. Civilian support of Ameri"an troops <as espe"ially %ig% during t%e Se"ond 8orld 8ar S%ortly after t%e atta"k on 2earl @arbor, Ameri"an "iti6ens did all t%ey "ould to support t%e troops. 8omen took over <ork in steel plants, lumber yards and ot%er professions t%at <ere t%oug%t of as =!en;s <ork> and e'tremely diffi"ult. Iout% <ould "olle"t s"rap metal to %elp in building s%ips, planes and ot%er e?uipment t%at "ould %elp t%e <ar effort. 0. Servi"e,member $esponse9 Servi"e members <ere en"ouraged by t%e love and support from %ome during t%ese times of <ar. During t%e Jietnam 8ar t%e troops <ere supported in many different <ays, su"% as by sending letters, pi"tures of %ome, and ot%er personal t%ings. Alt%oug%, t%ere <ere also some <%o felt as t%oug% t%ey s%ould not support t%e troops, be"ause t%ey did not agree <it% t%e <ar "ampaign. &%ese individuals protested t%e <ar and <ere even %ostile to troops returning from duty. Servi"e members %ave been generally proud to be part of t%e Anited States military, again, t%ere were times <%ere servi"emen re"eived a lot of negative responses from various fa"tions, but on t%e <%ole, servi"emen understand t%at t%eir servi"e is valued by t%e "iti6ens t%ey fig%t to prote"t. 4. Government $esponse9 &%e Anited States government %as %istori"ally given t%e military good funding, allo<ing for t%e "omfort of its troops, and t%e support of t%eir

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

families <%ile t%ey are a<ay. !ore re"ently <it% dis"overies of veterans <%o had been mistreated after military servi"e, t%e government %as set up <ays to better support t%em in %onor and respe"t for t%e servi"e given. &%e government %as tried to ensure a positive state of <ell,being for its servi"emen. Eor e'ample during 8orld 8ar 77, t%e government rationed food and gas, <%i"% <ere in s%ort reserve, in order to better support t%e troops add t%e <ar effort. D. 2oli"iesC2oliti"s *. 2oli"ies9 &%e Anited 2ostal Servi"e in "ooperation <it% t%e Anited States Armed Servi"es %ave set up restri"tions and guidelines on t%e postal system, re?uiring t%at all post be send dire"tly to a individual e'pressly addressed on t%e envelop or pa"kage sent. .. 2oliti"s9 &%ere are t%ose <%o are against troops being stationed overseas "urrently, and be"ause of t%is t%ere %as been some negative and even %ostile a"ts, and information spread to or against servi"e members, as <ell as among t%e general popula"e. &%is also provides a "ertain risk t%at our endeavors may be opposed, %o<ever small t%at risk may be. 0. 1t%i"s9 $e"eiving of goods or servi"es in addition to pay "ould <ell be "onsidered unet%i"al <%en stri"tly vie<ed as an additional a<ard for a servi"e already paid in full. @o<ever, t%e re"eiving of a gift is et%i"al and proper in most any situation or "ir"umstan"e, <%i"% is <%at our pro3e"t <ill be. 1. $esour"es Available *. Eriends9 !any of us kno< someone <%o %as, or is "urrently serving in t%e armed for"es, and are able to "ommuni"ate <it% t%em to kno< %o< to best %elp t%e soldiers "urrently serving overseas. .. Eamily9 !embers of ea"% of our families %ave also served in t%e military in some "apa"ity, <%i"% enables us to also ask advi"e and referen"e from t%em if needed. @aving family members <it% <%om <e "an dis"uss our plans and ideas not only in"reases our likeli%ood of being su""essful, but <ill also %elp us to learn %o< to best "arry out our plans. 8e "ould potentially re"eive more dire"t %elp in our pro"ess t%roug% t%em. 0. Servi"e,groups9 Servi"e groups su"% as t%e Patriot Guard, of <%i"% a member of our team, ade Larsen, is affiliated, are also very %elpful to t%ose <%o seek to serve t%e troops. &%ere are many different servi"e groups, and ea"% of t%em %as many options %o< t%e troops "ould be supported. Some groups send books, movies, or musi", and ot%ers money, memorabilia, "andy, or simple t%ank you "ards. Still ot%ers provide %ome"omings or fare<ell "elebrations, or ever fundraisers. 8orking <it% one of t%ese groups "ould %ave also been a very good option. 4. 7nternet9 &%e internet provided us t%e referen"es to different servi"e groups, allo<ed us to resear"% poli"ies and pro"edures in pla"e to kno< %o< to best support our troops, and gave us ideas for <%at kind of "ontribution <e mig%t make to servi"emen. &%e internet also provided a tool for planning and "ommuni"ation <it% group members. As a tool for resear"%, planning and "ommuni"ation, t%e internet <as "ru"ial to our pro3e"t.

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

5. Communi"ation &e't9 &%e Effective Communications 1010 te't %as also given us many insig%ts of %o< to go about our pro3e"t. !u"% of our planning <as done in meetings based on prin"iples derived from t%e te't, <%i"% made it possible to effe"tively evaluate all of our options and "%oose t%e best fit for our group and situation. $eferen"es on good "ommuni"ation also %elped us to better "ommuni"ate as a group outside of "lass meetings, as <ell as <it% t%ose <%ose %elp <e enlisted in t%e "ompletion of our pro3e"t. Part III: Criteria A. General Goal *. )ur goal is to find a "ost effe"tive means of s%o<ing our support for t%ose supporting our "ountry.

#. Spe"ifi" Criteria (in order of importan"e( )ur ideal solution <ill9 *. $edu"e t%e stress level of t%e soldier re"eiving t%e pa"kage, and make t%em feel appre"iated. .. #e "ost effe"tive 0. Comply <it% all rules regulations and poli"ies 4. &ime 5. #ring oy :. 1ntertain -. $emind t%e soldier of @ome G. 7nvolve EoodsCS<eets

Part I": #rainstorm Possible Solutions &%e ne't step our group applied from De<ey;s refle"tive,t%inking se?uen"e <as to "onsider possible solutions to our problem. (Alder F 1lm%orst, .+*+( &%is met%od of brainstorming as des"ribed in t%e 2AC,#)I se?uen"e re?uired ea"% team member to "ontribute at many ideas as possible in order to find t%e best possible solution. 8e did our best to not spe"ulate or dis"uss any of our ideas until after our brainstorming session, as to ensure t%at t%e full potential of our t%oug%t "reativity "ould be rea"%ed. #elo< are t%e top si' solutions <e found for our problem. !any of <%i"% <ere very attra"tive options. *. Attend a soldier;s %ome "oming. Go <it% members of t%e Patriot Guard servi"e group to <el"ome a soldier returning from a tour of duty.

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

10

.. 8rite a t%ank you letter. 8rite a letter e'pressing our appre"iation for t%eir servi"e to us and our "ountry. 0. !ail a pa"kage. Send t%e soldier reminders of %ome, books, "andy, movies, pi"tures or any ot%er items t%e soldier may en3oy and t%at <ould "ontribute to t%e soldier feeling appre"iated for %is servi"e. 4. @elp a deployed soldier;s family. )ffer %ours of servi"e on a pro3e"t at t%e %ome of, or for a family of a servi"e member "urrently overseas in order to make life easier for t%em. 5. Jolunteer for a servi"e group. 2ossibly taking part in a fundraiser, or ot%er pro3e"t put on by a servi"e group to %elp deployed soldiers, veterans or returning soldiers. :. Donate !oney or Einan"ial aid. S%o< t%e solider our appre"iation t%roug% a monetary "ontribution. Part ": Solution !nalysis 8%en t%e time %ad "ome to analy6e our solutions in preparation to "%oose one best suited to our needs <e used "riteria <e provided in Step 777. 8e first "%ose our top : solutions and made a table to "ompare t%e solutions <it% one anot%erD rating t%em based on t%e effe"tiveness of ea"% solution at fulfilling our set "riteria (more under Chart(. After %aving de"reasing our amount of options by popular opinion and group de"ision, <e began to analy6e our options. A. Harro<ed list of Solutions ($efer to 2art 7J9 Brainstorming Possible Solutions #. C%art As before mentioned, <e developed a "%art (See Appendi' .( to "ompare and "ontrast our various options, at <%i"% point <e <ere better able to see <%i"% option best fit our needs. A rating system enabled us to rank our options <it% t%e %ig%est number being t%e =best> option. 7t is possible t%at despite a %ig% rating, a solution may still not be our favorite option. 7n most "ases <e rated our "riterion from +,5 <it% =+> not meeting our "riteria, and =5> meeting our "riteria very <ellD %o<ever, in a fe< "ases t%is rating system <as altered a""ording to t%e type of "riterion. (8%en a "riterion <as altered it <as noted in t%e "%art.( &%is "%art <ill be a %elpful guide in our de"ision making pro"ess, but <ill not be our main met%ods of "%oosing a solution. &%e "%art only enable us to make a more informed de"ision based on our "riteria. (Alder F 1lm%ost, .+*+( C. Einal Solution )ur t%ird solution, =!ail a pa"kage> <as "%osen by group "onsensus. 7t <as not possible for our group to attend a soldier;s %ome"oming as <as our original <is%, as t%ere <as not one s"%eduled <it%in t%e assigned time of t%e pro3e"t. @o<ever, <e <ere %appy to

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

11

"%oose to mail a pa"kage to a soldier. !ailing a pa"kage also a"%ieved t%e %ig%est s"ore on our "omparison "%art, making t%e group more "onfident of our de"ision.

8e <ill donate to a group "as% pool to pur"%ase "andies and food items not a""essible to soldiers fart%er from base, and any books movies or forms of entertainment <e feel appropriate. After pur"%asing and "olle"ting our goods, <e <ill t%en bring t%em toget%er and pa"kage t%em during a final "lass meeting during <%i"% <e <ill also evaluate our final report on our group pro3e"t, and t%en designate a team member to take t%e pa"kage to t%e post offi"e to be mailed overseas to t%e son of Ale' &uinei, a group member, <%o "urrently %as a son serving in Afg%anistan. Ale';s son <ill t%en deliver t%e pa"kage to a soldier %e kno<s <%o %as not been re"eiving ample post.

8e are "onfident t%is <ill be t%e best solution be"ause t%e soldier re"eiving our pa"kage <ill re"eive t%e most satisfa"tion from t%is gift. 7n addition, by in"orporating Ale';s son in our solution <e are enabling %im to bring "%eer to a fello< soldier, <%i"% <ill undoubtedly bring a smile to Ale';s fa"e also. &%is <ill be an opportunity to serve not one but two soldiers in a personal <ay.

D. Hegative Conse?uen"es &%e soldier re"eiving t%e gift mig%t %ave an allergi" rea"tion to one of t%e food items or "andy in t%e pa"kage and be"ome si"k or die. &%is <ould be most unfortunate, but <e don;t feel t%at it is a likely eventuality. 7t is also possible t%at after a long period of abstinen"e from geneti"ally modified foods or star"%y "andies t%at t%e soldier <ill "reate indigestion "ausing t%em to need to refrain from duties for a period. 7t "ould also %appen t%at t%e soldier <ill not like some of t%e pa"kage "ontents, in <%i"% "ase t%ey may freely distribute t%e "ontents among fello< soldiers.

&%e pa"kage may also be inter"epted by postal servi"es, border "ontrol, t%e military or terrorists, <%i"% <ould result in t%e soldier never re"eiving %is gift. At least <e <ill kno< t%at someone benefited from our "%aritable a"t, even if t%ey aren;t a soldier.

Part "I: Implementation of the Solution

After <e %ad devised a solution to our problem, <e t%en made a plan to implement our solution, t%us solving our problem.

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

12

A. 7dentify Spe"ifi" &asks 7t <as important to kno< <%at e'a"tly needed to be done before <e ea"% began to separately <ork on parts of t%e pro3e"t. 7dentifying t%e spe"ifi" tasks re?uired of our group enabled us to <ork more effe"tively as a team. (Alder F 1lm%ors, .5+( *. 7dentify <%at to "ontribute. 8e needed to de"ide <%et%er <e <ould donate books, movies, "andy, food, pi"ture, t%ank you "ards, letters, or a "ombination of t%ese t%ings. .. 8e t%en estimated t%e amount of ea"% item to be donated. &%is depended largely on "ost, and amount. Generally t%e larger and %eavier a pa"kage, t%e more it "osts, but fortunately for us, any s%ipments to a military base "an be s%ipped <it% flat rate s%ipping for a lo< "osts. &%e AS2S;s motto for t%eir flat,rate s%ipping is , =if it fits, it s%ips,> <%i"% is ?uite ni"e for us. (AS2S."om, .+*0( 0. &%e a"tual pur"%ase or gat%ering of our "%osen materials t%en %ad to be "ompleted. 1a"% team member broug%t eit%er a donation or "as% amounting around or under L*+ per group member. 4. &%e postage bo' %ad to be broug%t and t%e items pa"ked for s%ipping. A group member <as re?uired to a"?uire a flat rate post bo' to send our "are pa"kage in. 5. A final group member <as needed to s%ip our pa"kage to Afg%anistan to some lu"ky soldier. #. 7dentify $esour"es Heeded *. 8e found peris%able goods, to fulfill our =foodCs<eets> "riteria. .. 8e found movies and books to donate in order to meet our =entertainment> "riteria, 0. &%en <e "ompiled any pi"tures, letters or notes of t%anks t%at may %ave broug%t a smile or a memory. C. 7ndividual $esponsibilities 8e t%en need to dis"uss t%e individual responsibilities ea"% of us <ould "arry out in order to a""omplis% our pro3e"t, be t%at buying peris%ables, providing movies or books, or even t%e postage bo'. *. Candy, #ret .. !ovies,Ale' 0. #ooks,Aubree 4. 8ritten LettersC &%ank Iou "ards, ade 5. 2ostage #o',David :. &ransportation,Skyler

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

13

D. 1mergen"ies 8e needed to t%en make a "ontingen"y plan in "ase not everyt%ing <orked a""ording to plan. &%is <as "ru"ial. @ad it not been done t%is <ay it "ould %ave %appened t%at important parts of our pa"kage <ouldn;t %ave been s%ipped. 8e only needed to %ave t<o lines of ba"kup for our =1mergen"y plan.> *. Call our "ommuni"ations spe"ialist (Ale' &uinei( and let %im kno<. .. Call our group leaders <%o %ave also been very a"tive in our pro3e"t and <ill be able to "ommuni"ate t%e proper ideas. 0. )ur t%ird line of defense lays in t%e revision pro"ess. 1a"% team member <ill %ave a revised and final "opy of our pro3e"t analysis, <%i"% "learly identifies t%e roles ea"% team member is re?uired to play in our final pro3e"t. Conclusion 8ar %as a %istory t%at dates ba"k to t%e #ron6e Age (.0++ #.C(. 8ar is and %as been a universal reality for po<erful nations, t%roug% t%eir "on?uests, <eak nations as <ell. 7t %as be"ome an integral part of our nation;s %istory. 8ar is a tool t%at is used to prote"t, defend and prevent any type of danger to our "iti6ens and our <ay of life. Hevert%eless t%ere is an essential aspe"t of <ar t%at is little t%oug%t of, and %ig%ly important to understanding t%e "omple'ities of <ar as <ell as t%e average individuals <%o fig%t in t%em. Erom *--5 <%en <e <ent to <ar <it% t%e #ritis% Soldiers ($evolutionary 8ar( till present day <%en 2resident #us% and t%e Ameri"an people de"lared <ar on terrorism. (Afg%anistanC7ra?i "onfli"ts( Ameri"an soldiers %ave been fig%ting for <%at all Ameri"ans and free nations stand for, t%e fundamental moral values t%at t%is "ountry <as built on. &rut%, 3usti"e, and integrity are standards t%at t%ose men, and no< <omen, struggled for, and are still striving for today. Ameri"an "iti6ens and nations t%at value t%e same standards and prin"iples as t%e Anited States of Ameri"a and <%o depend upon Ameri"an soldiers, o<e t%eir gratitude to t%ese everyday %eroes for giving up t%eir o<n lives for t%eir benefit. A soldier does not need to die in order to give up t%eir life for our "ountry %o<everD t%e simple a"t of 3oining t%e armed for"es is enoug% to inspire appre"iation for t%at person;s "ourage. @onoring t%ose <%o %ave volunteered and t%ose <%o <ere drafted in t%e past and t%e present is somet%ing all Ameri"ans s%ould do. 7t isn;t re?uisite to spend money, buy fan"y gifts or do e'treme amount of servi"e <ork to %onor our soldiers. 7t is t%e simple and more "ommonpla"e a"ts, done <it% fre?uen"y t%at in t%e end mean t%e most. ust learning about t%e <ars our troops foug%t in or are fig%ting no<, and trying to understand <%at soldiers <ent t%roug%, for our sake, is enoug% to %onor t%em. Bret !acdonald, "avid #ington, $ubree %&dalch, 'ade (arsen, Sk&ler Cark, and $le) *uinei "omprise a small group of "iti6ens <%o %ave "ome toget%er and de"ided to %onor t%e men and <omen of t%e military by learning about t%eir stories and struggles and by sending a "are pa"kage to an individual "urrently serving in +,eration Enduring -reedom. &%e "are pa"kage prepared is a small token of t%eir great appre"iation for t%e sa"rifi"es of t%ese patrioti" men and <omen. 8ar is a terrible and %ars% reality for all nations. All veterans from t%e past and present are united by t%is universal trut%. 7t is up to us, as Ameri"an "iti6ens, to %onor and s%o< respe"t to t%ese individuals, and to remember t%ose <%o stood <at"% for t%is great nation on God;s green eart%.

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

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$or%s Cited *+ 8ays to support our troops. (.+**, Hovember(. $etrieved April .0, .+*0, from aarp.org9 %ttp9CC<<<.aarp.orgCgiving,ba"kCvolunteeringCinfo,.++4C**M<aysMtoM%elpMt%eMtroops.%tml Adler, $. F 1lm%orst, . (.+*+(. Communi"ating at 8ork (*+e(. He< Iork9 !"Gra<,@ill. #e"ome A Jolunteer. (n.d.(. $etrieved April .5, .+*0, from booksforsoldiers."om9 %ttp9CCbooksforsoldiers."omC ="ns.usps."omCgo.> (.+*0(. $etrieved April .-, .+*0, from usps."om9 %ttps9CC"ns.usps."omCgo Deppe, (April, .+*0( 2ersonal 7ntervie<. Kington, (April, .+*0( 2ersonal intervie<. Hational Center for !ental @ealt% 2romotion and Iout% Jiolen"e 2revention. (.+*.(. !ilitary families9 impa"t on "%ildrenNs and familiesN mental %ealt%. $etrieved April .*, .+*0, from promoteprevent.org9 %ttp9CC<<<.promoteprevent.orgCpubli"ationsCprevention,briefsCmilitary, families,impa"t,"%ildrens,and,families,mental,%ealt% 2atriot Guard $iders. (n.d.(. $etrieved April .:, .+*0, from patriotguard.org9 %ttp9CCpatriotguard.orgC 2o<ers, $. (n.d.(. @o< to support our troops. $etrieved April .:, .+*0, from usmilitary.about."om9 %ttp9CCusmilitary.about."omCodCdeployments"onfli"tsCaCmilitarysupport.,uGy.%tm

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

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=Same Sky S%aring,> C%ildren;s 7nstitute, / !ar. .+*+.( $etrieved April .:, .+*0, from %ttp9CC<<<."%ildrensinstitute.netCprogramsCsame,sky,s%aring Support )ur &roops. (n.d.(. $etrieved April .4, .+*0, from military."om9 %ttp9CC<<<.military."omCspouseCmilitary,lifeCmilitary,resour"esC%o<,to,support,our, troops.%tml &oget%er <e "an "%ange t%e <orld. (.++5(. $etrieved April .+*0, from ngat.ort9 <<<.ngat.orgCpubsformsCGeneralC*+*8aystoSupport)ur&roops.pdf &uinei, Ale' (April, .+*0( 2ersonal 7ntervie< 8all, &. (.+*0, !ar"% *0(. Soldiers and families "an suffer negative effe"ts from modern "ommuni"ation te"%nologies says mu resear"%er. $etrieved April .*, .+*0, from mune<s.missouri.edu9 %ttp9CCmune<s.missouri.eduCne<s,releasesC.+*0C+0*G,soldiers,and, families,"an,suffer,negative,effe"ts,from,modern,"ommuni"ation,te"%nologies,says,mu, resear"%erC 8ebC& pages to a""ompany C)!! *+*+9 1lements of 1ffe"tive Communi"ation. (.+*+(. Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City, A&. $etrieved from <<<.sl"".edu 8rig%t, C. ! (.+*., April( 8omen during t%e "ivil <ar. $etrieved from %ttp9CCen"y"lopediavirginia.orgC8omenMDuringMt%eMCivilM8arOstartMentry .5 April .+*0. 8eb. !ppendix &: 'roup ( Team Contract Class9 C)!! *+*+,+-4 Semester9 Spring .+*0 Date "reated9 April ./, .+*0 &eam !embers C Conta"t 7nformation Skyler Clark P sk6"larkQi"loud."om P (G+*( 4:.,*-4* ade Larsen , 3addielarsenQgmail."om P (G+*( G5/ *4+5 David Kington , dkington*Qya%oo."om P(G+*( 5G5,-*/* #ret !a"Donald , bretma"donaldQgmail."om P(G+*( G5:,G-5+ Aubree $ydal"% , a.rydal"%Qya%oo."om P(G+*( 4*4,..++ Ale' &uinei , astuinei/GQgmail."om P(G+*(-/0,*-54 &eam Horms

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

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$elational norms9 *. 8ork %ard to a"%ieve and A grade on t%e pro3e"t. *. 8ork toget%er as a group. *. @ave good "ommuni"ation and "lear e'pe"tations of <%o <ill do <%at in our pro3e"t. &ask norms9 *. 1mail ea"% step of t%e pro3e"t to ea"% group member to ensure a %ig% ?uality of our end produ"t as <ell as good "ommuni"ation. .. #e to ea"% meeting <eekly, and "ontribute to t%e progress of t%e dis"ussion. 0. @ave ea"% task prepared and dis"uss <%at <as done during "lass meetings.

&eam !ember $oles $elational roles9 *. @armoni6er, Aubree $ydal"% .. Gatekeeper, ade Larsen &ask roles9

*. #ret !a"Donald, Ea"ilitator ..&ime Keeper,Ale' &uinei 0.!oniter,Skyler Clark 4. 2roofreader,Skyler Clark 5.7nformation Agent, Ale' &uinei :. 7nitiator, David Kington -. Distra"tion !onitor, Aubree $ydal"%

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

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!ppendix ): Solution !nalysis Chart &%is "%art, <%i"% <e used in Step J7, evaluates ea"% solution in terms of ea"% "riterion.
Key: Rated 1 5 Soldier's ! A"i#: $ethod# of Support Home % A"i#: &ntended Rea'tion# Coming 'educe Stress Smiles (ntertainm ent $ood)S*ee ts Bring emories Cost (High Cost+ Lo* 'ating" Time ,eeded (High Time+Lo* 'ating" La*s, Policies, etc(.i//icult+ Lo* 'ating" Totals: 4 3(5 0 0 5 5 Thank You Letter 4(5 5 2 1 3 5 Package (Books, o!ies, Candy, etc" 5 5 5 5 5 2 Hel# a $amil y 5 5 3 0 5 5 %olunteer ing one y &&&

5 5 0 3 5 5

5 5 5 5 5 0

4 24(5

5 30(5

3 33

3 28

2 27

2 32

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

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!ppendix *: 'roup ( + Member Participation Points ade Larsen ,Gpts ade "ontributed most to t%e group by %er suggestions of <%at <e "ould potentially do to %elp soldiers in need. @er input <as greatly valued, and also needed for our group to %ave su""eeded at t%e task of supporting our troops overseas. S%e <rote t%e pro3e"t des"ription. ade "ontributed 2ringles and salt,<ater taffy for our overseas soldier. Skyler Clark ,*4.5pts 7 did se"retarial duties, t%e =!et%ods> portion of t%e pro3e"t, t%e table of "ontents, and revision of parts of our finis%ed pro3e"t, as <ell as find resour"es on possible servi"e <e "ould render to troops eit%er "urrently serving overseas, or returned and ad3usting to normal "ivilian life. Skyler boug%t tootsie,rolls for our pa"kage overseas. David Kington ,Gpts David, despite a brief re"reational absen"e fulfilled all t%e assignments given %im during t%is pro3e"t. @e <as responsible for t%e %istory of veteran and servi"emen support, to see <%at %as maybe been done in t%e past to %elp us find an effe"tive measure to use ourselves in our support of veterans and servi"emen. David boug%t beef,3erkey for our overseas "are pa"kage. #ret !a"Donald ,*0pts #ret <as our group leader and did an e'"ellent 3ob in guiding t%e group t%roug% ea"% "lass meeting and assigning tasks <it%out be"oming di"tatorial in %is role. @e <as a leader t%at enabled us to <ork more effe"tively as a group, and %elped provide t%e stru"ture needed for our in,"lass meetings. @e also <rote t%e e'e"utive summary and edited t%e final draft of t%e report. #ret pur"%ased Laffy,&affys for our overseas delivery. Ale' &uinei ,G.5pts Ale', a former servi"e member %imself <as invaluable <it% %is many insig%ts and kno<ledge of military life, but mu"% more as our ="ommuni"ations spe"ialist.> Ale' <as responsible at reminding ea"% member of our group to a""omplis% t%eir tasks and "ontribute to t%e group pro3e"t. @e %elped us all to kno< <%at <as needed to be done in t%e time bet<een meetings. @e <rote t%e "on"lusion of our report. Ale' <ill be providing overseas servi"emen <it% sterile <ipes, and su"kers. Aubree $ydal"% ,Gpts

Group 4 A Gift to a Soldier

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Aubree <as our group =%armoni6er> s%e not only made sure t%at t%e group <as on task <%ile in meetings, but also t%at t%e flo< of t%e meeting <as smoot%, "utting out frivolous information and lending to t%e dis"ussion as to provide opportunities for more effe"tive time use, and progression on our group pro3e"t. Aubree pur"%ased gum, 3olly,ran"%ers and starbursts for our t%e soldier <e <ill be sponsoring.