What is the biggest problem faced by FIRST teams?

[vivek16]

Im going to say students. not only is it critical to have students participate but also do what they say they will. we've had problems with this in the past. and I also think that might be because of FIRST compared to other academic activities: there is waay more minimum effort involved.

-vivek

[KathieK]

We always ask the NEMs at our general NEMO meetings, what are your team's top three concerns? Consistently the top answer is Mentor Recruitment and Retention. Number two is consistently fundraising and recruiting sponsors. Number three varies.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Money is a big problem, but I'm going to say lack of quality mentors. It's hard to get them (harder than getting money, in some cases), it's hard to keep them, and they're usually critical to a team's success.

What he said ^^

Money is an issue, but it can be managed. Once you get past the first level of funding - the entry fee and one or two thousand for supplies - a team can scrimp, save. beg/borrow/redirect to make it happen. After that it's sophistication and depth.

No mentors leaves a complex process to inexperienced help - design and fabrication - and tends to discourage rather than inspire.
Not enough mentors leaves the mentors overwhelmed and burned out quickly.

I know that many engineers would enjoy helping; but we can't seem to figure out just how to get them there the first time. After that, they'll be hooked, I'm sure.

Don

[KathieK]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

I know that many engineers would enjoy helping; but we can't seem to figure out just how to get them there the first time. After that, they'll be hooked, I'm sure.

As we often hear, "FIRST is hard to sell, but if you get them to an event, it sells itself..." that applies to mentors, sponsors, school administrators... Mike Betts and I staffed an exhibition booth at a conference today and had two rookie FTC teams help demo for us. I took the CT FIRST website calendar of FIRST events for all four programs in the New England area and made lots of copies, and handed them out all day. I can show them the promo DVD, can talk about FIRST til I'm blue in the face, but if they show up at one of our events, that's when it will all click into place. Another giveaway I usually have made up is a business card with my info on one side, and the local FIRST events listed on the other side. I give it out saying to put it on their frig at home (actual refrigerator magnets would be great, too!).

[Chris Fultz]

I think every team needs a leader with vision and a view of the big picture of FIRST so that they can then sell it to the mentors, students, administration and sponsors.

FIRST is a difficult program to grasp -

To maintain the support of adminstrators and sponsors $$ (both mentioned in other posts) it takes someone who can explain it is more than kids building a robot.

To maintain mentors it takes someone who can manage conflicts and personalities and keep eveyone moving forward.

To maintain students, it takes someone who can continue to inspire them, let them learn and grow, and let them see the benefits to them personally from being involved.

For some teams this all comes together in one person, for others it it a small core team of mentors - but i think it has to be there for a team to survive and thrive.

[kramarczyk]

Originally Posted by Chris Fultz

I think every team needs a leader with vision and a view of the big picture of FIRST so that they can then sell it to the mentors, students, administration and sponsors.

FIRST is a difficult program to grasp -

To maintain the support of adminstrators and sponsors $$ (both mentioned in other posts) it takes someone who can explain it is more than kids building a robot.

To maintain mentors it takes someone who can manage conflicts and personalities and keep eveyone moving forward.

To maintain students, it takes someone who can continue to inspire them, let them learn and grow, and let them see the benefits to them personally from being involved.

For some teams this all comes together in one person, for others it it a small core team of mentors - but i think it has to be there for a team to survive and thrive.

I've gotta go with Chris on this one. Without a single vision for the team the limited resources get spent managing people and trying to get them all pointed in the same direction instead of managing projects, driven by the collective passion, that set the team up for success. Basically, without an agreed upon definition of success the odds of succeeding are slim.