1). How does CMC differ from f2f communication? (Think outside the box).
At this age and time, most people communicate by computer more than face to face. In a group communication, for the people who fear the f2f, they might find CMC communication much easier. I think this is because CMC allows us to communicate with one another without placing specific labels on the people we are communicating with such as race and age; thus creating a “great equality’ between group members. The other way CMC differs from f2f is that most of the time in CMC there is no emotional connection where as in f2f there will be some emotional connection. Since they are more tasks oriented than f2f, when time is limited, “CMC groups perform better than f2f groups on tasks that are less involving. On the other hand, if the task requires social interaction the CMC groups perform worse than f2f. In conclusion, I have had a chance to work with the group in both CMC and f2f and both have advantages and disadvantages.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Week 14 Question 3
3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading, that we have not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.
One of the concepts I found interesting in this week’s reading was Avoidance. It is one of the five styles of conflict management that involves “withdrawing from the conflict.” It is neither forceful nor interested in solving the problem. In a conflict resolution, when one is displaying avoidance strategy, they are saying “I would rather not talk about it right now.” Depending on the situation, this strategy could also be destructive or constrictive for the group process. “If the avoidance was due to lack of information, understanding or any particular opinion…it could be constrictive for the group process. On the other hand, “if avoidance is the result of disempowered or disengaged, it can negatively impact the group process.” When dealing with avoiders, in my opinion, it is important to communicate clearly what is needed. In addition, the more intense or demanding you are, the more likely the avoider will go into deeper withdrawal; therefore it is good not to be aggressive.
One of the concepts I found interesting in this week’s reading was Avoidance. It is one of the five styles of conflict management that involves “withdrawing from the conflict.” It is neither forceful nor interested in solving the problem. In a conflict resolution, when one is displaying avoidance strategy, they are saying “I would rather not talk about it right now.” Depending on the situation, this strategy could also be destructive or constrictive for the group process. “If the avoidance was due to lack of information, understanding or any particular opinion…it could be constrictive for the group process. On the other hand, “if avoidance is the result of disempowered or disengaged, it can negatively impact the group process.” When dealing with avoiders, in my opinion, it is important to communicate clearly what is needed. In addition, the more intense or demanding you are, the more likely the avoider will go into deeper withdrawal; therefore it is good not to be aggressive.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Week 14 Question 2
2). Briefly outline an example of collaborative conflict resolution that you have engaged in. Contrast that with competitive conflict. Which was more satisfying to you? To the other party?
In a collaborative conflict resolution everyone involved have to speak what they think and have to feel they are important part of the solution. They are also responsible in listening what others have to say and try to understand and work toward mutual decisions. An example of a collaborative conflict resolution I have engaged is with my roommate. As anyone might expect, while living with roommate, there is going to be something to fight about. Since both my roommate and I were working fulltime and going to school, we wanted our apartment to be a peaceful place to get away from all the pressures; therefore it was worth our time to work on our collaborative conflict resolution. Whenever we had an issue we communicated it to each other well. We also view the issue from other points of view beside our two conflict one. We really thought hard to find some common ground to balance our two needs. Basically, we worked on the conflict until it was a “win win” situation.
On the other hand, competitive conflict is where one individual or group goes to compete in getting a better price, want, and thing than the other party. I also remember one particular instance where I was engaged in a competitive conflict with my roommate. On our initial meeting, we rented two bedrooms apartment with one master bedroom and one guestroom. We both wanted to get the master bedroom; therefore it was very difficult to find a middle ground. The only solution we had was to use competitive conflict resolution method. I believe both collaborative and competitive conflict resolutions are satisfying depending on the situation.
In a collaborative conflict resolution everyone involved have to speak what they think and have to feel they are important part of the solution. They are also responsible in listening what others have to say and try to understand and work toward mutual decisions. An example of a collaborative conflict resolution I have engaged is with my roommate. As anyone might expect, while living with roommate, there is going to be something to fight about. Since both my roommate and I were working fulltime and going to school, we wanted our apartment to be a peaceful place to get away from all the pressures; therefore it was worth our time to work on our collaborative conflict resolution. Whenever we had an issue we communicated it to each other well. We also view the issue from other points of view beside our two conflict one. We really thought hard to find some common ground to balance our two needs. Basically, we worked on the conflict until it was a “win win” situation.
On the other hand, competitive conflict is where one individual or group goes to compete in getting a better price, want, and thing than the other party. I also remember one particular instance where I was engaged in a competitive conflict with my roommate. On our initial meeting, we rented two bedrooms apartment with one master bedroom and one guestroom. We both wanted to get the master bedroom; therefore it was very difficult to find a middle ground. The only solution we had was to use competitive conflict resolution method. I believe both collaborative and competitive conflict resolutions are satisfying depending on the situation.
Week 14 question 1
Although, a forum, panel, colloquium, and symposium are a group presentational format, which can help a group to organize its discussion and facilitate its interaction with a larger audience, they all have key differences. The main distinguishing factors in these forms of public discussion are in the group’s interaction with its audience. In a forum, the members of the audience give reaction speeches one at a time in an orderly fashion; the panel format provides no direct interaction between the panel of experts and the audience; in a colloquium “the discussion is carried on both in front of and with participation of audience members; lastly, in a symposium the speeches are well prepared, practiced, and polished presentations that are uninterrupted by the audience and presented by skilled public speakers. I would prefer colloquium. The reason is that colloquium is more engaging between the audience and the experts. In colloquium, it is highly likely most of the audiences questions gets to be answered.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Week 13 Question 3
3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading that has not already been discussed during this discussion week, that you found useful or interesting, and discuss it.
One of the interesting concepts I found in this chapter was emotional barriers to creativity. It is one of the three barriers “we place in the way of our creative abilities.” Often, our emotions play a big role in our creativity. One of the emotion aspects of barrier is fear of making mistake. The authors’ state instead of taking a risk in being wrong, we usually want someone to approve what we come up with. Basically, this limits to the extent what might others say about it. The other key aspect of emotional barriers to creativity is our assumption that says “… the current standard of knowledge and ways of doing things are the best;” therefore puts a ceiling on our creative ideas. In addition, thinking someone or some group of experts are only qualified to come up with the next best idea also prevents us from being creative. To overcome this barrier, the key thing to remember is that creativity requires risk-taking; one must be sufficiently confident to risk criticism and even failure.
One of the interesting concepts I found in this chapter was emotional barriers to creativity. It is one of the three barriers “we place in the way of our creative abilities.” Often, our emotions play a big role in our creativity. One of the emotion aspects of barrier is fear of making mistake. The authors’ state instead of taking a risk in being wrong, we usually want someone to approve what we come up with. Basically, this limits to the extent what might others say about it. The other key aspect of emotional barriers to creativity is our assumption that says “… the current standard of knowledge and ways of doing things are the best;” therefore puts a ceiling on our creative ideas. In addition, thinking someone or some group of experts are only qualified to come up with the next best idea also prevents us from being creative. To overcome this barrier, the key thing to remember is that creativity requires risk-taking; one must be sufficiently confident to risk criticism and even failure.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Week 13 Question 2
2). Name five cultural barriers to creativity. What do you think these would keep a group from being creative? Have you experienced any of these personally? Explain.
Cultural barriers to creativity include a requirement for conformity, an expectation of practicality and efficiency, particular arenas for competition or cooperation, an expectation of politeness and following rules for social order, and a reliance on statistical proofs. When we try to answer the question why these cultural barriers would keep the group from being creative, we first have to talk about culture. Culture is cultivated behavior; that is the totality of a person's learned, accumulated experience which is socially transmitted; therefore, the cultural environment one grew up has a strong influence on creativity by supporting or inhibiting it. Growing up in a very cultural household, I have experienced many of these cultural barriers. However, an expectation of politeness and following rules for social order has most influenced me in dealing with my cultural background. I recall one instance where I was helping in coordination of a wedding ceremony. Because most of the setup was cultural based, me and a handful of people were not able to put into practice any of our ideas.
Cultural barriers to creativity include a requirement for conformity, an expectation of practicality and efficiency, particular arenas for competition or cooperation, an expectation of politeness and following rules for social order, and a reliance on statistical proofs. When we try to answer the question why these cultural barriers would keep the group from being creative, we first have to talk about culture. Culture is cultivated behavior; that is the totality of a person's learned, accumulated experience which is socially transmitted; therefore, the cultural environment one grew up has a strong influence on creativity by supporting or inhibiting it. Growing up in a very cultural household, I have experienced many of these cultural barriers. However, an expectation of politeness and following rules for social order has most influenced me in dealing with my cultural background. I recall one instance where I was helping in coordination of a wedding ceremony. Because most of the setup was cultural based, me and a handful of people were not able to put into practice any of our ideas.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Week 13 Question 1
1). Provide an example of creativity from your own experience. How does it fit with the chapter's discussion of creativity?
Some people are considered to be creative more than others. In my opinion, creativity could be interpreted in many ways. One could interpret creativity as being a solution for an immediate problem or need; on the other hand, one could say creativity is bringing something from non-existence. From my experience, creativity is to “think outside the box.” For example, if we expose two people to work on a problem, one could just be thinking in box, meaning normal or the usual way of doing things; conversely one could look at the same exact problem and think outside the box, which is to come up with the best way of doing it. This very much relates to the text discussion. While, the text talks about creativity being the result of looking at things in a new way, it also underlines that creative thinking to be available for all of us.
Some people are considered to be creative more than others. In my opinion, creativity could be interpreted in many ways. One could interpret creativity as being a solution for an immediate problem or need; on the other hand, one could say creativity is bringing something from non-existence. From my experience, creativity is to “think outside the box.” For example, if we expose two people to work on a problem, one could just be thinking in box, meaning normal or the usual way of doing things; conversely one could look at the same exact problem and think outside the box, which is to come up with the best way of doing it. This very much relates to the text discussion. While, the text talks about creativity being the result of looking at things in a new way, it also underlines that creative thinking to be available for all of us.
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