Week 13 (November 12 - 18)

Post #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.

The concept that I am going to discuss in this post is the substance and reasoning behind conflict. The three main components of this topic are scarce resources, diverse backgrounds and orientations, and task accomplishment with varying orientations. Scarce resources can be an issue because it limits your ability to produce a quality result and solution to your problem or conflict. An example of this would be having a lack of time, financial resources, etc. Having diverse backgrounds and orientations can be an issue because people are brought up to believe different things, and that can affect the way they approach problem-solving and communication. Examples of this are having different religious views, backgrounds, different opinions, knowledge, interests, abilities, and relationships to the outcome or goal you are trying to achieve. Task accomplishment with varying orientations can be an issue as well because not everyone necessarily wants the same outcome, or cares the same amount. Also, people's understanding of the subject and what you are trying to accomplish can hurt the group process and be a reason being conflict. 

Week 13 (November 12 - 18)

Post #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?

A collaborative conflict resolution is ideal because it is considered a win-win for everyone. It is an appropriate method for conflict resolution because it takes time, energy, and commitment, all of which guarantee the best possible end results for all of the group members. I had to partake in a panel-like discussion dealing with collaborative conflict resolution in another small group communications class that I took at community college. It worked really well because we were all able to participate and work together to find a solution. A competitive conflict generally creates a win-lose situation. It is led by self-interest, rather than mutual interest for the group. Competition can be healthy as long as it is not blown out of proportion and consuming the group atmosphere. I was doing a group presentation with a few classmates in high school, and my best friend was in another group. We had a debate, and we both, for some reason, wanted to beat the other. This may sound stupid but it got in the way of our friendship a little bit, until we realized we were being ridiculous. My group ended up losing the debate by a few points, and her group won. In the end it didn't matter, but at the time that bit of competition was not healthy. Collaborative conflict resolution is much more satisfying to me, and to most I think, because it really gives you the chance to work with other people to come up with the best possible solution for your problem. 

Week 13 (November 12 - 18)

Post #1

1). (Regarding chapter 11) Distinguish among a forum, panel, colloquium, and symposium as a mans for making a public presentation. Which one would you prefer? Why?

According to our book, a forum is format for speaking and listening to a larger audience. It is kind of like having a public discussion where the audience is allowed to fully participate. A panel is a public format in which a group of experts, typically between four and eight, discuss a problem or make a decision in front of a live audience. Generally, the experts on the panel use humor and somewhat of an informal dialogue to keep the audience's attention and interest. A colloquium is a form of public discussion where a group of experts, typically between three and six, discuss a problem while following a problem-solving format. These experts are usually chose for their different views, and are problem-solving in front of an audience but are with a moderator to facilitate their interaction. A symposium is a series of two to six short speeches made on different aspects of a difficult problem. The speakers are generally experts on different aspects of the topic. Personally, I would prefer a panel because I would like having the ability to interact with the audience, and use humor to solve the issue.

Week 12 (November 5 - 11)

Post #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.

The concept that I am going to discuss this week is superiority versus equality. When working in a group there are many important factors for group effectiveness, but one of the most important factors is equality. Everyone in the group, regardless of your assigned role, gender, age, intelligence level, or race, has and should have an equal opportunity to help lead and provide feedback to the group. If there is a person or two within a group who display a sense of superiority, others will be intimidated and won't want to participate. This will hurt your group morale and creative process, as well as your grade and the other group member’s grades. Equality is an important factor of life, as well as in working with a group. I have worked in groups before where one person thought that everything they had to say and think was gold, not giving others a chance to give their opinion, and when it came down to the group project being turned in, our grades suffered. Professors assign group projects because they want to see the members work together, and see what work they come up with together, not individually. Superiority just creates hostility and an awkward group environment. 

Week 12 (November 5 - 11)

Post #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.

Five cultural barriers to creativity are the expectation of practicality, the dependence on generalizations, trust in the power of reason and logic, perspectives on an issue, and the requirement for conformity. These are not the only cultural barriers to creativity but they are the five that stuck out to me the most. These are considered barriers because they are pre-formed ideas that may inhibit your ability to be open-minded to new ideas and new cultures. Cultural barriers are definitely something that would keep a group from being creative. They are also something that would keep a group from being productive and staying friendly and neutral. As long as people are close-minded and not willing to be exposed to something foreign to them, their creative process will definitely be hindered. A lack of being open-minded can really make you suffer in both life and when you need to be creative. Sometimes the cultural barriers are so strong that it can even hinder communication, which is essentially to being creative. I don't believe I have ever experience a cultural barrier that has impacted my creativity, so I don't have a story to share, but I can imagine that is it frustrating and can create a hostile environment. 

Week 12 (November 5 - 11)

Post #1

1). Provide an example of creativity from your own experience. How does it fit with the chapter's discussion of creativity?

According to our book, creativity is defined as any idea or action that is different, helpful, or new that helps you get to what you want to achieve. An example of creativity from my own experiences in small groups was when I was taking a small group communications class at my community college before I transferred to San Jose State. I was put in a group in class and our task was to come up with a new and "fake" product that we would then be presenting to the class. Our goal was to sell the product to the class and get them to want to buy into what we were saying. My group members and I were totally drawing a blank, so we asked our teacher if we could go outside of the building and brainstorm, since we weren't getting anywhere by sitting inside. After being outside for a while, we started getting our creative spark going, and came up with an awesome product that ended up getting the most votes in class so we all got extra credit! It was a new and creative spin on brainstorming, different from the usual sitting around a table shooting ideas around. We were inspired by the things we saw outside and that helped spark our ideas and our creativity. This example fits in with the chapter's discussion because it shows how going at something with a different approach and in a new way, can still help create the same results that you originally wanted.