12/3-12/9 Post 3: Constraints

"Constraints are inevitable element of any decision-making process and may be of two types: external or internal. External constraints are those imposed on the decision-making process, such as the time, money, energy, knowledge base, or other resources that the group needs for the decision-making process and to implement the solution. Internal constraints are those integral to the problem. They may have caused the initial problem, or they may have to do with limitations on the implementation, such as government regulations, the physical location, technical or design difficulties, or other constraining factors and circumstances." (146)

To refresh your memories, I took this excerpt straight from the book. It defines constraints perfectly as well as internal and external constraints. I chose this concept as my favorite one that we covered in this course because I can really relate to it outside the "classroom" (so to speak). For instance I am having real trouble with external constraints on Christmas shopping. Time and money are tight this year. I think that constraints are one of the most common challenges that people face everyday, especially in group settings. Like this concept and many others, this class provided useful knowledge that can be used everyday at any given time or place. Constraints are basic obstacles that everyone must overcome or find a solution to everyday. That is why I chose and like constraints.

12/3-12/9 Post 2: Likes/dislikes

This class has been by far my favorite COMM Studies class. I've learned a lot about the communication of individuals in regards to small groups. It has taught me a lot about myself. I know how I act and react with certain groups and certain group members. Also with certain leaders. I think my favorite thing about this class was applying what I learned to everyday life. After a study session/chapter reading I noticed things that were discussed in the text. I felt rather smart and kept pointing it out to coworkers. My least favorite thing about this class was the time frame for the posts. On top of work and school (which isn't an excuse) it was just a nuisance to make sure exactly twelve hours passed before I could post the next one. In regards to improvement, perhaps a live group chat/discussion. Other than that I like the way this class was ran: simple, to the point, interactive, thought provoking and learning!

12/3-12/9 Post 1: Group Observation Project

For the purposes of this class, I believe that the Group Observation Project was great! It helped me utilize the course objectives in a real-life setting of a group. The group I chose, a boys competitive gymnastics team, showed me a lot about communication studies, the behaviors of a group, etc. From this exercise as well as the entirety of the class, I now look/observe groups and people in my life to see why they say and do what they do, and to see if I can come up with ways to improve it. I've taken the experience from this assignment and applied it to everyday life situations for me. The obligation of viewing a group outside was great. It gave me a chance to explore. I don't think that there is anything that should be improved. Perhaps a one time interaction with the group (but that contradicts the purpose of observing the group). I think that interacting with the group can give the observer another perspective.

11/12-11/18 Post 3: Reward-Punishment Power

The one concept from the assigned reading comes from chapter twelve that I found interesting and/or intriguing/useful. It is the reward-punishment power. The book defines this as, "Those who can effectively reward or punish other members of the group hold another type of power, that is, to the extent that we can effectively praise or humiliate fellow group members," (215). It's interesting because it can be a boss or an assistant. This type of power is rather old school, in my opinion. For example my parents were a part of the baby boom era and nonetheless foreigners. So the way I grew up was very much exerted in either getting rewarded or punished for my actions. Going to Catholic school and gymnastics, both of those groups also faced reward-punishment power from their leaders. When it comes to power in group conflict I feel like this one can be misused and is a lot of the time. The reason why I picked this concept is probably because I can relate to it.

11/12-11/18 Post 2: Collaboration vs. Competition

The book defines collaborative conflict as the ideal strategy for groups to overcome a conflict. An example of my own is when my friends and I were throwing a surprise birthday for our best friend. There were many conflicts involved, time, place, keeping it a surprise, etc. The entire time we kept our focus on the birthday girl and the party. It was such a fun time because we were all having fun and on the same track in terms of keeping our mindset on the party. As for competitive conflict, it's a bit more challenging but more common in my opinion. Competition (survival of the fittest for example) is a part of human nature. So whatever we do, we try to out perform or outdo others. A personal example from group experiences, is a class activity I had one semester. We got into groups of about 5-8 and the professor assigned us tasks that had to be completed within a certain time limit. The group that I was in were all very competitive and we ended up coming in last for every task because we did not look at the bigger picture. Out of the two, even though I personally love competition, I would have to go with collaboration. At least out of these two instances. My friends and I had so much fun together planning everything and throwing the party that we wanted to do it for everyone's birthdays. My friends definitely loved it as well, we still talk about that party and the memories made today.

Week 11/12-11/18 Post 1: Formats

The Forum: It provides a format for speaking and listening to a larger audience.

The Panel: It is a public format in which a group of four to eight experts discusses a problem or decision in front of an audience.

The Colloquium: It is a form of public discussion in which a group of three to six experts, usually chosen for their divergent views, discusses a problem, following the problem-solving format, in front of an audience with a moderator facilitating their interaction.

The Symposium: It provides a format for a series of two to six brief speeches made on different aspects of a complex and difficult problem.

Out of all these formats for group presentations I prefer the forum format. I believe that speaking and listening are two essential components to group meetings. Having the option for everyone, the audience and speakers, to participate in a discussion is wonderful. It stirs up thoughts and ideas to brainstorm more possible solutions for whatever the task is at hand.

11/5-11/11 Post 3: Me, Myself and I

A concept from the assigned reading that has not already been discussed that I found interesting was the concept for encouraging creativity. There are four techniques; idea needlers, manipulative verbs, association/metaphors and analogy. Put of these four I am going to focus on idea needlers. As the book states, "These idea needlers offer us the opportunity to use a different perspective, or lens, to view a problem," (170). I found this interesting and useful because in table 10.2 there's a list of all the different questions that stir up creativity. For instance, "What if this were turned inside out? reversed? upside down?" or "Can motion be added to it?" Questions like these almost force people to think differently to come up with the answers for it thus stirring up creativity. I love this technique because at work or at school in either group, once group members start asking the "right questions" (idea needlers) imagination begins to flow and ideas are pouring out left and right. The groups then come up with outrageous, silly, amazing, weird and awesome ideas. No matter which idea is chosen for the given task, the other ones can me stored/remembered and used for later or morph into something else.