Why did class devolve into chaos??
I think that class always gets hectic when you involve that many people in a discussion. Our discussion was simply about what the client wants vs. what they are going to get. The teams had not been decided yet (well, ours was) and we were all worried about our skills, being given a chance. Beth kept poking the bear by changing things, but we were all overlooking the fact that ideas were just difficult to accomplish in the amount of time we were given. We were thinking to far in advance, instead of looking at what we could accomplish in the allotted time frame.
What could you have done to keep that from happening?
I wonder if we would have created a specific time line and idea scope, if things would have tail spun out of control like it did. All of the ideas that we came up during that discussion, were great ideas, but the time constraint wasn't observed. As creative people, we want the project to be amazing and detailed... but all ideas won't work out, even if we had a couple months to work on. There was also a point when raising your hand, though proper and polite, didn't mean anything. Unfortunately that is what I think of when you hear the word "brainstorming." A constant flow of ideas/suggestions, being bounced off each other, to create an organized outcome. People who can't speak up when they need to, usually will be oppressed in the conversation.
Regurgitating ideas you have read is all well and good, but if you cannot apply them, then what is the point?
There really isn't any point. That discussion brought about great ideas, but it was going to be hard to implement them in the time frame. That is why you need to have a constant interaction with the client, so you keep things on track. They already have ideas of what they want, but can't do it themselves for what ever reason, which is why we are "hired." We just take those suggestions and build/re-tool them, to be the creative innovations that they are. The client needs to know that if they keep changing ideas, not only will it take longer to produce, but it will make the price of the project go up as well. A good project manager will build in a "buffer" period into each project.
What can you do to be more mindful of your team building decisions and how to actually implement the techniques we have been learning all semester?
When we broke down to smaller groups, it was easier brainstorming ideas for the cards. There were only 4-5 other minds competing for attention. If you like something someone says, you can speak up and not only be heard, but build up someones ideas/suggestions. In larger groups, you have to be able to jump into the conversation, but be mindful of interrupting an thought/idea/suggestion in the making. The conversation during today's class (3-27-12) was a little bit better than total chaos. Ideas bounced back and forth across the room, but people were better with letting someone into the conversation. We just really needed someone to create a diagram on the board just to keep a visual control of our planned project.
Is always sticking with people you already know the best solution to forming a good team? Working with people you already know may be human nature and the easiest way to make sure you get a good grade on a project, but remember that you are being assessed in this course not only on the product you create but how you work with your team and apply the techniques we have been covering in class... Unlike other classes, the product in this class is secondary to the process of creating the product.
I think that no matter how you look at it, ideas always have positives and negatives. You might be able to work off the strengths of one person, but hinder the ideas or skills of another. In groups, you will always be taking a chance that everyone will excel at the project at hand. If not, then the project suffers. People are foul able, and can get infected with personal drama which hinders their abilities and creativeness. The key is to suppress your personal drama, and work as a group to get to the outcome. One persons weakness, might be another persons strength? But you'll never know if you don't try.
What did you learn about yourself and team building as a result of what happened in class today?
I have problems sometimes being a chatterbox in class discussions. Where my life experiences of being an older student usually helps me out, it can restrict me because my knowledge in this profession so far, is limited. This is one of my first real classes for my major in Informatics, so I am limited on that experience. Most of the class is leaps and bounds ahead of me in that manner. I don't quite have the technical knowledge to do what is required sometimes, but think I am an affective manager and creative thinker.
How should the potential conflict that could erupt based on discussion today be handled in a way that allows for the best teams and personal satisfaction for all people?
There will always be challenges in group discussions. In the amount of time we have for class, there is no real way for us to be able to competently gage others talents. You can get a good sense of another persons abilities by what they say, and what they can show you, but your always going to be taking risks. Abilities, in teams, will always shine through in time. You know, over time, what you can expect out of another individual, because you will have time to reflect over what kind of project they produce and how they behave in group situations.
Instead of just backing down and saying, "Whatever..." what might be a better way to incorporate and include all ideas and styles?
Exclusion is a necessity! If not, nothing would ever be finished. We all change with time, our styles, music, preferences, ideas, etc... I'm sure if you asked the architect of any building, 10 years after the building is finished, what they would change if they had a chance, and I bet they would probably have a laundry list of ideas that they would change.
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