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CHAPTER 10: Solving Problems in Groups and Teams (Overcoming Dangers in…

- - - - For example For the man who built a boat in his basement and then wasn't able to get it out of the door. Working in a group can help prevent foolish errors like this
      - From my own experience: In math class, even people know how to solve the problem, however, they are easy to get algebraic mistakes which leads to lose some points, which should not be. At that time, group work will reinforce the result as well as making it more creditable.
    - - For example: about times when you have studied with other students for a test and you discussed and learned material you might have overlooked if not for the group. Groups not only have more resources than individuals, but, through interaction among the members, they are better able to mobilize them
      - From my own experience Group work brings to me such many benefits, for example, we have a group project, the more well ideas the better we can have a good result. Other perspectives also reinforces others' ideas as well, then, picking up all the best ideas among those ones will lead to best result
  - - - Some jobs are simply too big for one person to manage. They may call for more information than a single person possesses or can gather.
        
        For example a group of friends planning a large New Year's party will probably have a better event if they pool their ideas than if one person tries to think of everything
        
        From my own experience Last quarter, I joined in the volunteer work in downtown of Big Climb Organization- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Within more than 80,000 participant, the staffs have to call for volunteering to help them. Even my position is just working as a floater, however, I was really glad to help them
    - - Remember that group is more than a collection of individuals working side by side. the best tasks for group are ones in which members can help one another in some way. Moreover, even when everyone is working on the same job, they can be interdependent if different members fulfill the various functional roles described in chapter 9. Some people might be better at task-related roles such as information giving, diagnosing and summarizing. Other might contribute by fulfilling social rules such as harmonizing, supporting, or relieving tension.
    - - Groups are best suited to tackling problems that have no single, straightforward answer. By contrast, a problem with only one solution won't take full advantage of a group's talents
        
        For example phoning merchants to get price quotes and looking up a series of books in the library don't require much creative thinking. Jobs like these can be handle by one or two people working alone. Of course, it may take a group meeting to decide how to divide the work to get the job done most efficiency.
        
        From my own experience Depending one the kind of works, we can consider if we need to work as a group a not. Sometimes, your work does not need many people to do, moreover, if you can do it by your own then it would be better if you can work individually. Do not waste time or sufficiency.
    - - Tackling a problem as a group is essential if you need the support of everyone involved. Consider a group of friends planning a vacation. Letting one or two people choose the destination, schedule, and budget would be asking for trouble because their decisions would almost certainly disappoint at least some of the people who weren't consulted
        
        From my own experience: We cannot deny that working as a group brings us a lot of advantages, however, sometimes, argument might happen because everybody has a different lens to view the world as well as solving a problem.
- - - - Another common problem-solving format is the panel discussion, in which the participants discuss the topic informally, much as they would in an ordinary conversation
    - - In a symposium the participants divide the topic in a manner that allows each number to deliver in-depth information without interruption
    - - Problem-solving meetings can follow a variety of formats. A session that uses parliamentary procedure observes specific rules about how topic may be discussed and decisions made
    - - A forum allows nonmembers to add their opinions to the group's deliberate before the group makes a decision. This approach is commonly used by public agencies to encourage the participants of citizens in the decisions that affect them.
    - - Sponsoring organization often use focus groups to learn how potential users or the public at large regards a new product or idea. It does not include decision makers or other members who claim any expertise on a subject.
    - - Sometimes the best way to tackle a problem is to stop trying to find a solution and listen, Dialogue is process in which people let go of the notion that their ideas are superior to others' and instead try to understand the issue from many perspectives
        
        For example: if the problem is that some children in your community are not being immunized, you might invite a collection of diverse people together to talk about the issue. Perhaps you had assumed that parents were being irresponsible, but you learn by listening that some of them don't have transportation, can't afford the cost, or don't understand medical information very well.
    - - when the number of members is too large for effective discussion, breakout groups can be used to maximize effective participation. In this approach, subgroups (usually consisting of five to seven members) simultaneously address an issue and then report back to the group at large. The best ideas of each breakout group are then assembled to form a high-quality decision.
    - - When some members are more vocal than other, problem census can help equalize participation. Members use a separate card to list each of their ideas.
  - - - From my own experience: In the age of technology. Working is no longer necessary to be face-to-face. There are such a lot of software created to serve people' works. For example, my classmates and I, we can use Messenger group-chat or asynchronous function of Google Docs to have a discussion. It does not matter where we are, just get access to the Internet and it is not too much or even nothing is different form working face-to-face.
    - - For example if members can't see one another clearly, it may be difficult to convey and understand one another's emotions and attitudes, which we have studied in chapter 1, a disadvantage of mediated communication is lacking of message richness. For another, it may take virtual teams longer to reach decisions than those who meet face-to-face
      - From my own experience: To me, I agree that virtual team lacks of message richness, moreover, by mediated communication it is hard to convey all the information in complete, which I mean 100%. By talking in person, if we cannot explain by saying, we can also use nonverbal communication to support.
    - - For example: asynchronous groups often make better decision than those functioning in a "chat" mode, perhaps because members have time to digest and synthesize information. Groups who have special decision-support software typically perform better than ones operating without this advantages
      - For my own experience: To me, working as a team, it is an advantages if you have strong team-mate, however, from my perspective, esprit de corps is more significant. Even though you are strong, however, if you are an incohesive collective, it will be hard to succeed and achieve your final goal.
    - - From my own perspective: I cannot deny the value as well as advantages that online meetings brings to us. For example: everybody is so busy with their own business, so sometimes it is hard to have an appointment or spend long time together. So using Internet to communicate always help us to interact to each other regardless of space and time.
- - - - After the group has establish a list of criteria for success, the next job is to develop a number of ways to reach its goals. Considering more than one solution is important, because the first solution may not be the best one
        
        From my own experience Whenever we doing anything, everybody needs feedback from others, it might be advising or supporting or even criticize. To most of the issue, we cannot to do by my own self, getting help or asking for advice then listening from all and pick out which one is the best, which is also one of the most important things.
      - Brainstorm Probably the best known strategy for encouraging creativity and avoiding the dangers just described is brainstorming (a method for creatively generating ideas in groups by minimizing criticism and encouraging a large quantity of ideas without regard to their workability or ownership by individual members
        
        Share whatever comes to mind
        
        Share a lot of ideas
        
        Criticism is forbidden
        
        Combine and build upon ideas
      - Use the Nominal Group Technique
        
        because people in groups often can't resist the tendency to criticize one another's ideas, the nominal group technique was developed to let member brainstorm ideas without being attacked
        
        For example Each member works alone to develop a list of possible solutions. Or, A free discussion of the top ideas is held. At this point critical thinking (though not personal criticism) is encouraged. The group continues to discuss until a decision is reached, either by majority vote or by consensus
    - - After is has listed possible solutions, the group can evaluate the usefulness of each. One good way of identifying the most workable solutions is to ask three questions
        
        Can the proposal be implemented by the group?
        
        Does the proposal contain any serious disadvantages?
        
        Will this proposal produce the desired changes?
    - - After you have identified the general nature of the problem facing the group, you are ready to look at the problem in more detail. There are some several steps you can follow to accomplish this important job
        
        Identify Criteria for Success
        
        Phrasing the challenge as an open-ended question will help the group identify the criteria for a success solution.
        
        Gather Relevant Infomation
        
        Group often need to know important facts before they can make decisions or even understand the problem.
        
        From my own experience: Working as a group help people to synthesize all the relevant information and then finding out which one is the best choice to reach the decision.
        
        Word Problem as a Broad, Open Question
        
        If you have ever seen a formal debate, you know that the issue under discussion is worded as a proposition. A far better approach is to state the problem as an open question that encourages exploratory thinking. Or, asking a question to help define the general goals that came out during the problem-identification stage.
        
        For example The United States should reduce its foreign aid expenditures
        
        Identify Supporting and Restraining Forces
        
        After members understand what they are seeking, the next step is to see what forces stand between the group and its goal. It might be useful to conduct a force field analysis (a method of problem analysis that identifies the forces contributing to resolution of the problem and the forces that inhibit its resolution)
        
        From my own experience Working as a group, when we would have got an idea, it will be more idea reinforcing to make it to be more improved
    - - Everyone who makes New Year's resolution knows the difference between making a decision and carrying out. There are several important steps in developing and implementing a plan of action.
        
        Determine necessary resources
        
        Define individual responsibilities
        
        Identify specific tasks to be accomplished
        
        Plan ahead for emergencies
    - - Sometimes a group's problem is easy to identify.
        
        For example The crew of a sinking ship doesn't need to conduct a discussion to understand that its goal is to avoid drowning or being eaten by a large fish
      - There are many times, however, when the problems facing a group aren't so clear.
        
        For example think of an athletic team stuck deep in last place well in to the season. At first the problem seems obvious: an ability to win any games. But a closer look at the situation might show that there are unmet goals and thus other problems. Other more, individual members may have goals that aren't tied directly to winning: making friends, being recognized as good athletes , or having fun
    - - Meet periodically to evaluate progress
        
        Follow-up meetings are part of every good plan. The best time to schedule these meetings is as you put the group's plan to work. At that time, a good leader or member will suggest.
      - Revise the group's approach as nesscary
        
        These follow-up meetings will often go beyond simply congratulating everyone for coming up with a good solution. Problems are bound to arise, and these periodic meetings, in which the key players are present, are the place to solve them.
  - - - It can take a great deal of time, which makes it unsuitable for emergencies. In addition, it is often very frustrating. Emotions can run high on important matters, and patience in the face of such pressures is difficult. Because of the need to deal with these emotional pressures, consensus calls for more communication skill than do other decision-making approaches
      - The advantages of consensus are obvious. Full participation can increase the quality of the decision as well as commitment of the members to support it. Consensus is especially important in decisions on critical or complex matters. In such cases, methods involving less input can diminish the quality of or enthusiasm for a decision.
      - As with many things in life, consensus has high rewards, which come at a proportionately high cost.
    - - For example if a group of friends is backpacking in the wilderness and one becomes injured, it would probably be foolish to argue with advice of a doctor in the group.
    - - For example: compared to Great Britain and the United States, people in Taiwan, Greece, and Cyprus are more accepting of leaders who make decisions on their own. Or from chapter 3, people in high-power-distance cultures such as their decisions without question.
- - - - Establish shared norms and values
      - Minimize perceived threats between members
      - Emphasize member's interdependence
      - Recognize threats from outside the group
      - Recognize progress toward goals
      - Develop mutual liking and friendship
      - Focus on shared or compatible goals
      - Share group experience
  - - - Rather than state their own positions clearly and unambiguously, they test possible ideas cautiously and rather politely. This cautiousness doesn't mean that members agree with one another. Rather, they are assessing the situation before asserting themselves.
    - - Coalitions are likely to form, and the discussion may become polarized. the conflict needn't be personal. It can focus on the issues at hand while preserving the members' respect for one another. Even when the climate does grow contentious, conflict seems to be a necessary stage in group development. The give and take of discussion tests the quality of ideas, and weaker ones may suffer a well-deserved death care.
    - - Ongoing groups can expect to move through these stages with each new issue, such that their interactions take on a cyclic pattern. They begin discussion of a new issue tentatively, then experience conflict, emergent solutions, and reinforcement. In fact, a group that deals with several issues at once might find itself in a different stage for each problem.
    - - As the approach consensus, members back off from their dogmatic positions. Statements become more tentative again: "I guess that's a pretty good idea," "I can see why you think that way."
- - - - One benefit of group decision making online is that participants tend to be blind to status differences that might sway them in person.
      - However, not all participation is helpful, of course. And, downright ignorant or mistaken input can distract a group. You can encourage the useful contributions of quite members in a variety of ways
        
        Even in a large group, encouraging by soliciting their opinion
        
        When normally reticent members do offer information, reinforce their contributions. (It isn't necessary to excessively praise a quite person's brilliant remark, but a word of thanks and an acknowledge of the vale of an idea increase the odds that the contributor will speak up again in the future)
        
        Keep the group smail
        
        Assigning specific tasks to normally quite members
        
        Use the nominal group technique described earlier in this chapter to guarantee that the ideas of all members are heard
        
        Consider offering communication-friendly gathering areas. For example, encourage people by moving the furniture so that team members can sit work near each other. As you might expect, employee is close proximity engage in more face-to-face communication than they would otherwise. They also email each other more than people who sit farther away. (This finding suggest that regular contact is a key factor in stimulating communication at many level
        
        From my own experience: I totally agree with this claims. Having worked as a group, the space is also important and affected to our group-working process. Instead of keep staying in class, we have an appointment at the coffee shop with cozy atmosphere. Moreover, once time, I feel that when I am a person who strike up a conversation and take the initiative to move the chair near to my teammate, then they all feel more friendly as well as more comfortable to work together
  - - - For example Pennsylvania State University sex abuse scandal, for more than 14 years, numerous people who knew about the abuse did not report it because they feared they would lose their jobs of damage the institution's reputation if they went public.