The Atlantic: "Creative collaboration requires disciplined teamwork. And this kind of teamwork requires knowing when not to work in teams. This sounds obvious, but we constantly struggle with the belief that we must be inclusive to succeed. When to diverge and when to converge: that is the question.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
The Creativity Killer: Group Discussions
The Atlantic: "Creative collaboration requires disciplined teamwork. And this kind of teamwork requires knowing when not to work in teams. This sounds obvious, but we constantly struggle with the belief that we must be inclusive to succeed. When to diverge and when to converge: that is the question.
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I think the title of this piece is meant to raise alarms and intensify curiosity. Though once you read it, you find out the author has no problem with group discussions, the author simply cautions about how that discussion is structured. I think that most of this is apparent to participants in group projects. Who has a meeting these days and simply talks? At least, every group I've worked in this academic year has come up with some of these same steps: individual content generation, and time set aside to assess and critique group output generated.
Perhaps this article cautions against the corporate environment trying to play catch up by locking a group in a room for an hour for a whiteboard. If you find yourself in this position, perhaps the article could serve as a useful refresher.
I completely agree with this article, I feel like I have sat down in groups to discuss certain issues and the group hasn't gotten past figuring out how to be a group together let alone tackle problems. The point that it makes about people working by themselves and then working as a group is good because it allows people to collect their ideas before contributing. I find this practice becoming more and more common in class room, because as we get more and more inundated with technology it is harder for us to interact with what we are viewing and so to have time to think before contributing can be very constructive.
This article makes a lot of good points. There's a lot that can be gained from group creativity, but the inclusion of individual creativity before the group begins generating ideas is a really great tip. I think there are also some great tips about what needs to be discussed before the creativity begins; how to tackle problems, how to be a cohesive group, etc. There is a lot to be gained from group work, especially if done well.
I agree and empathized with this article completely. I have been in a few situations recently where the task is simple and achievable and a plan was proposed, approved and work was ready to begin. Then one person says,"But what if we make it out of cheese?" Then off the group goes exploring this new proposal, often trying to get everyone involved and respect the input of the cheese-head. After two days of discussion the project continues with the original choice. Group discussions killed the radio star.
I agree completely with this article. It really bugs me when you work in a group and you have everything planed and your supposed to be exciting, but then new ideas form in your head. It really bugs me, but i do it all the time especially when i had design oriented projects. I think comfy chair has gotten .
This article makes me think of PRM and the fact that the one think that ends the creative environment is the word "no".
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