Team Learning: More than Group Thinking
I chose this article on team learning because it was one
that I found interesting that goes along with Peter Senge’s learning
organization. This is only one of his five features talked about in the book. I
found that group thinking is not like team learning at all. Groupthink is more
so how one person puts an idea out there and everyone else in the group goes
along with it. Team learning is focusing on getting the entire team involved,
in order to make intelligent decision. The article goes in depth about how we
can use team learning. By putting together everyone’s thoughts, it makes for a
higher group IQ. Looking at the projects talked about in the article, I never
though there would different techniques to use. I see new that everything that
is connected to solving a problem, relates to the solutions that the team comes
up with. It shapes the way we look at things, by putting them in a different
perspective.
Adam Aikens
ReplyDeleteI like that you mentioned the idea of GroupThink, as I have learned about this in a few other classes and it is interesting to think about when reading this article. I think back to my high school days and realize how often GroupThink happened because nobody wanted to give their opinions or ideas because they were worried about what people might think. I feel that this should be brought up in schools more often. The idea of team learning and how it helps raise the IQ of the group is a very important lesson, and I feel that it is a very teachable subject that would benefit a lot of students.
Stacy Cenedese
ReplyDeleteCOMM 483
You have picked a great article for this week. I have always lived by the teamwork approach. I feel you get so, much more done and accomplished as a team. I never really heard of group-think until class. I personally think group-think takes away your individuality & creativity. It feels like you are given a task and basically told how it will be done. If you have two people who feel like they are the leader, that could cause some issues on accomplishing the task on hand. I do like the section in the article about the "project coffee pot." I think about my work. I am in charge of the copier on our floor and when I order paper, it could sit there for weeks and no one will put it away. I finally get so, tired of looking at it, I just do it. But, it goes back to the article on who is going to take the lead? On this particular project no one, so I have to take the lead and I really do wish others would step up to the plate. I know it is pretty minor, but it all adds up to bigger things in the end.
Morgan Nalley
ReplyDeleteGreat article this week! There were so many great examples and explanations of how both group think and team learning are two different methods of communication. I personally have experienced and been apart of tasks that have used both methods of communication, and just like Stacy said I would much prefer to be apart of a group that practices the team learning method of communication over group think. I enjoy being a part of a group of people that equally contribute to the project, and I hate when there is one person that is over controlling or having to be the one to take control because nobody else is willing step up and participate. I like how in the book its says that team learning leads to "intelligent decisions." I thought that was a key phrase that sets team learning apart form group think.
Tasha Piehl
ReplyDeleteI really found this article very enjoyable. I never knew there was a difference between group think and team learning. However, after reading this article I can understand how team learning is more focused on working together with everyones ideas and growing as a group--this in turn creates a higher advantage to better ideas. With group think, you mainly state your own idea and everyone either agrees with it or shoots it down. I agree with Stacy how she said that you get much more accomplished this way and it also relates back to human relationships because it creates a good communication environment for everyone to discuss their thoughts. When reading the article it called about how everyone has some sort of role whether it be oragnizers, acceptors or linkers/networkers. Very good article and it also allowed me to evaluate how my workplace opperates according to team learning vs group think.
Steven Schwartz COMM483
ReplyDeleteThe article choice really fits into this chapter and the concept of distributing the thinking amongst everyone in an organization in order to get a new idea or concept free flowing. Same system can be applied in schools when it comes to teams and group thinking for ideas dealing with students. Currently, teachers get together during RTI meetings to solve problems and/or issues they may be having academically with a child. With the team approach you are able to generate a wealth of ideas and methods that an individual teacher may not have even though of trying. Utilizing Peter Senge’s group thinking and team building concepts really helps organizations become more functional and practical so that everyone benefits in the long run.
Clint Jewett
ReplyDeleteThe article pertains to group learning and thinking which really correlates with distributed intelligence mentioned in this weeks chapter. Distributed intelligence means everyone plays a part or has role for the organization to function. When in a group project or quality improvement project the members of the org or team will perform key steps in completing the project. The analyst will help identify the project and the impact it will have an organizational goals. A collective group will brainstorm the why behind something is going wrong. A solution could be helped along from technical specialists or engineers if needed. Pending the solution you will need assistance from business units and or supply chain specialist to implement and replicate your solution. The team may also have to get upper management or executive level management to help standardize what they are doing as well. I think this article reflects this type of organizational communication in regards to project management.
Katelyn Boyd
ReplyDeleteCOMM 483
I think this is a good article for this week, especially because of what is being discussed in our chapter and also what should be happening with collaborative work in our classes. I didn't even know about Groupthink until being at a college level and learning it in some of my other classes. In high school, it was always common for one person to have all of the ideas for a group project and everyone else would just agree and go along with it rather than actually putting in their own ideas and input, then people wonder why they were unhappy with the outcome.
KMB
Marisa Meyer-Klubben
ReplyDeleteCOMM 483
I enjoyed reading this article, because it relates quite well to the chapter from this week. Team learning can be a great and positive thing, if all members are given respect and a chance to speak up so that they can voice their opinion. I think that group think is the negative side of that coin, when only the loudest members speak up and the others are forced to go along with whatever they say.
MMk