W14 - Discussion Question # 3

One concept that I found interesting in this week’s reading was about power within group conflict. It was interesting to see all the seven different types of power defined and the different characteristics of them. This made me think about the concept of power in a general context and not just limited to group communication. Personally, I think from the time of childhood until adolescence, we are bound by the reward and punishment power that our parents hold because they ultimately have the ability to reward us when we follow their rules and punish us when we disobey them. As we get older, I think that people who have interpersonal linkage power are the most influential because they are able to “engage the services of individuals, other groups, and organizations, or to gain access to resources generally not available to others” (pg. 239). Ultimately, I feel like since these individuals are well connected amongst various circles they probably hold a lot of power within a lot of different groups and therefore are well respected or feared in some cases. These individuals live by the saying, “it’s not about what you do, but who you know, and the people who you know can make you or break you”.

W14 - Discussion Question # 1

A forum, panel, colloquium and symposium are all methods in which groups can have discussions and present their results to a larger audience. Each of these are structured differently and have different levels of audience participation. First, in a forum, “the group can speak and listen to a larger audience… [and] the full audience participates, examining a topic or problem after a short presentation by the group” (pg. 219). A panel format does not have the speakers and audience directly interact, instead it has a moderator to introduce the discussion/topic, the speakers and the question and answer portion. Usually there are a set number of experts on the certain topic at hand and these experts will discuss the topic amongst themselves whereby the audience can observe their discussion. A colloquium also uses a smaller set number of experts, a mediator, and involves audience participation; however, it different in that the experts all have different views on the subject and the purpose “is to identify, develop, and work through possible solutions to a problem for the benefit and with the participation of the audience” (pg. 220). Lastly, a symposium is much more formal in that the speakers must plan and prepare “brief speeches made on different aspects of a complex and difficult problem…the purpose of the symposium is to present complex technical information to the audience about the problem” (pg. 221). Symposiums also utilize a moderator and may have a forum discussion to allow the audience to ask questions.



Out of the four methods of presenting, I would most likely prefer the forum method of discussion because it allows the audience direct interaction with the speakers and this format encourages their participation. I think it would benefit both the audience and the speakers in that different viewpoints can be shared by all participants and it helps to keep the audience engaged. While audience interaction isn’t always necessary, I think it definitely helps to keep things interesting and makes people want to pay attention to a presentation, even if the information being presented is not of use to them.

W13 - Discussion Question # 2

Five cultural barriers to creativity listed in our text include: a requirement for conformity, an expectation of practicality and efficiency, particular arenas for competition or cooperation, an expectation of politeness and following rules for social order, and a reliance on statistical proofs (pg. 188). The reason why these barriers along with the others mentioned in the text would keep a group from being creative is because group members may feel bound by their cultural expectations and norms that they have been embedded with from the time that they were just children. Within this list, the one cultural barrier that I am very familiar with is the “expectation of politeness and following rules for social order” (pg. 188). Growing up in my Korean culture, it was expected that as a female, I was always polite and lady-like and that I should always be soft spoken and keep opinions to myself, especially when it came to talking with people who were older than me. Even if I knew that my idea may be beneficial or make things easier I felt trapped by this cultural barrier and therefore did not speak up often, especially when I was amongst other Koreans. However, as I got older it did not take me too long to overcome this because I feel like the schools here in the States promote cultural diversity and allow and encourage students to really engage and participate in sharing their different ideas and foster creativity.

W13 - Discussion Question # 3

One concept that I found useful in this week’s reading was in regards to the importance of fostering a positive climate for the small group process. I think that the climate of any small group begins in the forming phase. During the forming phase, it is expected that the initial interactions may be awkward and filled with uncertainty, because group members do not know what to expect from each other; however, if all of the small group participants have a willingness to contribute and work hard towards meeting the groups goals, it can set the tone for creating a positive climate within the group that values the principles of openness and sharing as the interactions and relationships amongst group members progress. If the small group is able to sustain a positive climate, it can help group members to feel more at ease and potentially increase the creativity within the group, because group members will be comfortable in sharing their ideas as well as concerns with each other.

W13 - Discussion Question # 1

I am probably one of the least creative people you will ever come across. I am not one to “think outside the box” or “use my imagination.” After reading the text, the one line which I think sums up creativity in a nutshell is “creative individuals generate ideas and make something happen as a result” (pg. 185). Although, I am not good at generating ideas, I can confidently say that I can make things happen as long as I am given a clear goal and a general guideline on what needs to be done. I don’t expect or like to be micro-managed or given step by step instructions on how to accomplish a task as long as I can get feedback during the process. Perhaps in that way, I am somewhat creative because I have to think of ways to get to the end result or goal at hand? Luckily, many of the small groups that I have been put in, the more “creative” members come up with the ideas and I usually end up putting their ideas into action – which is perfectly fine with me. I don’t think it’s important for everyone to be creative as everyone is different and has their own strengths and weaknesses. In a small group, if everyone were to be creative; yet struggle with the logistics and execution, then the group has the potential to fail. On the contrary, if everyone were to be analytical and just focus on the logistics then the group will also fail because they are not able to come up with any good ideas to meet their goals. While creativity is definitely important for a small group, I think that there has to be a good balance between creative and analytical thinking in order for a group to succeed.