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1. 

   Hoplite
   

   Master
   Joined: Dec '10
   Posts: 489

   I liked this article on the new groupthink and its failings:
   http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/opinion/sunday/the-rise-of-the-new-groupthink.html?_r=1

   Steve Wozniak puts it well (paraphrasing); don't work in committees or teams if you want to accomplish something. Privacy and freedom from interruption can work wonders.

   Also interesting is the observation that electronic communication can yield the best of both worlds, i.e., independent development and collaboration. Another potential benefit of telecommuting.

   Posted 1 year ago #
2. 

   HSpencer
   

   Master
   Joined: Jul '10
   Posts: 770

   "So after the introduction we will break out into groups." This never failed to come up in the 1980's Total Quality Management seminars. Since then, it was always the same.
   "We will break out into four groups and each table will put their heads together and come up with a solution".
   There would be some guru with a fist full of markers and a large white board and they would list all the solutions.
   Today, very few individuals are confident enough to step forward with an individual solution to a company's problem. Instead, why not hide in the group and if there is rejection to the idea, then the group can take it, and the individual is only seen as a small part of it. In other words we have been trained to hide our individual thinking or at best filter it through a "group". This represses individualism.
   I personally consider this a large portion of the problems faced by business today. This also represses leadership, although many individuals may have passive leadership qualities. Maybe the guy with the fist full of markers and the large white board will get promoted?

   Posted 1 year ago #
3. 

   George the original one
   

   Expert
   Joined: Jul '10
   Posts: 1,943

   Yeah, but have you ever noticed the leader who presses forward with their own idea is usually a self-centered idiot that shouldn't have been given command in the first place?

   The smart leaders listen and then focus the talented individuals.

   What struck me about TQM was how people kept being astounded by it. I mean, the first time it was presented to me, I kept thinking it was so obvious and normal to work that way... that was how we studied in college... why is anybody needing to be taught the method?

   Posted 1 year ago #

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