Synectics

Synectics is a formalized technique of group process design that is focused on creativity. It asks groups to use analogies to get outside of an exitsting pattern of problem solving and process. This requries a facilitator because the nature of this kind of creativity is built on fantacy that deals with a real issue. It starts with asking questions about the problem then using an analogy to to create new ways of looking at something.
Pringles used this process to develope their packaging. They used the analogy of trying to put dried leaves in a bag without crumbling and discovered they could pack their chips while they were still wet in order to prevent them from breaking in the package.
I think this is a very cool way of observing a problem. It can be fun and insightful. It can even get a group into more productive thinking paterns as a whole. This is something great for groups who have run out of creative ideas and needs to generate original ideas on a regular basis. It can be how a marketing team gets together and comes up with new ads. I think I should be used more by groups that are simply in need of a change of pace. It can be a fun way to build your team and create unity among it's members. It gives opportunities to involve diverse members of a group for creativity. In this setting it is really hard to squwash others moral by deflecting ideas because the ideas are about fantacy and are not personal creations of a solution. I can't wait to try it with my classes and groups.

What I learned

This class has taught me that there is more than one way to manage a group and be a leader. I have been  watching closely the people who lead the groups around me and using the things I have learned about being a leader in my classrooms. Leardership and feedback were hte things I was most fascinated with and will use the most in my groups. Gaining proper feedback and asking the right questions to obtain quality information is important and I see it being used in these last posts. There was not really a least favorite thing about the class for me. I suppose I wish I would have taken 100w prior to the class. I know that would have gotten me better grades on my papers. my favorit ething was the online instruction. I like being on my own time and I like blogging and interacting with the class when it is convenient for me.

The Watch

The group observation was diffecult to plan and visualize but was simple in its execution and in the paper. It was useful in many ways. One thing that helped me with the project was that I was taking a few othe rcomm courses during the time. I used a lot of what I was learing in my other classes in my observation and paper. A lot of what I watched had more to do with comm theory that with what we were learing in our book for this class. When It got closer to researching time I found that many of the same authors of the theories I saw were in our book too.
I liked watching another group that was so much like the group I work in. It was fun to see how they could improve and what I could take back to my group for advancement. I think that the biggest struggle was that teh book talked alot about thing that I think happen in more formal groups and less about what can be applies to less formal companies and professional environments that are more laid back. IN a way I think that watching the group made me realize that groups that are less formal can be more prodeuctive they take on the systems of more formal groups and larger organizations. I did see some places however that things could have been more humble and considerate of the "little" people. In the end I used the book to refer to what the group should have been doing in stead of what was happening.
I did like the assingment. It was eye opening to get to write about support for your observations.