C OLLABORATION
ADVANTAGES time management greater knowledge and skill base division of workload increased creativity DISADVANTAGES time management ethical abuses (groupthink, intimidation, taking credit) disjointed document conflict
PROJECT MANAGEMENT ►Appoint a group manager ►Define your goal(s) ►Decide on the proper document for your goal and assignment ►Delegate the tasks ►Create a timetable for the project, meetings, and progress reports ►Establish procedures for the group: communication, file-naming, interpersonal problems, decision making, evaluations ►Produce a documented plan recording these decisions
CONDUCTING MEETINGS ►Have an agenda and ask everyone to come prepared ►Designate a leader and a recorder ►Begin with a summary – of the project, the last meeting, etc. ►Encourage participation ►Stay on task ►Observe, guide, and listen ►Summarize before deciding outcome ►Begin and end on schedule face-to-face meetings teleconferences online conferencing
CONFLICT
SOURCES OF CONFLICT Interpersonal differences Cultural differences Gender differences MANAGING CONFLICT Hear each party’s side Take feelings and opinions seriously Disagree? Use constructive criticism Find areas of agreement Create a group solution
WORKING TOGETHER
CREATIVE COLLABORATIVE THINKING
DEALING WITH OTHERS’ WRITING REVISING ►accurate, appropriate, useful, and legal content ►material organized for the reader’s understanding ►clear, easy-to-read, and engaging style ►effective visuals and page design EDITING ►rephrasing or reorganizing sentences ►clarifying topic sentences ►choosing a better word or phrase ►correcting spelling, usage, or punctuation, and so on ►Read the entire document at least twice before you comment. ►Be honest but diplomatic. Be critical but helpful. ►Make specific recommendations for improvements. ►Focus first on the big picture ►mechanical correctness ≠ good writing ►understand the limits of editing
ETHICAL ABUSES AND MISCOMMUNICATION IN COLLABORATIVE WORK
intimidation hoarding information taking credit
social cues cultural codes & references humor, slang, idioms
TEAMWORK management conflict communication creative thinking reviewing/revising/editing ethics