Collaboration & Common Purpose

Collaboration

100

What is the definition of collaboration?

Collaboration is a process of developing common vision, goals, and purpose within a group/organization.

200

Competition is a step towards collaboration (pushes people to make goals) Provide an example of how you see competition in your daily lives.

ex: racing someone for the last biscuit in the dining hall for Simpson breakfast -makes you create a goal: to get that biscuit before your opponent

300

http://www.dembridge.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/collaboration1.jpg How does this picture demonstrate collaboration?

Everyone brings their own skills to the table to find a solution to the group's current problem. Puzzles are a great example of collaborative activities. Each individual with a piece has to figure out where it would go and the group cannot finish the puzzle without the help of the other individuals and their puzzle pieces.

500

Name three necessities for successful collaboration.

Diversity Ability to take time and personally reflect Build Trust Informally Explore New Strategies Share Ownership Celebrate Success Communicate Clearly

Common Purpose

200

When thinking about joining a group or creating a common purpose, three things to consider are shared visions, aims, and values. Define visions, aims, and values in your own words.

Vision: ideal future for organization that will inspire and motivate everyone associated with it Aims: why does the organization exist? Values: how do we agree to treat ourselves and others as we pursue our mission and vision

300

There are four guidelines in reaching a consensus, the best way to come up with a group's common purpose according to Komives. What do you think they are? Name the four guidelines.

1. Clearly define the issue facing the team 2. Focus on similarities between positions 3. Ensure that there is adequate time for discussion 4. Avoid conflict-reducing tendencies

400

There are two main ways to create a common purpose--through a personalized vision or a socialized vision. Define these two terms and provide an example of at least one of them.

Personalized vision: when the person in charge creates a plan by him/herself and then passes it on to the rest of the group Socialized vision: constructed when group members contribute to building the group's aims and purposes (not that everyone's personal vision is incorporated but that everyone is involved in creating the vision) ex: Like when Shannon had us create rules for our "safe space"

500

There are six main ways that groups come to a final decision regarding something. Try to name all of them, but at least three. Use past experiences from clubs/organizations, group projects, etc.

1. Faith is put into leaders to make a good decision for the group 2. Leader makes final decision after listening to the perspectives of the group members 3. Final decision made by the group member who has the most knowledge on the subject 4. Decision based on what is presumed to be the opinion of the most typical member 5. Majority rules 6. Minority control: a few members make the final decision because they're running out of time 7. Consensus--group members continue to discuss and persuade everyone in the group to agree on the same point or even if they do not agree, to at least commit to the decision

Connection to the Other C's

100

Can a group agree on a common purpose if it could not work collaboratively? Why?

Opinion question :) Can anyone support the other side?

200

With the C's, there are three sets of values: individual, group, and community. Which category does common purpose fall into?

Common purpose is identified as a group value, but it is also connected to all of the other C's.

300

How does common purpose and commitment go hand in hand?

When all members are on point with a group's common purpose, they remain committed to the group, its mission, and its vision.

500

There are 7 C's in the Social Change Model--Consciousness of Self, Congruence, Commitment, Collaboration, Common Purpose, Controversy with Civility, and Citizenship. Relate collaboration and common purpose to at least two other C's.

Examples: Consciousness of Self--We need to know who we are individually so that we can fully put our all in a group Controversy with Civility--We have to allow other people to express their opinions and ideas before a common purpose is made for the overall group.

Leadership

100

How can a common purpose help in terms of leadership?

A common purpose helps leaders collaborate with other group members in that they are all working to accomplish the same thing. That way effective communication can be formed

300

Why is collaboration important for leadership?

Collaboration gives everyone a say in how things in a group are accomplished, making things fair and easier for a leader to communicate with group members.

400

Why is it important to have leadership in a group setting?

Without someone to hold the group accountable and to make sure the group is working towards a common goal, things can often get confused and unorganized. A leader helps to keep it all together.

Miscellaneous

100

What is a good definition of a group?

three or more people interacting and communicating interpersonally over time in order to reach a goal.

300

Jay Z and Kanye collaborated on album around 2011. Name this album.

Watch the Throne

500

Icebreakers are sometimes great to get a group going and discussing their individual goals so that eventually, a common purpose for the group can be made. Icebreakers are good at kicking off conversations. Create an icebreaker with your group. Every group can do this but only the group with the best icebreaker (as decided by us) will win the points!!

As decided by Team 99.