week 16, question 1

CMC is obviously very different than face to face communication. I’m sure we have all participated in both CMC and Face to face communication and I’m sure we have noticed some differences. I know that when you purely text message you lose a little bit of the social aspect of communication. You know when you get a text and you’re not really sure if someone is joking or not? Or if someone spells a word wrong and completely changes the meaning of the intended message? This happens all the time during emails and text messages but doesn’t happen when you use face to face communication. You can catch the real meaning in conversations because you can see the expressions and the way they say it. You “lose the lost in translation” aspect because you are getting the information first hand. CMC is on the up and up in today’s world, but in my opinion will never be as effective as face to face.

week 16, question 3

I really liked the discussion about group norms and roles. I find it really amazing to take a step back and really think about all the specific things that people do to maintain that norm in the group. I bet everyone can think of the roles their friends play in their close circle. I know I can think and see everyone of my friends playing their roles in the group perfectly. I actually went to my friends and told them about this particular chapter and how they each fill their own little role on the group. I also coaxed out a dialogue about how when others violate the group norms how they get blackballed to a point. They then recalled numerous times where our group norm was violated and how we handled it. Although they all disagreed and fought it they all also acknowledged that they all have a specific role to play in the group, whether it was a role they chose or were given.

week 16, question 2

I myself wasn’t a big fan of the particular project. I felt that the previous assignment of running the group and then taking step and observing was a much more useful project. The reason being is that you could fuel the fire and let the group take the path they chose. You were able to see a leader emerge as opposed to witnessing an already put together group whose leader was established. There were some useful tools though. I did like the fact that a leader, who was already established, take charge and run the group the way they see fit. The particular group I chose was a group pieced together by different branches of a company who sent representatives to decide how to run an awards ceremony. In witnessing this group I was able to learn a thing or two about how groups like this work. I just feel that the original project was a bit more useful.

week 14, question 3

I particularly took to the section on “Expert Power”. I find it funny how people will submit or relinquish power to someone who has more knowledge on a subject. It’s almost an innate ability that we have as humans as natural followers. “Expert power is generated by having a particular ability or access to particular information that is valued. “ (pg 239)

For instance, with my friends, when it comes to politics they almost always concede the power of the group immediately to me. I could literally make something up and they will believe it. It really amazes me how we trust others who claim to be experts on a particular subject. When it comes to making decisions most people want to be right. SO when push comes to shove most groups will concede to the person with the vastest knowledge in the particular subject being dealt with. Just another interesting part of the group dynamic.