>Yes, Mark C., it might be good to be able to eliminate the sources of fear
>that inhibit problems from "spontaneously solving themselves." But think
>of the power of successfully working together in a team/group effort. That
>success can translate into a better grasp of process beyond the project
>because team members didn't _have_ to address those emotionally draining,
>energy- sapping culture/relationship/other issues. (Team members often
>find that they now have the tools to deal with those issues later in
>appropriately constructed exercises dedicated to values identification and
>more.)
>BTW, if the team is mature enough in its relationship, members can easily
>choose to identify with their own ideas and comments; the dialogue can be
>attribution-rich.
I think you make my point for me. Undoubtedly, electronic brainstorming
tools are powerful, no question, a great tool.
However, for 20 years I have worked in large companies that had the best
tools available and still made bad decisions. Over that same period I have
observed that fear was/is one of the most powerful influencers of
behavior. For that reason, organizations have institutionalized fear to
the point that it is a major element of corporate culture.
I don't know how a team matures unless it deals with this issue overtly
and consciously. Only then, in my opinion, can a team realize the power
and ability that is inherent and be able to gain the perspective that will
allow process orientation and system optimization.
Yes, the soft stuff,"emotionally draining, energy sapping,
culture/relationship issues", is often the hard stuff. I don't know how
organizations will be able to survive when they lug this sort of baggage
around.
-- chaffee@GDEsystems.com