livendive 8 #1 February 23, 2007 From MSNBC QuoteMeetings make us dumber, study shows Brainstorming sessions backfire when group thinking clouds decisions By Abigail W. Leonard Special to LiveScience Updated: 2:48 p.m. PT Feb 22, 2007 People have a harder time coming up with alternative solutions to a problem when they are part of a group, new research suggests. Scientists exposed study participants to one brand of soft drink then asked them to think of alternative brands. Alone, they came up with significantly more products than when they were grouped with two others. The finding could be good news for advertisers who buy spots during big events like the Super Bowl, since consumers often view those commercials with others. The clouded thinking might also extend into corporate boardrooms. “When a group gets together, they can miss out on good options,” study team member H. Shanker Krishnan told LiveScience. This could mean ordering from a pizza place advertised on television even if there’s a better option, or making a poor decision in the boardroom. “Whether it’s with family or a group of co-workers, we could very quickly fixate on things and all come up with the same options.” The research appears in this month's issue of the Journal of Consumer Research. Yeah, what he said The researchers speculate that when a group of people receives information, the inclination is to discuss it. The more times one option is said aloud, the harder it is for individuals to recall other options, explained Krishnan, associate professor of marketing at Indiana University. Another contributing factor is variation in learning and memory styles. People store and retrieve information in myriad ways, so in a group situation, the conversation could cause individuals to think about the cues differently than they would if they were alone. Krishnan said individuals, whether students, executives or football fans, should take time to consider the facts on their own before coming to a consensus. © 2007 LiveScience.com. All rights reserved. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #2 February 23, 2007 I work better alone. -but it's more fun with latte's and donuts and 'How was your weekend, Andy?' 'Just great, we went to the pass...' and 'Did you guys see this guy on TV the other night?' and 'How's your foot doing, Zack?' and '-Have I got a joke for you guys...!' ~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #3 February 23, 2007 Not according to today's coprorate mentality. You HAVE to be a team player meaning working alone is a sign of weakness. "Doesn't work well with others." Catch-all phrase used by managemnt bosses when they don't like you and minimize your raises. Being an idiot is a requirement for upper management positions. Being an idiot and knowing how to shuck & jive and pass the buck when things go to shit will keep you there. Ergo, the workgroup...nothing meaningful gets done and only the "doesn't work well with others" noob gets the blame.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
