!Collaboration :: Basic Motives and Concerns

\"Two minds are better than one.\" \"Too many chefs spoil the soup.\"

!!Motives The most basic motivation for collaborating on a project is to produce an end result (product) that is superior to that produced by an indivitual. There are a several reasons why a collaborative approach to a problem will * **Size** - Some projects are just too big to be taken on by a single individual. Dividing the work among several team members can result in a more managable workload. * **Complexity** - Some projects are too complex to be solved by an individual. In these cases, the problem requires a multidude of specific knowledge and/or skills. The team is created with members possessing the requisite talents. * **Creativity** - Some projects require a creative solution and benefit from brainstorming by a group with a wide range of perspectives. * **Ownership** - Often it is important to include stakeholders in a project so they have a sense of ownership in the end result. This feeling of contributing to the process gives individuals greater motivation for adopting the resulting changes. * **Distance** - Graduate students are spread over a large geographical area. Therefore, electronic collaboration is essential to them to create and display their information and class products. !!Concerns * **Numbers** - While many projects benefit from a team approach, there becomes a point when adding more people to the team actually inhibits the process. * **Makeup** - The makeup of a collaborative group is critical. Some projects require a diverse group of skills while others benefit with a set of individuals with similar abilities. * **Personality** - Group dynamics is often a difficult thing to manage. Individuals that don\'t work well with others or people with personal motives that conflict with the group will happer and even destroy a collaborative endevour. | menu: [Collaborative Learning] |