Group failure is a common problem, and according to Sunstein actually becomes more and more common as groups get larger. This because of two reasons: Informational and Social Influences. Informational influences may convince an otherwise skeptical decision maker about a particular course of action, simply through the inertia of the idea being repeated and build upon. Social influences work in a very similar way but depend on the person's need to fit into a group, as opposed to their ideas themselves being changed by "logic."
I would imagine that social influences are easier to recognize and in some situations fairly easy to fix. If a company discourages their employees to think outside the box or even think out loud, then they obviously have this problem. Some corporate cultures, or even individual manager's temperaments can add to this problem. If employees believe that "the nail that sticks out is the one that gets hammered down." than this is definitely a problem. To fix this, managers need to be convinced that encouragement of new ideas is a necessary step to improve their company's ability to survive in a changing environment.
Informational influences can remain less of a problem if decision makers are encouraged to play "devil's advocate" and by comprising decision groups out of diverse backgrounds to result in a wide variety of thoughts and opinions coming to the group.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Final Paper
Here is a section from my paper to give you an idea of the theme:
The buzzwords viral marketing and viral advertising refer to marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce increases in brand awareness or to achieve other marketing objectives (such as product sales) through self-replicating viral processes, analogous to the spread of pathological and computer viruses. It can be word-of-mouth delivered or enhanced by the network effects of the Internet. Viral promotions may take the form of video clips, interactive Flash games, advergames, ebooks, brandable software, images, or even text messages. The goal of marketers interested in creating successful viral marketing programs is to identify individuals with high Social Networking Potential (SNP) and create Viral Messages that appeal to this segment of the population and have a high probability of being passed along. The success of viral marketing campaigns can be partially attributed to the use of hypermediacy to satisfy the publics need for immediacy in their media environment today. This paper will seek to establish a link between Bolten and Grusin’s remediated self and viral campaigns by investigating the marketing of Warner Brother’s The Dark Knight.
The buzzwords viral marketing and viral advertising refer to marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce increases in brand awareness or to achieve other marketing objectives (such as product sales) through self-replicating viral processes, analogous to the spread of pathological and computer viruses. It can be word-of-mouth delivered or enhanced by the network effects of the Internet. Viral promotions may take the form of video clips, interactive Flash games, advergames, ebooks, brandable software, images, or even text messages. The goal of marketers interested in creating successful viral marketing programs is to identify individuals with high Social Networking Potential (SNP) and create Viral Messages that appeal to this segment of the population and have a high probability of being passed along. The success of viral marketing campaigns can be partially attributed to the use of hypermediacy to satisfy the publics need for immediacy in their media environment today. This paper will seek to establish a link between Bolten and Grusin’s remediated self and viral campaigns by investigating the marketing of Warner Brother’s The Dark Knight.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Companion paper
For my companion paper I would like to explore the juncture that externally funded research in AAH has reached, how we arrived here, and what forms of communication will aid in the navigation of this juncture for the success of future researchers in our College. My primary audience for my project is faculty and graduate students in the College of Architecutre, Arts and Humanities at Clemson University.
In order to successfully navigate this juncture, communication on externally funded research needs not only to be useful, but credible. Remediating the current AAH Research website is a starting point. Providing a variety of ways to access information will enable diverse individuals to access information to his or her preference. The remediation will hopefully project a professional and credible author that is concerned enough to tailor the site to multiple preferences. Below is a proposed outline for the paper.
I. Critical juncture in the research culture at Clemson University and the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities.
a. Why are we at this juncture?
b. What means of communication that have been, and will be ,effective to address the past and look forward to the future?
i. Possible social influences and informational pressure
II. Remediation of the AAH Research website will attempt to begin the remediation of a research culture.
a. Why attempt to remediate the website?
b. What are the potential obstacles?
c. What is the possible impact on the current research culture?
III. What social and informational influence does the current research culture have on this project?ie
a. Group failure
b. Cascades
IV. Future projects
In order to successfully navigate this juncture, communication on externally funded research needs not only to be useful, but credible. Remediating the current AAH Research website is a starting point. Providing a variety of ways to access information will enable diverse individuals to access information to his or her preference. The remediation will hopefully project a professional and credible author that is concerned enough to tailor the site to multiple preferences. Below is a proposed outline for the paper.
I. Critical juncture in the research culture at Clemson University and the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities.
a. Why are we at this juncture?
b. What means of communication that have been, and will be ,effective to address the past and look forward to the future?
i. Possible social influences and informational pressure
II. Remediation of the AAH Research website will attempt to begin the remediation of a research culture.
a. Why attempt to remediate the website?
b. What are the potential obstacles?
c. What is the possible impact on the current research culture?
III. What social and informational influence does the current research culture have on this project?ie
a. Group failure
b. Cascades
IV. Future projects
Main Argument
My target audience: people from all different cultural, ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds who consider themselves "smart phone users" & who wear clothing (...you never know).
A 2008 article written in Information Week titled "Smartphone users want to have more fun" stated that smartphone applications that kill time are more often downloaded by users than productivity applications. On March 27, 2009, ABC News' Ned Potter reported on the "Top 7 Smart Phone Applications to Make Your Life Easier," listing them as follows:
A 2008 article written in Information Week titled "Smartphone users want to have more fun" stated that smartphone applications that kill time are more often downloaded by users than productivity applications. On March 27, 2009, ABC News' Ned Potter reported on the "Top 7 Smart Phone Applications to Make Your Life Easier," listing them as follows:
1. Booty Cellar - the application that lets you receive tips on getting pregnant in "fun, digestible text messages"
2. Scan Life - this application lets you scan just about anything with your phone and it will immediately look up user reviews, sale prices, sale locations, or just about anything else you want to know about a particular thing or product.
3. Financer - it is an application that acts as a portable electronic ledger and instantly lets you export your transactions.
4. i-Fitness - suggests work-out routines to keep you in shape
5. ReQall - uses speech-recognition and GPS-tracking to record notes and to-do items and send you a reminder as you get closer to a location where you need to go. ex- pick up dry cleaning -> as you approach your dry cleaners, your phone would remind you to stop there.
6. Fast Food Calorie Counter
7. i-Breath - application that lets you check your breath's alcohol level before getting in the car and driving over the legal limit
After seeing all of these application that were rated as the "top" ones, my main argument for this project became even clearer to me, and I have broken it down into the following points:
- people are in a hurry and life is hectic, so why not have an application that can take the stress out of dressing each morning and therefore allow them extra time to spend doing something else.
- Smart Phones are extremely popular world-wide. People from all different background use them everyday. By making an application that is useful for people everywhere and from every background, I am able to tap into this huge market of phone applications and potentially have a great selling product that is useful to everyone.
- Through this application, people can think outside the box! People tend to wear the same combination of clothing over and over again. With this, they will be able to see a wide range of different clothing combinations, allowing them to think of the clothes in their closet as exciting again and full of endless possibilities (this is also a good thing in a time of economic crisis, when people don't have as much money to spend on new clothing).
Crunch time: Week 5 post 2
Dear Class,
Our session is running surprisingly short on time. Gone are the grandiose visions of sweeping and revolutionary projects. I’m now confronted with a basic reality…I’ve got six days to “get it done.”
I don’t view this final project submission as the end of the road for my little brain child. Instead, I view it as the end of its infancy. I’m hoping you will provide your feedback and possibly author an article for the wiki. As members of the class in which the Palmetto Film Society was birthed, I think it’s fitting I waive the “Palmetto Patron” contribution of $1 for the first six months :). The first project is a “People’s Guide to 2009 Film.” Each entry provides an overview of the film, the reasons for its inclusion (including what made it noteworthy, to what audience would it appeal, and background on the film).
My vision began with a very broad picture…to remediate the concept of the film patron and raise funds for artistic and cultural activities in South Carolina. I became convinced by my research that there are not enough forums for people who appreciate film (aka patrons) to explore and discuss it. Sunstein’s comments regarding Wiki’s and solutions to social influences and Powazek’s design principles for the community heavily influenced me. I am in the process of engineering the home site of the Palmetto Film Society as a result. Be on the lookout for the “grand unveiling” on Monday.
Essentially, my core audience is anyone with an interest in good film. I cannot define what constitutes good film to others besides me. Using Sunstein’s arguments, a large enough aggregate can produce knowledge as an alternative to the market system currently employed. In short, provided I cast a wide enough net, appeal to the “right” membership, and set an appropriate environment for conversation, an alternative to the corporately controlled free market system may result.
After all, who better to dictate a list of films worth watching than the patrons themselves?
My central argument contains three conclusions. First, that the patrons can aggregately explain film value effectively using a wiki. Further, through the appeals I establish to the potential patron pool through my digital design and content, I can develop a membership base which will self-police and produce a quality product. Finally, that this enterprise can be self-sustaining financially and generate resources to share with artistic and cultural outlets in South Carolina.
Our session is running surprisingly short on time. Gone are the grandiose visions of sweeping and revolutionary projects. I’m now confronted with a basic reality…I’ve got six days to “get it done.”
I don’t view this final project submission as the end of the road for my little brain child. Instead, I view it as the end of its infancy. I’m hoping you will provide your feedback and possibly author an article for the wiki. As members of the class in which the Palmetto Film Society was birthed, I think it’s fitting I waive the “Palmetto Patron” contribution of $1 for the first six months :). The first project is a “People’s Guide to 2009 Film.” Each entry provides an overview of the film, the reasons for its inclusion (including what made it noteworthy, to what audience would it appeal, and background on the film).
My vision began with a very broad picture…to remediate the concept of the film patron and raise funds for artistic and cultural activities in South Carolina. I became convinced by my research that there are not enough forums for people who appreciate film (aka patrons) to explore and discuss it. Sunstein’s comments regarding Wiki’s and solutions to social influences and Powazek’s design principles for the community heavily influenced me. I am in the process of engineering the home site of the Palmetto Film Society as a result. Be on the lookout for the “grand unveiling” on Monday.
Essentially, my core audience is anyone with an interest in good film. I cannot define what constitutes good film to others besides me. Using Sunstein’s arguments, a large enough aggregate can produce knowledge as an alternative to the market system currently employed. In short, provided I cast a wide enough net, appeal to the “right” membership, and set an appropriate environment for conversation, an alternative to the corporately controlled free market system may result.
After all, who better to dictate a list of films worth watching than the patrons themselves?
My central argument contains three conclusions. First, that the patrons can aggregately explain film value effectively using a wiki. Further, through the appeals I establish to the potential patron pool through my digital design and content, I can develop a membership base which will self-police and produce a quality product. Finally, that this enterprise can be self-sustaining financially and generate resources to share with artistic and cultural outlets in South Carolina.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Info. Pressure & Social Influence
Information Pressures & Social Influences
Negatives implications:
- Deferring all of the answers to a few people, instead of hearing the thoughts of the entire group can be a big mistake
- People influence each other and even though the answer might not be the correct one, others will not speak-up against it due to information and social pressures
- Leads people to not say what they believe is right and to not share their knowledge with the group
- Cascade effects
- Group polarization
Positives implications:
- Some people should not express their opinions because what they say is untrue
- They allow people with bad ideas to be silenced and therefore allowing those who know better to do all of the talking
- It can help lead people in the right direction by avoiding "bad signals" (Sunstein, 216)
Even with all of these various positive and negative implications that are tied to social influences, as well as information influences, the members of the group will be the determining factor of how the group 'unit' works or fails. Depending on the space they are using to accomplish their goal, the goal itself, and those involved, many different and unpredictable results can take place.
Social influences and informational pressure
I suppose informational pressure and social influence all depend on what type of group environment we are participating in as well as our own personalities. Some individuals like to work in groups while other prefer to work alone. Some like face-to-face settings and others prefer an on-line environment.
When a group is productive, it relies on its members to do their own part within that group. Sustein argues that groups are more productive if the members are told, before deliberation begins, that "different members have different, and relevant information to contribute" (212). Another option is for the leader to not voice his or her opinion in order to have a positive deliberative experience. If everyone in the group feels his or her opinion will have a positive impact they be more likely to share their thoughts.
On the other hand, if a group relies solely on the information from the group leader to make a decision, the end result may be failure. The influential individual in the group may not be correct in his or her assumptions, but are adverse to change because of their terministic screen. If the group relies solely on the information from the leader in making a decision, the end result may be failure. By doing so those individuals are conceding to the language of the majority, and not voicing their opinion in order to conform in order to be accepted.
The Internet (open source software, wikis, etc) have opened up the door for more individuals to share their knowledge and ideas on various topics. These formats provide a widely dispersed nature of information and collective most often are accurate. I believe we will see more of these types of group environments and open souce format in the future.
When a group is productive, it relies on its members to do their own part within that group. Sustein argues that groups are more productive if the members are told, before deliberation begins, that "different members have different, and relevant information to contribute" (212). Another option is for the leader to not voice his or her opinion in order to have a positive deliberative experience. If everyone in the group feels his or her opinion will have a positive impact they be more likely to share their thoughts.
On the other hand, if a group relies solely on the information from the group leader to make a decision, the end result may be failure. The influential individual in the group may not be correct in his or her assumptions, but are adverse to change because of their terministic screen. If the group relies solely on the information from the leader in making a decision, the end result may be failure. By doing so those individuals are conceding to the language of the majority, and not voicing their opinion in order to conform in order to be accepted.
The Internet (open source software, wikis, etc) have opened up the door for more individuals to share their knowledge and ideas on various topics. These formats provide a widely dispersed nature of information and collective most often are accurate. I believe we will see more of these types of group environments and open souce format in the future.
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