Usually in big businesses you will undergo the brainstorming process with a bunch of co-workers. It's a fun and dandy activity - you get to drink coffee, talk, get to know your team's train of thought and probably forge a better bond with one of your team mates. Nice.
Virtual teamwork ain't like that. We're talking business here. Our goal is to produce an idea that will increase profits and keep the money flowing into our bank accounts (the last is a pretty good incentive to think up some innovative thoughts).
I found it interesting that in Jessica Lipnack's blogpost "Brainstorming? Try doing it virtually", she mentioned that virtual brainstorming is more productive than in a "real" group. That's because you're alone, so you might feel less shy to express your ideas and you'll probably focus more on getting your work done than on your co-worker's Jimmy Choos.
Still there seems to be many people that are still uncomfortable with the virtual brainstorming thing. I mean, yes - you'll probably get more work done but maybe virtual brainstorming should be done at a preliminary level. You mustn't forget that there is also a bond that you should form with your team mates. Afterall teamwork is about helping one another out to reach a common objective.
love the title! I wonder if there would be a difference in both the number of ideas and the quality of the ideas formulated in a virtual team meeting versus those formulated during a physical team meeting...
ReplyDeleteI feel in person brainstorming is more effective because people can immediately give responses to someones idea and build off that. Online there is that delay that can break the creative flow.
ReplyDeleteI think Braistorming is a very good way to avoid groupthink or social loafing. Co-workers have to deal with business.. But you raise a good question as regards virtual teams. It may avoid even more groupthink since it's harder to consider a virtual team as a real group ...
ReplyDeleteBrainstorming is a great way to evolve ideas from their given form. Sure, people may present an idea by itself, but with support from other ideas, it grows into something much more.
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