Nov.+5+Discussion+Questions

Nemiro, J. (2008). Creativity techniques for virtual teams. In J. Nemiro, M. Beyerlein, L. Bradley, & S. Beyerlein (Eds.), //The Handbook of High-Performance Virtual Teams: A Toolkit for Collaborating Across Boundaries// (pp. 491-532). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

1. According to Nemiro, her techniques may be used either to find a solution to a problem or to foster creative ideas for improving a product or process (without necessarily targeting a known “problem”). Are some techniques better for problem-solving and others for general improvement? Explain.

2. Nemiro classifies techniques as “linear” if the entire process applies directly to the situation being examined, or “intuitive” if, at some point, an alternative representation is substituted for the actual context. Do you agree with this organization, or is there another categorization that makes more sense to you? Given the chance, how would you reorganize these techniques?

3. For every technique listed, Nemiro explains ways in which to adapt the technique for virtual teaming. However, the explanations for certain techniques recommend that most of the work be done individually, leaving collaboration for the final few steps of the process. In particular, Nemiro recommends that both imagery and meditation – which rely heavily on reaching a state of calmness – be conducted individually, leaving the only “collaboration” to be the sharing and discussion of results. Do you think it would be possible to conduct more of the process as a team? Why or why not?

4. Meditation is the only technique listed which does not reference the problem or target for improvement at any point within the procedures. How would you incorporate this into the technique? Is it appropriate to address the issue after meditation has concluded, or would the calming effects of the meditation wane by that point? Further, if one is to address the problem through virtual collaboration rather than merely sharing results after the fact (see question #3), would such electronic communication quickly quash the calming state that meditation is intended to foster?