Ch5. Post 3

One thing I found really interesting was in the conflict management section.  In this section they addressed how different cultures handle different situations.  Now businesses are so diverse and also have ties to out of country companies, it is important to understand what is proper when it comes to potential arguments and also realize that one persons way of handling a situation may be the polar opposite of yours.  The book compares Asians and Mexicans to Americans.  Asian cultures have a very different way of handling a confrontation than Americans.  In America, we engage in debate to get to the root of a problem, in Asia the goal of any conversation is to try to keep the peace no matter what.  In America, cheating is highly frowned upon but children of Mexican background may think its OK to cheat because its a sign of cooperation.  Different conflicts or incidents are not always viewed the same way as others, and it is important to take into consideration the other person's perspective and how they may want to approach a confrontation. 

Ch 5 part 2

For years those who were considered to be successful in society typically looked like a middle aged white males.  In the past there were strict rules that would not allow for a person of another ethnicity, to hold any position of power.  It was unheard of to have women do anything other than keeping up the home and making babies.  I feel that although this idea of "white men of privilege" has left a huge impression on our society in the past, I feel that we are making all the efforts to try to diversify our government and corporate America today.  20 years ago it would have been unthinkable to have an African American president.  President Obama is just one example of how we have come so far to have all different types of people have the opportunity to get to high positions.  I do feel that status tends to starts with who you know and can also have alot to do with the amount of money you have, but there have been so many people who have worked there way up from nothing and have accomplished so many of their goals and were not white privileged men.  White people are not necessarily making up the majority of America anymore, and this gives a huge opportunity for companies to make their staff more diverse.  In the future I feel that we will see many of these old white men being phased out of their companies and different types of people taking over.

Ch 5 post 1

Living in America gives each of us the opportunity to see and experience different cultures.  Throughout my life I have gone to school and worked in environments where my peers come from all different races, ages,and ethnicities.  Even though we are all living in the same place, we forget sometimes that our pasts as well as our different cultures affect our communication.  People who do not understand others differences create or rely on stereotypes to get an idea of who the person is; for example a common stereotype is "all Asians are geniuses". Although this may be true for some people who are Asian, it is not always the case for others.  As a result to stereotypes, valuing diversity does not come easy.  We forget that having different types of people from different backgrounds can really benefit a group and offer a new perspective.  Many people feel more secure within their own cultural or gender group and don't make the effort to reach out to others.  By having a common culture, you can predict how the group will work together, and have similar belief systems on what is appropriate behavior and communication.  Although this is a comfort area, you do not get the same results as you would if you had a more diverse group.  Some suggestions to help people value diversity in the group is to really get to know each person in the group and make a real effort to see where they are coming from or what is their background.  You may find that by knowing their past you can understand their perspective.  Another suggestion and a good group building idea would to take part in retreats with the group, get to know people on a different level then at work.  Lastly, try not to let stereotypes enter the groups and effect what everyone is trying to accomplish.

Ch. 9 Blog post

Ch. 9 states the difference between External and Internal Constraints.  The book defines external constraints as " those imposed on the decision-making process, such as time, money, energy, knowledge base, or other resources that the group needs for the decision-making process and to implement a solution,"(p.146).  Money can be a huge factor in making a decision.  Lately this have been a big for me and my family as I am trying to figure out whether or not I can afford to get my own apartment.  Knowledge base in this matter also plays a role in the decision making process, because in order to be completely self reliant, I need to have the full knowledge of what it take to be self dependent and to live alone. 

The book defines internal constraints as "those integral to the problem... They may ave caused the initial problem or they may have to do with limitations on the implementation,"(p.146).  An example of an internal constraint would be trying to open your own business.  If you don't have the necessary license required by the government then you wont be able to open your business.  Location can be a problem with this type of issue.  For example, Walmart wanted to open a location in Pacifica.  Those who lived in the city opposed of this idea saying that its not the type of business they wanted.  This causes an internal constraint on Walmart as the now need to find another location to expand their business. 

Group Norms

Chapter 3 states that "group norms define the nature of the group and the relationships among the group members by expressing the collective values of the membership..."(p.41).  Basically the idea of group norms are the expectations that we have set for each member, some are obvious and deal with everyday type of manners, and others can be an actual set of rules.  San Jose State definitely have group norms.  As a student we are expected to show up to our classes on time and participate in the class.  This can be under the category as a crucial norm, because if we don't show up and participate than it is hurting our standing in the class; and this can also be considered an implicit norm, an obvious expectation that students need to meet.  This also rings true at my work.  I work in a medical office and our group norm is to treat each patient with respect, show up on time, and complete all of the daily tasks.  Families also posses group norms, where each member has a role.  The parents "bring home the bacon", the kids help with the chores.
 After being a student for several years, I was able to pick up on the norms pattern.  Every teacher I have had have all had very similar expectations so over time it is obvious what the norms are.  Other times teachers make more explicit norms that they write in a syllabus.  I have been able to adapt to these different group norms rather easily.  I have grown up learning to treat everyone with respect and how important it is to be punctual.  So far I have been able to adapt to SJSU's norms and know what the expectation is of me as apart of their group/ community. 

Ch 2 blog post # 3

Hi everyone,
So after reading chapter 2, i found that one of the most interesting things I read was how small group communication can be broken down into six different elements. 
The first element was: communication is the recognition of some behavior that is meaningful to one or more participants in the group.  This makes sense since in groups people feed off of each others personalities, for example the more outspoken person or more confident person could be the group leader in a project.  Or the vibe of the group can change if someone is harsh with their tone, making for a tense working environment.

The second element was:  meaning is based in the symbolic interpretation of another's communication.  I have often experienced this when I take what someone is saying in a literal context, maybe not realizing they are being sarcastic.  The next four steps go on to describe how people use communication as a way of figuring out the world around them and how when people communicate with each other, they are constantly learning more information (info that may not be obvious at the time).  I think that one of the most important aspects of communication, and one of the more struggling parts for me, is to really explain yourself thoroughly and not assume that people know what you are talking about.  Overall there are alot of different things that shape communication, it is not simply a verbal exchange between a group of friends but also deals with our ways of being and how we present ourselves to others.  Thanks for taking the time to read my post:)
-Jessica
(jstoltz89)

Question #2

According to the text, the defenition of entropy is disorganization, stagnation, and chaos.  In a small group whether it be amongst your family or at work/ school, there will always be a time when someone, or even everyone gets over stimulated and can't regain control of a situation.  This type of chaos can have a very negative affect on a group.  Without having an organized and structured environment for people to work, the group will not be able to work efficiently together to get the job done.  Everyone needs to fully understand what the task is and that their group members can provide them with support if needed.  If entropy occurs in the group, the group will not function the way it's meant to.

According to the text, equifinality refers to the idea that there is more than one way to do something.  In a group environment it is important to get everyones' input and help.  Throwing out ideas amongst each other is a great way to stimulate the group and get everyones' participation.  Of course there will be times when members don't agree with how people are working on the project, but as long as everyone is striving for the same outcome then it's okay to have people do their work their own way.  There is no need for people to get upset or get their feelings hurt if someone wants to take a different approach at something, and a group experiencing equifinality, should not let their differences get in the way of their work.