3 May, 2017

Media Lecture – 9

What is this thing called…Collaboration? ‘Teamwork’ is the key word of the lecture.

The lecture started with a click of Madagascar Penguins and these penguins showed us the funniest team work.

As the students or workers of Media and Communication, to understand and achieve ‘collaboration’ is necessary because most of works and careers in Media Industries are collaborative. Working collaboratively is a BASELINE skill set for all media and communication workers. Thus, the aim of the lecture is let us know how to do better through collaborate.

To discuss bad and good experiences of collaboration, I wrote some notes that based on my own experience. For bad experience: have conflict when discuss ideas; teammates do not work, they just rely on me. I really hate people who did nothing and just rely on others in the group, but they also could get the same grade for the assessment. It is exactly not equal and unfair! However, I also have some good experience: teammates have a meeting and discuss ideas together; we share the workload; we give each other feedback. I enjoy doing the assessment with the teammates who can share ideas, workload and encourage each other.

For a good collaboration, we can learn a lot from the experience, such as gain experience in negotiation; learn to resolve conflict; negotiate for a win/win outcome; practice professional communication; establish peer relationships; share and deepen your knowledge in the discipline area; develop leadership. The last point and also the most important point is to have fun with your new friends!

 

When we cooperate with teammates, there are some characteristics that we need to pay attention:

• CLEAR OBJECTIVES – that you all know what your goal/objectives is, and you are all focused and committed to achieving that
• CONSISTENCY – people can trust what you are going to do
• RESECT – that if you are running late – you text and let people know what is going on
• SUPPORT – that someone will help you if you start to flounder
• RESPONSIBILITY – knowing what your role is in the group – keeping up your end of the bargain
• EQUITABLE – sharing of workload

Moreover, management is another crucial point when do the teamwork. People management, time management and creative process management are three basic team rules. When conduct meetings, have an agenda, time estimates for meeting, revision, notes on outcomes are important as well.

Project Brief 4 is the last assessment that need collabortaion and all information in the lecture are the teachers’ reminders for it. Hope I will have a positive collaboration with my team!