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Vicente's next step on the Human-Tech ladder is teamwork, hence the image above! I agree that as you bring more individuals into any relationship, for whatever reason, the connectivity and interaction between and among the participants becomes complex and somewhat unpredictable. Each, as Vicente says, brings their physical and psychological make-up to this new set up, which certainly impacts the complex wholeness of the group. Communication is inevitably a concern. Even for our project groups this has been a complicating factor that we have all had to maneuver around or find innovative ways to deal with it! Finding a time that all can get together, be it face-to-face or using Skype, for example, has been challenging. it has helped enormously to use a communal wiki and email.
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| You Turned On Me by Sammie |
Then we have the delicate task of trying to assign roles within the group, although this seems to improve the more individuals work together. After all, people have to become accustomed to the individual nuances of each others ways of looking and reacting to the world! But who takes charge? Who delegates tasks? How do you share responsibility and accountability? How do you allow for different viewpoints and approaches? How, in other words, to you become a viable unit?
As Vicente recognizes, these barriers to effective team work have to be overcome for successful design both of hard and soft technologies. He states, "Designers must create a system that is tailored to the characteristics and needs of the team as a distinct entity in its own right." (p. 156)
I was astounded at how this inattention to designing technological systems to fit people working together as a team played out in the Florida Everglades Flight 401 crash. It would be funny if it weren't so tragic! Here, the "dysfunctional team" failed to attend to leadership and to designation of roles-especially when faced with an emerging situation. Sadly, I am too often of in situations like this, although thankfully, the consequences are not of such enormity!
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| It Came To Rest by BrutalSF |
All race for the brush and shovel, say, to sweep up broken glass, and, voila, more accidents happen due to the bustle and hassle! It's inevitable it seems!
People, in general, are not prepared or trained to work in teams. In many situations this would seem to be imperative, especially when it comes to issues of safety.
Here is where the magic of simulation technology can be used to great effect.
Learning how each plays an important and essential role for the aggregate was paramount in the videos below!
Awesome Teamwork
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