Collaboration Models for Successful Communication
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PSU Adobe Spark Collaboration Collaboration1 Models for Successful Communication Collaboration is a process through which a group of people constructively explore their ideas to search for a solution that extends one's own limited vision. Today, as businesses move at an ever increasing rate, working in isolation puts companies at a disadvantage which is why visual meetings, which engage everyone in the room, are important. Collaboration leads to the innovative solutions and results that businesses need to succeed. According to a white paper written by anecdote, a company that crafts company stories, there are three types of collaboration: 1. Team collaboration 2. Community collaboration 3. Network collaboration In each of these types of collaboration, new ideas are generated and explored. However, collaboration is not just a single event or even something easy to do effectively without practice. Collaboration is a process that continues and betters over time. The more a group of people collaborate, the more significant the working relationships become. As working relationships become more comfortable and fluid, teams are better able to share and discuss ideas, which means the results will be increasingly successful.2 Collaboration at the conceptual level, involves: ● Awareness – We become part of a working entity with a shared purpose ● Motivation – We drive to gain consensus in problem solving or development ● Self-synchronization – We decide as individuals when things need to happen ● Participation – We participate in collaboration and we expect others to participate ● Mediation – We negotiate and we collaborate together and find a middle point ● Reciprocity – We share and we expect sharing in return through reciprocity ● Reflection – We think and we consider alternatives ● Engagement – We proactively engage rather than wait and see Successful collaboration relies on openness and knowledge sharing but also some level of focus and accountability on the part of organizations.3 So where do we begin? 4 1 Both 1) a comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory; and 2) a large public exhibition of art or trade goods. 2 https://www.smartdraw.com/mind-map/collaboration.htm 3 http://www.aiim.org/What-is-Collaboration 4 www.aiim.org Collaboration Models for Effective Communication - page 2 The human brain is wired to begin with passion for a subject. Arguing occurs whenever there is a conflict of goals or opinions. Argumentation theory, or argumentation, is the interdisciplinary study of how conclusions can be reached through logical reasoning; that is, claims based, soundly or not, on premises. It includes the arts and sciences of civil debate, dialogue, conversation, and persuasion. It studies rules of inference, logic, and procedural rules in both artificial and real world settings. 5 There are three basic models of argumentation, based on the works of three scholars of diverse disciplines: Aristotle, Toulmin, and Rogers. Aristotilean Argument Model for Research and Presentation6 Framed around an understanding of Passion, Logic, and Ethics (pathos, logos, and ethos), a proper argumentative format follows the formula (P+L=E) — we start with a passion for a subject, follow up with research that forms logical ideas, then end with ethical conclusion and insight.7 1. Introduce your issue. At the end of your introduction, state your thesis. The idea is to present your readers with your main point and then dig into it. 2. Present your case by explaining the issue in detail and why something must be done or a way of thinking is not working. This will take place over several paragraphs. 3. Address the opposition. Use a few paragraphs to explain the other side. Refute the opposition one point at a time. 4. Provide your proof. After you address the other side, you’ll want to provide clear evidence that your side is the “best” side. 5. Present your conclusion. In your conclusion, you should remind your readers of your main point or thesis and summarize the key points of your argument. If you are arguing for some kind of change, this is a good place to give your audience a call to action. Tell them what they could do to make a change. HOWEVER, Understand the Differences Among Argument, Persuasion, and Propaganda! Argument GOAL: Discover the “truth.” TECHNIQUE: Offers good reasoning and evidence to persuade an audience to accept a “truth.” METHODS: Considers other perspectives on the issue. Offers facts that support the reasons (in other words, provides evidence). Predicts and evaluates the consequences of accepting the argument. Persuasion GOAL: Promote an opinion on a particular position that is rooted in truth. TECHNIQUE: Uses personal, emotional, or moral appeal to convince an audience to adopt a particular point of view. METHODS: May considers other perspectives on the issue. Blends facts and emotion to make its case, often relying on opinion. May predict the results of accepting the position, especially if the information will help convince the reader to adopt the opinion. 5 Frans H. Van Eemeran, Rob Grootendorst (2004). "A Systematic Theory of Argumentation" (PDF). Published by the Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge. Philosophy: 12 6 See original PowerPoint presentation © Cathi Gerhard, presented to English Department at Penn State University - Berks, May 2017 and incorporated into syllabi for ENGL 15 and 202C. 7 For a video example of how to implement this form of argumentation into practice, see HBO’s The Newsroom “America Is Not the Greatest Country in the World Anymore” https://youtu.be/q49NOyJ8fNA Collaboration Models for Effective Communication - page 3 Propaganda GOAL: Offer “political advertising” for a particular position that may distort the truth or include false information. TECHNIQUE: Offer “political advertising” for a particular position that may distort the truth or include false information. METHODS: Focuses on its own message, without considering other positions. Relies on biases and assumptions and may distort or alter evidence to make the case. Ignores the consequence of accepting a particular position. FINALLY, identify and master the concepts of propaganda in order to better vet your sources AND to avoid use of these techniques in the presentation of your research.8 It is evident how much men love to deceive and be deceived, since rhetoric, that powerful instrument of error and deceit, has its established professors, is publicly taught, and has always been had in great reputation. (John Locke) 9 Toulmin Method The Toulmin Method of logic is a common and easy to use formula for organizing an argument. The basic format is as follows.10 ● Claim: The overall thesis the writer will argue for. ● Data: Evidence gathered to support the claim. ● Warrant (also referred to as a bridge): Explanation of why or how the data supports the claim, the underlying assumption that connects your data to your claim. ● Backing (also referred to as the foundation): Additional logic or reasoning that may be necessary to support the warrant. ● Counterclaim: A claim that negates or disagrees with the thesis/claim. ● Rebuttal: Evidence that negates or disagrees with the counterclaim. Including a well-thought-out warrant or bridge is essential to writing a good argumentative essay or paper. If you present data to your audience without explaining how it supports your thesis your readers may not make a connection between the two or they may draw different conclusions. Don't avoid the opposing side of an argument. Instead, include the opposing side as a counterclaim. Find out what the other side is saying and respond to it within your own argument. This is important so that the audience is not swayed by weak, but unrefuted, arguments. Including counterclaims allows you to find common ground with more of your readers. It also makes you look more credible because you appear to be knowledgeable about the entirety of the debate rather than just being biased or uninformed. You may want to include several counterclaims to show that you have thoroughly researched the topic. However, this method emphasizes that logic is often based on probability, rather than certainty. Because we are becoming an increasingly argumentative society that depends on quantifiable metrics in emotional situations, a framework for presenting information that responds to both needs is required. Marshall Rosenberg, the father of Non Violent Communication (NVC), urges us to engage in "empathy before education."11 NVC begins by assuming that we are all compassionate by nature and that violent strategies—whether verbal or physical—are learned behaviors taught and supported by the prevailing culture. NVC also assumes that we all share the same, basic human needs, and that each of our actions are a strategy to meet one or more of these needs. People who practice NVC have found greater authenticity in their communication, increased understanding, deepening connection and conflict resolution.12 “Schools teach many things. For the most part, though, they have not taught students how to engage in 8 See page/video on this subject via project website, or download PDF version. 9 An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, 1690. 10 Purdue OWL 11https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/peacemeal/201010/destructive-constructive-conversations-in-6-steps 12 http://www.cnvc.org/ Collaboration Models for Effective Communication - page 4 reasoned, informed debates across society’s myriad differences. Simply put, the rhetorical commitment to “teaching controversial issues” in American schools has not been reflected in day-to-day classroom practices. Thanks to poor preparation, some teachers have not acquired the background knowledge or the pedagogical skills—or both—to lead in-depth discussions of hot-button political questions. Most of all, though, teachers have often lacked the professional autonomy and freedom to do so. That is particularly the case during wartime, when schools have sharply curtailed discussions of America’s military conduct. But throughout America’s history—and into the present—teachers have faced formal and informal restrictions on political discussions of every kind.