Group Dynamics 666

Hi, Axel here. First entry for me! I'd like to adress two different topics here, the first being a very short description of what we're doing, the second being my experiences of group dynamics during this particular project.

Let's start with what we're actually working on, from the user's point of view. We've decided to make something we've dubbed the MonsterBox. This is a small, completely dark room you step into. Eyes glare menacingly at you from the dark, and all you have to discover this new environment with is a flashlight. When shining towards the potentially threatening eyes, you discover that they belong to a multitude of terrifying/cute/confusing monsters! These monsters react to you shining on them by emitting unique shrieks and sounds. How you interact with this environment is now up to you. Will you use your flashlight to produce a symphony of monstous screams? Will you compete with your friends to see who can trigger most monsters in the shortest time? You decide.

That's the surface. That's what we're working on. Now, I'm going to move on and talk about what I've experienced in terms of group dynamics during this project.

The main thing here, for me, has been a new insight in what it means to make sure everyone gets their ideas across. The MonsterBox was an idea that we didn't really discuss. Rather, it was a sudden idea that hit me and that I enthusiastically "sold" to the group. Although there was general agreement on the idea being fun and something we should work towards, concern was later raised about the resulting lack of a brainstorming session where different ideas could have been discussed and idea-generating techniques put to practice. For me, this was a humbling experience and something I'll take with me. Enthusiastic as I might be over one particular idea, I should always make sure that different options are considered and evaluated.

Another insight related to this phenomenon is something I've labeled "nodding-syndrome". Nodding-syndrome is what you get in a new group when people go out of their way to agree and strive towards a common goal. Someone brings something up, but instead of thouroughly discussing this topic, everyone nods, agrees, and moves forward. The problem with this is that there's no way of making sure everyone has understood what, exactly, the person who brought up the topic had in mind. Agreement and maintaining a positive atmosphere becomes more important. My theory about this is that the group members are too careful, afraid to find flaws or point out problems in each other's suggestions. The downside is, of course, that the person pitching the idea in question feels like he doesn't get heard or understood. Eventually the idea just dissapears because no one really got it the first time around, even though everyone nodded and mumbled! One way for you as an individual to counter this on a group level, I think, is to make sure you're 100% certain of what someone means and what he wants to achieve with an idea that he brings up. This should be done with well-meaning, curious questions, not with questions worded as skeptical criticism. If you start being curious, then most likely others will follow and you'll get a proper discussion about the idea.

As for the more mundane side of our project, today has seen Patric and Niklas doing wonders with the blog design and group logo, featuring cutez0r monsters by yours truly. Though Nemo made a heroic effort at putting in some hours here, the fever outmanouvered him and he was firmly ordered back home. Martin has been hard at work with graphical UI software for the Arduino, and me, well, I've been here, being abstract and noisy.

Yours truly,

/Axel & G1