Product Description: We know how important it is for you to have the right tool when you need it. If you're a team leader or facilitator in a manufacturing environment, you've probably been searching a long time for a collection of implementation tools tailored specifically to your needs...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: This practical model helps teams understand the phases of team development and how to plan for the next step on the road to success. (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: This book explores the transformation that emerges when groups spread around the world working on similar issues collaborate rather than compete. A collaboratory is a facilitated space where stakeholders meet to discuss burning societal issues...read more

Why do people make decisions based on their own perspective without considering alternative points of view? Do differences of opinion enhance or obstruct critical thinking? Is it wise to seek out people who disagree with you and listen to their objections to your conclusions? Focusing on the theory, research, and application of constructive controversy, this book analyses the nature of disagreement among members of decision-making groups, project teams, academic study groups, and other groups that are involved in solving problems. Johnson demonstrates that this theory is one of the most effective methods of enhancing creativity and innovation, decision making, teaching, and political discourse. The book includes entertaining and intriguing examples of how constructive controversy has been used in a variety of historical periods to advance creativity, achieve innovations, and guide democracies. It will be welcomed by students in the fields of social psychology, management/business studies, education, and communication studies.

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Product Description: The Creativity Factor: Unlocking the Potential of Your Team [May 01, 1991] Glassman, Edward, Ph.d.

Product Description: Critical Reflections is a process that leaders can use to help their groups learn lessons from key events, positive or negative. The basic process is short and simple. It begins with a key event and includes three stages: exploring—reliving the event and sharing perceptions of what happened; reflecting—reaching an understanding of how and why it happened; and projecting—harvesting lessons for the future...read more

Product Description: This small group communication text combines research with the practical tools students need to become productive group members. It takes the approach that an understanding of small group communication is necessary in order to function effectively in modern society. (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Combining the most recent research findings with the practical tools students need to become productive group members, this leading text covers secondary groups of all kinds: work groups, committees, task forces, self-directed work teams, and other small groups whose objectives include finding solutions to problems, producing goods, and creating policies.

Product Description: This book provides a set of easy to use and proven techniques and procedures for conducting problem solving meetings more efficiently and productively, with less frustration, effort, and conflict. William M. Fox presents an approach to group problem solving-the Improved Nominal Group Technique (Ingt)-that will help minimize or eliminate the common problems, such as personality clashes or wasted time, that are often found in groups...read more

Product Description: Examines creativity in management, with an emphasis on creative problem-solving techniques for both individuals and groups. Covers problem identification and definition/redefinition, idea creation, evaluation and implementation.

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Group Creativity explores the unique form of creativity that emerges from collaborating groups. Dr. Sawyer draws on his studies of jazz ensembles and improvisational theater groups to develop a model of creative group processes. He applies this model of group creativity to a wide range of collaborating groups, including group learning in classrooms and innovative teams in organizations. In group creativity, a group comes together to collaboratively create in real time. The creative inspiration emerges from the interaction and communication among the members, and makes the result more than the sum of its parts. The dynamic, moment-to-moment communication among jazz musicians and improvising actors is the primary topic of the book. Sawyer explores performers' close listening and sensitivity, the submerging of the ego to the group mind, and the ways that performers work together to create something better than and different from what one solitary individual could create alone. These explorations provide insight into all forms of group creativity and collaboration.

Product Description: The Third Edition of this highly respected and widely cited text takes an applied, problem-solving approach that recognizes the creative potential of the individual. It serves as a handbook on a variety of small-group communication activities, including conducting meetings (using the standard agenda) and handling conflict...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: This book focuses on "problem solving groups," a managerial technique adopted by numerous organizations in recent years. The author deals with why such groups fail and how to make them more effective. In this book you'll learn: Why you should consider forming managerial problem-solving teams; when you should form a team and when you should "go it alone...read more