One Thing Education Needs LO7189

Dr. Scott J. Simmerman (74170.1061@CompuServe.COM)
05 May 96 14:32:49 EDT

Replying to LO7157 --

Re: Barry Mallis Challenge

I would most certainly stress active participation in events that
demonstrate the importance of collaboration over competition and that
can offer participants kinesthetic learning and measurable results.

When organizations talk collaboration, it seems that most are more
interested in group against group competition rather than truly
cross-functional work on issues and opportunities. Too often, they are
maintaining turf while they talk about teamwork.

In the schools, it needs to start with the administration and teachers.
Most do not have a good sense of the concept of collaboration. Many
seem unwilling to listen or to work with "outsiders" and the kids are
put in collaborative, "team-oriented" situations mostly when my team
competes against your team.

My business has evolved to closely match what I didn't like in school
and business. So my comments will appear biased toward my beliefs.

But it is my opinion that Collaboration is viewed more in the WWII model
of collaborateur / spy more than a spirit of working together for the
common good.

-- 

Scott Simmerman 74170.1061@compuserve.com

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>