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TEchNOLOGy TRaNSFER MODEL - Javna agencija

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KNOWLEDGE FOR BUSINESS IN BORDER REGIONS<br />

3.7 Group process and group mind<br />

3.7.1 What is a group and a group process<br />

I am sure that we all remember taking part in different games as children. Being<br />

part of a group enabled us to have (more) fun, and also to learn from each other.<br />

Together with other children it was much easier or even possible to climb a tree<br />

or move a small truck from a playground – something we would have not found<br />

feasible alone.<br />

Nay the letters of a word TEAM (which is not the exactly the same as a group<br />

– roles of the members are much more defined in a team than in a group) mean:<br />

Together Everyone Achieves More.<br />

So, what is a group, what a group process and why it is worthy to work/ be<br />

part of a group?<br />

A group consists of individuals who with clearly defined goals and expectations consciously take part in a group process. Group<br />

members believe that with group work they will be able to reach a set goal more easily (than by themselves), and that each individual<br />

disposes of intellectual capital and willingness, which will help reach the set goal more efficiently.<br />

A group process is a procedure by which a group systematically advances toward the set goal. The goal itself is usually a selection<br />

of idea solutions for a specific problem or achieving consensus about the suggested solution. In accordance with the desired goal and<br />

expressed needs of group members a facilitator chooses methods and techniques of group work.<br />

What are the main reasons that we engage ourselves in different groups (work environments, clubs, associations, peer groups,<br />

project groups etc.)?<br />

• We cannot achieve everything we desire by ourselves.<br />

• Nobody is an island – we, human beings, are social beings.<br />

• More people know more – we rely on group wisdom (experience, skills, capabilities, social network)<br />

• In a group is much nicer than by oneself.<br />

• If I cannot, there must be somebody within the group who can/who knows.<br />

• We are stronger, faster and more efficient as a group.<br />

• We are all part of a chain.<br />

• Only together we can achieve certain goals.<br />

However, there are not only advantages of being a group member or working in a group. Here are some issues of group features<br />

which have to be taken into considerations:<br />

• Individuals, forming a group, differ in various aspects: they have different values, expectations, beliefs, experience, education …<br />

They origin in different cultural, corporate, institutional, technological, educational etc. backgrounds.<br />

• Group members also differ in terms of gender, social and economic status, age, profession.<br />

• The individuals also differ in their learning styles, personalities (MBTI, representational systems, SDI – Strength Deployment Inventory,<br />

…).<br />

• Different people have also different needs, expectations, preferences, interests, hopes and also concerns, fears, frustrations …<br />

• The more difference in the group, the more possibility of conflicts.<br />

• More people, more ideas – sometimes it is not at all easy to consider and appreciate each of them – some people may feel disregarded.<br />

• When there is a group, there might be a tendency to conformity and polarization.<br />

• Some group members can become very aggressive if their values are for any reasons violated.<br />

• ….<br />

3.8 Facilitator’s core roles, (special) skills and competences for facilitating knowledge transfer<br />

Here are some ideas about competences a TTF should have, collected by the participants at the 3 rd module – training for Technology<br />

Transfer Facilitators:<br />

RECOGNISE DIFFERENT CHARACTERS, OPEN-MINDED, GOOD COMMUNICATION, COOLNESS, TECHNICAL BACKGROUND, BELIEVE IN NET-<br />

WORKING, HARD FACTS, FOCUSED ON GOALS, RESPECT DIFFERENT CULTURES, MEDIATOR, LOGICAL THINKING, NOT BIG EGO, SOFT SKILLS,<br />

SELF-CONFIDENT, TEAMPLAYER, BASIC BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE, KNOWING MARKET RULES, GOOD LANGUAGE.<br />

And in the continuation some extra ideas by myself:<br />

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