framework for the implementation of a virtual design studio model in ...

8.3.4 Shared Vision
Establishing a unity of purpose helps teamwork. As the literature
revealed 318 , shared vision is an essential part of project success and a
successful team-working aspect. This project attempted to encourage
the students to have a shared vision by emphasising the importance of it
and a targeted goal through lectures and examples. In reviewing the
students‟ answers in the focus group about the clarity of the shared
vision and the goal they had for their designs, the answers varied. Most
of the students disagreed with the fact that they actually knew what they
were doing at the beginning; the reason behind this is related to the
nature of the workshop as the students were not exposed to all the
information straight away to give chance for their own ingenuity to
explode, to encourage their creativity. Another reason which is also
related to the nature of the workshop is the students having to regroup
many times through the workshop to give opportunities for the
intersection of ideas which in turn enriches their final design ideas. Yet,
towards the end of the workshop the students agreed that the goal was
clear for all of the members of the group and they all worked towards it,
which in their belief specified their achievement and encouraged it.
8.3.5 Culture
As discussed earlier in the literature review, the UAE society belongs to
a culture that is considered to be conservative and traditional. The UAE
citizen has a respect for the culture and cultural values stemming the
importance of the cultural factor. The culture factor in this study consists
of many dimensions due to the nature of the UAE society. The first
dimension is the students‟ element as the background of the students
played an important role in this studio. Secondly there was the culture
in which the University of Sharjah performed in terms of administration
and lecturing. Thirdly is the tradition of the UAE as a conservative
society. Fourthly, the diversity factor also played an important role and
318 Turner, R. Muller, R. (2005). The project manager’s leadership style as a success factor on projects: a
literature review. Project Management Journal. 36(1). p49-61.
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