Collaboration-A Dirty Word
The Makings Of A Collaborative Project
Okay I was reading the blog entry, from one of my fellow classmates in my Masters of Media Production course “All Along the Watchtower“, and I have to admit I am glad that I am not the only one who thinks that collaboration can be a disastrous endeavor if not “handled with care”.
I find collaboration in class situations often difficult due to the different goals people are trying to achieve. Some are just trying to get through the course, while others are trying to do well. I often prefer to work alone but only because I know that I will get the work done, I am not a big advocate of “free loaders”. I will get the work done, on time and in fact I will get work done with time to spare.
I am extremely committed to a task when I put my mind to it. Yes, many people perceive this as bitchy or snobby, but actually it’s neither. I am simply not a procrastinator. Once again people can find this tough attitude a turn off, but the truth is when people work with me or for me and they are hard workers I am incredibly supportive and easy going.
There are so many studies for and against collaboration. Does collaboration necessarily create better outcomes than individuals “going solo” on a project? In an attempt to become more “collaboration focused” I decided to do a little research into the subject and ascertain what the pros and con’s of collaboration are.
So here are some of my findings:
1) One of the most important elements existent in collaboration is the desire for the same outcome/goals as those you are involved with. If you and those you are collaborating with do not share the same set of goals then naturally you will not view collaboration as a success. When there is disagreement about creative goals, then working as part of a group requires some compromise on the part of each individual.
2)Compromise: being part of group always requires a level of compromise.
3) Communication is paramount in collaboration. Collaboration requires an open dialogue both at meetings and between them.
4) Recourses: Collaborating on a project provides more information. The more people there are the more recourses and access to information exists.
5) Connectedness - members of this collaboration are connected and have established informal and formal communication.
6) Collaboration is to make the group, more than the sum of its parts.
The reality is that most artistic projects nowadays involve some form of collaboration. It is virtually impossible to make a film with out collaborating with others. Sometimes we collaborate as equals and other times we collaborate in different positions of power.
Some famous collaborators where “The Beatles”. They were some of the first to pioneer such a form of collaboration in the current media climate “a group of relative equals, all sharing creative responsibility, and working together synergistically, thus elevating the group as a whole to the status of auteur.” The groups name “Beatles” only added to this new working arrangement
Artistic groups involve both synergy and compromise. This recipe however does not preclude the desire for individual expression and the cohesion necessary to form a group.
The question remains, Why Collaborate? The answer is simple when the right synergy exists, the group becomes more than the sum of its parts.
Resources:
Collaboration
