Task 3B
Co Operation – ‘The will and way to win’
‘Co-operate until maximum benefit produced
then defect’ Robert Axelrod (1984)
To me this seems like ‘using’ one another
and unfortunately I do feel that in this competitive industry this happens a
lot, using people to get to where they need to be and to be successful. An
example of this I have is in auditions, I have seen people who cannot pick up
the chorography so they ask another auditionie what it is, they then work
together perfecting the routine, yet in the end it could be the person who
didn’t know the steps who defects and gets the jobs at the end!
Also another example of this could be joining
professional networks because there is something in it for you and then leaving
and joining when a new one is offered to you. I have personally gone to auditions, which I
don’t necessary want the job at the end of it but it is about getting your face
seen, experience and professional networking.
I ask myself do I think this is fair? Of
course not, but do I think it is necessary in this industry? Unfortunately yes,
everyone seems to be doing it and in this industry you are your own product and
you have to put yourself out there.
Co-operation is closely associated with
‘Game Theory’
Above is a link to ‘Prisoners Dilemma’ an
example of game theory. Looking at using this idea in my own professional
network is interesting as I do see it being done a lot, however I feel as this
has been developed by the ideas of scientists it has failed to consider the
ethical side and is in our nature to be selfish? This theory does not consider
our conscious thoughts. Not everyone is out to defect.
Robert Axlerod (p.6 1984) describes this
theory as ‘an investigation of individuals who pursue their own self-interest ,not
based on the concern for others or upon the welfare of the group as a whole’
This is were I have problems with this theory as in dancing and theatre you do
need to work as a group and not ‘defect’ and of course you have to be careful because if you defect
whilst in the professional network will these people want to work with you
again?
For me I feel that in the future I will
think about the game theory when professionally networking as it can work in
your favor to help you get ahead but at the same time it could damage your
reputation in the industry.
Affiliation
I agree with the general concept of Affiliation
and I found reading about this very intriguing, especially the part about how
it is in a nature to ‘ form close relationships’ (crisp + turner, 2007, p.266)
This is because the need for Affiliation
differs from person to person. O’Connor
& Rosenblood (1996, p. 267) suggest this may link to relative and preferred
levels of social stimulation (introvert – extrovert)
However I argue this point as I find that
being socially interactive is different/harder for some people than being
professionally interactive. I have seen it many times where a person is very
extrovert at work but introvert out of the work place and well engrossed with
professional networks.
I question the point is this information
about Affiliation too vague in context to professional networking, as it is a
social psychology concept and people are extremely complex.
The course reader also states that
engagement in professional networking takes place because it is a psychological
need, for all people. I disagree with this, as some people do not want to be
part of a professional networking. I feel some people consider professional
networking as a must not a want.
Although I agree that you have to be
involved in the professional network in order to be successful and get the most
out of it that you can.
After reading about Affiliation It confirmed
what I already knew that I am neither an Introvert nor Extrovert. I tend to
change depending on such situation and that’s why I feel that sometimes it may
not be natural to be fully involved in the networks for some people as really they
may be Introvert, yet for the good of their profession they will act the best
they can and be fully committed and involved.
I
feel that social interaction may be determined by psychological determinants
and individual and cultural differences between individuals.
Social Constructionism.
Reading this has helped me to really think about how I can use this theory
to help benefit my career and professional networks in the future, this is because
it is saying that interacting in a network helps us to construct meanings. In
other words you get our what you put in. In the future I would like to do a
schools direct program or a pgce, in order to do this i have to engage in
schools networks to construct meanings and realations.
‘With a network of support
that will help us when we are in need’ (Crisp & Turner 2007 p. 266).
I can relate this to my current professional practice as I am
currently teaching dance at my old dance school and I got this job as I am
always staying connected and involved with the dance school network which in
turn supports me.
Connectivism
This links back to Professional networking, this theory is saying
that there is so much information around at the moment and so many different
sources for example the use of Web 2.0 we can learn and share information so
much easier than previously with this in mind in can help our professional
networks to expand and grow.
I am using this a lot on this course by using the Blogs, this is
helping me to share ideas and find new ideas from others.
I am constantly using the Internet and you-tube to find out more
information and using ‘the stage’ and web pages to find out about professional
networks.
Communities of Practice
I agree with this theory that being part of
a community or practice you are in a group of shared experience and learning,
Wenger
identified a community of practice as existing on three dimensions:
• what
it is about – its joint enterprise as understood and continually
Renegotiated
by its members;
• How
it functions - mutual engagement that bind members together into a
Social
entity;
• What
capability it has produced – the shared repertoire of communal
Resources.
This
is something that as a dancer and performer you do naturally, when you join a
dance school you are part of that community then when you join a show or
production you enter a community. Like Wenger says you are sharing the same
experiences and in this network you work together in order learn and grow.
Ethical Considerations
I have touched on ethical considerations
throughout this post, but to conclude I feel that we need to think about how
what we do affects other people. Are some of these theories a bit selfish? Game
theory does it really work in our favor or by defecting can you hurt other
people and your own reputation?
Another point worth mentioning is using Web
2.0 when we share things to our professional network you have to make sure that
it is only visible by those who you wish to see it. I mention a lot about this in my blog about Web
2.0
Martin
Weller in Thee Digital Scholar suggests “It is not just the internet that is
significant in terms of networks but, more recently, the advent of social
networks that is having an influence on scholarly practice” (2011, p.7).
This relates
to us on the BAPP course, this is because the majority of our work is done over
the internet, especially if you cannot attend the course days or Skype
sessions, so I will conclude with one finally question; Can you form a successful
professional network without having direct contact with those in the network?
