Advantages of Conducting Online Discussions in a Team

In the late 80's, management thinker Peter Drucker predicted that technology would play a central role in increasing team effectiveness. Although, the full benefits of technology have not yet been felt, it cannot be denied that currently the online system greatly influences team work.

Sometimes it even works better than the traditional way. This can be felt by having group brainstorming online. Although there are several ways that are almost the same, replacing face-to-face and oral sessions with virtual and written sessions, online brainstorming can be more effective.

Advantages of Online Discussion

A study shows that compared to traditional brainstorming, online methods generate more quality ideas. The average idea generated per person is more creative and the level of satisfaction generated will usually also be higher.

As shown in the meta-analysis, online brainstorming can increase creative performance by almost 50% over the standard deviation. This means that almost 70% of participants perform less well in traditional brainstorming sessions than online. The following are the advantages of conducting online discussions in a business context.

1. All participants can participate

In contrast to traditional brainstorming, online allows all participants from various backgrounds, traits and personalities to participate. Because it cannot be denied that there will always be dominant participants. They will talk too much, take over the attention, so that sometimes make other participants feel inferior.

In addition to impacting the feelings of other participants, the situation will hinder the formation of creative ideas. Here online brainstorming is an option that can be done. Opinions conveyed online make participants more comfortable. Participants who are shy and introverted can participate without having to be afraid of others.

Not only that, when sharing opinions is done in the traditional way, for example in groups with more than six participants, the results tend to be messy. While the online way has no limit on the number of participants that must take part, either six or 50 participants will be the same. Any number, all can participate.

Online brainstorming also allows remote participants to participate. That way, you can save costs. Without the hassle, online brainstorming becomes more scalable, and everyone who participates has the potential to contribute new ideas.

2. Avoid politicization

The main thing that online brainstorming has, but not the traditional way, is anonymity. This anonymity will reduce anxiety, especially for participants who lack confidence. If the sound is not associated with a specific person, participants may be more active.

Not only that, anonymity gives ideas assessed more objectively. In the traditional way, the process tends to be as biased and political as it is in other group interactions. In fact, democratically those with power will take over and decisions will be influenced by one or two powerful individuals.

Conversely, when participants rate ideas anonymously, politicization is unlikely to occur. To do this companies can create sites that allow users to submit opinions anonymously. It can then be rated or evaluated by other employees, and maybe even clients. However, of course identity is anonymous.

3. The ideas that emerge are more diverse

If organized properly, online brainstorming can generate a variety of ideas. In face-to-face brainstorming, ideas tend to be uniform due to listening to other participants' ideas. This happened because the participants were influenced by other opinions so that the results were less diverse and creative.

However, when participants are not exposed to each other's ideas during the ideation process, the results will be more varied. The advantages of online brainstorming will encourage participants to express broader ideas.

Although not a substitute, online brainstorming allows discussion participants to express opinions by writing down ideas on a piece of paper. In contrast to the traditional method, online brainstorming mechanisms are capable of providing archives to be searched for and considered further after the discussion has been completed.

The use of technology as a means of brainstorming can also help team performance. Online brainstorming is becoming a good choice for companies to collect creative ideas. With its cost-effective, anonymous and concise nature, the ideas that are issued will be more creative and transparent to help the company continue.