Jobs and Not Getting Them

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I've just received a note telling me that my remarks on committees came
through truncated with junk at the end. Not surprised. I'm communicating
from home and the "catch phone" caught me. Starting over again,I'd like
to add to Jim Carrier's memory of studies that suggest that committees
make more intelligent decisions than individuals. When cut off, I was
about to remark that

(2) I've observed my Japanese colleagues working much smarter in
committees than some of the individuals who compose them. The relevant
condition seems to be a joint committment to the group's project and
cultural sanctions against grandstanding. When suggestions are offered
in a diffident "Could it perhaps, just maybe be that..." manner (In your
face "You're wrong!!) is definitely a no-no.) a lot of good stuff gets
done. I wonder if committees in other places don't suffer from being seen
as arenas for adversarial combat where the heat of the battle too often
deflects attention from whatever the committee is trying to do?

Cheers, John McCreery (JLM@TWICS.COM)

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