Research Project

http://prezi.com/tcpv9cnelako/business-management-communication-storytelling/


My two emphasis are business management and human communication. As I was deciding how to integrate these two with storytelling I also wanted to research something that would help people. That is the kind of person that I am. I really enjoy helping people and try to do it as much as I can. As I began my research I came across several studies that were helping companies save money through communciation and business administration. Then, I came across a study that I really like. This study is called Narratives in the Workplace. The study involved using fictional narratives to help people prevent and overcome future problems that might occur in the workplace. They used fictional narratives to overcome many different type of scenarios that might occur in the workplace.

I wanted to be able to integrate this study into my life. All of my life I have worked really hard on the basketball court. I have put in countless hours to ensure that I become the best basketball player that I can be. This has become my place of work. Basketball has taken me all over the country and is paying for my education, for these reasons I consider it my job. I am currently playing for the Dixie State University basketball team and everyday in practice we use fictional narratives to overcome potential problems that may arise during the game. For example, we split up into two teams and one team will be up by a certain amount of points while there is only a few minutes left on the clock. The team that is losing has to find a way to overcome the difficult situation and win the game. There is punishment for the losing team so nobody wants to lose. The scenarios were able to help us as recently as last weekend. We were on the road in Fresno California. We found ourselves down by four points with two minutes to go. Luckily, we had played through this scenario so many times in practice so no one panicked. We were able to overcome the problem and we won the game by five points.

These fictional narratives can also be found in many other work places. Student teaching, residency for doctors, basic training for the military. All of these help people learn how to overcome potential problems that will happen when they are out on their own.

This class has also helped me realize that storytelling is everywhere. I really liked in Gottschall's book how he talked about dreams. These could also be fictional narratives that can prepare us for future situations that may occur when we are awake. I know that ficational narratives are great problem solving techniques and I am grateful for them in my life.

Blog 12

Gottschall writes that "the future will see an intensification, even a perfection, of what draws us to fiction in the first place." This statement to me means that the popularity of fiction and novels will continue to increase in the future. Novels like anything else that continues, will adapt and find ways to improve. Gottschall mentions this as well on page 180. With the future and the technology that continues to come, fiction will become even more accessible than it is today. I think as the world continues to decrease in morals and values people will search for a better surrounding and lifestyle through fiction, in all of its many facets. I personally am not huge into novels and reading, but I knonw many people who love to read and im sure that is the same throughout the world. I don't think storytelling is going anywhere, people need fiction and storytelling. 

As far as my research goes, my efforts continue in the direction of new ideas to solving problems in the business world. But, professor mentioned to me that I need a better more specific question related to narratives. So, I am trying to better define my research in that direction.

Autobiographies

I don't think it is possilbe to write a legitimately honest autobiography. There has been several occasions in my life where I spin the story to make myself seem a little bit better in the outcome. I don't change the truth to alter the outcome of the story but it does make the story not entirely true. People wouln't write a biography about themselves that reveals things that aren't great about them. People have a competitive desire to be better than those around them. They want people thinking they are the greatest and have no flaws, but we all know that isn't true. People often have unrealistic expectations about how they should act and often times we can't live up to those expectations.
I don't agree with the claim that we shape our own life stories to simulate tricky situations. I think that can sometimes be the situation but to make the claim that is the only reason has to be inaccurate. I am a person that doesn't focus a lot of attention on drama and tricky situations. I may be different than others but my memories don't prepare for difficult situations.

I have continued to do some more research on business and dispute resolutions. I am intrigued by the need for alternate ways of solving disputes and why there needs to be alternate ways. This article talks about the obvious need for a new system because the legal system is so time consuming and money consuming.

Agarwal, A. (2006). Resolving business disputes speedily.Economic and Political Weekly, 41(24), Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.libproxy.dixie.edu/stable/4418340?seq=2

Research options blog

Research option 1) Business and communication
     One of the first possibilities of my research project is learning the effects of proper communication in the business world. These articles talk about how important good communication is as well as the power of communication to overcome problems in the workplace.

Davis, B. (2001). Alternative dispute resolution: A business (and) communication strategy. Business Communication Quarterly, 64(83), Retrieved from http://bcq.sagepub.com.libproxy.dixie.edu/content/64/4/83
     Thsi article discusses a different way of solving problems in the business world other than through the legal system. Companies are spending so much money on these problems an alternative route seems like a good thing to have. "In response, many corporations have turned to alternate forms of dispute resolution in hopes of containing legal losses."

Pullen, C. (2010). Bussiness communication 301. Money and Soul, Retrieved from http://fp8lj8vm6d.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Business Communication 301&rft.jtitle=Journal of Financial Planning&rft.au=Courtney Pullen&rft.date=2010-06-01&rft.pub=Financial Planning Association&rft.issn=1040-3981&rft.volume=23&rft.issue=6&rft.spage=50&rft.externalDocID=2051593661¶mdict=en-US
     This next article discusses how to achieve effective business communication. Different requests and offers to better communication.

Research option 2) Using fiction to better communication
     My other emphasis is Human Communication. I want to know if the use of fiction helps people with their communication.
Ulrich, W. (1986). The use of fiction as a source of information about interpersonal communication: A critical view. Communication Quarterly, 34(2), 143-153. Retrieved from http://fp8lj8vm6d.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=The use of fiction as a source of information about interpersonal communication: A critical view&rft.jtitle=Communication Quarterly&rft.au=Ulrich, Walter&rft.date=1986&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.issn=0146-3373&rft.eissn=1746-4102&rft.volume=34&rft.issue=2&rft.spage=143&rft.epage=153&rft_id=info:doi/10.1080/01463378609369629&rft.externalDBID=n/a&rft.externalDocID=10.1080/01463378609369629¶mdict=en-US

Merolla, J. (2009). Utilizing contemporary short fiction in the interpersonal communication classroom.Communication Quarterly, 23(1), 7-10. Retrieved from http://fp8lj8vm6d.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Utilizing Contemporary Short Fiction in the Interpersonal Communication Classroom&rft.jtitle=Communication Teacher&rft.au=Merolla, Andy J&rft.date=2009-01-01&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.issn=1740-4622&rft.eissn=1740-4630&rft.volume=23&rft.issue=1&rft.spage=7&rft.epage=10&rft_id=info:doi/10.1080/17404620802581869&rft.externalDBID=n/a&rft.externalDocID=10.1080/17404620802581869¶mdict=en-US
     In this article people apply communication tiheories to short fictional stories. Does this help people better understand the theories of communication?

Ink People

After reading this chapter I agree with Gottschall and his opinions that ink people have a great impact on real people. I think characters in books give me people different perspectives on different events and things that happen in life. It helps us try to put ourselves in other peoples shoes and better understand other people and the struggles or successes of their lives. I like the quote that comes from a book that was being burned by the nazi's, "where they burn books, they will ultimately burn people". People can be greatly affected by fiction and can bring much fiction to life as if it is real. I like that the readings mention that ink people are now coming to us in many different ways, with internet, tv, and movies. Nonethelss, these are fictional characters that can greatly influence the way we live our lives. I think that is very important in relevance to the management of a busines, fiction can influence people and use it to your advantage.

My research, to be honest, is still in the early stages. I am still deciding exactly how I want to approach the correlation between my emphasis. I have been researching several different possibilities and will soon decide on one. I am grateful for the extra push in this week's assignment to help me put more thought to the assignment.

Moral of the Story

I appreciate the fact that people still can share some values and morals. The chapter refers to very severe morality problems which of course everyone can agree as being insane and wrong, but I hope that people can agree where the line of morality is crossed. As this world continues to get worse and worse hopefully people will not begin to cross more lines of morality. I am grateful that story tellers and writers usually have the bad guy caught and the good guy victorious. Call me naive, but that is the only way I usually will like the story I am receiving.

In regards to my emphasis' of business management and communication I found it interesting when the author talked about sitting at the front of a movie theater and not watching the movie but turning and watching the audience. Simultaneously they will have the same reaction if what they are viewing they find to be enjoyable. I wonder if there is more factors involved then just the quality of the movie? Even if someone doesn't like the movie, when everybody else in the theater seemingly shows approval will they also show approval in fear of being the outcast? Is it better to discuss things in large or small groups? How do you create an environment where your employees feel comfortable enough to discuss things openly and without fearing of being judged by their co-workers?

Research

Taylor, S. (2002). The aesthetics of management storytelling: A key to organizational learning.Management Learning, Retrieved from http://mlq.sagepub.com.libproxy.dixie.edu/content/33/3/313.full.pdf html

Chulguen, Y. (2013). Telling tales at work: An evolutionary explanation. Business Communication Quarterly, Retrieved from http://bcq.sagepub.com.libproxy.dixie.edu/content/76/2/132.full.pdf html

I have the benefit of my emphasis being very relatable to eachother. They are business management and human communication. To be in a mangagement position you must have great communication skills. If you want to be able to get the best out of those you manage you must be able to properly communicate with them. After a lot of research I was able to come across these two articlles that I think will be very beneficial for my final presentation. The first article is about the understanding as to why some stories are better than others. As well as the contributions of aesthetically strong management stories to organizational learning. In a management position, understanding what makes stories great can be very beneficial. The next article describes how storytelling has evolved in the workplace as well as the payoffs for proper storytelling. 

The mind is a storyteller

After reading the mind is a storyteller, the next piece of material I read was about conspiracy theories. I read more about Alex Jones and his truth rallies as well as David Icke. The Alex Jones article and David Icke's website both go right along with the title of this chapter; The mind is a storyteller. What I understand from that article is that people take a bit of information and create these stories that create more drama. We as a people love a good story and create them to tell. I really like in Gottschall's book it describes conspiracy theories and says they are "emotionally satisfying version of reality". We have talked a lot about how as a population we desire drama and story. The best kind of story are full of emotion. That is why conspiracy theorists can gain the hearts of so many people.  http://www.infowars.com/media-kills-911-truth-rally-by-lying-about-it/
http://www.davidicke.com/headlines/2013/09/29/

I thought about how this information could be useful with my emphasis. It was easy to relate it to communication because with proper communication between the media and the people all of this conspiracy theory stuff would dissolve. It was a little more difficult to relate it to business management. But, after some thought I came to the realization that when managing a business proper communication is a neccessity or you could have people thinking about things in their own way. This causes conspiracy theories and a lack of loyalty to the company as well as open rebellion.

Hell is story-friendly

After reading this week's assignment I thought for sure that I was going to have plenty to disagree with when it comes to Gotschall's writing. The previous weeks I have found quite a bit that I havent agreed with, but of course now that it is the emphasis of the assignment, I find very little that I disagree with.

I like when he refers to fiction as a universal grammar. No matter where you are in the world fiction usually contains or has similar characteristics. The book sayas, "in life, conflict often carries a negative connotation, yet in fiction, be it comic or tragic, dramatic conflict is fundamental because in literature only trouble is interesting". I have been all around the world spending a couple years on the island of Borneo in East Malaysia. All of the literature or stories I came across all contained those common characteristics of fiction. Trouble and drama that is barely overcome.

I also like how we uses the example of the flight simulators and how fiction trains us for real life stories. "Just as flight simulators allow pilots to train safely, stories safely train us for the big challenges of the social world". This made me think about childrens books and how they try and give kids a little taste to what life will be like when they grow older. His readings always make me reconsider my thinking on seemingly average things such as childrens books.

I started to search the internet for articles that also state the importance of fiction in our life. I found everything from it being implemented in our minds from when we were born to the fact that fiction gives us joy and thats what we want. I think it is a combination of both of those extremes and we can't escape it.

One of my emphasis is communication which is always easy to relate to but my other is business management. I started to think about how Gotschall mentions that we "literally experience the same feelings ourselves" when we watch it on the big screen. I know that when I watch a sports movie or a racing movie I want to drive home super fast and be a part of that movie. I think in managing a business as well as employees this would be something I want want to emulate. Giving people the desire to become better.

The Riddle of Fiction

I think Gottschall is trying to say that humanity as a whole desire drama and gossip and other things of this nature. I don't really agree with him on that but, he does make several strong arguments. Fiction, does always seem to be full of drama and trouble. I would like to think of it from a different perspective than Gottschall. We create trouble and drama in our minds because ultimately people like to be the hero and the problem solver. We make up problems just so that we can solve them.

He refers to fairytales and the sadness and drama that is involved with seemingly every single story. But, that is where he ends. As the story continues to unfold there is usually a great message of perserverance and overcoming overwhelming odds. When I was a child, I can remember creating wonderful adventures in my mind that my friends and I would go on. Every one ended with someone saving another or a victory of some sort.

There is no denying that people are completely fascinated with gossip, sex, and scary dramas. I wish there were other ways of knowing happiness and peace other than feeling dissapointment and heartache. Without the bad we would not understand the good. This is what I hope the authors of the fairytales and stories for young children were thinking anyway.

Ch. 2 Witchery of Story

Gottschall keeps intriguing me more and more as the chapters in his book continue. I now think of things in ways that I have never thought of before. He paints a greater picture on exactly how much each of our lives are greatly impacted by stories and the desire for stories. I don't agree with everything he writes but much of it I do.

When he refers to the Whale boat story I am not completely overcome by the story and the words to where I don't notice any of my surroundings. I have always had that problem when I read any type of words on a page I can get easily distracted. Although, with that being said, there is still times when I do lose track of where I am and do become overcome by the story I am reading.

I found it interesting to think about commercials as little stories that break up the large stories or television shows we are watching. I always thought about them as annoying little interuptions. Now, I try to understand the story behind the commercial and I do have a somewhat better appreciation for commercials.

I am fascinated again by the example of dreams, day or night, as stories. The statisitical hours that we spend dreaming in on fascet or another that he gives is incredible. It made me look back on my day and even week thus far and try and remember how much of it I spent in a dream. I do often catch myself in a day dream either trying to be in a better place than I am currently, or replaying an event in my mind but having it go much differently. I often do this after I talk to girls. I try and think of different scenarios in my mind that could possibly better the situation I was in.

I don't think storytelling could ever become a dying art. I think it will continually change the format in which stories are told. But, stories are a neccessary part of life and become such a cutural norm that they will never go away. Everytime we see some one we exchange stories of our day and if we didn't how strange and awkward would this world be!

Neverland is inside all of us. Each of us may have a different place and will describe neverland very differently but, I think everyone has place that they can go to in order to forget about the world. My neverland often takes me to the land of sports where I am prosperous in upcoming games or events. I actually use this to mentally prepare for my games as well.

I learn more and more every week that stories are every where and you don't even have to look that hard you just have to realize where they are.

My name is Louis Garrett and I have created this blog for my storytelling class. I am from St. George, Utah and I am 23 years old. I am single and I also play for the universitys basketball team. It took me a while to think about what I wanted to write in this blog. The first question that the professor asks is what we believe a story really is. I was pretty narrow minded when I started to think of how I wanted to answer this question. I considered simply putting, a story is given from one person to another about how they experienced a certain situation or something that happened to them. Then as I was reading through the preface of the required reading I came across an interesting part about dreams. It made me think in a larger scale about storytelling. Are we so enthrolled by stories that we even need them when we sleep? I know that I love waking up after having a great a dream and I know I dislike the feeling of being awakened by a bad dream. I realized that a story whether good or bad, has a huge influence on our everyday lives.
     I feel that a story is made good or bad by the emotion that is put in by the person telling the story. When someone is full of emotion and is passionate about the story he or she is telling I then become compelled by their every word and eagerly wait in anticipation for the rest of the story. If emotion is lacking then my interest also quickly begins to fade away. I found the rest of the preface to be quite interesting as well. I think we as a people have a desire to hear stories and will pay good money to hear good stories. That is why movie stars make so much money. There is such a demand for people to act out great stories that we find it worth it to pay them fortunes. I also enjoyed reading the blog by Jonathan Gottschall as well. He is a very intriguing writer that captures my attention. I think I am going to enjoy this class and hope to keep an open mind to the vast education possible to recieve.