As is often the case, individuals working alone produce more and a wider range of ideas than when they are working together in a group (de Bone, 1992). However, a relay running race provides an analogy and suggestion that working in group, in an organized manner, sometimes provides benefits in solving problems. The success of a relay race does not imply that co-operation must give advantages in thinking, but it suggests that a "smooth" transition in idea transmission is crucial for success. While nowadays working to tackle problems in a group is quite common in industry, when and how different ideas should be linked is worthwhile to consider. In two tertiary institutes, design and technology students have often been requested to work in groups. This kind of activity is different from the ways of group working/thinking normally used, as students are encouraged to develop their ideas like running in a relay race- relay thinking. This paper will present the basic philosophy and the ways in which relay thinking process has been used. This paper will also discuss the difficulties and the advantages in conducting this kind of thinking process in a design setting.
A fact in running race
Relay thinking activities
Have the same target and goal
Started and continued by individuals
Building on ideas
Smooth transition and proceeding movement
Without rigid and fixed thinking methods
Experiences using this process
Conclusion
References