TED Talk
a) Were you surprised by the results of the research on motivation? What did you find interesting about this talk?
I thought this research on motivation was interesting, focusing on a different approach to success. One part that stood out to me was the way he relates intrinsic and extrinsic factors to the candle experiment, showing the power of incentives. I have always been in a believer in open-minded thinking, therefore this study really struck me. When given rewards, people tend towards a sharp minded approach. When there are no incentives and more freedom, an individual tends to broaden their mind and apply innovative thinking to the task. I think this extremely important especially in classwork and in the workplace. From my internship, I have realized that the projects with the most lowest incentives allowed the art department to brainstorm ideas that would never be brought up if we were under more pressure. It is interesting how a sharp minded vision for a goal can often detract from the creative journey of that actual task at hand.
b) How does the candle problem relate to taking on a new design project?
The candle problem can represent any design project. For instance, when an individual begins a design project, there are many different pathways to satisfy the requirements. In the candle problem, there are many different ideas people consider before figuring out the solution. If an individual begins the design project by simply focusing on final product (the reward), they will neglect to apply innovative thinking throughout the brainstorming process. This was critical in the candle problem because at first many groups were so focused on winning that they did not even consider using the cup with the tacks. It is important to consider all options and focus on the task at hand, rather than the reward at the finish line. When beginning a new design project, the motivation should stem from purpose rather than reward. Without the pressures and incentives that occur in many companies, an individual has the freedom to think creatively and independently throughout the whole project.
a) Were you surprised by the results of the research on motivation? What did you find interesting about this talk?
I thought this research on motivation was interesting, focusing on a different approach to success. One part that stood out to me was the way he relates intrinsic and extrinsic factors to the candle experiment, showing the power of incentives. I have always been in a believer in open-minded thinking, therefore this study really struck me. When given rewards, people tend towards a sharp minded approach. When there are no incentives and more freedom, an individual tends to broaden their mind and apply innovative thinking to the task. I think this extremely important especially in classwork and in the workplace. From my internship, I have realized that the projects with the most lowest incentives allowed the art department to brainstorm ideas that would never be brought up if we were under more pressure. It is interesting how a sharp minded vision for a goal can often detract from the creative journey of that actual task at hand.
b) How does the candle problem relate to taking on a new design project?
The candle problem can represent any design project. For instance, when an individual begins a design project, there are many different pathways to satisfy the requirements. In the candle problem, there are many different ideas people consider before figuring out the solution. If an individual begins the design project by simply focusing on final product (the reward), they will neglect to apply innovative thinking throughout the brainstorming process. This was critical in the candle problem because at first many groups were so focused on winning that they did not even consider using the cup with the tacks. It is important to consider all options and focus on the task at hand, rather than the reward at the finish line. When beginning a new design project, the motivation should stem from purpose rather than reward. Without the pressures and incentives that occur in many companies, an individual has the freedom to think creatively and independently throughout the whole project.