GP Assignment 3

Josie Molloy
Thursday 10:30-12:30
Niamh Cavagan
s4003103
s4003103@student.rmit.edu.au
Word Length: 1,107
Solutions Focused
PART 1
Throughout the duration of the Global Processes course, I have been able to learn about a
plethora of skills that I can take into everyday life. We as Global processes students delve
into the concept of globalisation and how the processes involved shape the world of the
present and future. Global processes have enabled me to see the world through a different
lens and see local and international problems in a global context. I have explored many ideas
including positive deviance, worldwide worry and systems thinking all of which are useful
not only in the course but in all aspects of life. The concepts explored throughout the course
give us a more positive and optimistic outlook on the future of today’s world.
In Global Processes, we examine the concept of positive deviance which is based on the
observation that in society there are certain individuals whose uncommon behaviour allow
them to find better solutions than their peers (Pascale, 2010). This concept can be translated
into our everyday lives as we learn how thinking outside the norm can help us in the long
run. Positive deviance works well when addressing problems that are enmeshed in a
complex social system, require social and behavioural change and require solutions that are
rife with unforeseen and unintended consequences. Therefore, an example of positive
deviance is the school strikes for climate in which began in 2018, in which students from
around the world strike from school to protest governments inaction on climate change and
gain attention from policy makers and media (Murray, 2020). The individuals involved in
these protests could be classed as “positive deviants” as they took time off school in which
they are expected to attend to create widespread positive change. Climate change is also a
deep-rooted, extremely complex problem that does not have one easy solution and takes
the mind of those who are able to think outside the box, so we are able to compress the
impacts of climate inaction. My knowledge of positive deviance has enabled me to think
creatively about my own problems in everyday life.
Another idea we have explored in the course is worldwide worry, this essentially refers to
the idea that we tend to have an overly negative perception of the world in which we live.
Global processes have taught me about humans inherit negativity bias as we tend to pay
attention to bad news rather than good news (Duffy, 2018). In today’s world is it extremely
difficult to escape the overly depressing news that saturates our televisions. Whether be
through the COVID-19 pandemic when we were all hooked on keeping track of the number
of new cases each day or hearing of another natural disaster that has occurred as a result of
climate change, we begin to become desensitised to these issues as we continuously hear
about them daily. In the course we discussed a quiz given by Hans Rosling in his novel
“Factfullness”, in which he asks questions about the state of the world to expose the overly
negative perception we have. One of the questions asked was “in the last 20 years, the
proportion of the world living in poverty has…” the answer is almost halved but most people
who took the quiz answered almost doubled showing how we always think more negatively
(Rosling, 2018). Learning about this concept in Global processes has allowed me to think
critically about the state of world and not always expect the worst when it comes to global
issues. I think people outside the course would benefit from exploring this idea, as I have
newfound optimism for the state of the world today.
We have all had the experience of collaborating on something in life whether it be a project
in high school or an assignment at university we all know what it’s like to work with others to
achieve a common goal. However, what I don’t think we realise is the true benefits of
collaboration and how it can be incredibly helpful in everyday life. Addressing complex issues
requires input from various experts and stakeholders to achieve a positive outcome
(Gardner, 2016). Some of the characteristics of effective collaborators include Innovation
occurs over time not just as a result of one genius insight essentially meaning you cannot
rush creativity and it takes time an innovation to come to fruition. Another is deep listening
which means collaborators will be able to listen and observe others idea and take them into
account. Lastly, team members build on collaborators ideas (Sawyer, 2007). We can use all
these characteristics in everyday life and learn to be able to work with others more
efficiently. Collaboration also allows for diversity which can aid creativity and allow for more
opinions to be considered. An example of collaboration can also be the school strike for
climate protests as young people came together to fight for climate justice. Collaboration is
extremely beneficial and can help us which complex and simple issues.
Global processes have given me a new perspective on the future of society and enabled me
to more optimistic about the state of the world. The topics we cover are useful not only in
university but in high school or in the workplace.
PART 2
The first employability skill I utilised when completing this task was listening and
understanding as I asked for others’ opinions on the content I planned to write about and
asked for feedback. This was exceptionally useful as I was able to change what didn’t fit with
the assignment and receive constructive criticism. Being able to listen and take the ideas of
others into account is a vital skill to have in all aspects of life not only in the workplace.
Secondly, I showed independence and initiative in identifying problems and solving them.
Throughout working on this task, I had trouble thinking of ideas for some real-world
examples of content we have learnt in the course however, I was able to persevere and keep
researching different examples. One of the examples I had planned to use before starting I
realised did not fit well with the assignment and I was able to identify the problem and make
necessary changes.
Lastly, I had confidence in my own ideas and visions and wrote what I thought fit with what
the task was asking. I was able to get the task done efficiently as I knew what my ideas were
and wrote them to the best of my ability. Having confidence in one’s own decisions help to
add clarity and purpose to decisions and eliminates the chance that you will have to re-
decide something that didn’t work the way you initially thought.
References
Murray, J. (2020, April 22). Climate strikes continue online: ‘We want to keep the momentum
going’. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/22/climate-
strikes-continue-online-we-want-to-keep-the-momentum-going
Pascale, R., Sternin, J. and Sternin, M. (2010) The Power of positive Deviance: how unlikely
innovators solve the world’s toughest problems. Harvard Business
Rosling, H. (2018), Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World and Why Things
Are Better Than You Think
Duffy, B. (2018), The Perils of Perception: Why We’re Wrong About Nearly Everything
Sawyer, R. K. (2007), Group genius: The creative power of collaboration.
Gardner, H. K. (2016), Smart Collaboration: How Professionals and Their Firms Succeed by
Breaking Down Silos

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Josie Molloy

Sawyer, R. K. (2007), Group genius: The creative power of collaboration.

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