Skills -Chunking-

Chunking Have you ever: Wanted to do something, but did not feel motivated about it? Been stuck in negotiation and can’t seemed to reach an agreement fast? Been brainstorming for ideas and not come out with anything new?

Chunking Felt overwhelmed with an activity Chunking can help you get past the above obstacles. Any subject can be viewed in larger or smaller parts or chunks. By adding new associations, chunking lets you see the matter differently.

Chunking A chunk means pieces of information that hang together in a meaningful way. For example, H, O, M, E is four chunks, but the word “home” is one chunk. 7 (seven), 3 (three), 9 (nine) are three chunks, but 739 (seven hundred thirty-nine) is one chunk. Everyone would agree that it is easier to remember one chunk than it is to remember three or four!

Chunking To use the Chunking Technique, all you have to do is to break down the information into smaller, meaningful groups or chunks. Keep in mind that it’s easier to remember several shorts lists rather then one long one. You can remember more if you separate it into meaningful bits: FB-IM-B-AC-IAI-BMB-MW –vs- FBI-MBA-CIA-IBM-BMW This number appears too long to remember, doesn’t it? 6 0 8 8 7 1 7 4 5 9 When you put into telephone-number format, like this 6 088 717 459, it’s easier to remember!

Chunking Chunking up from part to whole allows you to appreciate the whole by seeing how it is made from the parts and how the parts relate To illustrate the concept, let us begin with a car. Example of chunking up from car would be: transportation ( a car is a part of transportation), or movement ( transportation is part of movement), or Existance (movement is a part of Existance) Existance movement transportation car

Chunking up What is this an example of? What is this a part of? What is the intention? For what purpose? Existance movement transportation car

Chunking Chunking Down (becoming more specific) Moving from the general to the specific or detailed information is called ‘chunking down’ Chunking down also helps you to become more precise. Examples of chunking down or being more specific on car are: Proton Company Wira Model Sport Type car Proton Wira Sport

Chunking Down What is an example of this? What is a component/part of this? What/who/where specifically? car Proton Wira Sport

Chunking Chunking sideways Chunking sideways involves finding other examples at the same level of information. To chunk sideways You chunk sideways by going from one member of a class to another member of the same class, or from one part of the whole to another part of the same whole, for example from ‘cars’ to ‘planes to trains, to boats’ car Planes trains boats

Chunking Up Lateral Down Existance movement transportation car Planes trains boat Proton BMW FORD TOYOTA Wira Down sport

How and When Can You Use Chunking? Thinking Laterally Thinking Laterally. We are often encouraged to think laterally. This is not always easy to do. It is if we use chunking. To think laterally, first chunk up, then chunk down. Example, suppose you have to take a package to a particular destination and you do not wish to use your car. To identify alternatives, first chunk up, i.e. what is driving your car an example of? One possible chunk up is a mode of transportation. Now chunking down, you can easy identify many different modes of transportation which are on the same logical level as car i.e., bicycle, horse, train, airplane, walking, etc. And you can select the mode that meets your other needs.

How and When Can You Use Chunking? Negotiation and Mediation. Negotiation and Mediation. Chunking up and down is a very useful tool in negotiations or mediation. Far too often in negotiations, we continue to explore solutions at a level of thought at which we do not agree. The key is to chunk up until you and the other person agree and then to chunk back down to the details only as fast as you both maintain agreement. Often in negotiation, we assume that the other person wants what we want and this may not be the case.

How and When Can You Use Chunking? Creating a Passion for Your Outcome Creating a Passion for Your Outcome. By chunking up and down, you can size your outcomes so that they are doable and you have excitement, motivation and passion for achieving them.

How and When Can You Use Chunking? Overcoming Disinterest. Overcoming Disinterest. Why do we get bored? Often because what we are doing does not excite us. We are mired in the details. If you have an outcome and you are not excited about it, ask yourself the question, “This outcome for what purpose?”, i.e. chunk up. Get a bigger perspective or the big picture. Having an outcome and not knowing the larger purpose can be demotivating.

How and When Can You Use Chunking? Addressing Overwhelm. Addressing Overwhelm. Sometimes we may feel overwhelmed. This can happen if the chunk size is too large. Here we need to chunk down and be more specific or focus more on the details or be more realistic. After all, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! If you feel overwhelmed or do not know where to start when you think of your outcome; chunk down to be more specific and identify manageable tasks.

Prepared by Tsen Kui Loi Feb 2010 SOALAN ??? Question?? Prepared by Tsen Kui Loi Feb 2010

Thank You !