While we appreciate the value of information technology, we think that too often it hinders collaboration and thoughtful decision making. An article in yesterday’s New York Times, “Mind Your BlackBerry or Mind Your Manners,” reminded us of how technology can inhibit group processes–and how a flip of a switch can sometimes dispel the distractions.

We’re impressed with the thinking behind President-elect Obama’s national security team nominations, which include his former rival Sen. Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State and the current Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, who will stay in that role. This is how the President-elect explained his decisions in a Q&A: