Human CommunicationTHIRD EDITION

◄ Judy C. Pearson Paul E. Nelson Scott Titsworth Lynn Harter ►

C H A P T E R

The Dynamics ofSmall-Group Communication

N I N E

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 2Chapter 9 Objectives

• Define small-group communication and state why it is important

• Recognize different types of groups

• Define leadership and explain its relevance to small-group communication

• Explain how culture develops in small groups

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 3Chapter 9 Objectives

• Identify steps in the small-group decision-making process

• Discuss how technology can be used to facilitate small-group communication

• Utilize skills necessary for effective and ethical group communication

• Recognize strategies for ethically managing group conflict

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 4Why Should You Learn About Small Groups?

• To meet our need for inclusion, affection and control

• Groups are everywhere

• To learn a highly valued skill

• To become an effective group member

• To participate in the democratic process

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 5What is Small-Group Communication?

The interaction between three to nine people who are working together to

achieve an interdependent goal

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 6Types and Functions of Small Groups

• Task-oriented groups– Secondary groups

• Relationship-oriented groups– Primary groups

• Assigned groups

• Emergent groups

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 7What is Leadership?

A process of using communication to influence the behaviors and attitudes

of others to meet group goals

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 8The Role of Leadershipin Small Groups

• Types of Small Group Leaders– Designated leaders

• Elected or appointed to a leadership position

– Emergent leaders

• Becomes an informal leader by exerting influence

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄ 9The Role of Leadershipin Small Groups

• Power and Group Leadership– Distributive power

– Integrative power

– Designated power

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄10The Role of Leadershipin Small Groups

• Sources of Power in Groups– Reward power

– Punishment power

– Coercion

– Referent power

– Expert power

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄11Three Approaches to Effective Leadership

• Leadership Styles

– Democratic leaders

• Encourage member participation

– Laissez-faire leaders

• Take no initiative for structuring group discussion

– Autocratic leaders

• Maintain strict control over the group

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄12Three Approaches to Effective Leadership

• Leadership as Communication Competence

– Focus is on communicative behaviors used to exercise influence

– Two competencies used by leaders• Task

• Interpersonal

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄13Three Approaches to Effective Leadership

• Leadership as Planning

– Know the task at hand

– Know the people

– Collect information

– Distribute leadership

– Organize the discussion

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄14Establishing Culture in Small Groups

• Group Norms– Informal rules for group interaction

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄15Establishing Culture in Small Groups

• Group Norms• Role Structure

– Formal and informal roles

– Behavioral functions• Task functions

• Maintenance functions

• Self-centered functions

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄16Establishing Culture in Small Groups

• Group Norms• Role Structure• Group Cohesiveness

– Trust, supportiveness, cohesiveness

– Groupthink

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄17Establishing Culture in Small Groups

• Group Norms• Role Structure• Group Cohesiveness• Group Diversity

– Within-group diversity

– Gender diversity

– Cultural diversity

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄18Problem Solvingand Decision Making

• Characteristics of group problem solving– Multiple perspectives

– Takes longer

– Well suited for conjunctive tasks

– More effective when the process is systematic and organized

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄19Problem Solvingand Decision Making

• Effective group problem solving– Wording the discussion question

• Is it a question of fact, value, or policy?

• Is it stated clearly?

• Is it measurable?

• Does it focus on the problem?

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄20Problem Solvingand Decision Making

• Effective group problem solving– Wording the discussion question

– Discussing criteria for judging solutions• Absolute criteria

• Important criteria

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄21Problem Solvingand Decision Making

• Effective group problem solving– Wording the discussion question

– Discussing criteria for judging solutions

– Identifying alternatives• Brainstorming

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄22Problem Solvingand Decision Making

• Effective group problem solving– Wording the discussion question

– Discussing criteria for judging solutions

– Identifying alternatives

– Evaluating alternatives

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄23The Functions of Group Work

• Solving problems

• Making decisions

• Negotiating conflict

• Fostering creativity

• Maintaining ties to stakeholders

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄24Technology and Group Communication Processes

• Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS)

– Advantages

• Anonymous and efficient

– Disadvantages

• Expensive and impractical

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄25Making Your Small Group Communication Effective

• Relate your statements to preceding remarks

• Use conventional word arrangements

• Speak concisely

• State one point at a time

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

◄26Being an Ethical Group Member

• Be trustworthy and supportive

• Be honest and truthful

• Be thorough and unbiased when evaluating information

• Behave with integrity

• Manage group conflict ethically