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Working in Groups
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Working in Groups
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Chapter 1
1. Introduction to Group Communication
Initial class meeting/
Warm Up
1.1 Succeeding in Groups
1.2 Defining GroupCommunication
1.3 The Nature of GroupCommunication
1.4 Types of Groups
1.5 Advantages andDisadvantages of Working
in Groups
1.6 The Guiding Principles ofGroup Work Activities andGroup Discussion
Succeeding in Groups New York Giants winning 2008 Super
Bowl
- The New England Patriots had super
players, megastar quarterback, a
legendary coach, and a perfect
season
- Yet New York Giants won the game
demonstrating the power of groups
to engage the right combination of
talent and willpower to overcome
all odds.
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Succeeding in Groups
Nobel Chemistry Prize Winner Dr. Peter Agre at John Hopkins University:
I didnt do this work! I made the coffee and sharpen the pencils.
on the he discovery of aquaporins, highlighting the importance of
team work.
Succeeding in Groups
Examples oforganized groups orpeople workingtogether to achieveshared goals:
Study groups
Research groups
Management teams
Volunteer groups
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Case Study The Study Group Dilemma
Q1: Should Grace join the study
group or work on her won?What would she gain or lose by
that decision?
How can some of the dialectic
tensions described in this
chapter affect how well a study
group achieves its goals?
What communication
strategies should a study group
use to ensure that members
are satisfied with the process
and the outcome?
Have you ever participated in a
study group? If yes, why did it
succeed or not succeed?
Successful Group Participation Listen effectively
Understand their roleswithin the group
Actively contribute togroup problem solving
Ask clear questions toobtain information
Establish a professionalrapport with othermembers
Communicate
effectively withmembers fromdifferent cultures
Convey a professionalimage non-verbally
Resolve group conflict
Demonstrateleadership
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Defining Group Communication the interaction of three or more
interdependent members
working to achieve a commongoal.
Groups(teams) vary in their
formality, structure, complexity,
membership and titles.
- group of friends organizing an
annual party
- corporate team organizing a
stockholders meeting.
- a football team
- a group of family members A group consists of at least 3
members.
Three or more members
A third person can
change a tie-vote
into a two-to-one
decision.
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Figure 1.1 Components of Group Communication
Group Communication
Members Goals
Working
Interdependence
Interaction
Three or more members Minimum 3 members,
with no maximum
numbers
Ideal group size for
problem solving 5-7
members
Odd number is better
than even numbers to
enable majority voting
and decision making
As group grows larger,
individual satisfaction
and commitment to the
group often decrease.
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Three or More Members
Groups less than 5 lacks resources and diversity of opinions for
effective problem solving.
Example: Small prayer groups of 5-7 members in evangelicalmega-churches.
Larger groups also has core members of 5-7 members who do
more work and take on leadership functions.
Three or More Members
Groups larger than 15 members, lacks coordination and
control, members may not know one another well,
communication requires elaborate rules and procedures.
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Interaction Requires verbal and non-
verbal communication togenerate meanings andestablish relationships.
Communication helps withsharing information andopinions, making decisions,solving problems, anddevelop interpersonalrelationships
The way in which groupmembers communicatecreates and reveals group
dynamics.(appropriateness, whichrules apply etc.)
Common Goal
Group memberscollective reason and goaldefines and unifies thegroup.
A goal is the purpose orobjective toward whichgroup work is directed.
Goals are often assigned.(a semester-long
marketing campaignassignment, assigned by amarketing instructor at acollege).
Some groups can establishtheir own goals. (A groupof students may form astudy group to prepare forEnglish Language exams).
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Common Goal
Effective groups have a common goal and dedicate their
efforts to accomplish that goal.
The single factor that separates successful groups fromunsuccessful ones, is having a clear goal because goals
guide action, set standards for measuring success, provide
a focus for resolving conflict and motivate members.
Interdependence
Each group member is affected and influenced by the actions of othermembers.
A successful interdependent group functions as a cohesive team inwhich every member is responsible for doing his or her part.
The failure of a single member can adversely affect the entire group.
For groups to be successful members need to share information, giveand receive advice, support , assistance and feedback from one another.
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YouTube - 2 Goals in a 30 Seconds Amazing.flv
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Working Work is the physical or
mental effort used whentrying to accomplishsomething.
This something can be asocial goal-getting friendstogether for a surpriseparty-a family goal-deciding jointly to go onvacation-a work teamgoal-planning trainingsessions for improving
patient care-managementgoal-developing astrategic plan for theirorganization.
The Nature of Group Communication
Perspectives:
- the basicprocess of human
communication
- a system
approach to
understanding
groups
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The Group Communication Process
Central to groupcommunication is
interaction.
(members communicate
as they work together
toward achieving a
common goal.)
Communication is
complex between two
people but it gets evenmore complicated when
more people are involved.
Figure 1.2 The Group Communication Process
Member#4
Member#2
Member#1
Memb
er#3
Channels
Channels
Channels
Message/
Feedback
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The Communication Process Members:
- individuals belonging to the group- members bring dist inctive ski lls,knowledge, experiences, personality
traits, cultural backgrounds, a points ofview to a group.
Messages:- ideas, information, opinions and orfeelings that generate meaning ,
example: communicating the success ofgroup members on an excellent job
done.
Channels:- the media through which groupmembers share messages: hearing,
seeing, touching, smelling and tasting.Example; sending an email or bringing
cookies or fruit to praise members.
Feedback:- the response or reaction to a message.By recognizing and adapting to
feedback, you can assess how wellothers receive and interpret your messages.
The Communication Process
Feedback: - Verbal or non-verbal response., smile, nod, look attentive when they speak.Thanks; Im pretty proud of the way we pulled together on this project.
Context: physical and psychological environment in which a group communicates. It includes
type and size of groups purpose and history, the physical setting, the groups role and status
in organization, and the characteristics of and relationships among group members. Study
group meeting in a cafeteria vs. well-established corporate marketing team holding a
videoconference with international clients.
Noise: anything that interferes with or inhibits communication. Noise can be external, such as
loud people in the hallway, or a member walking late into a meeting, but also it can be
internal and psychological> Biases, thoughts, fatigue, and hunger al l affect how well you
express your thoughts or interpret the messages of other members.
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Theory in Groups
System Theory(System Perspective) is a group of
theories that examine how interdependent factors
affect one another. Communication does not takeplace in isolation, but rather necessitates a
communication system. Common characteristics
include:
Systems function in a particular environment in
which they receive input and produce output.
System components are interdependent. The
contamination of one cell leads to the
contamination of many cells.
Systems have a purpose or goal. The digestive
system converts food into fuel for the body.
Systems are unpredictable. There are multiple
ways of achieving the same goal in most systems.
When a company is losing money, there are many
options of solving the problem.
Systems try to maintain a balance in theirenvironment. When an ecosystem is invaded by
unwelcome intruders, native organisms may
defend their territory or move to a less hostile
environment in order to restore equilibrium and
harmony.
Groups as Systems Groups are complex systems. The
actions of individual members affect
everyone in the group as well as the
outcome of the groups efforts.
Example: Pho Bo. In groups people
are the major ingredients: in the right
combination, they can produce a
highly productive and satisfying
experience.
System theory tells us a great deal
about the nature of groups and helps
prepare us for the unpredictable
tensions that characterize the work of
a group and its members. It also helps
us understand the behaviour of
groups and their members:
Groups as systems are part of a larger
system. Group of students in a class
are part of that class and the class is
part of a year and the whole school
system, which is part of the Education
System and the whole national
system.
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Groups in Balance Create Synergy:When three or more
interdependent interact or work
toward a common goal, they have
the potential to create asynergistic system. Synergy is a
term that describes the
cooperative interaction of several
factors that results in a combined
effort greater than the total of all
individual contributions. The
whole is greater than the sum of
its parts. The root of the word
synergy comes from the Greek
word meaning synergos
meaning working together.
Effective groups are synergistic.
Companies whose executives
earn modest salaries havesurpassed companies in which the
CEOs are paid millions of dollars.
Ordinary groups have achieved
extraordinary results.
Types of Groups8 Categories of
groups:
Primary groups
Social Groups
Self-help groups
Learning groups Service groups
Civic groups
Public groups
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Work Groups
Responsible forachieving specific
tasks or performing
routine duties in
behalf of a company,
organization,
association, agency or
institution.
People at work may
belong to severalwork groups such as
committees and work
teams.
Public Groups Interacts in front of
or for the benefit of
the public.
Involves in
information sharing,
decision making, or
problem solving as
well as concerned
with making a
positive impression
on a public
audience.
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Table 1.1 Basic Types of GroupsType of Group Overall Purpose Examples
Primary Group To provide members with affection,support, and a sense of belonging and
confidence
Families, best friends
Social Group To share common interests in a
friendly setting or participate in social
activities
Athletic team, hobby groups, sororities
and fraternities, peer groups
Self-Help Group To offer support and encouragement
to members who want or need help
with personal problems
Therapy groupsand programs such as
Weight Watchers, Alcoholic
Anonymous, Parents without Parents
Learning Group To help members develop knowledge
and gain skills
Classmates, study groups, book
discussion groups, professional
workshops, health and fitness classes
Service Group To support worthy causes that help
people outside the group
Charitable foundations
Civic Group To support worthy causes that help
people within the group
PTA, labour unions, veteran groups,
neighbourhood can community
associations
Work Group To achieve specific tasks and routine
duties on behalf of a business or
organization
Committees, task forces, work teams,
management teams
Public Group To discuss important issues in front of
or for the benefit of the public or key
decision makers
Public panel discussions, symposiums,
forumsand governance groups
Table 1.2 Types of Work GroupsCommittees are given specific assignment by
a larger group or by person in a
position of authority
are most common in the work
environment
are often used by service groups
to accomplish specific tasks
Examples:
An ad hoc committee could plan a
high school reunion, organize a
fund-raising campaign for a
charity, or promote community
cleanup for a neighbourhood.
Ad-Hoc Committee
Forms for a specific purpose and
disbands once it has completed its
assignment or task
Examples: ongoing business social
committees, membership
committees, and finance
committees.
Task Force
Remains active in order to
accomplish an ongoing task
Examples: A government task force
could examine health-care system
or analyze the decline in a school
systems test scores.
Work Teams are given full responsibility and
resources for their performance
are relatively permanent groups
do not take time from work to
meet-they unite to work
Examples: A health-care team
attends to a specific patient or
group of patients. A research team
takes on a specific research project.
A legal team forms and works to
defend or prosecute a specific case.
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Table1.3 Types of Public GroupsPanel Discussions involve several people who interact with
one another on a common topic for the
benefit of an audience
usually feature a moderator who tries
to control the flow of communication
are designed to educate, influence, or entertain an audience
Examples: Panel discussions are very common on televi sion shows
such as Oprah. Some presents bizarre discussions, while more serious
discussions are moderated on Sunday political shows and business
programmes such as Wall Street Week or Face the Nation.
Symposiums require each group member to present a short, uninterrupted speech
on different aspects of a topic for the benefit of an audience
are unique because group members give speeches to an audience
rather than interact with other group members.
Examples: A local PTA may sponsor a drug symposium in which a
psychologist, a physician, a police officer and a former drug addict are
given uninterrupted time to inform parents about the drug problem
and recommend strategies for prevention and treatment
Forums provide an opportunity for audience members to comment, express
concerns, or ask questions
need a strong moderator to make sure that audience members have
an equal opportunity to speak
Examples: Employees may ask questions after listening to a managers
plan for cutting expenses, Citizens may comment and ask candidates or
elected officials for town meeting
Governance Groups make public policy decisions in public settings
Examples:State legislatures, city and county councils, and the governing
boards of public agencies and educational institutions must conduct
their meetings in public. The U.S. Congress cannot deny the public
access to congressional debates.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Working in Groups
Advantages Disadvantages
Superior Performance More time, Energy and Resources
More learning Conflict
Enhanced Cultural Understanding People Problems
More Creativity
Greater Civil Engagement
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Balance: The Guiding Principle of Group Work
Balance describes a state of
equilibrium in which no significantfactor dominates or interferes with
other factors.
In group communication, the groups
common goal is the point on which
members balance many factors such
as the groups task and social
functions, individual and group needs,
and the responsibilities of leadership
and followership.
Achieving balance requires an
understanding of the interplay of the
contradictory forces that operate in all
groups.
Groups in Balance: Link Theories, Methods and Tools
A theory is a statement that tries to
explain or predict events and
behaviour. Group communication
theories help us understand what is
occurring in a group and why a group
succeeds or fails.
A method is a strategy, guideline,
procedure, or a technique dealing with
the issues and problems that arise in
groups. Effective methods are based on
theories. Without theories, you wont
know why a particular method works in
one situation and fails in another.
A tool in the context of group work is a
resource and skill that helps a group
carry out or achieve its common goal.
Communication skills are the most
important tools available to group
members. Like methods, tools are most
effective when their use is based on
theories.
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Group Dialectics The contradictory tensions
groups experience as they
work toward a commongoal. Effective groups
engage in a cooperative
effort balance group
dialectics through effective
group communication
strategies.
Successful groups and
group members balance
dialectic tensions by using
both/and approach. For
example in some groupsyou may both enjoy a warm
friendships with some
members and effectively
cope with some members
who are difficult.
Table 1.4 Group DialecticsGroup Dialectics Balancing Group Dialectics
Individual Goals Group Goals Members personal goals are balanced with the
groups common goal.
Conflict Cohesion The value of constructive conflict is balanced with the
need for unity and cohesiveness
Conforming Nonconforming A commitment to group norms and standards is
balanced with a willingness to differ and change
Task Dimensions Social Dimensions The responsibility and motivation to complete tasks
are balanced with promoting member relationships
Homogenous Heterogeneous Member similarities are balanced with member
differences in skills, roles, personal characteristics, andcultural perspectives
Leadership Followership Effective and ethical leadership is balanced with
committed and responsible followership
Structure Spontaneity The need for structured procedures is balanced with
the need to innovative and creative thinking
Engaged Disengaged Member energy and labour are balanced with the
groups need for rest and renewal
Open System Closed System External support and recognition are balanced with
internal group solidarity and rewards
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Theory in Groups
Relational Dialectics Theory: Leslie Baxter and Barbara Montgomery claims that relationships are characterized by ongoing,
dialectic tensions between multiple contradictions, complexities and changes in human
experiences.
Opposites attract but Birds f a feather flock together.
Twos a company; three is a crowd but The more, the merrier.
Relational Dialectics Theory takes both/and approach instead of either/or response.
There are several ways to resolve relational dialectic tensions:
- You can choose one option in different situations and at different points in time. Example:
Normally, group meetings follow a highly structured agenda. Because group members are having
difficulty coming up with a good solution to a problem, they decide to set aside the agenda for
thirty minutes so they can do some unstructured brainstorming.
You can choose different options for different psychological contexts. Example: Joe goes with the
flow and adheres to group norms about keeping conflict under control, but when one member
personally embarrasses another, he feels compelled to speak out against this behaviour in front of
the entire group. You can choose one option and ignore the other. Example: Even though a group knows that two
absent members would vote against a potential decision theyre discussing, they go ahead and
make the decision anyway. (The least effective way to resolve relational dialectics as one has to
give up or lose one option over another. Engaging both options to some degree is a better way.)
Groups in Balance: Empower Members Use both/and
language
Enable
members to
make and own
their individualor group goal.
Characteristics:
Potency, Meaningfulness, Autonomy, Impact
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Ethics in Groups The National
Communication Association
Credo for EthicalCommunication
Advocate truthfulness,
accuracy, honesty and
reason for integrity of
communication
Freedom of expression,
diversity of perspective,
and tolerance of dissent for
informed decision making
Understand and respect
communicators before
evaluating and responding
to their messages
Promotes access to
communication resources
and opportunities
Ethics in Groups Promote communication
climates of caring and
mutual understanding
Condemn degrading
communication
Commitment to Expression
of personal conviction
Sharing of information,
opinions and feelings.