Studied by 7 people
Why is it important to have group roles?
In order for the group to be successful and achieve their goal.
What is a Task Leader?
They are the leaders of the group; they do most of the work and talk more.
Task Leader Behaviors?
Substantive ( "The Thinker") and Procedural ( "The Doer")
Expediter
Manages the agenda and groups progress
Information Provider
Contributes ideas to the group
Information Seeker
Asks for information or clarification
Gatekeeper
Manages the flow of the discussion and makes sure that everyone contributes
Recorder
keeps written record; serves as group's "memory"
Is there positive and negative behaviors in a group?
YES
Social-Emotional Leader
Concerned with the building and maintenance of group member relationships and is there for the Task Leader
Supporter
Encourages members to contribute and is more intimate
Tension Releaser
Helps members feel comfortable with each other often with the use of humor
Harmonizers
Helps maintain a positive climate by managing group conflicts
Interpreter
Manages the culture differences in a group
Why are negative behaviors bad?
They impact the group's performance by taking away their attention from the goal
Self-Centered Role
A negative role in which individual needs are put ahead of the group's goal and other members' needs
Monopolizers
An individual in a group setting who tends to dominate verbally and draw undue attention to himself or herself
What are the 2 Different type of Monopolizers?
Stage Hogs & Egg Heads (know-it-all)
What are the 3 components of a problem?
Undesirable situation, desirable situation, and obstacles between the undesirable and desirable situation
Task difficulty
Degree of problem complexity and effort required to solve a problem
Number of possible solutions
Figuring out which solutions to prioritize in a complex problem
Group Member Interest in Problem
If there is a problem of high interest in a group, members might want independence to garner solutions, while a low interest problem requires a leader that provides structure/direction.
Group Familiarity With Problem
The more often you face an issue, the more apt you are to handle it. Someone with less experience with an issue needs to put in more effort to familiarize itself with it or bring in an outside expert.
Need for Solution Acceptance
Groups need to know if their solution requires stakeholders or if they should answer only to themselves. No matter how good the solution is, lack of stakeholders can still mean failure.
What are the 5 steps of group problem solving?
Define the problem
Analyze the problem
Generate problem solutions
Evaluate Solutions
Implement and Assess the Solution
Why is decision making in groups important?
Group decisions can be more battle-tested than singular decisions through debate/discussion, and members can broaden their perspective after hearing someone else pose an idea.
What are the 4 rules of brainstorming?
Do a warm up brainstorming session, 2) Do the actual brainstorming session, 3) Eliminate duplicate/similar ideas, 4) Clarify, organize and evaluate ideas
What are the 4 method to ensure everyone equally contributes to discussion?
Silently and individually list ideas
Create a master list of ideas
Clarify ideas as needed
Take secret vote to rank group members' acceptance of ideas
Majority rule
Associated with democratic decision making. One vote, all count equal, majority wins (over 50%)
Minority rule
Associated with dictatorship/monarchy decision making. Needs of the majority might not be met if ruling party's final say contradicts the populous
Consensus rule
A decision-making technique in which all members of the group must agree on the same decision.
Pros and Cons of Majority Rule
pros (quick, fair, efficient) cons (Minority feels left out, does not create group synergy)
Pros and Cons of Minority Rule by expert
pros (quick, decision maker is more knowledgeable, objective viewpoint) cons (have to find verified expert, members may feel useless)
Pros and Cons of Minority rule by authority
pros (easy to "buy-in" if authority is respected) cons (authority can abuse power, group members try to manipulate authority)
Pros and Cons of Consensus
pros (quality decisions, group synergy created) cons (compromise, takes much longer)
Situational influences on decision making
The amount of knowledge the group has on the topic The amount of freedom the group has to make the decision The amount of uncertainty in the present situation Things going wrong can change decision making Change of expectations The need to reevaluate the problem Urgency
Cultural context and decision making?
Groups that are more diverse or heterogeneous are better at decision making than groups that are more similar or homogenous. The advantage comes from different perspectives and viewpoints. A disadvantage of heterogeneous groups is that conflict may arise from differences leading to a stall in the decision-making process.
International diversity in group interactions?
Members from individualistic cultures are more likely to focus on efficiency, direct communication and priority based tasks and groups from collectivist cultures are more likely to value the health of the group over other things
Domestic diversity and group communication?
The idea that not the gender, but the gendered behaviors have more of an influence of the perception of group communication.
Primary groups
long-lasting groups that are formed based on relationships (provide safety and psychological needs)
Secondary groups
more task-oriented groups (less face-to-face interactions, emotional and relational support/communication than primary groups)
Teams
task-oriented groups in which members are particularly dedicated to a certain task and loyal to other team members
Virtual groups
groups that take advantage of new technologies, and meet exclusively or primarily online to achieve their purpose or goal
Advantages of Small Groups (5)
Shared decision making Shared resources Synergy Exposure to Diversity Allow us to expand social networks
Synergy
refers to the potential for gains in performance or heightened quality of interactions when complementary members or member characteristics are added to existing ones
Disadvantages of small groups
Decreased efficiency (one person could be just as productive or more than a group of people)
Slows down decision making process
Conflicting schedules (diff to coordinate)
social loafing
a group member contributes less to the group than other group members do (anonymity and group pooled work make it easy to slack off and not get in trouble)
Forming stage
group members reduce uncertainty about working with new people on new tasks (lay foundation for later group dynamics) Goals and rules are established
Group cohesion
commitment of members to the purpose of the group and the degree of attraction among individuals in the group (make friends)
Storming stage
stage in which conflict emerges as team members carry out tasks, have their ideas heard and discover their place within the group
Norming stage
the practices and expectations of the group are solidified, leading to more stability, productivity and cohesion in the group
Group norms
ordinary group behaviors that become routine but that aren't taught or stated (politeness, lateness, communication)
Rules
explicitly stated guidelines that govern group behaviors (dress code, quotas, etc.)
Performance stage:
group members work smoothly toward the completion of the task or purpose
Adjourning stage
group dissolves because it has accomplished its goal/purpose
Group Climate
relatively enduring tone and quality of group interactions experienced by group members
Types of Cohesion
task and social
Task cohesion
commitment of group members to a specific task or goal
social cohesion
attraction and liking between group members
Benefits of Cohesion (7)
Sets goals easily High commitment to getting job done Increased productivity Loyalty to group Satisfied group members Members willing to listen and collaborate Less anger and tension
Group socialization
process of teaching and learning group norms, rules and expectations; shared identity develops (conveys social and technical knowledge)
dyadic communication
an exchange of information between two people
small group communication
communication occurring within small groups of three or more people
Internal factors affecting group structure
Member characteristics
External factors affecting group structure
Group size Task Resources
formal networks
task-related communications that follow the authority chain
informal networks
communications that flow along social and relational lines
How does size affect group communication?
the more people in a group, the more issues with scheduling and coordination with communication
What is the purpose of networks?
they help facilitate information exchange and extend a group's reach to access other resources
Reachability
how easy it is to reach any one person in the network
Circle group structure
Shows that each member is connected to two other members (decentralized structure)
Wheel group structure
One person is very reachable by all members of the group (centralized structure)
Interdependence
sharing a common purpose or fate
Centralized groups are better at..
efficiency and speed
Decentralized groups are better at..
complex problem solving
Shared Identity
the establishment of an in-group and an out-group, can be shown in many different ways, emerges when groups become cohesive
Groups meets instrumental needs
practical, everyday needs
Groups meets Interpersonal Needs
Give us access to inclusion, control, and support
Groups meet identity needs
Group membership allows us to use reference groups for social comparison and helps us separate ourselves from others
Some people join groups to be affiliated with people who share similar belief, attitudes, values, etc.
Types of Small Groups
task oriented and relation oriented
Task oriented group
formed to solve a problem, promote a cause, or generate ideas
Relational Oriented group
formed to promote interpersonal connections and quality interactions that promote the well being of group members, decision making is centered around strengthening relationships,
Small Group Dynamics
The impressions we form about other people's likeability and the way we think about a group's purpose are affected by the climate within a group that is created by all members.
As the number of people in a group increase,
The potential for productive and destructive conflict increases
Cohesion is important within a group because
it helps establish an overall group climate
Group climate
the relatively enduring tone and quality of group interaction that is experienced similarly by group members
Task cohesion
the commitment of group members to the purpose and activities of the group
Social cohesion
the attraction and liking among group members
What qualities make a healthy group? (6)
Participation, Messages, Feedback, Equity, Clear and accepted roles, motivation
Group socialization
the process of teaching and learning the norms, rules, and expectations associated with group interaction and group member behaviors
two categories of information exchanged during socialization
technical knowledge and social knowledge
Why are group norms and rules good to have in a group?
they provide members with a sense of predictability that helps reduce uncertainty and increase a sense of security for one's place within the group
3 types of conflict within groups
procedural, substantive, and interpersonal
Conformity
Adjusting one's behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard.
Groupthink
a negative group phenomenon characterized by a lack of critical evaluation of proposed ideas or courses of action that results from high levels of cohesion
How does groupthink occur?
when people rush to agreement or fear arguments
Two primary causes of groupthink are high levels of cohesion and excessive conformity pressures.
Procedural Conflict
conflict that arises over how work should be completed
substantive conflict
involves fundamental disagreement over ends or goals to be pursued and the means for their accomplishment focuses on group members' differing beliefs, attitudes, values, or unrelated to the purpose or task of the group.
Interpersonal Conflict
emerges from conflict between individual members of the group
Note 
Flashcard (29)