Chapter 8: Small group communication

small group

consists of 3-15 people, must be more than 2 to allow members to create majorities and minorities, must be less than 15 so members get to know one another, groups share a common goal

Interdependent

two or more people or things dependent on each other

common goal

a shared objective that individuals or groups work towards together

Tuckman’s Group Development Theory

5 stages

Members seek information about other members and the group itself

1. An orientation period in which members are careful about what they say and disclose 

2. Members learn what behavior is and is not acceptable

3. They identify how they will accomplish their task

Forming Stage

1. The group addresses conflict that emerge

2. These conflicts can relate to members' personalities or the task at hand

3. Conflict is inevitable! The key is feeling with it in a productive manner

Storming Stage

What stage is most important

Storming Stage

High cohesion among group members, a sense of “we” instead of “I”

1. Members establish the specific procedures they will use to accomplish the task at hand

2. Members participate more, are more satisfied with the group, and there's more pressure to agree with the group

Norming Stage

The group uses the established roles and procedures to complete the task

1. Members concentrate on performing the needed functions to achieve a high-quality result

2. When problems arise, the group reverts to the rules and roles they have already established in previous stages

Performing Stage

The group is terminated, the members go their separate ways

1. Their tasks may be done, they may not be able to meet anymore, they may not work together well, ot they may be dissolved by an authority figure

During these stages, the group shifts from a task focus to a social focus; this is indicative of a high-functioning group. Indicated empathy, seeing the group as people outside the group

Adjourning Stage

Function Theory of Decision Making

Group communication occurs any time members of a group step up and perform a task that will make the group successful

functional requisites

need to be satisfied in order for a good decision to be made

Group members must understand the issues and aspects of the problems they face

1. They must see how complex the problem really is

2. The more they understand the problem, the better chance they have of making a good decision

   1. Ex. What are the issues surrounding the parking problem?

Step #1: Understanding the Problem

What are we trying to accomplish?

1. This allows them to create appropriate goals

2. If goals aren't consistent with the problem, the solution will be of poor quality

   1. Ex. What are our goals?? What do we want to happen

   2. Ex. Parking on campus should be (accessible, free, safe, near by

Step #2: Establishment of Goals and Objectives

The group identifies a number of different solutions

1. All possible solutions should be considered in this step, even if they are more or less applicable, feasible, or helpful

   1. Ex. What are possible solutions to our  parking problem? ( parking garage, relaxing parking restrictions, etc)

Step #3: Identifying Alternative Realistic Proposals

How a group weighs proposals are good and which ones are not, makes a big impact on the quality of the decision

1. The group must accurately consider all the positives and negatives of each proposal, not overestimating or underestimating any

   1. What are the pros/cons of our possible solutions?

Step #4: Evaluation of Positive and Negative Qualities Associated with the Alternative Choices

• A mode of thinking that occurs when members are deeply involved in cohesive “in-group” when striving for agreement overrides their motivation to evaluate alternative courses of action

Groupthink

Type 1

its power and morality

Illusion of invulnerability

decisions made will result in triumph and victory, never defeat. This creates excessive optimism and encourages risk taking

Unquestioned morality

the cause is just, and there's no need to question what they are proposing; they are only doing what is best for their just cause. This causes members to ignore the consequences of their actions