small group communication

what is organizational communication?

the interaction required to direct a group towards a shared goal

what is the difference between organizational communication as the noun and as the verb?

as the container is the noun, as the act is a verb

what are the five group task roles?

• information/opinion seeker or giver

• initiator/contributor

• elaborator

• evaluator/critic

• procedural technician/recorder

what is an information/opinion seeker or giver?

a role that seeks clarification of information

what is an initiator/contributor?

a role that proposes new ideas, suggests goals, and organizational strategies

what is an elaborator?

a role that gives examples trying to build on what other have said

what is an evaluator/critic?

a role that questions logic, practicality of suggestions with positive and negative feedback

what is a procedural technician/recorder?

a role that takes care of mechanical duties (materials, notes, etc.)

what are the five maintenance roles for group building?

• encourager/harmonizer

• compromiser

• gatekeeper-expediter

• standard-setter

• follower

what is an encourager/harmonizer?

a role that provides positive reinforcement through praise for ideas

what is an compromiser?

a role that attempts to resolve conflict between group members

what is a gatekeeper-expediter?

a role keeps communication open by reinforcing efforts of others

what is a standard-setter?

a role that proposes standards for the function of groups or for its solution

what is a follower?

a role that is more passive group member that takes orders and direction

what are individual roles?

roles that hinder the group from achieving its goals, not group oriented

what are the four individual roles?

• aggressor

• blocker

• special interest pleader

• dominator

what is the aggressor?

a role that expresses negative evaluation of members and attacks the group

what is the blocker?

a role that provides negative feedback, is disagreeable, and opposes other members regardless of their merit

what is the special interest pleader?

a role that disregards the goals of the group and pleads the case of the special group

what is the dominator?

a role that tries to run the group by pulling rank, acting like the boss

what are member skills that should be implemented?

• being group oriented

• center conflict in issues

• be critically open-minded

• beware of social loafing

• ensure understanding

• beware of groupthink

what is social loafing?

the theory that you exert less effort when part of a group than when alone

what is groupthink?

tendency that shuts out realistic and logical analysis of a problem and of possible solutions

what is leadership?

the process of influencing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of group members and establishing the direction that others follow

what are the myths of leadership?

• skills of leadership are rare

• leaders are born

• leaders are all charismatic

what is the traits approach to leadership?

leaders are the one who possess characteristics that often distinguish leaders from non-leaders

what is the pro of the traits approach to leadership?

valuable for stressing characteristics that often distinguish leaders from non-leaders

what is the con of the traits approach to leadership?

these qualities often vary according to the situations the leader functions

what is the functions approach to leadership?

focuses on what a leader should do in a given situation; setting group goals, giving direction, summarizing progress

what is the transformational approach to leadership?

leaders elevate the group’s members, enabling them to accomplish the group tasks, but also emerges as more empowered individuals

what does the situation approach of leadership require?

assessment of groups ability to do the task and their willingness to do it

what are the different styles of the situation approach?

• telling style

• selling style

• participating style

• delegating style

what is the telling style?

high levels of guidance and tells group members what, when, and how to do something

what is the selling style?

leader gives high levels of both task guidance and relationship support

what is the participating style?

leader gives high levels of relationship support but little task direction

what is the delegating style?

leader gives little task direction and little emotional support

what is group cohesiveness?

the members fondness to and liking for each other

what is member satisfaction?

members have different psychological needs and wants and enter groups because of them

what is a method of improving communication, collaboration, and task-related skills?

group projects