Human Communications: Chapters 8-10; small group communication, leadership, and teams

small group

A collection of individuals who are connected to one another by some common purpose, are independent, have some degree of organization among them, and see themselves as a group.

team

a small group that is constructed for a specific task, who members have clearly defined roles, are committed to achieving the same goal, and is content focused

equal distribution of work, teach and learn from each other, groups are perfect learning environments, can be time consuming, pressure to agree to with the majority

advantages and disadvantages of Groups

1. opening

2. feedfoward

3. business

4. feedback

5. closing

stages for small groups

small group formats

roundtable, panel, symposium, symposium-forum

roundtable

a small group format in which members arrange themselves in a circular pattern; meet to share info or solve problems

panel

small group format in which “experts” meet to discuss a topic or solve a problem; speak without a set pattern

symposium

small group format in which each member of the group delivers a relatively prepared talk on some aspect of a topic

symposium-forum

a type of group format consisting of a symposium, with prepared speeches, and a forum, with questions from the audience and responses by the speakers

high-context culture

much of the information conveyed is communicated by context or in the person, rather than explicitly coded in verbal messages

low-context culture

most information is communicated through explicitly stated verbal messages

brainstorming

a technique for analyzing a problem by presenting as many ideas as possible; this technique builds member pride and ownership in the final solution because all members contribute to it.

freewheeling

this is a technique that take a crazy or outlandish idea that maybe someone can turn into a good idea.

brainstorming period and the evaluation period

what two phases occur in the brainstorming period?

focus group

a small group that is assembled and subjected to a kind of in-depth interview

gossip

social talk involves talking about—often making evaluations about—persons who are not present during the conversation

paraphrase; state in your own words what you think the other person is saying

what does the “p” in Pip’n stand for?

Interesting; state something interesting that you find in the idea

what does the “i'“ in pip’n stand for?

positive; state something positive about the idea

what does the second “p” in pip’n stand for?

negative; state any negatives about the idea

what does the “n'“ in pip’n stand for?

problem solving group

meets to solve a particular problem or to reach a decision on some issue

1. define and analyze the problem

2. establish criteria for evaluating solutions

3. identify possible solutions

4. evaluate solution

5. select the best solution

6. test selected solution

what are the steps of the problem solving sequence?

authority, majority rule, consensus

what are the decision making methods?

Delphi method and quality circle

what are the two problem solving group techniques?

Delphi Method

problem technique in which a group of “experts” communicate by repeatedly respond to questionnaires

quality circles

a group problem solving technique in which a group of workers whose task is to investigate and make recommendations for improving the quality of some organizational function.

interpersonal conflict

a disagreement between or among connected individuals who perceive their goals as incompatible

social allergens

a personal habit of a friend or romantic partner that you find annoying or inconsiderate

1. avoidance

2. force talk

3. defensiveness supportiveness

4. face-attacking / face enhancing

5. silencers facilitating open expression

6. Gunnysacking Present Focus

7. Verbal aggressiveness/ argumentativeness

strategies on how to handle conflict

face attacking strategies

strategies that attack a person’s positive face or self-esteem, or a person’s negative face or need for autonomy and independence

face-enhancing strategies

strategies that support and confirm a person’s positive face or self-esteem, or a person’s negative face or need for autonomy

1. Group Task Roles

2. Group building and maintenance roles

3. individual roles

List the 3 group roles:

1. Information seeker or giver

2. initiator-contributor

3. elaborator

4. evaluator-critic

5. recorder

List the 5 group task roles:

1. encourager

2. compromiser

3. gatekeeper-expediter

4. standard setter

5. follower

List the 5 group maintenance roles:

1. aggressor

2. recognition seekers

3. blocker

4. special interest pleader

5. dominator

List the 5 individual roles:

social loafing

the theory that you exert less effort when you’re apart of a group than when alone

social facilitation

theory that in a group you exert more effort than you would if you were alone

Groupthink

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

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

Leadership (first definition)

the process of empowering others’, the person who helps others maximize their potential and take control of their lives

Leadership (second definition)