COMS 2301 Chapters 1-6

What is communication?

Communication is simply the act of transferring information from one place, person or group to another.

Why study group communication?

1. Influences what you think about yourself and others
2. Influences how you learn
3.Represents you and your employer
4.Skills desired by business and industry

Top 5 personal skills potential employers seek:

1. Communication skills
2. Strong work ethic
3. Teamwork skills
4. Take initiative
5. Analytical Skills

8 Essential Components of Communication

Source, Message, Channel, Receiver, Feedback, Environment, Context, Interference

Source

Imagines and creates, determines, encodes, presents, observe reaction

Message

Grammar, order, tone, body language, appearance, punctuation, context

Channel

The way in which a message or messages travel between source and receiver

Receiver

Listen, see, touch, smell and/or taste

Feedback

How accurately the message was received

Environment

Physical and psyological

Context

Setting, scene and expectations

Interference

Noise

2 Models of Communication

1. Transactional
2.Constructivist

Transactional

We all construct our own interpretations of a message. The distinction between source and receiver is blurred in conversational turn taking.

Constructivist

Negotiated meaning or common ground. We can use a dictionary to guide us. We still need to negotiate meaning.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Groups

1. Group vs Interpersonal Communication
2. Relationship Advantages
3. Relationship Disadvantages
4. Task Advantages
5. Task Disadvantages

What is a group?

A group consists or 3 or more individuals who affiliate, interact or cooperate in a familial, social or work context.

What is group communication?

This may be defined as the exchange of information with those who are alike culturally, linguistically and/or geographically.

A group is formed by:

culture, language, geography, education, family, social, politics

A group is based on:

function, development, viewpoint, relationships, sports, ethics

Group types:

formal, informal, temporary, permanent, fixed, flexible

Group Communication in Running a Business

mergers, forced sales, downsizing, entering new markets, hiring, firing, training and development

Types of groups in the workplace

primary social and primary non social (meets most/all our needs)
secondary social and secondary non social (meet some of our needs in order to complete a task, solve a problem, needs met-acceptance and success, lacking understanding and sharing)

Tuckman's Linear Model of Group Dev

forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning

Forming

members come together, learn about each other, and determine the purpose of the group

Storming

Members engage in more direct communication and get to know each other
Conflicts between group members will often arise during this stage

Norming

Members establish spoken or unspoken rules about how they communicate and work. Status, rank and roles in the group are established.

Performing

Members fulfil their purpose and reach their goal

Adjourning

Members leave the group

Life Cycle of Member Roles
Potential Member

curiosity and interest

New Member

joined the group but still an outsider and unknown

Full Member

Knows the rules and is looked to for leadership

Divergent Member

focuses on differences

Marginal Member

no longer involved

Ex-Member

no longer considered a member

Positive Group Member Roles
Initiator Coordinator

suggest new ideas or ways of looking at the problem

Elaborator

builds on ideas and provides examples

Coordinator

brings ideas, info and suggestions together

Evaluator Critic

evaluates ideas and provides constructive criticism

Recorder

records ideas, examples, suggestions and critiques

Negative Member Roles
Dominator

dominates discussion, not allowing others to take their turn

Recognition Seeker

relates discussion to their accomplishments, seeks attention

Special Interest Pleader

relates discussion to special interest or personal agenda

Blocker

blocks attempts at consensus consistently

Joke or Clown

seeks attention through humor and distracts the group members

Control

The need to maintain a satisfactory relationship with people with respect to power and influence.

Inclusion

the need for belonging

Affection

the need for appreciation and recognition

Systems theory paradigm

interconnectedness of huma communication, strive towards balance by looking at the whole pic not just one part

Rhetorical theories paradigm

describing messages, exploring their functions and evaluating their effectiveness

Empirical laws paradigm

the assumption that universal laws govern human interaction

Human laws paradigm

people construct and then follow rules for their interactions

Critical theories paradigm

strive to understand how communication may be used to exert power and oppress people

Homeostasis

developing a complete picture of groups

Group Life Cycle Patterns

conflict stage, consensus stage, closure stage, emergence stage, reinforcement stage, topic track, relation track, breakpoint stage

Conflict Stage

-characterized by different viewpoints, disagreements, competing agendas and debate
-this stage is natural and in this model is viewed as necessary to inhibit conformity or groupthink

Consensus Stage

-where group members select some ideas or actions over others and the group proceeds to get the task done
-characterized by agreement and teamwork

Closure Stage

this stage often features statements of agreement and support for the result, action or outcome

Emergence Track

-members persuade each other and present alternatives
-this process continues until one view point, course of action, or path becomes the generally agreed upon course for the group

Topic Track

-members discuss all the relevant issues as they explore how to approach it, get a handle on it or resolve it

Reinforcement Stage

-dissension and argument are no longer features of the conversation and emphasis is on action. the team acts and then progresses
-characterized by affirmations and statements of agreement or support for the task or action

Relation Track

-it relates to reducing uncertainty between group members and sometimes the group shifts as members sort out personal issues or work on relationships

Breakpoint Stage

-turns in the conversation that regulate interaction

Autocrats (control)

those who make self directed efforts to control their situation. they may be described as self driven and responsible

Abdicrats (control)

the followers who look to others for direction and control

Democrats (control)

fall somewhere in the middle, looking to get things done through teamwork

Oversocials (inclusion)

don't want to be excluded or ignored and may crave the spotlight

Undersocials (inclusion)

may feel just the opposite and want to be left more alone

Underpersonals (affection)

may shy away from interactions

Overpersonals (affection)

may have a strong need for interactions and to be liked

Social Penetration Theory

we can observe characteristics about each other and make judgements but they are educated guesses at best

Implicit Norms

informal
implied

Explicit Norms

Rules
Formal

Interaction Norms

specify how people communicate in the group

Procedure oriented Norms

identify how the group functions

Status Norms

indicate the degree of influence that members possess and how that influence is obtained and expressed

Achievement Norms

relate to standards the group sets for the nature and amount of its work

Group Task Roles

coordinator, evaluator critic, orienter, recorder

Group Building and Maintenance Roles

supporter, harmonizer, tension releaser, compromiser, standard setter

Group Self Centered Roles

aggressor, block, deserter, recognition, confessor, joker

Group Task Roles

facilitating and coordinating behaviours such as suggesting new ideas or ways of solving problems

Group Building and Maintenance Roles

encouragement, including praise, statements of agreement, or acceptance of others and their contributions non verbally or verbally

Group Self Centered Roles

involved egocentric behaviours that call attention to the individual, not the group, and distract or disrupt the group dynamic

Belbin's Role Characteristics

Belbin identified nine team roles, and he categorized those roles into three groups: Action Oriented, People Oriented, and Thought Oriented.

Plant (PL)

creative, imaginative, unorthodox
solves difficult tasks and problems

Resource Investigator (RI)

extrovert, enthusiastic, communicative
develops contacts, networks, and explore opportunities

Co- Coordinator

mature, confident, effective, chairperson
promotes decision making, delegates, and clarifies goals

Shaper (SH)

challenging, dynamic, thrives on pressure
the drive and courage to overcome obstacles

Monitor Evaluator (ME)

sober, strategic, discerning
makes accurate judgements, perceives several options

Team Worker (TW)

cooperative, perceptive, mild, diplomatic
avoids tension, listens, consensus builder

Implementer (IMP)

reliable, disciplines, efficient
turns abstract ideas into practical ones

Completer Finisher (CF)

anxious, detail oriented, conscientious
searches out errors and omissions, delivers on time

Specialist (SP)

dedicated, self motivated, single minded
provides specific knowledge or skills

Action Oriented

implementer, shaper, completer finisher

People Oriented

coordinator, resource investigator, teamworker

Thinking Oriented

monitor evaluator, plant, specialist

Artifacts

nonverbal representations of communication

Intracultural Communication

communication within the same culture

Intrapersonal Communication

communication with yourself

Ethnocentrism

the tendency to view other cultures as inferior to one's own