Chp 18: Small Group Communication

BOOK: pgs. 271-287

PDF: pgs. 281-297

What you need to Know

A small group consists of how many people? 3 or more people
What is the magic number of people to work well together in a small group?
5 stages of group development (which stage is where most of the work is done?); Challenges of working groups: group think, group hate, social loafing, domination, irresponsibility)
Benefits of working in groups
Positive traits for working in groups (dialogue in groups at end of chapter)

Group Development

Tuckman’s (1965) 5-Stage Model of Group Development: a five-stage theory of group development proposed by Bruce Tuckman consisting of forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning; Tuckman suggests not all groups will move through each stage depending on their tasks or goals

Forming
- Team acquaints and establishes ground rules.
- Formalities are preserved and members are treated as strangers.
Storming
- Members start to communicate their feelings but still view themselves as individuals rather than part of the team.
- They resist control by group leaders and show hostility.
Norming
- People feel part of the team and realize that they can achieve work if they accept other viewpoints.
Performing (where most of the work is done)
- The team works in an open and trusting atmosphere where flexibility is the key and hierarchy is of little importance.
Adjourning
- The team conducts an assessment of the year and implements a plan for transitioning roles and recognizing members’ contributions.

Challenges of Group Work

Groupthink - Avoid this
Grouphate - when people have strong negative feelings about the prospect of working in a group
Social loafing and a reduction in effort
Nonparticipation
Domination
Irresponsible members

Key Terms

Fantasies - creative interpretations of shared events that help define a group’s identity
Symbolic convergence - occurs when groups create a unique meaning for a term, experience, or event in the group’s life that serves to further strengthen the bond between group members
Task roles - related to accomplishing work together as a group
Maintenance roles - related to the development and maintenance of the relationships within the group
Groupthink - the willful seeking of unanimity despite individuals who harbor doubts
Social loafing - “a reduction in motivation and effort when individuals work collectively compared to when they work individually”