GROUP COMMUNICATIONS
I. characteristics of a group all groups and their success are affected by 3 variables – SIZE NORMS COHESION
I. characteristics of a group group size – size affects the comfort of each group member. - ideal size is 5 -7 people because everyone participates more. - 4 or less has too little diversity to generate ideas. - 8 or more will cause the quiet members to talk less, and when they do talk, only talk to authority figures.
I. characteristics of a group B. norms – expected behavior within the group - cooperation, it is not a competition - discussion, it is not a debate - avoid negative talk, be encouraging and positive - all three require patience
I. characteristics of a group C. cohesion – degree of unity - the more unity among members, the higher the degree of success.
II. group roles how members relate to each other and perform. when being a members of a group, everyone assumes a role or several roles. there are 3 category of roles – task relational dysfunctional
II. group roles A. task roles related to the job the group must do Information giver, information seeker Starter, direction giver, summarizer, energizer Gatekeeper, opinion giver, opinion seeker
II. group roles B. relational roles related to resolving conflict and getting along Participation encourager Tension reliever Praise giver Empathic listener
II. group roles C. dysfunctional roles – related to any disruptive behaviors Blocker Attacker Recognition seeker Joker Withdrawer
III. leadership styles there are 3 leadership styles which may be present in any given group situation - Laissez faire Authoritarian Democratic
III. leadership styles A. laissez faire – “low control” leader - intervenes as little as possible into group discussions/decisions - empowers group members to take control of their efforts - identifies strengths of members -will appear to fade into the background
III. leadership styles B. authoritarian – “high control” leader - influences all aspects of decisions and group actions - holds most of the power of decision making - manages all group interactions - guides group towards what he or she thinks is best
III. leadership styles C. democratic – “moderate control” leader - offers direction when the group needs it - encourages members to voice opinions and express differences
IV. decision making methods there are 4 ways to make decisions within groups - consensus voting compromise authority rules
IV. decision making methods consensus – informal – general agreement
IV. decision making methods B. voting – formal - agreement by individual expression of choice
IV. decision making methods C. compromise – mutual concessions - settling of differences by each side yielding, adjusting, or ‘giving in’ on their principles to some degree
IV. decision making methods D. authority rules – only one makes the choice – there is no say so in making the decision by members of the group; the leader makes the decision
V. problem solving steps In group situations, there are six steps to solving problems A. define the problem - identify it - make sure all understand it - know how it came about - know why it needs to be solved - then limit the problem
V. problem solving steps B. analyze the issues - learn the background of the problem - break the problem into smaller units
V. problem solving steps C. establish criteria* *criteria are a set of standards the problem’s solution must meet - establishing standards prevents unnecessary discussion - allows the group to become more specific about what needs to be accomplished
V. problem solving steps D. generate possible solutions - brainstorm – bombard the problem with fresh ideas - do not worry about the practicality of the ideas as you think them up; just get as many ideas on the table as possible - sometimes the obvious solution is not the best one - do not accept any solution until several have been examined - never accept one without an alternative
V. problem solving steps E. evaluate - weigh and compare solution and alternative against established criteria F. select and implement solution