1. Small Group Communication

2. Propositions about Group Communication
Advantages
Disadvantages
Access to more resources
Better retention of concepts
Diversity
Creativity
Scheduling
Social loafing
Conflict
Coping with misbehavior
Blame for error is shared
Decisions = higher quality
Higher commitment to group decisions
Pitfalls and hazards are regularly uncovered
Morale is higher
Increased responsibility for the task
Blame for errors is shared

3. Successful Group Behaviors
Participants know each other by name and role.
There is a generous amount of interaction.
Each participant has some influence on the others.
Each participant defines him/herself as a member of the group and is also defined by outsiders as a member.
There is a common goal, interest or benefit in holding membership in the group.
There is leadership.

4. Building an effective group takes planning.
1) Selecting a Leader 2) Sharing Leadership Roles 3) Communicating Effectively 4) Problem-Solving Efficiently

5. Types of Leaders Shared or No Specific Leader Implied Leader
Emergent Leader
Designated Leader

6. Sharing Leadership
Leadership-- A group may not always have a leader but it always has leadership.
Group members can share the three leadership functions.
Procedural Needs– “housekeeping”
Task Needs– “focus”
Maintenance Needs– “relationships”

7. Procedural needs involve “housekeeping tasks”.
Establishing Place and Agenda
Providing Notes and Handouts
Summarizing Progress

8. Task needs provide “focus”.
Analyze
Delegate
Collect info
Solicit views
Focus discussions
Play Devil's advocate
Remind members of criteria
Reach consensus

9. Maintenance Needs involve “interpersonal relations”.
Getting along
Contributing
Supporting
Receiving satisfaction about accomplishments
Receiving satisfaction about roles

10. Causes of Ineffective Communication
Failure to contribute
Conformity
Poor Environment
Control (domineering personalities)
Rigid (not able to compromise)
Lack of Patience
Too much leadership or wrong type
“Rabbit chasing”
Causes of Ineffective Communication

11. Avoid “Groupthink” Symptoms
Group’s tendency to view itself as powerful
Closed-mindedness
Pressure toward uniformity
Minimizing Techniques
Question self/actions
Divide into subgroups
Involve outsiders
Add diversity

12. Efficient Problem-Solving
Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Method
Define and narrow the problem
Analyze the problem
Establish criteria for solutions
Generate potential solutions
Select the best solution/s
I.   Define the Problem
Identification of problem area, including such questions as:
What is the situation in which the problem is occurring?
What, in general, is the difficulty?
How did this difficulty arise?
What is the importance of the difficulty?
What limitations, if any, are there on the area of our concern?
What is the meaning of any term that needs clarifying?
Analyze the Causes of the problem and its Limits
Analysis of the difficulty
What, specifically, are the facts of the situation?
What, specifically, are the difficulties?
B.  Analysis of causes
What is causing the difficulties?
What is causing the causes?
Identify Criteria for an acceptable Solution
What are the principal requirements of the solution?
What limitations must be placed on the solution?
What is the relative importance of the criteria?
Generate potential Solutions
What are the possible solutions?
What is the exact nature of each solution?
How would it remedy the difficulty? By eliminating the cause? By offsetting the effect? By a combination of both?
B.  How good is each solution?
How well would it remedy the difficulty?
How well would it satisfy the criteria? Are there any that it would not satisfy?
would there by any unfavorable consequences? Any extra benefits?
Select the Best Solution
How would you rank the solution(s)?
Would some combination of solutions be best?
Implement Solution
What steps would need to be taken to put the solution into effect?
What steps would be the most difficult?  Least difficult?  How would you overcome these?

13. 1. Define the Problem
Be specific
Be honest and open
Avoid fingerpointing and blaming
2. Analyze the Problem
How severe?
How many people are affected?
What if the problem is not resolved?
What are the causes?

14. 3. Establish Criteria for the Solutions
What must solution achieve?
What might limit the choice of solutions?
4. Generate Potential Solutions
Avoid judging while brainstorming
Individuals record their own ideas and then bring to the table
5. Select the Best Solution
Compare to established criteria
Evaluate all solutions and select the best