1. Chapter 3 Communication that Structures
Communication networks
Conversation coherence
Group member roles
Group norms
Group development
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2. Communication Networks
Interaction pattern based on flow of messages
Communication – Who talks to whom
Formal - Who reports to whom
Affective - Who likes whom
Material - Who gives resources to whom
Proximity - Who is linked to whom
Cognitive - Who knows whom
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3. Communication Network Attributes
Ties can vary in direction
Flow can be one way or equally between both
Ties can be based on
Content
Frequency
Channel of communication
Ties can be strong or weak
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4. Decentralized Networks
Members communicate without restrictions
Good for decision making and build cohesiveness
Can produce communication overload
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Centralized Networks
One or two members restricts who talks to whom
Can produce communication underload
Can create disconnect among members
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6. Assessing Your Group’s Network
Often we think a group uses a decentralized or open network
But, consider how the following operates in your group
Roles and norms
Power and status
Faultlines, or salient characteristics of diversity
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7. Conversational Coherence
Group members’ utterances are connected to one another
Another form of structure
Functional coherence
Group is accomplishing its purpose
Topical coherence
Group members stayed focused on a topic
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Group Member Roles
Group member roles create structure for the group
Roles can be
Formal, expected
Easily labeled
Informal, negotiated
Tend to emerge as substitutes for missing or ineffective formal roles
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Formal Roles
Those roles needed to get group work done
Easily identified and labeled
Carry rights and duties
Can be appointed or allowed to emerge
Leader
Secretary/recorder
Critical advisor
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10. Informal Interaction Roles
Develops from patterns in conversations
Sanctioned by others through interaction
Developed in response to formal roles
Task roles
Group maintenance roles
Individual roles
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Group Norms
Shared expectation about behavior
Informal rule adopted by the group
Regulates group members’ behavior
Provides clues about appropriate behavior
Powerful invisible form of social control
The more cohesive the group, the more powerful the norms
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Developing Norms
Brought into a group from previous experiences
Developed in reaction to an unique event in the group
Developed as a response when a group member deviates from what is typical in the group
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Talking About Norms
Tend to start in abstract forms and move to more defined and concrete forms
To initiate a norm
Discuss early in group history
Talk explicitly about desired behavior
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14. Group Development Phases
Inclusion and dependency
Conflict
Negotiating goals and roles
Task and activity orientation
Termination
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15. Phases of Group Development
The five phases are typical for groups
But, not all groups move directly from one to the next
Groups develop their own structure
Equal or unequal time in each phase
New task/activity may cause group to repeat development phases
Groups can regress and repeat phases
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