1. Communication in Groups and Teams
Why are groups and teams becoming increasingly popular
How do groups and teams differ?
What are the potential strengths of group discussion?
What are the potential limits of group discussion?
Do groups need single leaders?
How can conflict enhance work in groups and teams?
How does communication shape group and team climate?
Communication in Groups and Teams

2. Communication in Groups and Teams
Work together, or On your own?
Research found sound reasons for both
Groups (vs. Individuals)
More time to reach decisions
Superior decisions
Stimulates creativity, may suppress individuals
Communication in Groups and Teams

3. Communication in Groups and Teams
Groups in Daily Lives
Social groups
Provides stimulation of conversation and recreation
Relaxed, informal, more interpersonal
Personal growth groups
Enable people to deal with issues in supportive context
Task groups
To solve problems, achieve goals
Communication in Groups and Teams

4. Defining Groups & Teams
A Group
People interact
People are interdependent
Have a common goal
Share some rules of conduct
A Team
A special kind of group
Different & complementary resources of members
A strong sense of collective identity; greater interdependence
Communication in Groups and Teams

5. Six Kinds of Group in Business and Civic Life (pp. 258-261)
Project teams 工作團隊
Focus group 焦點團體
Brainstorming groups 腦力激盪小組
Advisory Groups 顧問團;諮詢小組
Quality circles 改進小組;策進小組
Decision making groups 決策小組
Communication in Groups and Teams

6. Rules for Brainstorming
Do not evaluate ideas; no criticism.
Record ideas so everyone can see them.
Quantity; the more ideas, the better.
Build on ideas; extension.
Encourage creativity.
Communication in Groups and Teams

7. Agenda for Problem-solving (or Decision-making)
p. 262 (Figure 10.2)
Phase 1: Define the problem
Phase 2: Analyze information relevant to the problem
Phase 3: Generate criteria for assess solutions
Phase 4: Identify potential solutions
Phase 5: Select the best solution
Phase 6: Implement the solution (or recommend it)
Phase 7: Develop an action plan to monitor the effectiveness of the solution
Communication in Groups and Teams

8. Potential Limitation & Strength of Groups
Time needed
Conformity pressure
Majority opinion different from minority
One extremely charismatic member
Strengths
Greater resources
More thorough thought
Heightened creativity
Enhanced commitment to decisions
(Synergy):
Special energy that enlarges efforts, talents…of individuals
Total effects more than the sum of individual effects
Communication in Groups and Teams

9. Features of Small Groups (5 features)
Cohesion: closeness, spirit among member,
Cohesion grows out of communication.
3 ways to promote cohesion
Emphasize shared goals; reinforce group identity
Highlight similarity among members
Be responsive so all member feel valued
Excessive cohesion →Groupthink (ceased critical thinking)
Group size
Size affects amount and quality of communication
Larger vs. smaller groups
Five-seven, optimal (most researchers aggree)
Communication in Groups and Teams

10. Features of Small Groups
Power structure
Power over: emphasizing status
Power to: empowering others; fostering win-win
Distributed power structure vs. Hierarchical
Social climbing: trying to increase personal status by winning approval of higher-status member
Interaction pattern
Centralized vs. Decentralized patterns
Proxemics: communication relevant to space
Group norms
Communication in Groups and Teams

11. Challenges (1) (3 challenges)
Participating constructively
Four types of communication in groups (p. 269)
Task communication
Procedural communication
Climate communication
Egocentric communication (dysfunctional)
Communication in Groups and Teams

12. Communication in Groups and Teams
Challenges (2)
Providing leadership
Leadership is born, or made? (research found no coherent leader traits)
Leadership, Not leader
Establish good working climate, organize group processes, ensure substantive discussion, and control disruptive members
Communication in Groups and Teams

13. Communication in Groups and Teams
Challenges (3)
Managing conflict constructively
Conflict is natural, can be productive (Ch. 3)
Disruptive (vs. Constructive conflict)
Competitive tone
Self-interested focus
Personal attack
Constructive
Respect for diverse opinions
Emphasize shared goals
Cooperative focus, open climate
Communication in Groups and Teams

14. Communication in Groups and Teams
分組討論
鄰近的同學5-6人一組
抽籤選組發表討論結果
問題討論：
請就影片中的發言來分類：task, procedural, climate, egocentric
用p.262 Figure 10.2 分析影片中的發言
Communication in Groups and Teams