Groupwork and dynamics in MLP:FIM

An analysis of Groupwork Dynamics in ‘My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic’.

Aim
To examine group work and group dynamics demonstrated by the main friendship group in ‘My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic’ (MLP:FIM).
Overview
Define `group work`
Examine individual team roles model
Look at group development

What is Groupwork?
Allan Brown defines groupwork as:
“ .. a context in which individuals help each other ; it is a method of helping groups as well as helping individuals; and it can enable individuals and groups to influence and change personal, group, organisational and community problems”

The Group

Groups are extremely important in the lives of all individuals. Johnson and Johnson state
` many of our goals can be achieved only with the cooperation and coordination of others `.
However Mallasey notes that
` the success of any group depends on the ability of its members to exchange ideas freely and to feel involved in the life and decisions of the group `
These functions are achieved through the direction of leadership and the development of individual roles within each group.
A group is said to be successful if it;
1. accomplishes group tasks
2. maintains the group internally,
3. develops and adapts to improve effectiveness.

Team Roles
Dr. Meredith Belbin defines a team role as:
“ A tendency to behave, contribute and interrelate with others in a particular way.”
These roles are the subject of debate.
Can be both positive and negative.
Belbin combined these into 9 team roles.
The roles each member plays may change depending upon the activity being undertaken.

Belbin’s Team Roles compared to the MLP:FIM group.

Twilight Sparkle Main role ‘Co-ordinator’ “ Mature, confident, a good chairperson. Clarifies goals promotes decision-making, delegates well.” She also displays some of the typical negatives ‘manipulative’ or ‘off-loading’ particularly in her relations with Spike.

Rarity Main role ‘Completer Finisher’ “ Painstaking, conscientious, anxious. Searches out errors and omissions. Polishes and perfects.” She also has the negative aspects often seen in this role of ‘reluctance to delegate’ or ‘inclined to unduly worry’ particularly when it comes to aesthetic beauty.

Applejack Main role ‘Implementer’ “ Disciplined, reliable, conservative and efficient. Turns ideas into practical action.” She has at least one of the negative aspects often seen in this role of ‘inflexibility’ and at times she is seen to be ‘slow to respond to new possibilities’. This stubborn nature seems to cause her the most issues.

Pinkie-Pie Main role ‘Plant’ “ Creative, imaginative, unorthodox. Solves difficult problems.” She also reflects the negatives of this role by sometimes ‘ignoring incidentals’ and can at times be ‘too preoccupied to communicate effectively”. Pinkie-Pie regularly solves problems but often forgets to explain what she’s doing to the group.

Fluttershy Main role ‘Teamworker’ “ Co-operative, mild, perceptive and diplomatic. Listens, builds, averts friction.” Fluttershy can be ‘indecisive in crunch situations’ but has always come through when the team needed her most.

Rainbow Dash Main role ‘Shaper’ “ Challenging, dynamic, thrives on pressure. Has the drive and courage to overcome obstacles.” Quick to temper, Rainbow Dash matches the expected negative traits as she’s ‘prone to provocation’ and can at times ‘offend ponies feelings’. NB: This slide is 20% cooler than all the others.

The remaining two roles Belbin describes are ‘Resource Investigator’ and ‘Specialist’. Spike is usually the ‘Resource Investigator’ – “extrovert, enthusiastic, communicative. Explores opportunities. Develops contacts.” His absence from many of the adventures suggests that he has the expected weakness of ‘losing interest once initial enthusiasm has passed.’ The ‘Specialist’ role moves around the group as they utilise the specific knowledge or skills they each have.

Group Stage Development
Bruce Tuckman defined five key stages:
Forming
Storming
Norming
Performing
Mouring

Forming
Initial meeting
Challenges with trusting each other
Difficulties sharing thoughts/feelings.
Anxiety, isolation, inadequacy and frustration are common emotions are the group creates a ‘comfort zone’.
All attempt to get along and keep peace.

The episodes ‘Friendship is Magic’ parts 1 and 2 document the ‘forming’ of the group.
Brought together by Twilight Sparkle’s arrival in Ponyville the group are tasked with saving Equestria from an evil pony.
Trust is developed Members opinions listened to

Storming
Group roles are defined.
Individual personalities show.
Conflicts develop between the members.
There is a danger that the group will fall apart at this stage.

Storming

Norming
work more constructively together
Some members may not be comfortable with the role allocated.
Acceptable and unacceptable behaviours within the group are created and reinforced
The storming and norming phases of group development are linked

Performing
performing effectively with defined roles i.e. a team
decisions may be positively challenged or reinforced by the group as a whole.
the group has a general feeling of unity. This is the best stage for a group to complete tasks.

Performing

Mourning
All groups must come to an end and the demise of a group is also part of the process.
We can predict how the group will react when Twilight Sparkle is eventually reassigned using Tuckman’s 5 th stage.

When it does end it is likely they will go through 6 recognised behaviours;
Denial – ignoring the end coming.
Regression – increased reliance on each other.
Need expression – produce a requirement for the group.
Recapitulation – re-hash old adventures (montage anyone?)
Evaluation – detailed discussion of lessons learned.
Flight – either a push away from the group or a refusal to move on to other interests.

A group working as a team shares thoughts, ideas, problems and activities.
The MLP:FIM team are a classic example of a successful team.
They share adventures
Help their community
Support each other
Develop their individual abilities
Develop their abilities as a team.

Bibliography
Harte, S. (1999-2001)Groups and Groupwork. URL http://youthworkcentral.tripod.com/sean3.htm Visited 6 October 2011
Mind Tools. Benne and Sheats’ Group Roles. URL http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMM_85.htm Visited 6 October 2011
Hasbro. My Little Pony. URL http://www.hasbro.com/mylittlepony/en_US/ Visited 6 October 2011
Wikipedia. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. URL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Little_Pony:_Friendship_Is_Magic Visited 6 October 2011
Friendship is Magic Wiki URL http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/My_Little_Pony_Friendship_is_Magic_Wiki Visited 6 October 2011
Team Role Summary Description http://www.belbin.com Visited 10 November 2011

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Groupwork and dynamics in MLP:FIM

by Kateri Wilson on Nov 22, 2011

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Groupwork and dynamics in MLP:FIM — Presentation Transcript