Small Group Comm

1. SMALL GROUP Communication
Group is the collection of people with a common purpose: that is , they share a
goal or objective, are working toward the same end, or are collected as a group
to achieve a particular result. Beyond that, people in groups are organized,
have awareness of one another as members of the same group, and carry out
communication among themselves.
Types of group: ‐
1. Formal groups
2. Advisory groups
3. Creative groups
4. Support groups
5. Networking groups

2. Formation of Groups: ‐
According to BrriceTrickman (1965) 5 stages of group development are there –
1. FORMING – The group begins to come into existence and seeks guidance
and direction from a leader concerning the nature of its task and
procedures.
2. STORMING – The group starts the creative process of focusing on its
goals but may become entangled in socio‐emotional and relationship
storms and interpersonal conflict between individuals.
3. NORMING – The group starts to define its purposes, roles and
procedures and begins moving more formally toward a solution of its
task.
4. PERFORMING – Having established how it will perform its task, the
group now does so, with members not only seeking solutions to their
problems but being careful about one another’s feelings and roles in the
group.
5. Adjourning – Having performed its functions, the group reflects on its
achievements, underlines its performative accomplishments, and closes
itself down. There is a certain amount of self‐congratulation at this
stage: Good job, everyone.

3. Another similar phase model was proposed by communication scholar Arirbey
Fisher Iano in terms of a progression: ‐
 Orientation: The group members get to know one another – assuming, of
course, they do not already – and come to grips with the problems they
have convened to deal with.
 Conflict: The group argues about the possible ways of approaching the
problem and begins to find solutions.
 Emergence: Developed from the previous stage, emergence occurs when
some daylight of consensus begins to dawn and the groups starts to move
toward agreement.
 Reinforcement: The group recognizes that it is reaching consensus and
explicitly consolidated that complete the task.

4. Features of Groups: ‐
1. Togetherness
 Have common motives and goals.
 Divide the labor in a way that leads to interdependence.
 Show commitment to each other as well as for the group.
 Develops group cohesiveness.
2. Expectations About Performance: ‐
 Group usually expects particular behavior from members.
 Develop group norms – involve established status, relationships,
values, and sanctions and that is, rules and procedures occurring in a
group but not necessarily outside it are enforced by the use of power
or rules for behavior.
 Have their own group sanctions, or punishments for “stepping out of
line”, speaking out of turn, or failing to accept the ruling of the chair
or leader.
 A group culture, another form of expectation set that affects groups,
can take many forms and may be evident in how members talk to
one another, the clothes they wear while working as a group, or the
special terms and language or jokes they use.

5. Types of Groups: ‐
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