Group project. Basic introduction to 3 theories. Content provided my group members; presentation slides designed/arranged by me. Presentation has animations incorporated. (My first attempt at using animations in a final presentation.)

1. GROUP INTERACTION THEORIES
ITT-TECHNICAL INSTITUTE – GETZVILLE,
NY
GROUP THEORY – SP2750
26 OCTOBER 2014
L. MONTGOMERY
W. MORGAN
S. PERKINS
B. SMITH
M. VU

2.  Systems Theory
 Structuration Theory
 Symbolic Convergence Theory

3. Ludwig von
Bertalanffy
 Commonly Cited Founder Name
 Born: September 19, 1901
 Died: June 12, 1972 (Buffalo, NY)
 Biologist
 Published General System theory: Foundations,
Development, Applications (1968)
 One of many contributors to contemporary
Systems Theory
 Biography
 Historical Context
 Explanation/Definition
 Relevance

4.  Consolidated during the mid-20th
century
 Shift from a “World as Chaos” –
chance, luck – concept
 “World as Organization”
 Precursors date back to 18th
century

5.  Systems Theory
 “Trans-disciplinary study of the
abstract organization of
phenomena, independent of their
substance, type, or spatial or
temporal scale of existence”
 “Investigates both the principles
common to all complex entities,
and the (usually mathematical)
models which can be used to
describe them”
 Layman’s
 See the forest, not just the trees
 Look at the whole or sum, not just
the parts

6.  Self-Regulating Systems
 Negative Feedback
 Homeostasis
 Stability
Commonality
 All systems (be it electrical, biological, social, etc.) have common
patterns, behaviors, and properties
 An observer can analyze and use the above to develop greater
insight into the behavior of complex phenomena

7.  Communication
 What is the role of each node?
 Where can miscommunication
happen?
 Problem Solving/Analysis
 Troubling-shooting
 Solution Finding
 Decision Making
 Outside Variables
 Long-term Effects

8. Anthony Giddens
 Sociologist
 Born: January 08, 1938
 Author of over 34 books and 200 articles
 Fifth most-referenced author of books in the
humanities (2007)
 London School of Economics: Emeritus
Professor, Department of Sociology

9.  A revision of the classical thinkers in sociology
 Capitalism and Modern Social Theory (1971)
 Major formulations of structuration
 Central Problems in Social Theory (1979)
 The Constitution of Society (1984)
 Developed further in a major enterprise in historical sociology
 A Contemporary Critique of Historical Materialism (1981)
 The Nation-State and Violence, (1985)
 The Consequences of Modernity (1990)

10. Structuration Theory is a “concept in sociology that offers perspectives on
human behavior based on a synthesis of structure and agency effects known
as the ‘duality of structure.’”
 Structure
 Restrictions
 Limited choice
 Cultural & Social
Norms/Behavior
 Guides (“structures”)
human actions
 Agency
 Independent Action
 Free Will
 Duality of Structure
 Cyclic, mutual
influence
 Actions influenced by
social norms/guides
will lead to new
social norms/guides
to influence action
Structuration Theory favors neither Structure nor Agency over the other

11.  Workgroup Formation
 Basis for the
“Norming” Phase
 Actions made during
the early phases
dictate acceptable
and/or expected
actions in later phases
 Can affect the
Performance phase
 Organization Evolution
 Company Policies
 Interpersonal
relationships between
employees
 Supervisor-Worker
 Co-workers
 Inter-department
Prime Example:
Social & Professional Cellphone Usage

12.  Workgroup Formation
 Basis for the
“Norming” Phase
 Actions made during
the early phases
dictate acceptable
and/or expected
actions in later phases
 Can affect the
Performance phase
 Organization Evolution
 Company Policies
 Interpersonal
relationships between
employees
 Supervisor-Worker
 Co-workers
 Inter-department
Prime Example:
Social & Professional Cellphone Usage
Ernest G.
Bormann
 Born: July 28, 1925
 Died: Dec 27, 2008
 Rhetorical Theorist
 Combat veteran of WWII

13.  Proposed in 1972
 Quarterly Journal of Speech
 Related to Attribution Theory
 Attribution: Process of explaining the
causes of behavior and events
 Also known as Fantasy-Theme Analysis

14. “When a group of individuals have similar thoughts
about a certain topic in a group conversation, they can
relate to similar issues, experiences, and situations.”
Common meaning and value through shared experience

15.  Group Consciousness
 Unity
 Goal Setting
 Performance
 Business Marketing
 Slogans
 Advertisements
 Logos
“At least we’re not the Jets!”

16.  Group Consciousness
 Unity
 Goal Setting
 Performance
 Business Marketing
 Slogans
 Advertisements
 Logos
“At least we’re not the Jets!”

17.  http://www.mind-development.eu/systems.html
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmPwE-Lvh8M
 http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/SYSTHEOR.html
 http://www.iva.dk/jni/Lifeboat_old/Positions/Systems%20theory.htm
 http://www.hrdp-
idrm.in/live/hrdpmp/hrdpmaster/idrm/content/e5783/e17327/e24075/e27
388/e27392/12systemmod.jpg
 http://blogs.edweek.org/topschooljobs/k-
12_talent_manager/Systems%20Theory%20Chalkboard%20485-368px.png
 http://terras-altas.net.br/MA-
2013/statistics/Systems%20Theories/SystemsTheory-
Alexander%20Laszlo%20and%20Stanley%20Krippner.pdf

18.  http://www.mind-development.eu/systems.html
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmPwE-Lvh8M
 http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/SYSTHEOR.html
 http://www.iva.dk/jni/Lifeboat_old/Positions/Systems%20theory.htm
 http://www.hrdp-
idrm.in/live/hrdpmp/hrdpmaster/idrm/content/e5783/e17327/e24075/e27
388/e27392/12systemmod.jpg
 http://blogs.edweek.org/topschooljobs/k-
12_talent_manager/Systems%20Theory%20Chalkboard%20485-368px.png
 http://terras-altas.net.br/MA-
2013/statistics/Systems%20Theories/SystemsTheory-
Alexander%20Laszlo%20and%20Stanley%20Krippner.pdf
 http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/763077/structuration-theory
 http://istheory.byu.edu/wiki/Structuration_theory
 http://www.theory.org.uk/giddens2.htm (Gauntlett, David (2002), Media,
Gender and Identity: An Introduction, Routledge, London and New York.)
 http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/319m606.htm
 http://www.utwente.nl/cw/theorieenoverzicht/Theory%20clusters/Organiza
tional%20Communication/Structurational_Theory/
 http://galerie.uckermann3.de/index.php?showimage=324
 http://www.sagepub.com/upm-
data/23943_1___Organizing_Workplace_Relationships.pdf

19.  http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/symbolic_convergence.ht
m
 http://www.leehopkins.net/2011/05/31/symbolic-convergence-theory/
 http://pt.slideshare.net/abbymcneely/symbolic-convergence-theory-
36725752
 http://www.vayne.com/bormann.us
 http://www.studymode.com/essays/Symbolic-Convergence-Theory-
1208327.html
 http://comm.umn.edu/bormann.html
 http://www.strategies-for-managing-change.com/images/group-
motivation.jpg
 http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/comm/group/students/theory.htm
 http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/763077/structuration-theory
 http://istheory.byu.edu/wiki/Structuration_theory
 http://www.theory.org.uk/giddens2.htm (Gauntlett, David (2002), Media,
Gender and Identity: An Introduction, Routledge, London and New York.)
 http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/319m606.htm
 http://www.utwente.nl/cw/theorieenoverzicht/Theory%20clusters/Organiza
tional%20Communication/Structurational_Theory/
 http://galerie.uckermann3.de/index.php?showimage=324
 http://www.sagepub.com/upm-
data/23943_1___Organizing_Workplace_Relationships.pdf