The document discusses key aspects of small group communication including definitions, types, development, decision-making processes, leadership, roles, and conflict management. Small groups are defined as having 3-12 members who interact and work towards common goals. Groups can be task-oriented like work teams or more social in nature. Models of group development generally involve stages like forming, storming, norming, and performing. Effective decision-making uses techniques like brainstorming, reflective thinking, and the nominal group process. Leadership, roles, and managing conflict constructively are important for group functioning.

1. Small Group Communication A Presentation by Rajiv Bajaj

2. Definition of a Small Group Has 3 Characteristics – Size, Interaction & Goals SIZE Most researchers define a small group as having at least 3 and no more than 12 or 15 members Needs to have at least 3 members, otherwise it would simply be a dyad

3. With 3 members, coalitions can be formed and some kind of organization is present Too large a group (more than 12 or 15 members) inhibits group members' ability to communicate with everyone else in the group

4. INTERACTION Group's members must be able to communicate freely and openly with all of the other members of the group Groups will develop norms about discussion and group members will develop roles which will affect the group's interaction

5. GOALS A group must have a common purpose or goal and they must work together to achieve that goal The goal brings the group together and holds it together through conflict and tension

6. Use & Value of Small Groups 68% of Fortune 1000 companies use self-managing or high-performance teams Average supervisor spends around 40% of the workweek in meetings & conferences. An average executive spends almost 700 hours a year in meetings ! Most large companies attribute major cost savings to solutions provided by such working-groups or Quality Circles

7. Why do people join a group? GROUP SYNERGY Refers to the idea that two heads (or more) are better than one; OR "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts," which also refers to group synergy Groups are often capable of producing higher quality work and better decisions than can an individual working alone

8. SUPPORT & COMMITMENT Group may be more willing to take on a large project than would an individual With increased ability to perform work, group can provide encouragement and support to its members while working on a big project

9. INTERPERSONAL NEEDS Individuals often join a group to meet their interpersonal needs William Schutz has identified three such needs: Inclusion, Control, and Affection Inclusion is the need to establish identity with others – the need to be accepted by others

10. Control is the need to exercise leadership and prove one's abilities. Groups provide outlets for this need Some individuals do not want to be leaders. For them, groups provide the necessary control over aspects of their lives Affection is the need to develop relationships with people. Groups are an excellent way to make friends and establish relationships

11. Types of Small Groups Groups form to accomplish some objective Objective may be to complete some kind of task or it may be to promote interpersonal relationships between group members Many groups, however, fulfill both of these functions

12. SOCIAL GROUPS While all groups will have both social and task dimensions, some groups are predominantly social in their orientation Examples of these groups would be families and social clubs These provide for our safety & solidarity needs and they help us develop self-esteem

13. WORK GROUPS Work groups function to complete a particular task The task dimension is emphasized. Group members pool their expertise to accomplish the task Examples - Workplaces, Campus Organizations, or Juries etc. As per Ivan Steiner, there are several types of Work Groups

14. Types of Work Groups ADDITIVE WORK GROUPS All group members perform the same activity and pool their results at the end An example of this would be gathering signatures for a petition drive or mobilizing support for a particular cause

15. CONJUNCTIVE WORK GROUP Members perform different, but related, tasks that allow for completion of a goal Every group member must complete their individual task in order for the group task to be completed Example of this would be an assembly line, in which each worker performs tasks that together build a completed car

16. DISJUNCTIVE TASK Members meet to determine the best alternative for a problem or issue There are two types of disjunctive tasks: Judgment Task: Group members must choose one correct answer from all alternatives Decision-Making Task: Group members must choose best alternative from a set of options. There is no one correct answer for a decision-making group

17. CONTRIVED OR EMERGENT GROUPS Some groups form spontaneously , such as a group of friends Other groups are contrived , that is, they are formed for a specific purpose Organized clubs, social groups, or committees are contrived groups

18. Small Group Development Researchers have studied groups to understand how they develop Several different models have been suggested, but they all tend to follow a similar progression LINEAR MODELS OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT The most common models include Tubb’s Theory, Fisher’s Model & Tuckman’s Model

19. Tubbs's Small Group Development Theory 1. Orientation 2. Conflict 3. Consensus 4. Closure Orientation - Group members get to know each other, start to talk about the problem, examine the limitations & opportunities of the project Conflict - A necessary part of a group's development. Allows the group to evaluate ideas and helps them avoid conformity & groupthink

20. Consensus - Conflict ends in the consensus stage, when group members compromise, select ideas & agree on alternatives Closure - The final result is announced and group members reaffirm their support of the decision

21. Fisher's Small Group Development Theory 1. Orientation 2. Conflict 3. Emergence 4. Reinforcement Orientation - Group members get to know each other & experience primary tension – the awkward feeling people have before communication rules & expectations are established Groups should take time to learn about each other and feel comfortable communicating around new people

22. Conflict - This phase is marked by secondary tension, or tension surrounding the task at hand Group members will disagree with each other and debate ideas Remember that conflict is good, because it helps the group achieve positive results

23. Emergence - Outcome of the group's task and its social structure become apparent Reinforcement - Group members bolster their final decision by using supportive verbal and nonverbal communication

24. Tuckman's Small Group Development Theory 1. Forming 2. Storming 3. Norming 4. Performing 5. Adjourning Forming - Group members learn about each other and the task at hand Storming - As group members become more comfortable with each other, they will engage each other in arguments and vie for status in the group. These activities mark the storming phase

25. Norming - Group members establish implicit or explicit rules about how they will achieve their goal They address the types of communication that will or will not help with the task Performing - Groups reach a conclusion and implement the conclusion Adjourning - As the group project ends, the group disbands in the adjournment phase

26. Poole's Small Group Development Theory 1. Task Track 2. Topic Track 3. Relation Track 4. Breakpoint Marshall Scott Poole & his colleagues have found that group development is often more complicated than the 3 previous models indicate He has argued that groups jump back & forth between three tracks – task , topic, and relation

27. The three tracks can be compared to the intertwined strands of a rope Task Track - Concerns the process by which the group accomplishes its goals Topic Track - Concerns the specific item the group is discussing at the time Relation Track - Deals with the interpersonal relationships between group members

28. At times, the group may stop its work on the task and work instead on its relationships When the group reaches consensus on all three tracks at once, it can proceed in a more unified manner as the 3 previous models illustrate Breakpoints - These occur when a group switches from one track to another Shifts in the conversation, adjournment, or postponement are examples of breakpoints

29. Decision Making REFLECTIVE THINKING & STANDARD AGENDA Developed by John Dewey, reflective thinking involves a careful, systematic approach to a problem Groups who use reflective thinking to make their decisions use a six-step guide called the "standard agenda".

30. 1. Problem identification - What is the problem? What is wrong with the current situation? 2. Problem analysis - View the current situation as a balance between restraining forces and helping forces. What are the forces in play in your group's situation? 3. Criteria selection - What are the goals of the final decision?

31. 4. Solution generation - Generate as many solutions as possible. Avoid groupthink by listing many solutions 5. Solution evaluation and selection - Measure each solution against the criteria from step three 6. Solution implementation - Enact the chosen solution

32. BRAINSTORMING Another option for decision-making Group members encouraged to generate as many ideas about a particular topic as they can For instance, group members may use brainstorming to generate as many solutions as they can in step four of the standard agenda

33. Group members should be encouraged to say anything that comes to mind when brainstorming Every idea is written down and judgments about ideas are saved until later , when the group returns to all of the ideas and selects those that are most useful NOMINAL GROUP TECHNIQUE A group decision-making tool used when the group must rank order a set of options

34. In order to use this technique, group members work individually to list all alternatives to a problem or issue Sometimes, this technique is used after a brainstorming session is held Then, the group facilitator asks each group member to individually rank all options from lowest to highest priority

35. Finally, the facilitator computes an average score for each idea The lowest score is the highest priority for the group Nominal group technique is a good way to have all of the group members voice their opinions and discussion is not dominated by a few vocal group members

36. Final Decision Making Many ways that a group can make a final decision, decide on a solution, or come to agreement Most popular ways of making the decision include – Consensus : Group members all agree on the final decision through discussion and debate

37. Compromise : Through discussion & readjustment of the final plan, group members come to agreement by giving up some of their demands Majority Vote : Decision based on the opinion of the majority of its members Decision by Leader - The group gives the final decision to its leader Arbitration : An external body or person makes a decision for the group

38. Groupthink Groupthink concept identified by Irving Janis that refers to faulty decision-making in a group Groups experiencing groupthink do not consider all alternatives and they desire unanimity at the expense of quality decisions Occurs when groups are highly cohesive and when under considerable pressure to make a quality decision

39. Negative outcomes of groupthink include : Examining few alternatives Not being critical of each other's ideas Not examining early alternatives Not seeking expert opinion Being highly selective in gathering information Not having contingency plans

40. Some symptoms of groupthink are : Having an illusion of invulnerability Rationalizing poor decisions Believing in the group's morality Sharing stereotypes which guide the decision

41. Exercising direct pressure on others Not expressing your true feelings Maintaining an illusion of unanimity Using mindguards to protect the group from negative information

42. Some solutions include : Using a policy-forming group which reports to the larger group Having leaders remain impartial Using different policy groups for different tasks Dividing into sub-groups and then discuss differences

43. Discussing within sub-groups and then report back Using outside experts Using a Devil's advocate to question all the group's ideas Holding a "second-chance meeting" to offer one last opportunity to choose another course of action

44. Leadership Leadership is concerned with control and power in a group Can be aimed at either maintaining the interpersonal relationships in the group or prodding the group to achieve its task Groups will sometimes have two leaders - one for the social dimension and one for the task dimension The three main perspectives on leadership are -

45. First - Some people are born with traits that will make them a good leader Second - The group's leader selects an appropriate leadership style for the given task Third - To some degree, leaders are born with traits that make them good leaders, but that they also learn how to become a leader and use strategies appropriate to a given situation

46. Good Leaders Are Born This approach says that people are born with traits that make them effective leaders The challenge for the group is to find a person with these traits

47. One-Best-Style This approach says that in a given situation, one particular style of leadership is most effective There are four main styles - Autocratic : Leader uses his or her authority to make decisions Democratic : Authority is shared and all group members help make decisions

48. Laissez-faire : A "hands-off" style in which the leader allows the group to make its own decisions Abdacratic : No one in the group exercises leadership. This style, says researchers, leads to group disintegration and is followed by autocratic leadership

49. Contextual This approach says that leaders are to some degree born with leadership traits But the situation, personalities of other group members, pressures on the group, and group norms also determine leadership

50. Roles in Groups Task-Oriented Roles – Researchers Benne & Sheats identified several roles which relate to the completion of the group's task: Initiator-contributor : Generates new ideas Information-seeker : Asks for information about the task

51. Opinion-seeker : Asks for the input from the group about its values Information-giver : Offers facts or generalization to the group Opinion-giver : States his or her beliefs about a group issue

52. Elaborator : Explains ideas within the group, offers examples to clarify ideas Coordinator : Shows the relationships between ideas Orienter : Shifts the direction of the group's discussion

53. Evaluator-critic : Measures group's actions against some objective standard Energizer : Stimulates the group to a higher level of activity Procedural-technician : Performs logistical functions for the group Recorder : Keeps a record of group actions

54. Social Roles – Encourager : Praises the ideas of others Harmonizer : Mediates differences between group members Compromiser : Moves group to another position that is favored by all group members Gatekeeper / expediter : Keeps communication channels open

55. Standard Setter : Suggests standards or criteria for the group to achieve Group observer : Keeps records of group activities and uses this information to offer feedback to the group Follower : Goes along with the group and accepts the group's ideas

56. Individualistic Roles – Aggressor : Attacks other group members, deflates the status of others, and other aggressive behavior Blocker : Resists movement by the group Recognition seeker : Calls attention to himself or herself

57. Self-confessor : Seeks to disclose non-group related feelings or opinions Dominator : Asserts control over the group by manipulating other group members Help seeker : Tries to gain the sympathy of the group Special interest pleader : Uses stereotypes to assert his or her own prejudices

58. Conflict In Groups Conflict can be good for a group if it is managed appropriately By airing differences, group members can produce quality decisions and satisfying interpersonal relationships The first step in managing conflict is to identify the conflict

59. 1. Do the group members know that a conflict exists? 2. Are the group members arguing over competing goals ? 3. Are scarce resources at stake? 4. Are the group members dependent on each other to solve the conflict?

60. Styles of Conflict Management – Researchers Ruble & Thomas have identified 5 styles for managing conflict The styles can be charted on 2 dimensions: assertiveness and cooperativeness The five styles are –

61. Competitive : High in assertiveness, low in cooperativeness. Competitive people want to win the conflict Accommodative : Low in assertiveness and high in cooperativeness. These group members are easy going and willing to follow the group Avoiding : Low in assertiveness, low in cooperativeness. Avoiding people are detached and indifferent to conflict

62. Collaborative : High assertiveness, high in cooperativeness. These group members are active and productive problem solvers Compromising : moderate in assertiveness, moderate in cooperativeness. Compromisers are willing to "give and take" to resolve conflict

63. Defensive Climate – The climate in which conflict is managed is important. Groups should avoid a defensive climate , which is characterized by these qualities: Evaluation : Judging and criticizing other group members Control : Imposing the will of one group member on the others

64. Strategy : Using hidden agendas Neutrality : Demonstrating indifference and lack of commitment Superiority : Expressing dominance Certainty : being rigid in one's willingness to listen to others

65. Supportive Climate – Groups should foster a supportive climate , marked by these traits: Description : Presenting ideas or opinions Problem Orientation : focusing attention on the task Spontaneity : Communicating openly and honestly

66. Empathy : Understanding another person's thoughts Equality : Asking for opinions Provisionalism : Expressing a willingness to listen to the ideas of others

67. Group Formats 1. Roundtable – A small group discussion conducted in private by means of the Basic Problem Solving procedure 2. Panel Discussion – Involves a small group of well-informed individuals discussing a problem or topic of interest in front of a larger group All panel members contribute freely & equally, and are usually guided through the problem-solving procedure by a leader or chairperson

68. 3. Symposium – Composed of a small group of experts, also in front of a larger group. Instead of free exchange of ideas, each member presents a formal, 5 to 10 minute presentation on an area of the problem relating to member’s expertise Chairperson introduces each presentation. When all presentations are finished, speakers may choose to discuss (agree / disagree with) the formal ideas presented by each speaker; or Continue the discussion using basic problem-solving process

69. 4. Forum – When those present are allowed to participate following a panel discussion or symposium discussion, the discussion is called a Forum May involve a simple question & answer period, a general discussion, or organised buzz groups Selecting the right group format will depend on number of participants, complexity of the problem, and the time available

70. QUESTIONS ? T H A N K Y O U