Small Group Communication

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Small Group Communication
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Why Should You Learn About Small Groups?

• To meet needs
• Groups are everywhere
• To learn a highly valued skill
• To become an effective group member
• To participate in the democratic process

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What is Small-Group Communication?

• The interaction between three to nine people who
  are working together to achieve an interdependent
  goal

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The Types and Functions of Small Groups

• Task-oriented groups completing tasks
• Secondary groups
• Relationship-oriented groups inclusion/affection
  
• Primary groups
• Assigned groups appointed hierarchy
• Emergent groups environmental conditions

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What is Leadership?

• A process of using communication to influence the
  behaviors and attitudes of others to meet group
  goals

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The Role of Leadership in Small Groups

• Types of Small Group Leaders
• Designated leaders - appointed
• Emergent leaders - environmental

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The Role of Leadership in Small Groups

• Power and Group Leadership
• Distributive power - leader
• Integrative power - interdependence
• Designated power - relational
• Sources of Power
• Reward
• Punishment withhold needs
• Coercion hostile tactics
• Referent - loyalty
• Expert power - knowledge

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Theoretical Approaches to Group Leadership

• Style Approaches
• Democratic leaders
• Laissez-faire leaders
• Autocratic leaders
• Contingency Approaches
• Different contingencies (situations) require
  different leadership styles

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Theoretical Approaches to Group Leadership

• Communication Competencies Approach
• What do effective leaders do?
• The Distributed Leadership Approach
• Each member is expected to help the group move
  forward

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Establishing Culture in Small Groups

• Group Norms
• Informal rules for interaction
• Role Structure
• Formal (positional) and informal (behavioral)
  roles
• Behavioral functions
• Task functions
• Maintenance functions
• Self-centered functions

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Establishing Culture in Small Groups

• Group Cohesiveness
• Trust, supportiveness, cohesiveness
• Groupthink
• Diversity and Cognitive Paradigms
• Observable diversity (physical characteristics)
• Implicit diversity (worldview)

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Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Characteristics of Group Problem Solving
• Multiple perspectives
• Takes longer
• Well suited for conjunctive tasks (all members
  have some info, no one has all)
• More effective when the process is systematic and
  organized

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Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Effective Group Problem Solving
• Wording the discussion question
• Is it a question of fact, value, or policy?
• Is it stated clearly?
• Is it measurable?
• Does it focus on the problem?
• Discussing criteria for judging solutions
• Absolute criteria (must be met)
• Important criteria (should be met)

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Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Identifying alternatives
• Brainstorming
• Evaluating alternatives

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The Functions of Groups in a New Era

• Making decisions
• Effecting change
• Negotiating conflict
• Fostering creativity
• Maintaining ties to stakeholders

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Technology and GroupCommunication Processes

• Group Decision Support System (GDSS)
• Brainstorming
• Evaluation of alternatives
• Anonymous
• Efficient

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How Should You Communicate in Small Groups?

• Relate your statements to preceding remarks
• Use conventional word arrangements
• Speak concisely
• State one point at a time

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Being an Ethical Group Member

• Be trustworthy and supportive
• Be honest and truthful
• Be thorough and unbiased when evaluating
  information
• Behave with integrity
• Manage group conflict ethically

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• Questions?
• Comments from TAs
• Head to recitation.