communication in groups and teams

11Communication in Groups and TeamsCommunication in Groups and Teams

Communication in Communication in Groups and TeamsGroups and Teams

1.1. Why are groups and teams becoming increasingly Why are groups and teams becoming increasingly popularpopular

2.2. How do groups and teams differ?How do groups and teams differ?3.3. What are the potential strengths of group discussion?What are the potential strengths of group discussion?4.4. What are the potential limits of group discussion?What are the potential limits of group discussion?5.5. Do groups need single leaders?Do groups need single leaders?6.6. How can conflict enhance work in groups and teams?How can conflict enhance work in groups and teams?7.7. How does communication shape group and team How does communication shape group and team

climate?climate?


Communication inCommunication inGroups and TeamsGroups and Teams

Work together,Work together, or or On your ownOn your own?? Research found sound reasons for bothResearch found sound reasons for both Groups (vs. Individuals)Groups (vs. Individuals)

More time to reach decisionsMore time to reach decisions

Superior decisionsSuperior decisions

Stimulates creativity, may suppress individualsStimulates creativity, may suppress individuals


Groups in Daily LivesGroups in Daily Lives

Social groupsSocial groups Provides stimulation of conversation and Provides stimulation of conversation and

recreationrecreation Relaxed, informal, more interpersonalRelaxed, informal, more interpersonal

Personal growth groupsPersonal growth groups Enable people to deal with issues in Enable people to deal with issues in

supportive contextsupportive context

Task groupsTask groups To solve problems, achieve goalsTo solve problems, achieve goals


Defining Groups & TeamsDefining Groups & Teams

A GroupA Group People interact People interact People are interdependentPeople are interdependent Have a common goalHave a common goal Share some rules of conductShare some rules of conduct

A TeamA Team A special kind of groupA special kind of group

1.1. Different & complementary resources of membersDifferent & complementary resources of members

2.2. A strong sense of collective identity; greater interdependenA strong sense of collective identity; greater interdependencece


Six Kinds of Group inSix Kinds of Group inBusiness and Civic Life Business and Civic Life (pp. 258-261)(pp. 258-261)

Project teams Project teams 工作團隊工作團隊Focus group Focus group 焦點團體焦點團體Brainstorming groups Brainstorming groups 腦力激盪小組腦力激盪小組Advisory Groups Advisory Groups 顧問團顧問團 ;;諮詢小組諮詢小組Quality circles Quality circles 改進小組改進小組 ;;策進小組策進小組Decision making groups Decision making groups 決策小組決策小組


Rules for BrainstormingRules for Brainstorming

Do not evaluate ideas; no criticism.Do not evaluate ideas; no criticism.

Record ideas so everyone can see them.Record ideas so everyone can see them.

Quantity; the more ideas, the better.Quantity; the more ideas, the better.

Build on ideas; extension.Build on ideas; extension.

Encourage creativity.Encourage creativity.


Agenda for Problem-solving (or Agenda for Problem-solving (or Decision-making)Decision-making)

Phase 1: Define the problemPhase 1: Define the problemPhase 2: Analyze information relevant to the problemPhase 2: Analyze information relevant to the problemPhase 3: Generate criteria for assess solutionsPhase 3: Generate criteria for assess solutionsPhase 4: Identify potential solutionsPhase 4: Identify potential solutionsPhase 5: Select the best solutionPhase 5: Select the best solutionPhase 6: Implement the solution (or recommend it)Phase 6: Implement the solution (or recommend it)Phase 7: Develop an action plan to monitor the Phase 7: Develop an action plan to monitor the effectiveness of the solutioneffectiveness of the solution

p. 262 (Figure 10.2)


Potential Limitation &Potential Limitation &Strength of GroupsStrength of Groups

LimitationsLimitations Time neededTime needed Conformity pressureConformity pressure

Majority opinion different from minorityMajority opinion different from minorityOne extremely charismatic memberOne extremely charismatic member

StrengthsStrengths Greater resourcesGreater resources More thorough thoughtMore thorough thought Heightened creativityHeightened creativity Enhanced commitment to decisionsEnhanced commitment to decisions (Synergy):(Synergy):

Special energy that enlarges efforts, talents…of individualsSpecial energy that enlarges efforts, talents…of individualsTotal effects more than the sum of individual effectsTotal effects more than the sum of individual effects


Features of Small Groups Features of Small Groups (5 features)(5 features)

Cohesion: closeness, spirit among member, Cohesion: closeness, spirit among member, Cohesion grows out of communication.Cohesion grows out of communication. 3 ways to promote cohesion3 ways to promote cohesion

Emphasize shared goals; reinforce group identityEmphasize shared goals; reinforce group identityHighlight similarity among membersHighlight similarity among membersBe responsive so all member feel valuedBe responsive so all member feel valued

Excessive cohesion →Groupthink (ceased critical thinExcessive cohesion →Groupthink (ceased critical thinking) king)

Group sizeGroup size Size affects amount and quality of communicationSize affects amount and quality of communication Larger vs. smaller groupsLarger vs. smaller groups Five-seven, optimal (most researchers aggree)Five-seven, optimal (most researchers aggree)


Features of Small GroupsFeatures of Small Groups

Power structurePower structure Power over: emphasizing statusPower over: emphasizing status Power to: empowering others; fostering win-winPower to: empowering others; fostering win-win Distributed power structure vs. HierarchicalDistributed power structure vs. Hierarchical Social climbing: trying to increase personal status by Social climbing: trying to increase personal status by

winning approval of higher-status memberwinning approval of higher-status member

Interaction patternInteraction pattern Centralized vs. Decentralized patternsCentralized vs. Decentralized patterns Proxemics: communication relevant to spaceProxemics: communication relevant to space

Group normsGroup norms


Challenges (1) Challenges (1) (3 challenges)(3 challenges)

Participating constructivelyParticipating constructively Four types of communication in groups Four types of communication in groups (p. 269)(p. 269)

Task communicationTask communication

Procedural communicationProcedural communication

Climate communicationClimate communication

Egocentric communication (dysfunctional)Egocentric communication (dysfunctional)


Challenges (2)Challenges (2)

Providing leadershipProviding leadership Leadership is born, or made? (research found Leadership is born, or made? (research found

no coherent leader traits)no coherent leader traits) Leadership, Leadership, Not leaderNot leader Establish good working climate, organize Establish good working climate, organize

group processes, ensure substantive group processes, ensure substantive discussion, and control disruptive membersdiscussion, and control disruptive members


Challenges (3)Challenges (3)

Managing conflict constructivelyManaging conflict constructively Conflict is natural, can be productive (Ch. 3)Conflict is natural, can be productive (Ch. 3) Disruptive (vs. Constructive conflict)Disruptive (vs. Constructive conflict)

Competitive toneCompetitive toneSelf-interested focusSelf-interested focusPersonal attackPersonal attack

ConstructiveConstructiveRespect for diverse opinionsRespect for diverse opinionsEmphasize shared goalsEmphasize shared goalsCooperative focus, open climateCooperative focus, open climate


分組討論分組討論鄰近的同學鄰近的同學 5-65-6人一組人一組抽籤選組發表討論結果抽籤選組發表討論結果

問題討論：問題討論：請就影片中的發言來分類：請就影片中的發言來分類： task, procedutask, procedu

ral, climate, egocentricral, climate, egocentric 用用 p.262 Figure 10.2 p.262 Figure 10.2 分析影片中的發言分析影片中的發言

communication in groups and teams

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