SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATIONLearning Unit 6

What We Should Learn..• Explain what a small group is• Difference between interpersonal communication & small

groups• Dynamics of small groups• Explain group norms• Checklist for effective teams• Communication networks?• Different leadership styles• Problem solving in groups• Describe & manage conflict

No Man is an Island – Why should we UNDERSTAND small group dynamics?

DEFINITION (pg116)

• A group is a NUMBER of PEOPLE• Who COMMUNICATE with ONE ANOTHER• Often OVER TIME• & is FEW enough so that each person is able

to Communicate with ALL the OTHER• Through other people?• But Face 2 Face

COLLECTIVITY VS GROUP

• Who has LITTLE and A LOT of Communication between them?

• Who wants to REACH a goal or have NO SHARED INTEREST?

INTERPERSONAL VS SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION?

• Interpersonal : 2 people/groups. Face 2 face– Represent OURSELVES

• Small Group : Accomplish a common GOAL– Represent YOURSELF WITHIN THE GROUP– We start to THINK as ONE

GROUP DYNAMICS

• READ case study on Pg 117• What is the BYSTANDER EFFECT?• What is GROUP THINK?

Group Dynamics (in business world) INCLUDES:

• Conformity Pressures• Social Influence• Quality of Group Problem Solving

Lets Look @ each one..

CONFORMITY PRESSURES(part of Group Dynamics)

• What is Conformity?• What is Pressures?

EXTREME form of Conformity Pressure is: DE-INDIVIDUATION. Read pg 119

Research further differentiates between• Private acceptance (pg120, WHEN will this happen?)• Public compliance (agree with group 4 peace sake)

SOCIAL INFLUENCE(part of Group Dynamics)

• Newcomers get MORE pressure 2 conform– Eg: High school initiation

• If member of group has Different opinion– Individual members will try to convince– Start to ignore him/her– Reject him/her

CLASS QUICKIE : PG 121 (shoe size, small to largest)

QUALITY OF GROUP problem solving(part of Group Dynamics)

• Individual creative solutions BETTER?• MORE EFFECTIVE a group communicates the

MORE EFFECTIVE they are..

• The QUALITY of the problem solving is affected by: (pg122 – 123)– Acceptance of Risk : RISKY SHIFT PHENOMENON– Group Think– Level of Creativity & logical problem solving

ROLES OF GROUP MEMBERS(part of Group Dynamics)

• ? A Role (pg 124)

• TYPES OF ROLES – read, which one is YOU?– Self-centred– Team-maintenance– Task facilitating

COHESIVENESS(part of Group Dynamics)

• Cohesion : Act of Sticking Together

• Forces that keeps group to remain together– How attractive is this membership?– Colleagues who work WELL 2gether, better

POSITION to solve problems & reach GOALS

PHASES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT(part of Group Dynamics)

The 5 (five) phases how a group develops:1. Forming2. Storming3. Norming4. Performing5. Adjourning

Class Quickie : Read & Discuss each phase.Note : These 5 steps are not a MUST..

A CLEVER manager, knows that staff will be MORE MOTIVATED if they are

PART OF the decision making process

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES of SMALL GROUPS

• Pool RESOURCES, ACCOMPLISH MORE• Increases INDIVIDUAL MOTIVATION &

COMMITMENT 2 TASK• BETTER prepared to FORSEE Difficulties/Visualize

OUTCOME• People RECEIVE decision BETTER that’s made by

GROUPS• Most people find it PLEASANT to work in a group

than alone• Feeling of ACCEPTANCE

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES of SMALL GROUPS

• Easier for some to do NOTHING• FORCEFUL people tend 2 take OVER• PERSONAL goals VS Group goals might

CONFLICT• Groups take LONGER to reach a decision• Groups often SUBSTITUTE TALK 4 ACTION• To LARGE – the group will become INeffective

CLASS QUICKIE PG 128

WHATS THE IDEAL NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN A SMALL GROUP?FOR OPTIMAL COMMUNICATION

GROUP NORMS

• Norms = Rules• Rules help us 2 perform & function optimally• Guided by EVERYONE in the group, not just the

leader• Group Norms = Uniformity of Behaviour

Produced & Maintained byGroup Pressures

• What are FORMAL norms & INFORMAL norms?

CLASS QUICKIE PG 130

THE CHECKLIST 4 DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE GROUP/TEAM

= Choose 1 of the 4 blocks and Discuss WHY this should b done..Selection/Fairness in Decisions/Staying on Track/Manage Conflict

COMMUNICATION NETWORKS• Members in group makes CONTACT• Information FLOWS optimally• Networks are

– Centralised?– Decentralised?

• Network TYPES include? (PG 131) (Make groups of 5)– Wheel/Star– Chain/Line– Y– Circle (decentralised)– All Channels (decentralised)

LEADERSHIPS in GROUPS

• Leaders always EMERGE from group• Leader = Sensitive 2 Social Dynamics• Leader = Plant seeds that grows

• Styles differ – right or wrong?• Styles include:– Authoritatian (Adolf Hitler)– Democratic (Nelson Mandela)– Laissez Faire (Thabo Mbeki?)– Collective (Richard Branson)

GROUP GOALS

• BURTON & DIMBLEBY (1995:pp.205-206)– We join groups, as we believe 2 heads r ….– An effective group can:

• Have more ideas• Access more information• Distribute responsibility• More committed approach• Explicit tasks : research, gather ideas, recommend action• Hidden agendas:

– We CREATE our SOCIAL IDENTITY through group memberships

PROBLEM SOLVING

• Healthy groups – Openness 2 ideas, listens, works

• Closed groups – Sterile in thinking, placet

CLASS QUICKIE : Read Pg 137 – 7 Habits of Highly effective People

CON

FLICT• What is Conflict? (pg 137)

• Conflict results from:– Lack of Communication– Different Perceptions– Different Values– Different preferred outcomes

CONFLICT

• Moderate level of Conflict, might result in – Increase Group Motivation & Energy– Increase Innovative Thinking & Diversity of

Solutions– Understand a specific point of view, as everyone

adds opinions and supportive facts– Similarly – understand Opposing opinions, and

resolve to one solution with greatest support

HOW DO YOU MANAGE CONFLICT?

• END GOAL : Conflict should RESULT in MAXIMUM gain for ALL parties:– Confrontation– Compromise– Smoothing– Use of Power– Coalition

WHICH IS YOU? UR 2ND CHOICE?