Participating in Group Communication

Def.- a collection of three or more people who must interact and influence one another to solve problems and to accomplish a common purpose.

Clearly Defined Goals• Group Goal- a future state of affairs desired by

enough members of the group to motivate the group to work toward its achievement.

• Specific Goal- precisely stated, measurable, and behavior goal.

• Consistent Goals- complementary goals that require hard work and team effort. They motivate group members to go above and beyond what they might normally accomplish.

• Acceptable goals- goals to which members feel personally committed.

Optimum Number of Diverse Members.• Best size- smallest number that can do the

job.• Homogenous versus Heterogeneous- the

best groups are likely to be composed of people who bring different but relevant knowledge and skills to the group discussion.

Cohesiveness- the degree of attraction members have to one another and to the group’s goal.

Productive Norms- • Norms- expectations for the way group

members will behave while in the group.• Ground Rules- prescribed behaviors designed to

help the group meet its goals and conduct its conversations.

• Most norms evolve informally rather than being stated outright.

Synergy- a commonality of purpose and a complementariness of each other’s efforts that produces a group outcome greater than an individual outcome.

Appropriate environment- • Face-to-Face location• Virtual Meeting

Forming- the initial stage of group development, during which people come to feel valued and accepted so that they identify with the group.

Storming- group clarifies its goals and determines the role each member will have in the group structure.

Norming- the group solidifies its rules for behavior, especially those that relate to how conflict will be solved.

Performing- the skills, knowledge and abilities of all members combine to overcome obstacles and achieve goals.

Adjourning- group members assign meaning to what they have done and decide where the group goes next.

Problems must-• Be stated as questions.• Contain one central idea.• Use specific and precise language for problem

description.• Be identified as a question of fact, value, or

policy. Questions of fact- concerned with discovering what is

true. Questions of value- concerned with what is right,

moral, good and just. Questions of policy- concerned with course of action.

Analyzing the problem- entails finding out as much as you can about the problem and solution criteria.

Determining Solution Criteria- requires that the group develop decisive factors that test and determine whether a solution will solve a problem.

Identifying possible solutions- often involves brainstorming.

Evaluating solutions- requires group members to list solutions and compare alternative to the solution criteria developed.

Deciding- • 1. Expert Opinion Method• 2. Average Group Opinion Method• 3. Majority Rule Method• 4. Unanimous Decision Method• 5. Consensus Method

One for each of the decision-making methods.• 1. Expert Opinion Method• 2. Average Group Opinion Method• 3. Majority Rule Method• 4. Unanimous Decision Method• 5. Consensus Method