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SMALL GROUP
COMMUNICATION
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Characteristics of a small group
Consists of 5 12 people
Each member must be able to communicate
as source and receiver easily
Members must be connected to one another
in some way (eg. possess similarities, or
working towards the same goal)
They must be connected by some organizing
rules or structure
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Reasons for joining groups
To establish a relationship
To fulfill personal and security needs
To engage in activities
To share similar interests
To execute some work / tasks Proximity factor
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Group Norms
Rules or standards of behavior identifyingwhich behaviors are considered appropriateand which are not
The rules can be implicit or explicit Groups norms are results of frequent
interactions and communication among groupmembers
Norms regulate a particular membersbehavior (role expectations)
Eg. of norms:
o Dressing code
o Communication style
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Types of Groups Idea-Generation Groups
Use brainstorming technique to generate ideas
Personal Growth Groups (support groups) Aim to help members cope with particular
difficulties
Eg. Alcoholic Anonymous, group for singlemothers, etc.
Information-Sharing Groups Purpose to acquire new information or skill
through a sharing of knowledge Members have something to teach and somethingto learn
Problem-Solving Groups A collection of individuals who meet to solve a
problem or to reach a decision
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Problem Solving Methods in Small
Groups
Brainstorming
Nominal Group Technique
Delphi Method
Quality Circles
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Brainstorming technique
Steps:
All ideas are recorded. Suspend all
evaluations, praises and criticism.
Strive for quantity the more ideas the
better.
Combine and extend ideas. Develop the wildest ideas possible.
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Nominal Group Technique
A method of problem solving that uses limiteddiscussion and confidential voting to obtain a groupdecision.
Useful if some members are reluctant to voice outtheir opinions, or when it involves controversial or
sensitive topic. Steps:
The problem is defined and clarified for all members.
Each member writes down (without discussion orconsultation with others) own ideas / solutions
Each member takes turn to read their ideas and these arerecorded on a white board
Each idea is clarified
Members rank orders the suggestions individually
The rankings are combined to get a group ranking
Clarification, discussion and possible reordering may follow.
The highest-ranking solution is selected.
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The Delphi Method
A group of experts is established
No face-to-face interaction among members
Members communicate by repeatedly
responding to questionnaires Advantage:
Useful when members are geographicallydispersed
To minimize effect of dominant members or peerpressure
Each member has the same amount ofopportunities to a suggest a solution to a problem
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Steps in Delphi method:
1. The problem is defined.2. Each member anonymously contributes five ideas in
writing (in questionnaires either manually mailed orby e-mail)
3. The ideas are combined, written up and distributed
to members.4. Members are asked to choose 3/4 best ideas from
the list
5. Another list is produced from the findings and thislist is again distributed to members.
6. Members choose 1 / 2 best ideas
7. Steps 3 6 are repeated until members come to anagreement.
8. The final solution is identified and all members are
informed.
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Quality Circles
A group of workers (usually from 6-12) whosetask is to investigate and makerecommendations for improving the quality of
some organizational function Generally, the motivation to establishing
quality circles is economic: the companysaim to improve quality and profitability.
Another related goal is to improve workersmorale; because quality circles involveworkers in decision making, workers may feelempowered and more essential to theorganization.
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Quality Circles (cont.)
QC members investigate problems using anymethod they feel might be helpful, forexample, face to face problem solving
groups, nominal groups, or delphi method. The group then reports its findings and
suggestions to those who can do somethingabout it. In some cases the quality circle
members may implement their solutionswithout approval from upper managementlevels.
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Participating in Groups:
Members Roles Group Task Roles (peranan tugas)
Roles that help the group focus more specifically onachieving its goals
Eg. information seeker, idea contributor, recorder,coordinator, etc.
Group Building and Maintenance Roles (peranan
memelihara) Roles that help to build and maintain interpersonal
relationships among group members
Eg. harmonizer, encourager, compromiser, follower,observer, etc.
Individual Roles (memusat kepada diri) Members individual roles that focus on serving
individual needs rather than group needs
Might hinder the groups productivity and membersatisfaction
Eg. aggressor, dominator, recognition seeker, etc.
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Participating in Groups -
Leaders Roles
Prediscussion Functions Activate the Group Agenda
Activate Group Interaction
Maintain Effective Interaction
Empower Group Members
Manage Conflict among Members
Keep Members on Track
Ensure Member Satisfaction Encourage Ongoing Evaluation andImprovement
Postdiscussion Functions
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Approaches to Leadership
Traits Approach Leaders must possess certain qualities to function
effectively
Functional Approach
Leaders are the ones who behave / function asleaders
Transformational Approach Leaders are the ones who enable and empower
group members Situational Approach
Leaders are the ones who balance taskaccomplishment and member satisfaction on thebasis on situations
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Styles of Leadership
Laissez-Faire Leader
Democratic Leader
Authoritarian Leader
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Types of Power in Small Groups
1. Legitimate Power (kuasa kesahan)
- having power by virtue of position, or roles occupied
2. Referent Power (kuasa rujuk)
- a power you have if there is another person wishes tobe like you.
3. Reward Power (kuasa ganjaran)
- when you have the ability to give a person rewards(material or social)
4. Coercive Power (kuasa hukuman)
- when you have ability to remove rewards or administerpunishment
5. Expert Power(kuasa pakar)- if members perceive you as having expertise or
knowledge
6. Information / Persuasion Power (kuasa memujuk)
- if you are seen as someone who can communicate
logically and persuasively.
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Group Cohesiveness Cohesiveness - the degree to which group members
identify themselves as a team, rather than as just acollection of individuals
Characteristics of a cohesive group:
High level of in-group communication
High levels of cooperation and friendship amongmembers
The groups norms exert great influence on thebehaviors and attitudes of the members
The group is able to achieve its objectives
effectively Satisfied members
Increased cohesiveness = increased productivity
Nevertheless, too much cohesion could lead to lowproductivity. caused by groupthink syndrome
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High cohesive group vs. low
cohesive group Characteristics of high cohesive group:
High level of in-group communication
High levels of cooperation and friendship amonggroup members
The groups norms exert great influence on thebehaviours and attitudes of the members
The group is able to achieve its objectives
effectively Satisfied members
Members are proud to be members
Members are loyal to the group
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Characteristics of low cohesive group: Arguments among members
Members are probably bored with the group
experience
Members often look for excuses to skip groupmeetings
If there is a choice, group members would drop
out of the group
Etc. (opposites of high cohesive group)
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Relationships between
cohesiveness and productivityAs a group raises its level of cohesiveness,
the more likely it is to raise its level of
productivity However, extremely cohesive groups are
more likely to have moderate to low
productivity, because:
Members enjoy one anothers company too much
The existence of reserve productivity (produktiviti
tersimpan)
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Relationship between Group
Productivity and Group Cohesiveness
Productivity
Cohesiveness
Min
Min
Max
Max
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Groupthink Syndrome
Groupthink a way of thinking that people use whenagreement among members becomes extremelyimportant in a cohesive group
Symptoms of group think:
Group members think that they are invulnerable to
dangers Create rationalizations to avoid dealing with threats
Believe that the group is moral
Those opposed to the group are perceived insimplistic, stereotyped ways
Group pressure is put on those who express doubtsor question the groups proposals
Believe that all members are in unanimousagreement
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Suggestions for combating
groupthink When too simple solutions are offered to
problems, try to illustrate for the group
members how the complexity of the problemis not going to yield to the solutions offered.
Encourage members to voice disagreements.
Play devils advocate.
Ask members to write ideas anonymously on
papers. These ideas are read aloud by the
group leader.
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