Group Communication: An Introduction

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Group CommunicationAn Introduction
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A Focus on Task Groups

• Primary group A group that exists simply to
  fulfill the basic need we have to associate with
  others.
• Secondary group A group that exists to
  accomplish a specific instrumental task or goal.

3
A Focus on Becoming a Better Communicator

• Other competencies ...
• Technical
• Financial
• Material
• Administrative
• Etc.

4
A Focus on Developing Competence

• Understanding, appreciation, and some general
  practical advice.
• No step-by-step rules or recipes.

The person who knows how will always have a
job. The person who knows why will always be
his boss. Diane Ravitch - Historian, former US
Assistant Secretary of Education, research
professor at NYU Steinhardt School of Education
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A Focus on Developing Competence

• Understanding, appreciation, and some general
  practical advice.
• No step-by-step rules or recipes.
• "A competent group communicator is one who is
  able to interact appropriately and effectively
  with others in small groups and teams" (p. 27).
• You can be appropriate but NOT effective!
• You can be effective but NOT appropriate!
• Competence motivation, knowledge, and skill.

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Communication is Transactional

• NOT Actional

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Communication is Transactional

• NOT Interactional

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Communication is Transactional

• BUT Transactional

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Small Groups What?

• Small group of people
• How large does a group have to become before it
  no longer feels like a group to you?
• Meeting with a recognized common purpose
• Members feel a sense of belonging
• Members function to exert influence on one another

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Small Groups Why?

• More information
• More creative
• Improved learning
• More satisfaction through participation
• Self learning

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Small Groups Why Not?

• Pressure to conform
• Individual discussion domination
• Rely too much on others
• Takes more time
• Efficiency vs. Effectiveness???

Which of these are intrinsic to working in groups?
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Communication Competencies for Effective Small
Groups

• Teamness as competence
• What is a team?

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Teams vs. Groups
Roles Rules Goals Methods
See p. 8
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Teams???
What makes an effective team? (See pp. 9-10)
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Teams???
What makes an effective team member? (See pp.
10-11)
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Levels of Human Assemblies

• Aggregates

Groups
Teams
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What Makes the Difference?
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What Makes the Difference?

• Awareness of and recognition of others as part of
  the same assembly

What is the role of communication in this?
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What Makes the Difference?

• Balance of individual and shared goals

What is the role of communication in this?
20
What Makes the Difference?

• Interdependence necessary for goal attainment

What is the role of communication in this?
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What Makes the Difference?

• Amount of direct interaction among individuals

What is the role of communication in this?
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What Makes the Difference?

• Membership selection criteria

What is the role of communication in this?
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What Makes the Difference?

• Role clarity and differentiation

What is the role of communication in this?
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What Makes the Difference?

• Level of real and perceived accountability

What is the role of communication in this?
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What Makes the Difference?

• Emphasis on training and self-assessment

What is the role of communication in this?
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What Makes the Difference?

• Existence of and nature of leadership

What is the role of communication in this?
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What Makes the Difference?

• Development of unique, shared rituals and
  celebration

What is the role of communication in this?
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What Makes the Difference?

• Synergy Are the results less than, equal to, or
  greater than the sum of the parts?

What is the role of communication in this?
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An Early Self-Assessment

• Consider the groups of competencies on pp.
  28-29. Which have been the least apparent in your
  experiences with student project groups?