Focusing on Group Communication

1. Chapter 3Lecture Slides Focusing on Group Communication

2. Learning Objective 1 Explain the factors influencing the increasing importance of group communication. 1

3. Flat Organizational Structures Flat Organizational Structures Many businesses are: Downsizing; eliminating layers of management Reorganizing decision-making power throughout the organization Eliminating functional/departmental boundaries Organizing cross-disciplinary teams to handle broad core processes Face-to-Face communication is prominent 1

4. What are indicators of a flat organizational structure? • Cross-disciplinary teams • Distributed decision-making power • Face-to-face meetings • Open communication • All of the above 1

5. The Cooperative Spirit Competition vs. Cooperation • A high degree of trust • Effective interpersonal skills • Empathetic and intensive listening skills • Willingness to communicate long enough to agree on an action plan that is acceptable to everyone. This mutual understanding requires 1

6. Learning Objective 2 Describe the characteristics of effective groups. 2

7. Characteristics of Effective Groups • Common goals • Role perception • Longevity • Size • Status • Group norms • Leadership 2

8. Isolate Dominator Free rider Detractor Digressor Airhead Socializer Facilitator Harmonizer Record keeper Reporter Leader Group Roles Negative Positive 2

9. What negative group role can hurt a group the most?Why? • Dominator • Digresser • Free rider • Socializer 2

10. Learning Objective 3 Explain the difference between groups and teams 3

11. Stages of Team Development adjourning 3

12. Types of Teams • Task force — Achieve a single goal in limited time • Quality assurance team (quality circle) — Focus on product or service quality • Cross-functional team — Join employees from various departments to solve problems • Product development — Focus on the development cycle of new products • Virtual team — a team with members in more than one location 3

13. Team Behaviors • Commitment — focused on mission, values, goals, and expectations • Cooperation — share a sense of purpose • Communication — know that information must flow smoothly • Contribution — expect all members to share abilities and skills with the team 3

14. Group Cohesiveness How can a group experience conformity without sacrificing individual expression? 3

15. Challenges and Limitations of Group Decisions Oversampling • ____________ or the tendency for the groups to examine information they already know. • Not all group members have the ____________ ______ a discussion demands. • Groups sometimes use _________to avoid making a decision. • Group decision making requires the ability to consider and accommodate ________ __________ ___________. interpersonal skills discussion multiple interpretive frameworks 4

16. Learning Objective 4 Outline the group decision-making process 4

17. Group Decision-Making Stages Orientation: group identifies the problem and plans process for reaching decision. Discussion: researches, identifies & weighs options, tests assumptions. Decision: group combines individual preferences into a collective decision. Implementation: Group carries out decision and assesses its impact. 4

18. Successful Group Decision-Making Group members: • Consider and accommodate multiple versions of reality • Emerge with single recommendation or course of action • Accept inevitability of differences • Commit to dialogue • Pay attention to problem-solving procedures 4

19. Learning Objective 5 Discuss group conflict and conflict resolution 5

20. Substantive Conflict Procedural Conflict Social Dilemmas Personal Conflict Competition Types of Group Conflict 5

21. Competition Accommodation Collaboration Avoidance Compromise Styles of Conflict Resolution 5

22. Which conflict resolution technique is most likely to promote group unity? • Accommodation • Compromise • Collaboration • Competition • Avoidance CONFLICT 5

23. Personalities and Conflict • Competitors view group disagreements as win-lose situations and satisfaction in forcing their ideas on others. • Cooperators value accommodative interpersonal strategies • Individualists are concerned only with their own outcomes. They make decisions based on what they personally will achieve. They neither interfere with nor assist others’ attempts to reach their goals. 5

24. Dislike of conflict and need for cohesiveness Group members dominate interaction Group members are intimidated by others Group members care more about social acceptability than reaching best solution Strong leadership encouraging members to participate Objective viewpoints; no egos and emotions Assign a “devil’s advocate” for the group Create subgroups Hold “second chance” meeting Groupthink Causes Solutions 5

25. Learning Objective 6 Discuss aspects of effective meeting management 6

26. Provide rich, nonverbal cues Are preferred when dealing with sensitive issues Are beneficial for rapport Pose logistical issues of time, place, and schedules May be dominated by aggressive and high status members Face-to-Face Meetings Advantages Disadvantages 6

27. Assist with geographically scattered groups Speed up meeting follow-up activities Place all participants on a more even level Cannot replace face-to-face contact for some meetings Can make consensus harder to reach Are dependent onkeyboarding skills Electronic Meetings Advantages Disadvantages 6

28. Suggestions for Effective Meetings length frequency • Limit meeting ______ and _________ • Make ___________ arrangements • Distribute the _______ in advance • Encourage ___________ • Maintain _____ • Manage _______ and seek consensus • Prepare thorough _______ satisfactory agenda participation order conflict minutes 6