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Focusing on Group Communication

Chapter 3Lecture Slides

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Learning Objective 1

Explain the factors influencing the increasing importance of group communication.

 

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Flat Organizational Structures

Downsizing; eliminating layers of Downsizing; eliminating layers of

managementmanagement

Reorganizing decision-making power Reorganizing decision-making power

throughout throughout the organizationthe organization

Eliminating functional/departmental Eliminating functional/departmental

boundariesboundaries

Organizing cross-disciplinary teams to Organizing cross-disciplinary teams to

handle handle broad core processesbroad core processes

Face-to-Face communication is Face-to-Face communication is

prominentprominent

Many businesses are:Many businesses are:

Flat Organizational StructuresFlat Organizational Structures

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The Cooperative Spirit

• 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.

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Competition vs. Competition vs. CooperationCooperation

This mutual understanding requires

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Learning Objective 2

Describe the characteristics of effective groups.

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Characteristics of Effective Groups

• Common goals• Role perception• Longevity• Size• Status• Group norms• Leadership

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Group Roles

• Isolate • Dominator • Free rider • Detractor• Digressor • Airhead • Socializer

• Facilitator

• Harmonizer

• Record keeper

• Reporter

• Leader

NegativeNegative PositivePositive

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Learning Objective 3

Explain the difference between groups and teams

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Stages of Team Development

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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

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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

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Learning Objective 4

Outline the group decision-making process

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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.

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Learning Objective 5

Discuss group conflict and conflict resolution

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Types of Group Conflict

CompetitionSocial

Dilemmas

Procedural Conflict

Personal Conflict

Substantive Conflict

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Styles of Conflict Resolution

CompromiseAvoidance

Collaboration

Accommodation

Competition

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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.

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Groupthink

• 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

CausesCauses SolutionsSolutions

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Learning Objective 6

Discuss aspects of effective meeting management

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Face-to-Face Meetings

• 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

AdvantagesAdvantages DisadvantagesDisadvantages

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Electronic Meetings

• 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 on keyboarding skills

AdvantagesAdvantages DisadvantagesDisadvantages

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Suggestions for Effective Meetings

• Limit meeting length and frequency

• Make satisfactory arrangements

• Distribute the agenda in advance

• Encourage participation

• Maintain order

• Manage conflict and seek consensus

• Prepare thorough minutes

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