Communication & Theatre 4/514 Organizational Communication Teamwork
“Team” is a metaphor Alternatives: community family folks associates
Assess the need Expertise Groups fail Efficiency Unpopular decisions Quick decisions The impact of cohesiveness
Productivity Cohesiveness It may be that the best teamwork is a momentary process. Teams created for specific projects with well-defined end dates probably work best.
Ongoing, ever changing, dynamic, non-repetitious interaction of events. All dimensions of a process are interdependent. Work Team Process is more Democratic!!
Linear Models AB causes
Circular Models A B Feedback
Helical Models A A1 A2 A3
Chaotic Models
Thing vs. Process Make a cake. Make a decision.
Content = the topic of conversation Process = our working relationships
3 Dimensions of Process Structure -the architecture Function-how we work together Evolution-the history
We create reality, rather than discover it!!
Defensive behaviors are competitive. Supportive behaviors are cooperative. Adversarial democracy Unitary democracy
Hirokawa: Functional Group Behaviors minimal procedural protocol
describe problem analyze problem understand seriousness
Identify causes of the problem
marshal a range of alternative solutions
Evaluate plusses and minuses for each alternative
meeting planning
Characteristics of an ideal meeting Purpose is clear Members must meet Members understand purpose
Agenda is organized Agenda distributed prior to meeting members know what is expected membership is appropriate
Plans for facilitating made Plan your participation Personal appearance Note taking Room architecture Follow-up/evaluation
Be realistic!!! In terms of time allotted In terms of group’s ability to decide the issue
Members leave knowing what they have accomplished members’ needs met
Meetings don’t just happen.... They take planning.
End of Teamwork Session