xx-341: Communication in Groups &Organizations Robert Kraut HCII/Tepper NSH 3515 Office hours – after class & send Porter Hall (PH) 125B Tues & Thurs, 9-10:20

2 2 Agenda Introductions Goals & themes of the course Topics Course requirements Logistics Initial discussion of group success

3 3 Instructor: Robert Kraut Joint appointment in Tepper (IS & OB) and Human Computer Interaction Social psychologist by education - Yale Ph.D. Taught psychology and sociology at U of Penn & Cornell 12 years in industry - Bell Labs & Bellcore. Systems engineering & managing behavioral & computer science research on interpersonal communication. Visiting faculty at Facebook & Hewlett-Packard Research on a wide range of communication topics Design of online communities Effects of technology on social life Communication processes in project teams Interpersonal communication & conversation Electronic tools for communication

Course goals To provide a broad understanding of the ways communication in groups and organizations works successfully and the ways it fails Provide enough knowledge so you can make intelligent communication choices Specifically, Better understand what makes communication within and between groups more or less effective. Better evaluate claims about groups in terms of empirical evidence. Apply data gathering and analysis techniques to diagnosing problems in workgroups. Apply principles from research to make the groups you work in more effective. Not a business writing, public speaking course (see Business Communications instead) Includes both the research base as well as practical conclusions Modest overlap with Negotiations & Organizational Behavior

5 5 Methods Readings and lectures to give an empirical and theoretical foundation Unannounced quizzes to encourage you to do the readings Evidence that quizzes on readings help learning Discussion in class and on a weekly course forum to explore the central ideas with a range of organizational experiences Exercises, cases and short papers to apply what you've learned

Communication Makes Groups and Organizations Go Communication is how people in organizations spend their time It is the mechanism through which most social & organizational action occurs Managerial work Goal setting & leadership Attitude change Affiliation Social networks for advice and influence Technical work Communication failure leads to individual & organizational failure New technologies are changing the equation Nature of communication is changing Organizational forms may be changing to follow

Organizing principles for the course Multiple levels of analysis Pairs (dyads), Small Groups, Social Networks & Organizations Both classic and contemporary readings Original research, to see where the conclusions come from Cases, to apply conclusions Practice In class exercises Short, empirical or application papers to get you to observe communication processes Discussion in class and online

8 8 Topics Working in groups Basis for team success and failure Team composition & process Managerial communication Leadership Communication & group performance Distributed groups Causes of success & failure Role of communication media Coordination Wikipedia as a distributed organization Identity, Diversity & Conflict Diversity of source of conflict & innovation Intro to negotiation Managing group conflict Social loafting Cultural differences Social networks In organizations In personal relationships Attitudes & persuasion Interpersonal influence Person perception & self- presentation

9 9 Syllabus Syllabus will change! Up-to-date version at Announcement of changes in announcement tab on course website Major announcements on course mailing list Logic of organization Exceptions prove/test the rule Identify needed processes in successful collocated groups by examining the dysfunctions in distributed groups

10 Course requirements Reading: ~ 2 articles or chapters per class Read & be prepared for discussion in class & online Was the question the author addressed well motivated? What did the author actually show? Do you believe it? How can you apply it? At least one post per article Quizzes about every second week Final exam 3 empirical essays Technology for distributed work Team conflict (solo) Social network assignment Optional: Participate in up to 2 research experiences for a 3% bonus on final grade

11 Wikipedia assignment Create or substantially improve a Wikipedia article related to the course Authentic writing assignment, where 100s or 1000s will read your work Understand how an online organization operates Weekly milestones at pedia-assignment pedia-assignment

12 Course web site Use course website Syllabus & readings For protected directory: Userid = “cmu” & Password = “student” Copies of lecture notes Discussion forums Uploading homework

13 Online profile Upload a recognizable head and shoulder photo Otherwise I’ll find a Facebook photo or Hub photo to upload Include personal information