1. GROUP COMMUNICATIONS

2. I. characteristics of a group
all groups and their success are affected by 3 variables – SIZE NORMS COHESION

3. I. characteristics of a group
group size – size affects the comfort of each group member.
- ideal size is 5 -7 people because everyone participates more.
- 4 or less has too little diversity to generate ideas.
- 8 or more will cause the quiet members to talk less, and when they do talk, only talk to authority figures.

4. I. characteristics of a group
B. norms –
expected behavior within the group
- cooperation, it is not a competition
- discussion, it is not a debate
- avoid negative talk, be encouraging and positive
- all three require patience

5. I. characteristics of a group
C. cohesion –
degree of unity
- the more unity among members, the higher the degree of success.

6. II. group roles how members relate to each other and perform.
when being a members of a group, everyone assumes a role or several roles.
there are 3 category of roles –
task relational dysfunctional

7. II. group roles A. task roles related to the job the group must do
Information giver, information seeker
Starter, direction giver, summarizer, energizer
Gatekeeper, opinion giver, opinion seeker

8. II. group roles B. relational roles
related to resolving conflict and getting along
Participation encourager
Tension reliever
Praise giver
Empathic listener

9. II. group roles C. dysfunctional roles
– related to any disruptive behaviors
Blocker
Attacker
Recognition seeker
Joker
Withdrawer

10. III. leadership styles
there are 3 leadership styles which may be present in any given group situation - Laissez faire Authoritarian Democratic

11. III. leadership styles A. laissez faire – “low control” leader
- intervenes as little as possible into group discussions/decisions
- empowers group members to take control of their efforts
- identifies strengths of members
-will appear to fade into the background

12. III. leadership styles
B. authoritarian – “high control” leader
- influences all aspects of decisions and group actions
- holds most of the power of decision making
- manages all group interactions
- guides group towards what he or she thinks is best

13. III. leadership styles
C. democratic – “moderate control” leader
- offers direction when the group needs it
- encourages members to voice opinions and express differences

14. IV. decision making methods
there are 4 ways to make decisions within groups - consensus voting compromise authority rules

15. IV. decision making methods
consensus
– informal
– general agreement

16. IV. decision making methods
B. voting
– formal
- agreement by individual expression of choice

17. IV. decision making methods
C. compromise
– mutual concessions
- settling of differences by each side yielding, adjusting, or ‘giving in’ on their principles to some degree

18. IV. decision making methods
D. authority rules – only one makes the choice – there is no say so in making the decision by members of the group; the leader makes the decision

19. V. problem solving steps
In group situations, there are six steps to solving problems A. define the problem - identify it - make sure all understand it - know how it came about - know why it needs to be solved - then limit the problem

20. V. problem solving steps
B. analyze the issues
- learn the background of the problem
- break the problem into smaller units

21. V. problem solving steps
C. establish criteria*
*criteria are a set of standards the problem’s solution must meet
- establishing standards prevents unnecessary discussion
- allows the group to become more specific about what needs to be accomplished

22. V. problem solving steps
D. generate possible solutions
- brainstorm
– bombard the problem with fresh ideas
- do not worry about the practicality of the ideas as you think them up; just get as many ideas on the table as possible
- sometimes the obvious solution is not the best one
- do not accept any solution until several have been examined
- never accept one without an alternative

23. V. problem solving steps
E. evaluate
- weigh and compare solution and alternative against established criteria
F. select and implement solution