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Explore different types of task groups and their aims, including creating policies, making decisions, solving problems, advising others, and generating ideas. Learn about leadership styles, decision-making methods, and the dynamics of group communication.
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Task GroupsAim to accomplish some definite objective • Creating a policy • Making a decision • Solving a problem • Advising others • Generating ideas Microsoft Photo
Task Groups • Project teams • People who have special expertise in relation to some project and who work together to accomplish a common goal • Focus groups • Used to find out what people think about a specific idea, product, issue, or person • Brainstorming groups • Goal is to come up with as many ideas as possible
Rules for Brainstorming • Do not evaluate ideas that are volunteered. • Record ideas on a board or flip chart so that all members can see. • Go for quantity. • Build on ideas. • Encourage creativity.
Task Groups • Advisory groups • Provide information and advise to others • Quality circles • Three or more people from different areas of an organization who work together to improve the quality of the group • First meetings often involve complaining • To be effective quality circles must be given the power to solve problems. • Decision making groups • Exist to solve problems or make decisions
Leadership is a set of functions that assist groups in accomplishing tasks and maintaining a good climate. Leadership may be provided either by one individual or by several members who ensure effective communication.
Abraham Lincoln’s Leadership Lessons • Encourage criticism from others and listen carefully to it. • Communicate clearly and concisely in ways that ordinary citizenscanunderstand. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Styles of Leadership • Laissez-faire is a French phrase that roughly translates to “do nothing.” • When a group is mature, experienced and self-directed there is no reason for a leader. • Authoritarian is directive and dictatorial. • Groups are often efficient but members’ morale and quality of work may not be optimal. • Democratic provides direction and guidance but does not impose rigid authority. • Tends to generate high and balanced communication among members which fuels cohesion and satisfaction.
Decision-Making Methods • Consensus occurs when all members of a group agree. • Most popular decision method in Western societies • Voting is based on the support of a certain number of a group. • May be advisable when time is short, when a decision is not major, or when a group needs to move on • Compromise satisfies each person’s minimum criteria, but may not fully satisfy all members.
Decision-Making MethodsAuthority Rule and Group Ratification • Occurs when an authority tells a group what to do and the group ratifies the authority’s decision. • Group may be appointed to give the appearance of a democratic method and to distribute responsibility for an unpopular decision • Can cause resentment in those who dislike being forced to ratify a decision • Short-circuits the potential of a group decision being superior to an individual’s • Can dampen participation in the long run if members think their ideas make no difference in decisions made
Standard Agenda • I. Define the Problem • A. Define the terms • B. Phrase a question to guide deliberation • II. Analyze the Issues • A. Gather information on history, how issues have • been addressed elsewhere, and so on • B. Analyze causes of problem or need • C. Discuss desired outcomes of decision • III. Establish Criteria • IV. Generate Possible Solutions • A. Review research • B. Brainstorm • V. Evaluate Possible Solutions • VI. Select and Implement the Solution • VII. Develop an Action Plan to Monitor the Solution
Disruptive Conflict Constructive Conflict Cooperative Competitive Collective focus Self-interested Win-lose approach Win-win approach Screens out opposing ideas Listens to opposing ideas Closed climate Open climate Defensive communication Supportive communication Personal attacks Issue focus
Experiencing Communication in our Lives . . . You’ll recognize the following scenario because you watched it before in Chapter 6. View it again, this time focusing on group dynamics and communication.
Identify leadership behaviors on the team. Is Jason the single leader or do other team members contribute leadership to the group? • Is the conflict on this team constructive or disruptive or both? • If you were a member of the team, how might you communicate to enhance the constructiveness of disagreements? • Judging from Jason’s comments, what leadership style does he seem to use? • You may go to your student CD that accompanies the text to compare your answers to Julia Wood’s.
