General Comments: Group Dynamics & Flow Analyses Hints

1. General Comments: Group Dynamics & Flow Analyses Hints ISAT 433 Fall, 2004

2. Course UPDATE • Final class project – Matthew’s Muffin & Mugs - is posted on Course site; due date 12/1/04 • 11/17 Lecture on group dynamics (GD) • 11/22 Final case discussion and complete GD • 11/24 No class • 11/29 Discussion of case – answer questions • 12/1 Mandatory class meeting

3. Distribution of Individual’s Time 20% Non-productive activities 50% Interaction 30% Working alone

4. THEREFORE: • Important to recognize personality differences • Important to understand group dynamics & interaction principles

5. Group Interaction • On a Continuum works well can't work together perfect accord don't get along high productivity NO product possible • Usually somewhere in between - what makes the difference?

6. Individual Types of Attitudes • In a Work Situation or in a Class Group Project • Task oriented • Self oriented • Interaction oriented

7. Task Oriented • Motivated by intellectual challenge • On a Production Team - looking for challenge of application development • In a class group - enjoy challenge of application development

8. Self Oriented • Motivated by personal success • On a Production Team - looking for means to a goal (promotion or ambition) • In a class group - enjoy earning a grade

9. Interaction Oriented • Motivated by presence or actions of coworkers • On a Production Team - looking for group energy and creativity • In a class group - enjoy fun of interaction and creativity

10. Group Make-up • In Experiments, if Group ALL one type • All Task oriented or all Self oriented groups • could not get along • had too many leaders • All Interaction oriented groups • accomplished the task OK • felt good about the group • Most successful Work Groups have a VARIETY of types as members

11. GROUPS BETTER IF: • 1. Mixed personalities - diversity usually brings creativity • Discuss what your types are generally • Choose a leader • Look at individual roles

12. GROUPS BETTER IF: • 2. All members involved in all parts of project • ALL should have a feel for ALL parts of the project even if expert in only one • Better when project is common property & responsibility of entire group, no matter who did what

13. WHY better if all are involved? • If ego tied up in section, you don't want to change it, you get upset if it gets criticized • Creativity is limited instead of brainstorming for solutions • Goal => “Egoless” production

14. GROUPS BETTER IF: • 3. Smaller size=>better communication • Have frequent meetings for updating all parts of work • KEEP IN CONTACT • APPROACH => Errors will occur!! We'll all check our own & each other's parts & solve all problems together!

15. Group Leadership - In Industry: • May not all be same person! • TECHNICAL leader - ADMINISTRATIVE leader - ACTUAL leader • Actual=> most influence on other members - maybe because of technical ability, personality or....? • In Industry=> problem if mgmt. assigns a leader that no one likes or respects, yet you still have to work together

16. Leader Leader Summary - Group Interaction & Communication affected by: • 1. Size - harder to communicate if too large • 2. Structure - star or network? - network better communication

17. Summary - Group Interaction & Communication affected by: • 3. People in group • status, personalities • personal goals • place in hierarchy - are you going to criticize VP?- E.g. Alcoa labs experience • 4. Physical work environment • sometimes a conference room around a table will foster better communication than a classroom with leader in front!