Communication in
Groups and Teams
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Chapter 9 skipped (Personal Relationship)
1. Why are groups and teams becoming increasingly
popular
2. How do groups and teams differ?
3. What are the potential strengths of group discussion?
4. What are the potential limits of group discussion?
5. Do groups need single leaders?
6. How can conflict enhance work in groups and teams?
7. How does communication shape group and team
climate?
Communication in Groups and Teams
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Team 團隊的圖像
Communication in Groups and Teams
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Communication in
Groups and Teams
Work together, or On your own?
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Research found sound reasons for both
Groups (vs. Individuals)
More time to reach decisions
Superior decisions
Stimulates creativity, may suppress individuals
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Groups in Daily Lives
Social groups
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Provides stimulation of conversation and
recreation
Relaxed, informal, more interpersonal
Personal growth groups
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Enable people to deal with issues in
supportive context
Task groups
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To solve problems, achieve goals
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Defining Groups & Teams
A Group
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People interact
People are interdependent
Have a common goal
Share some rules of conduct
A Team
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A special kind of group
1. Different & complementary resources of members
2. A strong sense of collective identity; greater
interdependence
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Six Kinds of Group in
Business and Civic Life (pp. 258-261)
Project teams 工作團隊
Focus group 焦點團體
Brainstorming groups 腦力激盪小組
Advisory Groups 顧問團;諮詢小組
Quality circles 改進小組;策進小組
Decision making groups 決策小組
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Rules for Brainstorming
Do not evaluate ideas; no criticism.
Record ideas so everyone can see them.
Quantity; the more ideas, the better.
Build on ideas; extension.
Encourage creativity.
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Agenda for Problem-solving (or
Decision-making)
p. 262 (Figure 10.2)
Phase 1: Define the problem
Phase 2: Analyze information relevant to the problem
Phase 3: Generate criteria for assess solutions
Phase 4: Identify potential solutions
Phase 5: Select the best solution
Phase 6: Implement the solution (or recommend it)
Phase 7: Develop an action plan to monitor the
effectiveness of the solution
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Potential Limitation &
Strength of Groups
Limitations
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Time needed
Conformity pressure
Majority opinion different from minority
One extremely charismatic member
Strengths
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Greater resources
More thorough thought
Heightened creativity
Enhanced commitment to decisions
(Synergy):
Special energy that enlarges efforts, talents…of individuals
Total effects more than the sum of individual effects
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Features of Small Groups (5 features)
Cohesion: closeness, spirit among member,
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Cohesion grows out of communication.
3 ways to promote cohesion
Emphasize shared goals; reinforce group identity
Highlight similarity among members
Be responsive so all member feel valued
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Excessive cohesion →Groupthink (ceased critical
thinking)
Group size
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Size affects amount and quality of communication
Larger vs. smaller groups
Five-seven, optimal (most researchers agree)
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Features of Small Groups
Power structure
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Power over: emphasizing status
Power to: empowering others; fostering win-win
Distributed power structure vs. Hierarchical
Social climbing: trying to increase personal status by
winning approval of higher-status member
Interaction pattern
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Centralized vs. Decentralized patterns
Proxemics: communication relevant to space
Group norms
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Challenges (1) (3 challenges)
Participating constructively
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Four types of communication in groups (p. 269)
Task communication
Procedural communication
Climate communication
Egocentric communication (dysfunctional)
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Challenges (2)
Providing leadership
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Leadership is born, or made? (research found
no coherent leader traits)
Leadership, Not leader
Establish good working climate, organize
group processes, ensure substantive
discussion, and control disruptive members
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Challenges (3)
Managing conflict constructively
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Conflict is natural, can be productive (Ch. 3)
Disruptive (vs. Constructive conflict)
Competitive tone
Self-interested focus
Personal attack
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Constructive
Respect for diverse opinions
Emphasize shared goals
Cooperative focus, open climate
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團隊時間
鄰近座位的5-6位同學，自行組一個團隊
請各團隊討論15分鐘：
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如何提高本校實習電台知名度？
如何提高收聽率？
具體的行動策略。(沒有很多經費)
抽兩組上台發表(加分)
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發表討論結果
分享討論的過程：leadership, climate,
procedure, conflicts,…
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