Chapter 8

Question 1

What is task communication?

Answer 1

Communication focused on achieving the instrumental goal

Question 2

What is socio emotional communication?

Answer 2

Communication focused on developing, maintaining and repairing the relationship between group members.

Question 3

What says the functional group decision making?

Answer 3

Why do some groups make good decisions while others make bad ones?

Question 4

What are the 4 requirements of decision-making?

Answer 4

1. Problem analysis (nature/cause problem)
2. Goal setting (criteria)
3. Identification of alternatives (brainstorm)
4. Evaluation and selection (alternatives)

Question 5

What says the group think theory?

Answer 5

Why and how are bad decisions made by groups

Question 6

What is an example of group thinking?

Answer 6

The Asch Experiment

Question 7

What are the consequences of group thinking?

Answer 7

Individuals avoid raising controversial issues or alternative solutions

Individuals lose creativity, uniqueness and independent thinking

Question 8

What are the three conditions that make it more likely that groupthink will occur

Answer 8

1. Cohesion (connection)
2. Structural flaws
   
   • Groups insulation
   • Biased leadership
   • Lack of procedural norms
   • Too much similarity
3. Situational characteristics (stress)

Question 9

How to recognize groupthink?

Answer 9

Type 1: Overestimation of the group
Type 2: Closed-mindedness
Type 3: Pressure toward uniformity

Question 10

Name a strategy to prevent groupthink

Answer 10

1. Encourage members to voice their opinions and doubts
2. Assign group members to teams that will investigate alternative courses of action: followed by a debate
3. Appoint a devil’s advocate
4. Invite experts from outside the group
5. Hold last-chance meetings which members are encourages to raise any doubts or hesitations
6. As a manager, set an example by being open to criticism about yourself

Question 11

What says the adaptive structuration theory?

Answer 11

How do communication processes create norms for interaction?

Question 12

What are rules?

Answer 12

Traditions, moral codes. You can indicate what is good or bad

Question 13

What is agency?

Answer 13

Humans are actors who make choices: people have free will in their performance behavior (bike lane example)

Question 14

What is structuration?

Answer 14

Groups and organizations are produced and reproduced through structures in interaction.

Question 15

What are allocative resources?

Answer 15

Material forms like time and money

Question 16

What are authoritative resources?

Answer 16

Characteristics such as cohesion, experience and status

Question 17

What is production?

Answer 17

The use of rules and resources to create a new structure: change.

You don’t need a signature from your supervisor for
this anymore

Question 18

What is reproduction?

Answer 18

The use of rules and resources to reinforce structures already in place

You pass the exam if you have a 5.5

Question 19

How do structures influence decision-making?

Answer 19

1. Unitary path (single way)
2. Complex cyclic path
3. Solution oriented path

Question 20

What says the symbolic convergence theory?

Answer 20

How is group identity formed and how does it influence norms and behavior?

Question 21

What are fantasy chains?

Answer 21

Group members share fantasies which help them to create a social reality that indicates who is part of the group

Question 22

Out of which parts exist the fantasy chain?

Answer 22

1. Dramatizing message (joke)
2. Fantasy theme (group member actively engage)
3. Fantasy chain (fantasies meet positive response)
4. Rhetorical vision (group members share number of fantasies)