Small Group Communication

Question 1

Small group communication

Answer 1

An interaction between 3-9 group members working towards am independent goal

Question 2

Small group characteristics

Answer 2

•Face to face interactions are necessary
•Rules within a group
•A few members mean effective intragroup communication
•Connection and mutual awareness

Question 3

Advantages of a small group

Answer 3

•workload is divided between members
•more ideas and different perspectives
•same goal=feeling of acceptance as group members are united

Question 4

Disadvantages of small group

Answer 4

•more talk, less action
•Decision and problem solving can be time consuming
•cliques develop in group
•personal responsibility can be lost

Question 5

4 phases of developing a group

Answer 5

1. Forming
   2.Storming
2. Norming
3. Performing

Question 6

Small group member roles

Answer 6

• group task role
• group maintenance roles
• individual roles
• leadership roles

Question 7

Group task roles

Answer 7

-task orientated
-conscious of time
-summarising group progress
-structured approach when making decisions

Question 8

Group maintenance roles

Answer 8

• Aims to keep the group working together
• Maintains good relationships with group members
• Offers support to group members
• Resolves conflict quickly.

Question 9

Individual roles

Answer 9

• Counterproductive behaviour
• Concerned with their own needs, not the groups
• Prevents the group from achieving its goals

Question 10

Leadership roles

Answer 10

•Different styles of leadership:
•Authoritarian leaders dominate and expect acceptance of that dominance by others
•Bureaucratic leaders have a high regard for the rules.
•Democratic leaders encourage participation by all group members in decision-making
•Different styles of leadership:
•Transformational leaders inspire team members with a shared vision of the future
•Laissez-faire leaders do not intervene in the functioning of the group, leaving the group to develop or progress on 1ts own

Question 11

Conventional problem solving

Answer 11

1. Identify the problem
2. Establish a criteria to test the solution against
3. Show possible solutions
4. Examine the solutions against
5. Choose the best solution

Question 12

Creative problem solving: brainstorming

Answer 12

• All ideas are welcome
• one member records the ideas
• process ceases when ideas are dry up
• solutions are evaluated
• come up with ideas quickly

Question 13

Creative problem solving: Nominal group technique

Answer 13

• members act independently
• member list suggestions on paper
• preferred method
• No one knows what the other suggested

Question 14

Group confirmity

Answer 14

The pressure among the group to think alike
- often occurs in a group that has been operating successfully for a while