LECTURE

Why Groups? (GAB Ch. 1; YWPP Ch. 1)

• What are the key components of a small group (common purpose, interaction, etc.)?
• How does size affect group interaction?
• Differene between primary and secondary groups
• Strengths and weaknesses of groups
• [GAB Ch 1] What are five ethical principles that should guide small group communication?  What is a social loafer?
• [YWPP Ch 1] What are the three basic function of groups?  What is the primary purpose/goal of each?

• Be able to describe/explain the key parts and concepts of the small group as an "open system" (nonsummativity, multiple causation, individual-level and system-level variables, feedback, environment, boundary spanners, negative entropy, equifinality)
• Explain input (initial elements), throughput (process elements), and output (outcome elements) variables in an effective system
• [GAB Ch 2] Characterisitics of effective group problem-solving groups
• [GAB Ch 3] Four listening preferences (people-oriented, action-oriented, etc.); Pitfalls to listening effectively (pseudolistening, sidetracking, etc.); How does one practice "active listening"?
• [GAB Ch 4] Problems resulting from language choices (bypassing, lack of clarity, emotive words); What is a hidden antagonizer?  What kind of nonverbal cues would you use to create a positive atmosphere for small group communication?  What nonverbal cues could be detrimental to small group communication?
• [YWPP Ch 2] What are four reasons that groups sometimes do NOT work effectively as a system?  What are five characteristics of effective group discussion?
• [YWPP Ch 3] How do participation, norms, and power influence group process?  What are the differences between, and strengths and weaknesses of decision-making by consensus, negotiation, and voting?  What factors seem to influence individual's satisfaction with groups?

• Causes, characteristics of, and problems associated with, primary and secondary tension
• Is tension ever good? What is the "tolerance threshold"?  How is it related to primary and secondary tension?
• What is the process through which tension is experienced, dealt with, and dispelled in groups (forming, storming, etc.)?

• How would you go about being a "reminder" for a group that has gone astray?
• If you were asked to "critique" a group, what typically would you be commenting upon?
• What kind of helpful information can a verbal interaction analysis diagram provide?; What is the purpose of using PMRs?
• [GAB Ch 15] Ethical principles for consultants

• What does the MBTI tell us about people?  What do each of the four dimensions supposedly tell us?  What problem could be faced by an E-I pair?  S-N?  T-F?  P-J?
• [GAB Ch 6] What is the "principle of least-sized groups"?; What is the optimum size for a small group? What are the characteristics of high vs. low self-monitors? Rhetorically sensitive group members? Members who have a preference for procedural order?  What is the influence of egalitarianism vs. authoritarianism on group leadership?
• [YWPP Ch 4] How does a rhetorically sensitive person communicate?

• What is a network, and what factors influence a person's choice of networks?
• What are the different types of network structures, and what are the positives and negatives of each type?
• Difference between ascribed and earned status
• How do high and lower status members differ in the way they participate in groups?  What is idiosyncracy credit?
• How do cohesive groups behave?
• What is groupthink?  When is groupthink most likely to occur?
• [GAB Ch 8] What is happening in a group when they create a fantasy chain?  Why are fantasies helpful?  How can groups build cohesiveness? (p. 209-211) What are the main differences between supportive and defensive climates, and what are the characteristics of supportive versus defensive communication?

• Definitions of diversity, culture, enculturation
• How does Wood's standpoint theory relate to the study of culture in groups?
• What are some of the problems faced in reaching commitment and consensus in diverse groups?
• What is the particular strength of having diversity in a group?  What do members need to do to realize the benefit of diversity?
• [GAB Ch 5] What kinds of preferences for group behavior/leadership would results from the following cultural characteristics: (a) individualism vs. collectivism; (b) high vs. low power distance, (c) high vs. low uncertainty avoidance, (d) masculine vs. feminine cultures;  What is a co-culture?  What challenges do members of co-cultures face if they are not a part of the dominant culture?  What are the guidelines for ethical intercultural communication?

• What are norms and how do they develop?  What is their basic purpose, and what three forms do they typically take?
• Implicit vs. explicit norms; Crucial vs. peripheral norms
• In general, why do people conform to norms?  What affects an individual's conformity?  Why do people violate norms?
• What are roles, and how are they assigned?
• What is the function of task roles?  Maintenance roles?  Individual roles?  What kind of communication do you see in each of the 3 basic types of roles?
• Distinguish between role collision, role incompatibility, and role conflict
• [GAB Ch 7] What are the three assumptions of the theory of structuration, and what is the main point of the theory? What is the primary difference between the formation and production phases of groups?  How can a member change group norms?

• Distinction between "leader" and "leadership"
• Designated vs. emergent leaders
• Five types of power (coercive, referent, etc.)
• Comparison of leadership theories (traits, styles, contingencies)
• What is the concept of "distributed leadership"?
• [GAB Ch 9] What are the key differences between the types of contingency approaches demonstrated in class (pp. 199-207)

• Explain the concept of "leader as completer"
• What two things need to be balanced to hold an effective meeting?
• What is an agenda?  What are some of the ways that you could create and organize an agenda, and what are the advantages/disadvantages of each?
• 3 categories of meeting goals
• What should the last item on an agenda be?
• While managing interaction during a meeting, what should you make sure to do?
• What is the most important task of a designated meeting leader?  Of the meeting members?
• [GAB Ch10] What would you do if you were leading a discussion and wanted to; (a) equalize opportunities to participate; (b) stimulate creative thinking; (c) stimulate critical thinking; (d) prevent groupthink?

• From video, "Team problem-solving and decision-making"
• What is the big mistake many groups make when trying to solve a problem?
• What is the "Iceberg Rule" and the "Lifeboat Corollary"?
• What are the 6 steps to problem-solving, and what happens at each step?
• Problem-solving techniques: brainstorming; recovery; key word analysis; cause/effect diagram; others?
• 3 components of problems
• 8 characteristics of problems
• Comparison between intuitive vs. systematic problem-solvers
• Problem vs. solution questions
• What are all problem-solving models based upon, and why is this important?
• Conjunctive vs. disjunctive tasks
• Decision making by: Leader, Majority Vote, Consensus (indirectly addressed in class via problem-solving and conflict activities, also in GAB Ch12)
• [GAB Ch11] What is the difference between decision-making and problem-solving? What are "criteria"?  How is "evaluation clarity" related to the need to discuss criteria?  Similarities/differences among models of problem solving (Vigilant Interaction Theory, P-MOPS, Single Question Format)
• [GAB Ch12]  What is an "assembly effect"? Role of input (integrative complexity, need for cognition) and throughput (group communication) on decision-making quality; When is group decision making NOT more effective or better than individual decision making? What happens in "group polarization"? How is groupthink related to critical thinking and what are the symptoms of groupthink?
• [YWPP Chs 7-11] For each step of the Standard Agenda, understand (a) goals, (b) outcomes, (c) member tasks, and (d) leader obligations (a summary is provided at the end of each chapter)

• 5 conflict management styles: two basic dimensions underlying the 5 styles, uses and problems with each style
• Basic rules of constructive conflict management, and why healthy communication climates are important
• Seven principles of coalitions; difference between being part of the in-group/dominant group/heavy communicators and being part of the out-group/non-dominant group/isolates
• 4 steps of collaborative negotiation (negotiating principled agreement)
• 5 techniques for collaborative negotiation (expanding the pie, nonspecific compensation, logrolling, cost cutting, bridging)
• [GAB Ch13] What are the positive and negative outcomes of conflict? What is a "deviate" and are all deviates alike? Integrative v. distributive approaches to conflict management; Differentiate between substantive, affective, procedural and inequity conflict types
• [YWPP Ch6] Role of conflict in discussion; Differences between disruptive and constructive conflict, and the effects of each on groups; Symptoms and correctives of groupthink

Creativity (GAB Ch. 14)  (not covered on previous tests)

• What are the four steps (and four rules) of brainstorming? How are brainstorming and brainwriting similar and how are they different from one another?
• What is synectics?  Be able to distinguish between personal, direct, symbolic, and fantasy analogies
• How does PERT work to help groups implement solutions to problems?