Transcript Task Groups Aim to accomplish some definite objective Creating a

Task Groups
Aim to accomplish some definite objective
• Creating a
Microsoft Photo
•
•
•
•
policy
Making a
decision
Solving a
problem
Advising others
Generating
ideas
Task Groups
• Project teams

People who have special expertise in relation
to some project and who work together to
accomplish a common goal
• Focus groups

Used to find out what people think about a
specific idea, product, issue, or person
• Brainstorming groups
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Goal is to come up with as many ideas as
possible
Rules for Brainstorming
• Do not evaluate ideas that are
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volunteered.
Record ideas on a board or flip chart so
that all members can see.
Go for quantity.
Build on ideas.
Encourage creativity.
Task Groups
• Advisory groups
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Provide information and advise to others
• Quality circles
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Three or more people from different areas of an
organization who work together to improve the quality
of the group
First meetings often involve complaining
To be effective quality circles must be given the power
to solve problems.
• Decision making groups

Exist to solve problems or make decisions
Leadership is a set of functions that
assist groups in accomplishing tasks
and maintaining a good climate.
Leadership may be provided
either by one individual or by
several members who ensure
effective communication.
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Abraham Lincoln’s
Leadership Lessons
1. Encourage criticism
from others and
listen carefully to it.
2. Communicate
clearly and concisely
in ways that
ordinary citizens can
understand.
Styles of Leadership
• Laissez-faire is a French phrase that roughly
translates to “do nothing.”
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When a group is mature, experienced and self-directed
there is no reason for a leader.
• Authoritarian is directive and dictatorial.

Groups are often efficient but members’ morale and
quality of work may not be optimal.
• Democratic provides direction and guidance but
does not impose rigid authority.

Tends to generate high and balanced communication
among members which fuels cohesion and satisfaction.
Decision-Making Methods
• Consensus occurs when all members of a group
agree.

Most popular decision method in Western societies
• Voting is based on the support of a certain
number of a group.
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May be advisable when time is short, when a decision is
not major, or when a group needs to move on
• Compromise satisfies each person’s minimum
criteria, but may not fully satisfy all members.
Decision-Making Methods
Authority Rule and Group Ratification
• Occurs when an authority tells a group what to
do and the group ratifies the authority’s decision.
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Group may be appointed to give the appearance of a
democratic method and to distribute responsibility for
an unpopular decision
Can cause resentment in those who dislike being forced
to ratify a decision
Short-circuits the potential of a group decision being
superior to an individual’s
Can dampen participation in the long run if members
think their ideas make no difference in decisions made
Standard Agenda
I.
Define the Problem
A. Define the terms
B. Phrase a question to guide deliberation
II. Analyze the Issues
A. Gather information on history, how issues have
been addressed elsewhere, and so on
B. Analyze causes of problem or need
C. Discuss desired outcomes of decision
III. Establish Criteria
IV. Generate Possible Solutions
A. Review research
B. Brainstorm
V. Evaluate Possible Solutions
VI. Select and Implement the Solution
VII. Develop an Action Plan to Monitor the Solution
Disruptive Conflict
Constructive Conflict
Competitive
Cooperative
Self-interested
Win-lose approach
Screens out opposing
ideas
Closed climate
Defensive
communication
Personal attacks
Collective focus
Win-win approach
Listens to opposing
ideas
Open climate
Supportive
communication
Issue focus
Experiencing Communication
in our Lives . . .
You’ll recognize the following
scenario because you
watched it before in Chapter
6. View it again, this time
focusing on group dynamics
and communication.
1. Identify leadership behaviors on the team. Is
Jason the single leader or do other team
members contribute leadership to the group?
2. Is the conflict on this team constructive or
disruptive or both?
3. If you were a member of the team, how might
you communicate to enhance the
constructiveness of disagreements?
4. Judging from Jason’s comments, what
leadership style does he seem to use?
You may go to your student CD that accompanies the text to
compare your answers to Julia Wood’s.