Chapter 8: How Small Group Consequences

suggests new ideas to solve group problem or new ways for the group to organize the task

From my experience, one situation I can think of where the “groupthink” phenomenon could be applied happened when I used to be a scribe/scribe trainer. Our leads had just hired a new group of scribes and prior to starting on the floor the trainees needed to complete a classroom training course covering medical terminology, understanding of the EMR template and then pass an examination. After that then they were able to start training shifts on the floor with an experienced scribe “shadowing” them. The first time scribing on the floor can be really daunting because some providers work very fast and they can be very particular (quality/length of HPI, what& where to document certain findings) which as a newbie you wouldn’t know unless you worked

In the article “Small Group Communication” Garth Pittman states that working in groups can actually be very helpful because it will get the job done faster, and develop skills that can be useful at work, school, and/or personal life. He clarifies that people will have different ideas and collaborate with one another to work well in the group. If they can get along well and manage to separate the work, then the project will get done on time without having any troubles. Pittman points out working in groups can get complicated. Few people in the group will not connect with the rest of the members. For those who aren’t used to being in groups can find themselves having a hard time getting use to it. The author believes that there is certain ways

This paper is going to discuss relevant background factors, circumstances, and structures of small group interaction. First, I will explain how a person’s background can influence participation in a group and then we will look at how values can impact a group. I will also explain how I respond to situations where I am working with people who have different values. Next, I will explain the implications of falling into “team traps” and will use three of the ten for specific examples on why they should be avoided. Finally, I will summarize all that we have learned today on group interactions. Let’s start by looking at how peoples background can influence participation in a group.

I had the pleasure of interviewing my friend Brian, who works as a team leader at Target in the electronics department. I also interviewed my father, who works as a Chief Human Resources Officer at a hospital. After conducting both of the interviews, I was able to determine that they both participated in a problem-solving group. A problem-solving group is defined as any group that comes together to search for solutions to any problems that may present themselves (Beebe, Beebe, & Ivy, 2008, p. 237). Both of their groups met weekly to inform each other of things happening in specific divisions, resolve issues, and work on projects. Group norms can be defined as a set of principles that govern what is acceptable behavior in a group setting (Beebe,

In order for successful group work to be achieved, there are a number of aspects that need to be considered. In the first lecture we were told to expect conflict, this threw me at first, I usually run away from conflicting situations (I will get into why a little later). Although I did not like the concept of having to face and deal with conflict, the value did show, as we were told it would. McDermott (2002) suggests that conflict signals the group has begun to matter to participants, and groups are often more productive after the resolution of conflict. The second aspect that really stuck with me was group processes and development. Most of the groups I have been involved in so far throughout my degree,

But there’s an important exception to this research: if the problems are complex, or if they are visual or spatial, then groups usually outperform solo workers. And in most real-world organizations, problems are pretty complex–not the simple word-generation tasks used in brainstorming experiments.

When I consider that there are several variables that will have both negative and positive reflections in a group climate. I understand that when one has followed the rules or suggestions of how to communicate and collaborate effectively, they have not failed. The majority of a group decision is similar to a boomerang, and one should continue to be calm, positive, and

Compromise is the single most important aspect of group work. As a social person, collaborating with newfound friends has never been a problem for me. I actively participate in programs involving group work , such as MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science, and Achievement), and have been to state-level competitions with other team members. I have come to realize over years of projects and assignments that working alone is difficult. Though one may be dedicated and hardworking, these massive undertakings are more efficiently and precisely done when distributed among a group. Conflict is inevitable when working with others that are equally creative and innovative. However, keeping an open mind is essential when doing projects that require a

I have personally been in groups where I do all the work because the members of my group are unreliable. For this project we were very fortunate to have no conflicts. We all worked extremely well to complete the project in a timely manner. This occurs because group members do not actively communicate their goals. This can also occur because a group does not know how to effectively problem solve. The first step to solving a problem is to figure out the cause. Next, group members must carefully look at ways to solve the problem. Lastly, the best solution should be used and hopefully will aid in the group project’s problem. Group projects can also be ineffective when a member does not know their task. To avoid this problem all members must be on the same page. This can be done by assigning out specific tasks for each member. The tasks can be given out by a member who is a democratic leader and listens to everyone’s. This is opposed to an authoritarian leader who controls the group. By following these steps a group project will be very effective and useful to the

Tuckman proposes that groups develop via five stages; forming, storming, norming, performing and finally adjourning (Archee, Gurney, & Mohan, 2013a). The first stage, known as forming, involves clarifying the task and purpose of the group, and identifying boundaries of both the task and interpersonal behaviour (Archee et al., 2013a). For the presentation task we were randomly allocated into groups. This worried me greatly as I have struggled in the past with group members who do not contribute equally or see the task as important as other group members. To avoid this problem, the group collectively determined and agreed upon a number of ground rules. For example, we decided that all group members were expected to contribute equally to the presentation, all group members were expected to attend and contribute at all group meetings, and all group members would adhere to agreed upon deadlines. Having failed to do this in previous group assignments, this clarification stage

This issue can delay group decisions, and they become less effective. In an individual approach, timing is not a problem. A single leader is responsible for the decision without depend in anybody else. In some cases the group have a strong personality leader who dominates the group, for some members of the group, this can create discomfort and stress in the environment which groupthink may occur. Another major disadvantages for group approach could be diffusion of responsibilities, since everyone on the group is responsible for the decision making, a wrong decision can create a lack of accountability, and blame some else for wrong decisions.

Being a part of a small group has requirements. Each person must participate by devoting their time and energy toward the goal. If one person is not doing their share than the whole group will suffer. A small group is kind of like a toy car. If one of the four wheels is not turning, the car will still move, but at as much slower pace than it would have with all four wheels working. Each person in a small group is vital and the best outcome will be reached when the team works together, as a

Although shared information bias was evident during our brainstorming sessions, process gain also occurred, as the presence of multiple group members provided access to information, strategies and problem solving ideas that we would otherwise not be privy to if we were working alone (Johnson & Johnson, 2009, p. 97). For example, one group member suggested that we discuss the components of the assigned task and collectively identify the most vital aspects of our group theory and how best to represent these ideas in our presentation. Through this group member’s suggestion to organize our tasks and prioritize the

The small group can be defined as a group that have at least three and no more than fifteen members working independently for accomplishing goal (Myers A., & Anderson C., 2008). Communication in a small group is a necessary component of the life of every individual in the world. People use communication to transfer information to others. Even at work people used to be a part of a small group in order to accomplish some project or express their views on some topic. Learning how to work effectively in a group situation is key to success in many professions as well as in social situations. This is not an easy task because the group is composed by different type of personality; so different point of view. This makes the work difficult, but encountering and working with different temperaments and personalities, we are developing ourselves, we are socializing, and of course, we achieve a completely unique the results of our work by our dissimilarity and heterogeneity