Understanding Understanding GroupsGroups

You will discover the characteristics, You will discover the characteristics, importance, & purpose of groupsimportance, & purpose of groups

&&

The ways to effectively participate in The ways to effectively participate in groupsgroups

GroupsGroups• Groups are defined as a limited gathering Groups are defined as a limited gathering

of people with a shared goal who meet of people with a shared goal who meet face to face over a period of time.face to face over a period of time.

• Groups frequently set goals and implement Groups frequently set goals and implement them over a cycle. One of the most them over a cycle. One of the most effective is:effective is:

OrientationOrientation 1-2 1-2 meetinmeetingsgs

Introductions, set goals, Introductions, set goals, divide responsibilitiesdivide responsibilities

ActionAction Middle Middle meetinmeetingsgs

Interact, research, & Interact, research, & develop goals, develop goals, conclusion on conclusion on completion of goalscompletion of goals

ImplementatImplementationion

Last Last few few meetinmeetingsgs

Implement solution or Implement solution or present findings to present findings to management groupmanagement group

Groups- typically benefit Groups- typically benefit two areastwo areas

OrganizationOrganization

• Increase Increase Productivity of Productivity of OrganizationOrganization

• Increase Increase AccuracyAccuracy• Encourage Encourage

Creative EnergyCreative Energy• Create Create

Organizational Organizational CommitmentCommitment

• Create a Create a Community Community PresencePresence

IndividualIndividual• Create Create Political Political

Influence-Influence- local, local, state, & nationalstate, & national

• Influence Influence Career Career Advancement-Advancement- positive positive development of development of participation skillsparticipation skills

• Job Satisfaction-Job Satisfaction- groups create a groups create a more positive more positive work environmentwork environment

Kinds of GroupsKinds of Groups• Task Groups-Task Groups-

complete an complete an assignment or jobassignment or job– Information GatheringInformation Gathering– Policy MakingPolicy Making– Action GroupsAction Groups

• Social Groups-Social Groups- voluntary voluntary participationparticipation– FormalFormal– InformalInformal

Try This...Try This...• At your table “groups”, make a list of At your table “groups”, make a list of

the groups you all are a part of and the groups you all are a part of and indicate if they are either a task group indicate if they are either a task group or a social group. or a social group.

• Now, what is one goal of each group? Now, what is one goal of each group? Write that down, too.Write that down, too.

• Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of being a part of these groups.being a part of these groups.

• Come to a consensus of the best three Come to a consensus of the best three groups to be a part of and list why.groups to be a part of and list why.

Effective Effective ParticipationParticipation

•Planning is the most important Planning is the most important step in group participation...Why?step in group participation...Why?

•When planning for a group When planning for a group meeting what elements should meeting what elements should you consider?you consider?

Effective Effective ParticipationParticipation

The strongest groups are those who The strongest groups are those who effectively problem solve. You must be able toeffectively problem solve. You must be able to

– Understand the nature of the Understand the nature of the problem-problem- define & analyze define & analyze

– Create alternative solutions-Create alternative solutions- establish criteria for best establish criteria for best solution & list all possible solution & list all possible solutionssolutions

– Determine which solution is bestDetermine which solution is best– Implement that solutionImplement that solution

Try This...Try This...To practice problem solving in groups you will To practice problem solving in groups you will

need to create a method of protecting a raw need to create a method of protecting a raw egg from breaking in a 4 foot drop. egg from breaking in a 4 foot drop.

• Using only 3 feet of tape, scissors, & 15 Using only 3 feet of tape, scissors, & 15 sheets of paper, create a way to keep an egg sheets of paper, create a way to keep an egg from breaking from that height.from breaking from that height.

• You must follow the problem solving method You must follow the problem solving method on the previous screen. Your steps must be on the previous screen. Your steps must be written down for successful completion of written down for successful completion of the experiment.the experiment.

• You will not be given a egg to use until your You will not be given a egg to use until your methods are written down and your methods are written down and your construction is built.construction is built.

• Any person breaking an egg by irresponsible Any person breaking an egg by irresponsible means (i.e. by throwing the egg at another means (i.e. by throwing the egg at another person or object) will be referred; no person or object) will be referred; no questions, no excusesquestions, no excuses

Egg Drop Soup..Egg Drop Soup..

• Which group seemed to use the most Which group seemed to use the most planning?planning?

• What did your group do that was What did your group do that was efficient & effective?efficient & effective?

• What was inefficient & ineffective about What was inefficient & ineffective about what your group did?what your group did?

• Why?Why?• Which drop method was the most Which drop method was the most

successful?successful?• Why?Why?

How groups work...How groups work...In the last exercise, you should have In the last exercise, you should have

noticed that the people in your noticed that the people in your group behave in different ways.group behave in different ways.

Any examples? Any examples?

How did you behave?How did you behave?

Participators in groups fall into three Participators in groups fall into three different categories:different categories:

The Initiator-The Initiator-• Works to get the group started Works to get the group started

toward achieving the goal.toward achieving the goal.– Positive Behaviors-Positive Behaviors- begins the begins the

meeting, makes lists, establishes meeting, makes lists, establishes contacts, encourages participationcontacts, encourages participation

– Negative Behaviors-Negative Behaviors- too aggressive, too aggressive, tries to control the tries to control the group, creates a hostile relationship group, creates a hostile relationship with other group memberswith other group members

The Facilitator-The Facilitator-

• Adds energy to the group by helping Adds energy to the group by helping group members follow through on tasks.group members follow through on tasks.– Positive Behaviors-Positive Behaviors- listens & listens &

cooperates, volunteers, makes sure cooperates, volunteers, makes sure everyone is heard, compliments others’ everyone is heard, compliments others’ ideasideas

– Negative Behaviors-Negative Behaviors- assumes too much assumes too much responsibility, does not delegate, tries responsibility, does not delegate, tries to keep too much peace within the to keep too much peace within the group- stifling useful conflictgroup- stifling useful conflict

The Agitator-The Agitator-• A usually A usually

nonproductive & nonproductive & negative role found in negative role found in most group situations. most group situations. This personality can This personality can be divided into six be divided into six categories:categories:

– Non-participantNon-participant– DistracterDistracter– ClownClown– ComplainerComplainer– CriticCritic– AbsenteeAbsentee

The best way to deal with this behavior is for the facilitator to move the group on before the agitator’s negative energy has a chance to influence the group.

The Dangers of The Dangers of “Groupthink”...“Groupthink”...

• Groupthink is the name for poor Groupthink is the name for poor decision making in a group because the decision making in a group because the members have a stronger desire to members have a stronger desire to agree with one another than to solve agree with one another than to solve the problem.the problem.

• Disagreement in groups in not always Disagreement in groups in not always negative. Some of the best ideas come negative. Some of the best ideas come from finding the solution to conflict.from finding the solution to conflict.

• Agitators can provide the necessary Agitators can provide the necessary catalyst to prevent groupthink.catalyst to prevent groupthink.

Determining RolesDetermining Roles• Tear small pieces of paper to match the Tear small pieces of paper to match the

number of people at your table.number of people at your table.• On the paper write initiator, facilitator, On the paper write initiator, facilitator,

and agitator repeating whatever your and agitator repeating whatever your group wants.group wants.

• Have each member draw a paper and Have each member draw a paper and prepare to play that role in a table prepare to play that role in a table discussion. discussion.

• Your topic, “What programs should the Your topic, “What programs should the school implement to encourage school implement to encourage attendance and discourage truancy?”attendance and discourage truancy?”

• Have the discussion in your character role.Have the discussion in your character role.

DiscussionsDiscussions

• Which person in your group was the Which person in your group was the most successful at their role?most successful at their role?

• What did they do to indicate the What did they do to indicate the behavior.behavior.

• What conclusions did the group What conclusions did the group come up with for the problem?come up with for the problem?

• Was this a successful or Was this a successful or unsuccessful discussion?unsuccessful discussion?

Group Group DiscussionDiscussionOnce the group Once the group

has established has established its roles, group its roles, group discussion may discussion may begin. There begin. There are four are four qualities that qualities that effective group effective group discussion must discussion must show:show:

Group Discussion Group Discussion must be:must be:

• interactiveinteractive..• focusedfocused..

• organizedorganized..• cooperativecooperative..

Group Group DiscussionDiscussion

Usually groups have a person assigned to Usually groups have a person assigned to guide the discussion as facilitator. guide the discussion as facilitator. However, all group members must However, all group members must participate in the consensus building participate in the consensus building process.process.

Working together includes deciding on the Working together includes deciding on the meeting time and place, the agenda, and meeting time and place, the agenda, and planning and implementation of any final planning and implementation of any final decisions. decisions.

If you are the facilitator:If you are the facilitator:• Make sure every Make sure every

group member can group member can see every other see every other group membergroup member

• Obtain enough Obtain enough chairs for everyone chairs for everyone to be seatedto be seated

• Regulate the room Regulate the room temperature to be temperature to be comfortable for comfortable for most membersmost members

• Make sure the Make sure the room is ready at room is ready at the appointed timethe appointed time

• Locate & provide Locate & provide (including set up) (including set up) any necessary any necessary presentation presentation equipment.equipment.

• Provide an agenda Provide an agenda for the other for the other membersmembers

Now that you know how Now that you know how groups work:groups work:

You will participate in all of the areas You will participate in all of the areas of group behavior by:of group behavior by:

CREATING A NEWS BROADCAST!!CREATING A NEWS BROADCAST!!

In groups of five you will each write, In groups of five you will each write, produce, and film a segment of a produce, and film a segment of a news broadcast which you will show news broadcast which you will show to the class.to the class.

You will have five You will have five segments-segments-

• Three news stories:Three news stories:– 1 International/National News Story1 International/National News Story– 1 State/Local News Story1 State/Local News Story– 1 Feature Story1 Feature Story

• Sports/WeatherSports/Weather• A Commercial/Public Service A Commercial/Public Service

AnnouncementAnnouncement

It may be a real or fictitious story. Each It may be a real or fictitious story. Each group member must write one segment group member must write one segment as an individual grade.as an individual grade.

TimeTime::

• The total broadcast will be ten minutes The total broadcast will be ten minutes arranged with each segment taking up arranged with each segment taking up two minutes. The segments taking less two minutes. The segments taking less than two minutes must have an additional than two minutes must have an additional program to make up the time. (a public program to make up the time. (a public service announcement, an additional service announcement, an additional commercial, another news story, etc) commercial, another news story, etc)

• You will be timed. You will be timed.

SuppliesSupplies::• For this project you will need to bring For this project you will need to bring

pen or pencil and paper to class pen or pencil and paper to class everyday. everyday.

• You might also need poster board, You might also need poster board, markers, collage magazines, markers, collage magazines, transparencies, visual aid materials, and transparencies, visual aid materials, and research materials to class as the need research materials to class as the need arises. I cannot provide these things for arises. I cannot provide these things for you. you.

• You will also need to procure a tape to You will also need to procure a tape to tape upon. (VHS or Mini DV, depending tape upon. (VHS or Mini DV, depending on your choice of camera)on your choice of camera)

Group FacilitatorGroup Facilitator::

• One person in the group must take One person in the group must take responsibility for leading group responsibility for leading group meetings and for organizing the meetings and for organizing the group to make sure every duty is group to make sure every duty is completed by the due date. This completed by the due date. This person will receive extra points for person will receive extra points for taking this responsibility if the taking this responsibility if the broadcast is successful. broadcast is successful.

Assignments:Assignments:• Initial submission Initial submission

of responsibilities of responsibilities – (1 grade for (1 grade for

group)group)• Production Production

storyboardsstoryboards – (1 grade per (1 grade per

producer)producer)• Scripts in split-Scripts in split-

page format page format – (1 grade per (1 grade per

writer)writer)

• Performance gradePerformance grade – (1 grade per (1 grade per

anchor)anchor)• Cooperation gradeCooperation grade

– (1 grade per (1 grade per group) - group) - contingent on contingent on ease of productionease of production

• Final product grade Final product grade – (1 grade per (1 grade per

group x 3)group x 3)

TodayToday

• You need to come up with the initial You need to come up with the initial submission of responsibilities.submission of responsibilities.

• Decide who is producing each story, Decide who is producing each story, writing each story, and filming each writing each story, and filming each story.story.

• Also decide on three meeting times and Also decide on three meeting times and places (one must be outside of class) places (one must be outside of class) and an agenda for each meeting.and an agenda for each meeting.

• This must be turned in today.This must be turned in today.