Small group Comm:

Small group properties:

Types of small groups:

Group cohesion and climate: the togetherness and aspects of environment within a group, respectively.

Characteristics: group dynamic depends on the purpose of, people in, and goal of the group.

Ups and downs of small groups:

Task-oriented group: formed to solve a problem, promote a cause, or generate ideas or information.

Relation-oriented groups: formed to promote interpersonal connections and are more focused on quality interactions that contribute to the well-being of group members.

Ups: shared decision making, shared resources, synergy, and exposure to diversity.

Downs: lack of feedback, input, questioning, and proposals for alternatives.

Problem Solving: involves thoughts, discussions, actions, and decisions that occur from the first consideration of a problematic situation to the goal.

Problem solving process:

Generate possible solutions

Evaluate solutions

Analyze the problem

Implement and Assess the Solution

Define the Problem

Decision making

Decision-making Techniques:

Brainstorming should come first: 

  1. Wild and crazy ideas are encouraged.

  1. Quantity of ideas, not quality, is the goal.

  1. Evaluation of ideas is forbidden

  1. New combinations of ideas presented are encouraged.

Discussion before decision making:

Protocol

Do a warm up session first

Eliminate duplicate ideas

Do the actual brainstorming session

Clarify, organize, and evaluate ideas. 

  1. Create a master list of ideas.

  1. Clarify ideas as needed.

  1. Silently and individually list ideas.

  1. Take a secret vote to rank group members’ acceptance of ideas.

Minority rule by expert

Majority rule

Minority rule by authority

Consensus rule

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Efficient in large groups

Each vote is equal

Quick

Neglects groups synergy to come up with more satisfying answers

Minority may feel alienated

Close decisions result in "buy-in"

Decision quality is higher

Experts tend to be objective

Quick

Experts can be difficult to find/pay for

Group members may feel useless

Experts must be verified

Buy-in could be high if authority is respected.

Quick

Group members may try to sway the authority or gain their attention

If authority is seen as illegitimate, leading to less buy-in

Unethical authorities could make decisions that benefit themselves and harm the group.

Higher commitment because of participation in decision

Satisfaction with decision because of shared agreement

High-quality decisions due to time invested

Difficult to manage idea and personal conflict that can emerge as ideas are debated

Decisons can be alright but not ideal.

Time consuming