June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

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Individual and Group Dynamics

Source: USDA Social Sciences Institute

2June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Individual and Group DynamicsIndividual and Group DynamicsSession GoalSession Goal

Group dynamics

Individual dynamics

Dynamics of group decision making

3June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Four Stages of Group Four Stages of Group DevelopmentDevelopment

Forming

Storming

Norming

Performing

Source: USDA Social Sciences Institute

4June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

FormingForming Orientation Formation Gathering information Determining place in the group Feelings --hopeful, some anxiety,

high expectations Morale - moderately high Productivity low

Source: USDA Social Sciences Institute

5June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

StormingStorming

Dissatisfaction

Separation

Feelings - frustrated, confused,

dissatisfaction

Morale - low

Productivity - low-moderateSource: USDA Social Sciences Institute

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NormingNormingResolutionRole clarificationWorking through gap between hopes

and reality and interpersonal difficulties

Developing harmony, trust, support, and mutual respect

Productivity - moderately highMorale - improving

Source: USDA Social Sciences Institute

7June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

PerformingPerformingProductionUnificationFeeling satisfaction/excitementWorking collaboratively &

interdependentlyPerforming at high levels: synergy &

successProductivity highMorale high

Source: USDA Social Sciences Institute

8June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Stages of Group Development

Collaboration

Forming

Storming

Norming

Performing

Source: Modified from the USDA Social Sciences Institute

9June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Participant Styles and Roles Participant Styles and Roles Individual Types of BehaviorsIndividual Types of Behaviors

Facilitative behaviors are the actions

one takes to make meetings run

smoother - functional

Dysfunctional behavior reduces the

group’s effectiveness through actions

or omissions (not sharing data).

10June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Individual DynamicsIndividual DynamicsParticipant Styles and RolesParticipant Styles and Roles

Source: USDA Social Sciences Institute

11June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Participant Style and RoleParticipant Style and Role

InitiatorInitiator

Source: USDA Social Sciences Institute

12June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Participant Style and RoleParticipant Style and Role

The CriticThe Critic

Source: USDA Social Sciences Institute

13June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Participant Style and RoleParticipant Style and Role

The Supporter - ElaboratorThe Supporter - Elaborator

Source: USDA Social Sciences Institute

14June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Participant Style and RoleParticipant Style and Role

The VolunteerThe Volunteer

Source: USDA Social Sciences Institute

15June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Participant Style and RoleParticipant Style and Role

The RecorderThe Recorder

Source: USDA Social Sciences Institute

16June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Participant Style and RoleParticipant Style and Role

The Go-Between / GatekeeperThe Go-Between / Gatekeeper

Source: USDA Social Sciences Institute

17June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Participant Style and RoleParticipant Style and Role

The Group Process ObserverThe Group Process Observer

Source: USDA Social Sciences Institute

18June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Participant Style and RoleParticipant Style and Role

The Flexible LeaderThe Flexible Leader

Source: USDA Social Sciences Institute

19June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Participant Style and Role Facilitative Participants

• Are active participants in the discussion

• Listen carefully and are open to others’

ideas

• Help the group stay focused

• Support the ground rules

• Help the facilitator remain substantially

neutral and the recorder be accurate

20June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Participant Style and RoleParticipant Style and Role Facilitative AttitudesFacilitative Attitudes

Neutral - suspending thoughts or feelings

Win/Win - agreements are possible

and desirableFlexible - move with the groupNon-defensive - keeps the focus

off you

Source: USDA Social Sciences Institute

21June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Facilitating Individual Facilitating Individual and Group Behaviorsand Group Behaviors

Preventions - done at the start of or

during the that prevent the meeting

from going off tract

Interventions - done during the

meeting that help get the meeting

back on tractSource: USDA Social Sciences Institute

22June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Dynamics of Group Dynamics of Group Decision- MakingDecision- Making

Divergent thinking

Convergent thinking

Source: Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making, S. Kaner, 1996

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Divergent ThinkingDivergent Thinking

Generating alternatives

Free-for-all open discussion

Gathering diverse points of view

Breaking down a problem into pieces

Source: Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making, S. Kaner, 1996

24June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Convergent ThinkingConvergent Thinking

Evaluating alternatives

Summarizing key points

Sorting ideas into categories

Arriving at a general conclusion

Source: Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making, S. Kaner, 1996

25June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

The Groan ZoneThe Groan Zone

Divergent thinking

Groan Zone ConvergentThinking

Source: Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making, S. Kaner, 1996

26June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

The Diamond of Participatory The Diamond of Participatory Decision-MakingDecision-Making

Groan ZoneDiverge Zone

ConvergeZone

NewTopic

Closure Zone

Source: Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making, S. Kaner, 1996

27June 2002 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Individual and Group Individual and Group Dynamics Module SummaryDynamics Module Summary

Group dynamics

Individual dynamics

Dynamics of group decision making