Working and Working and WritingWriting

in Teamsin Teams

Module EighteenModule Eighteen

Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Learning Objectives

LO 18-1 Identify message types for the group’s attention.

LO 18-2 Classify roles for group members.LO 18-3 Apply strategies for leadership without

arrogance.LO 18-4 Apply strategies for conflict resolution.LO 18-5 Apply strategies for co-authorship of

documents.

18-2

Possible Group Ground Rules

18-3

What kinds of messages should groups attend to?

Informational Focus on the problem or challenge, data, and

possible solutions. Procedural

Focus on methods and process. Interpersonal

Focus on people, promoting friendliness, cooperation, and group loyalty.

18-4

Stages of Group Development

Orientation Members meet and begin to define their task develop social cohesiveness.

Formation Members choose a leader and define the

problem.

18-5

Stages of Group Development

Coordination Members do most of the work; the longest

phase. Formalization

Members seek consensus.

18-6

What roles do people play in groups?

18-7

What roles do people play in groups?

Encouraging Participation

Relieving Tensions Checking Feelings Solving Interpersonal

Problems Listening Actively

18-8

What roles do people play in groups?

18-9

Leadership in Groups

Informational leaders generate and evaluate ideas and text.

Interpersonal leaders monitor the group’s process, check people’s

feelings, and resolve conflicts.

18-10

Leadership in Groups

Procedural leaders set the agenda, make sure that everyone knows

what’s due for the next meeting, communicate with absent group members, and check to be sure that assignments are carried out.

18-11

Characteristics of Successful Student Groups

1. The leader sets clear deadlines, scheduled frequent meetings, and dealt directly with conflict that emerged in the group

2. Listens to criticism and makes important decisions together

3. Has a higher proportion of members who work actively on projects

18-12

Leading Without Being Arrogant

18-13

Peer Pressure and Groupthink

Groupthink The tendency for

groups to put such a high premium on agreement that they directly or indirectly punish dissent.

18-14

Peer Pressure and Groupthink

The best correctives to groupthink are to Consciously search for additional alternatives Test assumptions against those of a range of other

people Encourage disagreement Protect the right of people in a group to disagree

18-15

How should we handle conflict?

Make responsibilities and ground rules clear at the beginning.

Discuss problems as they arise. Realize that group members are not

responsible for each others’ happiness.

18-16

Troubleshooting Group Problems

18-17

How should we handle conflict?

Make sure that the people involved really disagree

Check to see that everyone’s information is correct

Discover the needs each person is trying to meet

Search for alternatives Repair bad feelings

18-18

To Respond to Criticism

Paraphrase Check for feelings Check for inferences Buy time with

limited agreement

18-19

How can we create the best co-authored documents?

Make your analysis of the problem, the audience, and your purposes explicit

Plan the organization, format, and style of the document before anyone begins to write

Consider your work styles and other commitments Build some leeway into your deadlines.

18-20

How can we create the best co-authored documents?

Allow time to discuss problems and find solutions. Get to know group members. Be a responsible group member. Be aware of differences in seeing things and

expressing ideas. Don’t assume that because the discussion went

smoothly, a draft written by one person will necessarily be acceptable.

18-21