CHAPTER TWO
Groups As Systems
I. Lecture/discussion on systems
A. Briefly review the main elements of a system (interconnectedness,
adaptability to change, and influence of size).
B. The concept of openness and boundary control in systems will probably
require the most discussion and application.
II. Excerpt from the movie, The Breakfast Club
A. Show early segment in which Judd Nelson character is particularly obnoxious
and difficult to manage.
B. Points
1. Interconnectedness – what one student does (most significantly Judd Nelson
the trouble-maker) affects the entire group (ripple effect).
2. Dealing with a difficult group member
a. What steps did group members take to deal with the Judd Nelson
character? How successful were these steps.
b. Apply the text suggestions for dealing with difficult group members.
III. “Group Synergy: Group Versus Individual Performance” exercise
NOTE: This exercise can be used here or at the end of Chapter Three (performing). See
the ancillary videotape, Working Together, for a depiction of this exercise.
A. Purposes:
1. To demonstrate group synergy phenomenon.
2. To illustrate under what conditions groups outperform individuals.
B. Time required: approximately 35 minutes (including processing)
C. Instructions:
1. Divide the class into four groups of about equal size (5-7 per group). Term
groups work well for this exercise.
2. Designate three of the groups to work on the test separately from each other
for fifteen minutes.
3. The remaining group will be for comparison. Split up the members and have
them work as individuals for the full fifteen minutes with no contact with
other individuals.
4. If the classroom itself is fairly small, playing classical or New Age music,
ocean sounds, bird chirping, whale songs, etc. at moderate volume will keep
groups from hearing answers from each other. Instruct all groups to whisper
5. Distribute the test and have each group designate answers on a single answer
D. Processing the exercise
1. Announce the correct answers and any explanation of answers required. Have
groups and individuals (comparison) determine how many correct answers
they obtained.
2. Have individuals compute their scores. Also have individuals determine the
highest and the lowest scores among them (range) and the mean score
(average) of all individuals.
3. Compare the results. In virtually all cases, group scores will be higher than
any individual score and way above the mean score of all individuals
combined. Why? (See text)
a. Group synergy comes from pooling resources/knowledge. No
individual is likely to know the answers to every question, but in
groups, only one of the group members needs to know the correct
b. Groups can share the load by dividing labor (split up the questions
among the group members). In this way groups can sometimes
complete a complex task more quickly than an individual.
c. Group synergy will also result from the error correction function of
groups. A single group member can show why an answer is incorrect,
moving the group to choose an alternative answer.
d. No individual is likely to be an expert on entire complex task.
TEST A
1. “Baste” is a sewing term meaning to
a. pin a pattern to the fabric
b. iron out pleats in the fabric
c. fasten fabric parts with loose, temporary stitches
d. hem a dress or pants by hand with pins and needles
2. A “Windsor Knot” is
a. a wind coming out of the west going 20 or more nautical miles per hour
b. a British symbol of royalty
c. a slipknot put in a halyard
d. a double slipknot used in a necktie
3. A “Flea-flicker” is
a. a brand of flea repellant for pets
b. an unusual play in football
c. a type of cocktail
d. slang for novice veterinarian
4. A bundt cake is
a. a cake cooked in a tube pan
b. a German sausage made into round patty cakes
c. a Swedish pastry
d. a three-tiered wedding cake
5. A man bought a horse for $60 and sold it for $70. He later bought the same horse
back for $80 and sold it again for $90. What was the net result of his transactions?
a. He lost $10
b. He broke even
c. He made $10
d. He made $20
6. Ubiquitous means
a. rebellious
b. everywhere
c. gigantic
d. revolting
7. Perfunctory means
a. superficial
b. punctual
c. probing
d. animated
8. Contentious means
a. advocatory
b. sarcastic
c. quarrelsome
d. persuasive
9. Mundane means
a. dog-like
b. bothersome
c. commonplace
d. moist
10. John weighs himself every Thanksgiving. His average weight over the past five years
is 150 pounds. He is happy because for the first four years his average weight was
155. What does he weigh this Thanksgiving?
a. 120 pounds
b. 145 pounds
c. 150 pounds
d. 130 pounds
Each equation below contains the initials of words that will make it correct. Find the
missing words. For example: 60= M in an H is minutes in an hour.
11. 20,000 = L under the S _______________________
12. 3 = T in a T _________________________
13. 100 = Y in a FF ________________________
14. 3 = BM (S H T R) _____________________
15. A very tall man with a red polka dot tie was walking along the side of the road. He
was run over by 3 trucks and 4 cars (all made in the USA). He was not harmed in the
least; not a mark on him. How could this happen?
16. Two men are playing checkers. They played five games and each man wins the same
number of games with no draws. How can you figure this out? In the example below,
the first two nouns are related in some way. Discover the relationship, then determine
the same relationship between the next pair of nouns.
Example: Ford is to automobile as Cessna is to airplane.
17. Finger is to touch as Ear is to
a. music
b. hearing
c. noise
d. shouting
18. Civic is to Bib as Radar is to
a. dinner
b. planet
c. team
d. level
19. A woman has 2 coins (U. S.) in her hand which total 55 cents in value. One is not a
nickle. What are the coins?
20. A riddle! What gets larger the more you take away?
Interpret the following:
21. WEAR
LACE
22. He’s / Himself
23. PLANE
PLANE
24. KNEE
LIGHT
25. The Roman numeral for 654 is _________
Total correct:__________
ANSWERS:
TEST B
1. A two-cycle gasoline engine is
a. one with two pistons
b. one which combines diesel and unleaded gasoline
c. one with only two valves
d. one which uses a mixture of gasoline and oil
2. A balk is
a. a legal hesitation or checked swing of a bat in baseball
b. a penalty kick in soccer
c. an illegal pitching motion in baseball
d. a windup used by the bowler in cricket
3. Selvage is a sewing term that refers to
a. the edge of woven fabric finished to prevent raveling.
b. the hem of a dress
c. remnants of fabric once the pattern has been cut
d. lining used to reinforce fabric
4. Roux is a cooking term that refers to
a. a mixture of flour and eggs
b. a cooked mixture of flour and butter
c. a cooked mixture of flour and corn starch
d. a mixture of brown sugar and egg whites
5. A woman bought a chair for $110 and sold it for $120. She later bought the same
chair back for $130 and sold it again for $140. What was the net result of her
transactions?
a. She lost $10
b. She broke even
c. She made $10
d. She made $20
6. Disingenuous means
a. naive
b. lacking in virtue
c. lacking in candor
d. lacking magical powers
7. Superfluous means
a. unnecessary
b. outstanding
c. outrageous
d. highly liquefied
8. Plebeian means
a. a high ranking military officer during the reign of Julius Caesar
b. a common person
c. a person who exercises authority over others
d. another name for a hustler
9. Reverberate means
a. to echo
b. to vibrate
c. to pound
d. to pluck strings on a harp
10. You have flipped a coin five times and heads or tails has come up in the
following sequence: H H T T T. What is the probability that the next coin flip
will come up Tails?
a. 1 in 5 (20%)
b. 1 in 4 (25%)
c. 1 in 6 (16.67%)
d. 1 in 2 (50%)
Each familiar equation below contains the initials of words that will make it correct. Find
the missing words. For example: 60 = M in an H is minutes in an hour.
11. 12 = D of C ____________________
12. 100 = C in a M ____________________
13. 90 = D in a RA ___________________
14. 13 = BD ____________________
15. Bitter sweet is an example of
a. dangling participle
b. spoonerism
c. oxymoron
d. alliteration
Interpret the following:
16. STAND = ___________________
EYE
17. ZERO = ____________________
PhD
MA
BA
18. CYCLE = ___________________
CYCLE
CYCLE
19. /R/E/A/D/I/N/G = _________________
20. The number 1194 in Roman numerals is ____________
21. Here is the number: IX. By the addition of one line, how
can you make it into a 6?
In the example below, the first two nouns are related in some way. Discover the
relationship, then determine the same relationship between the next pair of nouns.
Example: Ford is to automobile as Cessna is to airplane.
22. DEED is to CIVIC as POP is to:
a. Road
b. Divot
c. Madam
d. Load
23. Jeweler is to Vivid as Silicic is to:
a. Coincident
b. Carat
c. Mythology
d. Quartz
24. A woman gives two buckets marked 7 gallons and 4 gallons (but no other
markings) to her friend and tells him to get EXACTLY ten gallons of water from
the river. He asks how he is supposed to get exactly ten gallons of water since the
buckets have no markings except total volume. She says, “Figure it out. I’ve been
doing it for years.” Puzzled, he sees you coming his way. He explains his
predicament. Below, tell him how to solve the problem.
25. Homer weighs himself every New Years Day. His average weight over the past
five years is 217 pounds. He is encouraged because for the first four years his
average weight was 225 pounds. What does he weigh this New Year’s Day (the
fifth year)?
a. 195 pounds
b. 185 pounds
c. 203 pounds
d. 190 pounds
Total correct: _______
ANSWERS:
IV. The Keirsey Temperament Sorter II
A. Purpose: to identify different personality types as possible source of perceiving
group members as “difficult.”
B. Time required: approximately 20 minutes (if filled out and scored in advance)
C. Instructions
2. Have students follow the instructions provided on the Web site.3. Break
students into groups and have them discuss the results of the Keirsey
Temperament Sorter.
D. Processing
1. How similar to or different from other group members is each individual?
2. Discuss different temperaments as a possible source of the perception
“difficult group member.” Discuss ways to deal with difficult group members
V. “Influence of Size” exercise
A. Purposes:
1. To demonstrate how increasing the size of a group significantly alters the
dynamics of group interaction in several ways.
2. To demonstrate the principle that the most appropriate group size is the
smallest size capable of performing the task effectively.
B. Time required: 20-30 minutes
C. Instructions:
1. Break participants into 3-member groups.
2. Hand out first set of geography questions (or TV trivia questions depending
on which version you choose to do) to all groups. All groups will have 90
3. Break participants into 6-7 member groups (combine two 3-member groups).
4. Hand out second set of questions. Allow 90 seconds or 2 minutes for groups
to answer, then correct.
5. Break participants into 12-15 member groups.
6. Hand out third set of questions. Allow 90 seconds or 2 minutes for groups to
answer, then correct.
7. Finally, have entire class work together on the last set of questions. Allow 90
seconds or 2 minutes, then correct.
NOTE: all groups try to agree on one set of answers for each set of questions (one
answer sheet per group)
D. Processing the exercise:
1. Group satisfaction: groups of 6-7 are usually most satisfying for
students. Discuss the pros and cons of smaller and larger group
2. Factionalism: subgroup factions usually develop as the group size
increases.
3. Isolates vs. dominants: some individuals drop out of the discussions as the
group size increases, and groups usually do not notice this nor encourage
4. Leadership: the most verbal group member usually becomes the leader,
especially of larger groups, unless the group perceives him/her as an
obnoxious, arrogant, or difficult person.
5. Complexity: as group size increases, complexity increases. This exercise
shows this clearly.
6. Decision-making methods: as complexity increases with larger group size,
groups establish decision-making methods. Majority rule is most probable
method chosen in U.S. society. Votes will usually be taken in the larger
groups during this exercise. The short time allowed to make decisions also
7. Group pressure: larger groups apply less pressure than smaller groups