Chapter 10
Principles of Group Communication
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CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
• Demonstrate the importance of small groups to our lives.
• Explain the central role of communication in small group dynamics.
CHAPTER OUTLINE
CHAPTER INTRODUCTION
• The chapter opens with a small group scenario involving a class project. Tamika, Chantal, Isaac,
Haley, and Roderick were asked to create a presidential campaign. Although there were bumps
in the road, the team climate improved. The group members began to see the benefits of
working in a small group and produced a successful project.
SMALL GROUP CHARACTERISTICS
• A small group is a limited number of people who work toward a common goal and who believe
that, together, they can achieve more than any one of them acting alone.
• A popular term for a small group is a team, which often refers to groups with clearly defined
member responsibilities, rules, and goals.
• Small Group Communication
Small group communication is at the heart of group dynamics and involves the
constant efforts of group members to influence one another.
• These efforts are normal and necessary to create an effective group.
Although small groups have end goals, they also must focus on how the people within
the group communicate with each other as they strive to meet those goals.
• Types
skills and knowledge that are necessary for the particular assignment.
• A quality control circle is another type of committee whose goal is to
find a way to improve the company’s performance.
• In a self-managed work team, skilled peers oversee their own schedules and
work policies within the boundaries of their parent company—with little
supervision.
• Group Size
The general rule of thumb is to create a group with the smallest number of people
needed to reach its purpose.
In most situations, three- to six-member groups have the best chance of working
effectively and reaching their goals.
Size and complexity
• The number of people in a group changes the degree of effort and coordination
needed to communicate well.
• Networks are patterns of information flow that are used by a group to
communicate.
Size and stability
• Groups have a potential for stability that two-person relationships lack. If a
group loses one member, it still can carry on.
• Group stability is also a function of the specific roles that members play.
• Compared to pairs, groups more overtly define, discuss, and debate their goals
and their roles as they try to balance their individual desires with a shared group
responsibility.
• Group socialization is a process that requires all members to exhibit open and
sensitive communication when new members appear in a group.
• Established members should develop a positive attitude about the
ADVANTAGES OF SMALL GROUPS
• Individuals are great problem solvers, but groups can sometimes surpass an individual’s ability.
• Diverse Perspectives
Working with others allows us to draw on everyone’s unique experiences and
perspectives.
Heterogeneity is member difference.
Homogeneity is member similarity.
In groups that are highly heterogeneous, group members have to provide more
background information for their ideas and are more likely to disagree with each other.
SMALL GROUP DYNAMICS
• Small group dynamics are all the ways that members communicate with one another, both
verbally and nonverbally.
• Small Group Roles
Members take on roles that serve various functions. These roles may be classified as
work, social, or selfish in nature.
Work roles
• In a group in which members are fulfilling work roles, you’ll likely see people
asking good questions, supplying valuable information, and synthesizing that
information.
• Initiators suggest the group’s goal and offer new ideas or propose new solutions.
• Evaluators offer their own judgments about the ideas put forward.
• Synthesizers identify emerging agreements and disagreements among the group as
a whole, noting relationships among ideas.
• Recorders take notes during meetings, tracking major decisions and plans made by
the group.
• Harmonizers decrease tension in the group—whether by infusing humor at the
right time or by making positive and optimistic comments.
• Compromisers attempt to find common ground between adversaries within the
group, offering solutions that appeal to those on both sides of the conflict.
• Encouragers inspire other group members by complimenting their ideas and work.
or opinions.
• Withdrawers refuse to make any contribution or participate in the discussion.
• Dominators usually monopolize group interactions, interrupt others, argue for the
sake of arguing, and insist on having the last word.
• Distracters are the opposite of harmonizers and send the group in irrelevant
• Group Development
Groups go through different stages of development—just like personal relationships
do—as they seek their goal.
Tuckman’s model (developed by Bruce Tuckman) uses five rhyming terms to describe
the different stages of group development—forming, storming, norming, performing,
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
• The twenty-first-century workplace involves greater diversity than ever before.
• Cultural diversity encompasses differences in attitudes, motives, beliefs, opinions, and skills and
can be a valuable asset for a team, but only if members recognize and appreciate it as such.
• Ethnocentric bias means that we use our own culture to interpret and evaluate the behaviors
of others.
Dispelling ethnocentric bias allows for more positive synergy—a collective level of
performance that is greater than anything created by any single member.
• Individualistic and Collectivist
Individualistic and collectivist variations reflect the degree that a culture values the
Uncertainty Avoidance
Given the amount of information processed by a group, uncertainty avoidance is
particularly relevant to small group dynamics.
High and Low Context
High- and low-context communication is related to individualistic and collectivist
variations and to uncertainty avoidance because it deals with the many verbal and
nonverbal messages shared within a group.
Mindful Communication
Mindful communication is characterized by thoughtful reflection, openness, and a
willingness to bridge differences.
Creativity
Enjoyment
• In one study, majority Caucasian groups were compared to minority-dominated
groups to see how individuals in the different groups assessed their level of
enjoyment with the group experience.
o Everyone enjoyed working in minority-dominated groups more and at no
cost to their work.
Keep three things in mind to manage group diversity effectively:
First, the influence of cultural values may not be seen early on, when members of the
SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Face-to-Face Communication
Advantages
• F2F communication is rich in content and relational meaning.
• Members adapt to one another easily.
• A sense of connection is immediate.
Disadvantages
• A social connection takes longer to build.
• The group feels less cohesive initially, more sterile.
• There are fewer verbal and nonverbal cues to help in interpreting others’
messages.
Text messaging
• Texting is best used for brief and routine messages.
• If you’re using it for more businesslike exchanges with group members, avoid
slang and verbal shortcuts.
• Avoid texting during face-to-face group meetings unless you’re being asked to
Meeting applications
• Meeting Application, MeetingMinutes, GoToMeeting, and Fuze are examples of
apps dedicated to helping groups host online meetings.
• Members are able to
o Connect with one another.
• IRC allows members to send messages at the same time (synchronously), so that
group members feel as if they are talking in real time.
Technology for Group Work and Document Sharing
Learning platforms (like Macmillan Learning’s LaunchPad) and general ones (such as
Google+, Wiggio, and EnterTheGroup) offer computer assistance for every aspect of
Guidelines for Using Technology for Group Work
First, figure out which type of technology is the most useful for your purposes.
EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN A SMALL GROUP
• Rules provide a road map for small group interaction.
• Prepare for Group Meetings.
If you are leading the meeting, make sure everyone knows the time and place.
• Make and distribute an agenda beforehand.
• At the actual meeting, remember to bring anything you need (handouts,
presentation aids) with you.
If you are an attendee, prepare yourself by reading any agenda or materials sent out
beforehand, and be prepared to discuss the mentioned topics.
• Listen Interactively.
As other members of your group share their ideas and comments, show that you are
listening through nonverbal cues (nodding, making eye contact, not looking at your
• Participate, Don’t Dominate.
The key ingredient to good group work is full participation by all members.
• However, full participation doesn’t happen automatically. It requires an
environment that supports participation—meaning that all members must
encourage it.
When you have a relevant point to make, share your idea, but don’t monopolize the
discussion.
• Fulfill Your Commitments.
As in a personal relationship, broken trust can be hard to recover, so make sure you
complete your group tasks on time, every time.
• Use Technology to Your Advantage.
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LIST OF KEY TERMS
networks
group socialization
heterogeneity
homogeneity
small group dynamics
conformity
uncertainty avoidance
high- and low-context
masculine-feminine
mindful communication
climate
Class Discussion Questions
1. How would you define small group, and what small groups have you been a part of? Based on the
goals of the group, which one of the six group “types” would they fall under?
• Students may need to take out a sheet of paper for this one as they ponder the groups of
which they’ve been a part. Give them a few minutes to reflect on this. They will need to
review the six group types listed below to determine if their groups fall within one or more
categories.
• Primary group: A primary group, such as our families or our friends, helps us with our needs
to be cared for and to connect with others and also teaches us how to socialize in groups.
• Secondary group: A secondary group is a task- or work-oriented group that we form to help
influence others and solve problems.
2. What are some disadvantages to working in small groups? What are some advantages?
• Students don’t always like to work in small groups, and they will let you know the reasons.
Students like to feel “in control” of their grade, and dividing up responsibilities is a scary
thought for some. I’ve had students ask me to eliminate the small group project component
of my course, but I always reiterate that group work is inevitable in the workforce. As
3. Groups go through different stages of development as they seek their goal. What is the difference
between Tuckman’s model and Gersick’s two-phase model?
• Students will agree that meeting people for the first time can be uncomfortable. But all
groups go through a series of stages prior to reaching a decision or solving a problem.
• Tuckman’s model: Tuckman’s model offers a linear approach to group stages of
4. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of face-to-face communication?
• Many people have become comfortable using mediated platforms for communication over
face-to-face communication. However, conversing face-to-face still has its advantages. Have
students write down some of the benefits to face-to-face communication if they aren’t
initially eager to respond to this question.
5. What are the six rules for effectively participating in small groups?
• Reiterate to students that the impressions that they make on others will last forever (this is
important for future job references). Students are observing others just as they are being
observed, so it’s best to strive for favorable impressions in all situations. Have students
provide you a list of what should transpire at group members to ensure progress. The
authors provide us with six rules:
APPLY YOUR SKILLS
APPLY YOUR SKILLS FROM CHAPTER 10
1. Look at the “Apply Your Skills” activity on page 317 in the text. After students complete the
activity, have them answer the following questions, either in a small group, in a class discussion, or
in writing:
MORE “APPLY YOUR SKILLS” IDEAS
1. Review the illustration “Centralized vs. Decentralized” on page 288 in the text. What is the
difference between a centralized group and a decentralized group? What are the benefits of each
style of communication? In what situations have you experienced each style of communication, and
which is your preference?
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PERSONAL WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
1. Have students think of a time when they have gone out to eat with their friends. What is the ideal
group size for participating in such an event and why? What happens when the group gets too large?
How does communication change when a larger group is present?
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Have students form groups of four or five people. Provide each group a bag of five “goodies” of
your choice (these could be things like sticky notes, a tape measure, or tissue paper). Instruct the
2. Have students form groups of four or five, and provide them with the following scenario: You are
on the leadership committee for a student organization on campus that is sponsoring a Valentine’s
Day dance at a local senior citizens’ center. The dance will be similar to a prom in American culture,
and the theme will be “Love Me Tender.” Your organization needs to raise funds to host the event,
so you’ve decided to have a candy bar fundraiser. During this fundraising process, one of the
committee members stole all of the funds and is now under criminal investigation. The money
cannot be retrieved, but the show must go on. As a committee, decide how you might plan a
3. Provide students the following scenario: You are on a global team for a pharmaceutical company,
and your company needs your team to develop a report on the benefits of a new device that
4. Provide students the following scenario: You have just been assigned to prepare a group
presentation for your communication class. Although you don’t know the other group members
very well, your classroom observations have led you to believe that most of the members are
5. Provide students the following scenario: You have just been assigned to prepare a group project
for your environmental science class, and you have two months to plan it. Your objective is to
coordinate a “Plant-a-Tree for Earth Day” event and persuade 50 students to participate in the
event. Your instructor has asked you to take on the project management role and has provided you a
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ADDITIONAL MEDIA RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES
1. Watch the movie The Sandlot (20th Century Fox, 1993). Scotty Smalls is a new kid in town who
2. Watch the movie The Breakfast Club (Universal Pictures, 1985). Five students have to serve an all-
day detention, and each has to write a 1,000 word essay describing who they are by the time
3. Watch the movie Space Camp (20th Century Fox, 1986). Apply the stages of group development
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HANDOUTS AND READY–TO–PRINT ACTIVITIES
Small Group Types
Think of all the small groups that you have been a part of, and list them in the first
column. In the second column, write the shared goal that the members of that group
were trying to reach. In the third column, indicate the group type for each small group
you belonged to.
Small Groups Shared Goals Group Types
Example: Hiring
committee
To fill a vacant position Committee