Exam 10: Working in Groups

Identify and describe the advantages and disadvantages of working in a group. Demonstrate your understanding by providing relevant examples for each.

Your textbook's definition of group communication consists of six essential elements: people, common goal, interaction, working, achieve, interdependent. Combine these terms into a coherent definition of group communication and explain the importance of each element of the definition.

Your textbook identifies task, maintenance, and self-centered group roles. Identify and describe two different roles you have assumed in group settings. Be specific. Identify the role, describe your behavior, and analyze how your roles help or hinder a group in achieving its common goal.

According to a study by Larson and LaFasto, leadership is the single and most important factor that separates successful groups from unsuccessful groups.

An Opinion Seeker is fulfilling a group maintenance role.

When a group recognizes the existence of any hidden agendas, they should share them immediately with the rest of the group.

What is the ideal group size for a problem-solving discussion?

If a group member were to say, "That's a stupid idea. Think you could come up with anything better?" as a way of intimidating others, asserting authority, or monopolizing discussion, you are witnessing someone fulfilling which of the common self-centered roles?

Before the meeting ends, Tom says, "Before our next meeting, let me know if you will need a projector and laptop again." This statement would most likely be made by a group member functioning in the role of

Jackie wants her employer to adopt the use of energy saving light bulbs and volunteers to serve on an inventory control committee. While she publicly supports the committee's work, Jackie finds ways of using the committee to advance her energy saving goals. Jackie's private goal conflicts with the group's common goal. This kind of conflict is known as

In terms of the 5-M Model of Leadership Effectiveness, what leadership function is best characterized by a leader who behaves consistently and assertively, confronts problems head-on, works to generate solutions, and champions the group and its goals?

Women are less likely than men to be preselected as leaders.

A group experiencing second tension is likely to have several members speaking at the same time.

When members provide useful information, ask important questions, analyze problems, and help the group stay organized, they are exhibiting what type of role behavior?

When a group member exhibits a unique set of skills or behavioral patterns that serve specific functions within the group, that member has assumed a

Read the following four scenarios. Choose two scenarios and explain why the member's behavior is ethical or unethical. Scenario 1: A group member assigned to take notes at a meeting changes the wording of recommendations and motions so they reflect her personal preferences. Scenario 2: Despite the strong protests of members who are accustomed to lax rules and lush parties at the annual sales meeting, a new company president insists that all members attend every work session or face penalties such as fines or demotions. Scenario 3: Gilda knows that her group could solve a serious problem if she shared some private information she has. Rather than sharing, she lets the group struggle and falter. Gilda then presents her solution to the powers-that-be and takes full credit for solving the problem. Scenario 4: After Rudolph explains his recommendations to a group, members reject his ideas without discussion. Rudolph believes that his contributions were purposely ignored, so he shares his ideas with his manager and expresses his concerns about the group's refusal to consider a different point of view.

A review of leadership studies estimates that leadership incompetence is as high as 60 to 75 percent and that 50 percent of leaders hired by organizations are doomed to fail.

Define and explain the nature and importance of group norms. Under what condition does group member conformity and nonconformity help a group achieve its common goal?

Identify and discuss three of the five functions in the 5-M Model of Leadership Effectiveness. Which of these functions would be the most difficult for you to assume? Explain why this function would be difficult.

In problem-solving groups with more than 7 members, members tend to divide into subgroups.