In Mixed Company Communicating in Small Groups and Teams (with InfoTrac)

by Rothwell, J. Dan

• ISBN13: 9780534606695
• ISBN10: 0534606695
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-07
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

1. Communication Competence. 2. Groups as Systems. 3. Group Development. 4. Developing the Group Climate. 5. Roles and Leadership in Groups. 6. Developing Effective Teams. 7. Group Discussion: Defective Decision Making and Problem Solving. 8. Group Discussion: Effective Decision Making and Problem Solving. 9. Power in Groups: A Central Dynamic. 10. Conflict Management in Groups.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
Communication Competence	1	(24)
Myths About Communication	4	(2)
Myth 1: Communication Is a Panacea	4	(1)
Myth 2: Communication Can Break Down	4	(1)
Myth 3: Effective Communication Is Merely Skill Building	5	(1)
Myth 4: Effective Communication Is Just Common Sense	5	(1)
Communication Defined	6	(6)
Communication Is Transactional	6	(1)
Communication Is a Process	7	(1)
Communication Is Sharing Meaning	8	(1)
Verbal Communication	8	(1)
Nonverbal Communication	9	(1)
Verbal and Nonverbal Interconnectedness	10	(1)
Context	11	(1)
Communication Competence	12	(13)
Competence Defined	12	(1)
Matter of Degree	12	(1)
We-not-Me Oriented	12	(1)
Focus on Culture: Individualism versus Collectivism: A Basic Cultural Difference	13	(3)
Effectiveness	16	(1)
Appropriateness	16	(1)
Elements of Competence	17	(1)
Knowledge	17	(1)
Skills	18	(1)
Sensitivity	19	(1)
Commitment	19	(1)
Ethics	19	(2)
Focus on Gender: Gender and Communication Competence	21	(4)
Groups as Systems	25	(26)
Interconnectedness of Parts	27	(7)
Ripple Effect	27	(2)
Synergy	29	(2)
Closer Look: Dealing with Difficult Group Members	31	(3)
Adaptability to Change	34	(8)
Boundary Control	34	(1)
Methods of Boundary Control	35	(2)
Closer Look: Bound and Gagged: Cult Boundary Control	37	(3)
Boundary Control and Group Effectiveness	40	(2)
Influence of Size	42	(6)
Group Size and Complexity	42	(1)
Quantitative Complexity	42	(1)
Complexity and Group Transactions	43	(1)
Groups versus Organizations	44	(2)
Closer Look: The Beatles as a System	46	(2)
Definition of Small Group	48	(3)
Group Development	51	(34)
Task and Social Dimensions	53	(2)
Closer Look: The Case of ``Hormones with Feet''	54	(1)
Periodic Phases of Group Development	55	(24)
Forming: Why We Join Groups	55	(1)
Interpersonal Attraction	56	(1)
Attraction to Group Activities	56	(1)
Attraction to Group Goals	56	(1)
Establishment of Meaning and Identity	56	(1)
Fulfillment of Unrelated Needs	57	(1)
Storming: Tension in Groups	58	(1)
Primary Tension	58	(1)
Secondary Tension	59	(2)
Norming: Regulating the Group	61	(1)
Types of Norms	61	(1)
Purpose and Development of Norms	62	(1)
Conforming to Norms	62	(2)
Conditions for Conformity to Norms	64	(1)
Closer Look: High School Cliques: A Lesson in Conformity	65	(1)
Nonconformity	66	(1)
Closer Look: Hazing Rituals	67	(4)
Performing: Group Output	71	(1)
Individual versus Group Performance	72	(3)
Closer Look: Social Loafing: Sapping a Group's Vitality	75	(2)
Risk-Taking and Polarization	77	(2)
Newcomers and Group Development	79	(6)
Nature of Group	80	(1)
Newcomer Strategies	81	(1)
Focus on Gender/Ethnicity Member Diversity and Group Development	82	(3)
Developing the Group Climate	85	(32)
Competitive versus Cooperative Climates	87	(12)
Definitions	87	(1)
Prevalence of Competition	88	(3)
Focus on Gender: Gender and Hypercompetitiveness	91	(1)
Effects of Competition versus Cooperation	92	(1)
Achievement and Performance	92	(1)
Closer Look: Competing for No Good Reason	93	(1)
Group Cohesiveness	94	(1)
Self-Esteem	95	(1)
Character Building and Ethics	96	(2)
Focus on Culture: Competition and Culture	98	(1)
Constructing Cooperation in Groups	99	(18)
Interdependence	100	(1)
Equality	100	(1)
Participation	101	(1)
Individual Accountability	102	(1)
Closer Look: Habitat for Humanity	103	(1)
Cooperative Communication Patterns	104	(1)
Evaluation versus Description	104	(2)
Control versus Problem Orientation	106	(1)
Strategy versus Spontaneity	107	(1)
Neutrality versus Empathy	107	(1)
Superiority versus Equality	108	(1)
Certainty versus Provisionalism	108	(1)
Reciprocal Patterns	109	(1)
Closer Look: The Robbers Cave Experiment	110	(2)
Noncompetitive Listening	112	(1)
Shift Response versus Support Response	112	(1)
Competitive Interrupting	113	(1)
Ambushing	113	(4)
Roles and Leadership in Groups	117	(32)
Group Roles	118	(9)
Effects of Roles	119	(2)
Closer Look: The Stanford Prison Study	121	(1)
Types of Roles	122	(1)
Role Emergence	123	(2)
Role Fixation	125	(2)
Leadership	127	(22)
Definition of Leadership	127	(1)
Gaining and Retaining Leadership	128	(1)
How Not to Become a Leader	129	(1)
General Pattern of Leader Emergence	129	(2)
Retaining the Leader Role	131	(1)
Focus on Gender/Ethnicity: Gender and Ethnic Leadership Bias	132	(3)
Perspectives on Effective Leadership	135	(1)
Traits Perspective	135	(2)
Styles Perspective	137	(1)
Situational (Contingency) Perspective	138	(3)
Closer Look: Effective versus Ineffective Leadership	141	(1)
Functional Perspective	142	(2)
Communication Competence Perspective	144	(1)
Closer Look: ``Chainsaw Al'' and Aaron Feuerstein: A Lesson in Contrasts	145	(4)
Developing Effective Teams	149	(24)
Team Members	152	(3)
We-Orientation	153	(1)
Competent Communication	154	(1)
Experience and Problem-Solving Abilities	154	(1)
Optimistic Attitude	154	(1)
Team Member Removal	155	(1)
Team Structure	155	(12)
Developing Goals	156	(1)
Setting Clear Goals	157	(1)
Establishing Challenging Goals	157	(1)
Exhibiting Commitment to Goals	158	(1)
Closer Look: The U.S. Women's Olympic Basketball Team	159	(1)
Developing a Team Identity	160	(1)
Solidarity Symbols	160	(1)
Team Talk	161	(1)
Designating Clear and Appropriate Roles	162	(1)
Appropriate Roles for Team Members	162	(1)
Formal Role Designations	163	(1)
Structuring Team Empowerment	164	(1)
Definition of Empowerment	164	(1)
Hierarchical Organizations	165	(1)
Quality Circles	165	(1)
Self-Managing Work Teams	165	(1)
Closer Look: IDEO and Team Empowerment	166	(1)
Impediments to Team Empowerment	167	(1)
Competent Team Leadership	167	(6)
Foster Participative Leadership	168	(1)
Insist on a Cooperative Climate	169	(2)
Closer Look: Virtual Teams	171	(1)
Structure Decision Making and Problem Solving	172	(1)
Group Discussion: Defective Decision Making and Problem Solving	173	(36)
Information: The Raw Material of Critical Thinking	175	(7)
Information Overload	175	(1)
Scope of the Problem	175	(1)
Consequences	176	(1)
Closer Look: The McMartin Preschool Case	177	(1)
Coping with Information Overload	178	(1)
Closer Look: Technology and the Bias of Speed	179	(2)
Information Underload	181	(1)
Mindsets: Critical Thinking Frozen Solid	182	(4)
Confirmation Bias	183	(2)
False Dichotomies	185	(1)
Collective Inferential Error: Uncritical Thinking	186	(13)
Closer Look: Blue Eyes versus Brown Eyes	187	(2)
Prevalence of the Problem	189	(1)
Closer Look: The Uncritical Inference Test	190	(1)
General Sources of Inferential Errors	191	(1)
Specific Sources of Inferential Errors	192	(1)
Closer Look: The Blandina Chiapponi Case	193	(1)
Vividness	194	(2)
Unrepresentativeness	196	(1)
Correlation	197	(1)
Error Correction: Practicing Critical Thinking	198	(1)
Groupthink: Critical Thinking in Suspended Animation	199	(10)
Definition	200	(1)
Identification of Groupthink	201	(1)
Overestimation of the Group's Power and Morality	201	(1)
Closed-Mindedness	202	(1)
Pressures toward Uniformity	202	(2)
Preventing Groupthink: Promoting Vigilance	204	(5)
Group Discussion: Effective Decision Making and Problem Solving	209	(38)
Discussion Procedures	210	(13)
General Considerations	210	(1)
Periodic Phases of Decision Emergence	211	(1)
Functional Perspective	211	(1)
The Standard Agenda	212	(1)
Systematic Procedures	212	(2)
Problems of Implementation	214	(1)
Closer Look: Murphy's Law	215	(2)
PERT	217	(1)
Group Decision-Making Rules	218	(1)
Majority Rule	218	(1)
Minority Rule	219	(1)
Unanimity Rule (Consensus)	220	(2)
Focus on Culture: Japan's Nuclear Emergency and Consensus Decision Making	222	(1)
Participation	223	(3)
Pros and Cons of Participation	224	(1)
Focus on Culture: Cultural Diversity and Participation in Small Groups	225	(1)
Increasing Constructive Participation	226	(1)
Critical Thinking and Effective Decision Making	226	(7)
Closer Look: Conducting Meetings: Standard and Technological Forms of Participation	227	(3)
Gathering Information	230	(1)
Evaluating Information	231	(2)
Creative Problem Solving	233	(14)
Closer Look: The Internet: Resource for Information and Misinformation	234	(1)
General Overview	235	(1)
Specific Creative Techniques	236	(1)
Brainstorming and Nominal Group Techniques	236	(4)
Framing/Refraining	240	(2)
Integrative Problem Solving	242	(5)
Power in Groups: A Central Dynamic	247	(36)
Power Defined	248	(4)
The Nature of Power	248	(1)
Forms of Power	249	(1)
Closer Look: Empowerment and Self-Help Groups	250	(2)
Indicators of Power	252	(4)
General Indicators	252	(1)
Verbal Indicators	252	(1)
Nonverbal Indicators	253	(1)
Focus on Gender/Culture: Powerful Language Differences	254	(2)
Power Resources	256	(10)
Information	257	(1)
Expertise	257	(2)
Rewards and Punishments	259	(3)
Personal Qualities	262	(1)
Legitimate Authority	263	(1)
Closer Look: The Milgram Studies	264	(2)
Imbalance of Power	266	(2)
Physical Violence and Aggression	267	(1)
Verbal and Nonverbal Contempt	267	(1)
Transacting Power	268	(15)
Compliance: The Power of Groups	268	(1)
Focus on Culture: Power Distance and Cultural Differences	269	(1)
Alliance: Coalition Formation	270	(1)
Resistance: Covert Noncompliance	271	(1)
Strategic Stupidity	271	(1)
Loss of Motor Function	272	(1)
The Misunderstanding Mirage	273	(1)
Selective Amnesia	273	(1)
Tactical Tardiness	274	(1)
Purposeful Procrastination	274	(2)
Defiance: Overt Noncompliance	276	(1)
Threat of Contagion	276	(1)
Variable Group Reaction	277	(1)
Defiant Member's Influence	277	(1)
Significance: Self-Empowerment	278	(1)
Assertiveness	278	(3)
Increasing Personal Power Resources	281	(2)
Conflict Management in Groups	283	(34)
Definition of Terms	285	(4)
Definition of Conflict	286	(1)
General Definition	286	(1)
Destructive versus Constructive Conflict	287	(1)
Conflict Resolution versus Management	288	(1)
Styles of Conflict Management	289	(6)
Collaborating (Problem Solving)	289	(2)
Accommodating (Yielding)	291	(1)
Compromising	291	(1)
Closer Look: The Case of the Effective Compromise	292	(1)
Avoiding (Withdrawing)	292	(2)
Competing (Power/Forcing)	294	(1)
Transacting Conflict	295	(15)
Focus on Culture: Culture and Conflict Styles	296	(1)
Primary Situational Variables	297	(1)
Nature of the Conflict	297	(2)
Nature of the Relationship	299	(1)
Timing	299	(1)
Conflict Spirals	300	(1)
Closer Look: Kill Radio Conflict Case Study	301	(2)
Negotiating Strategies	303	(1)
Tit for Tat	303	(1)
Reformed Sinner	304	(1)
Positional Bargaining	305	(1)
Principled Negotiation	306	(4)
Anger Management	310	(7)
Constructive and Destructive Anger	310	(2)
Managing Your Own Anger	312	(1)
Managing the Anger of Others	312	(5)
Appendix A: Group Oral Presentations	317	(14)
Appendix B: Critical Thinking Revisited: Fallacies	331	(7)
Appendix C: Sample Agendas for Group Meetings	338	(2)
Glossary	340	(9)
References	349	(22)
Index	371