Task in groups

A concept I found interesting in chapter 6 was Task. Groups are formed to solve complex goals, and in order to complete these large goals smaller task need to be set. A set of activities that lead to a larger goal being complete is what task are. Task is important in the organization of the group and with good task set up a group can keep on track better so they can complete the complex goal at hand. In order for a group to set up good task to follow they must ask two questions. One being “ what are we trying to accomplish” and “ what are the steps involved in accomplishing the goal.” It is important for a group to first realize what the overall goal they are trying to accomplish so they do not waste time in doing something that they don’t need. The next step is for the group to set up specific task to keep the group organized and help the group complete the goal.

post #1

When talking about the eight principles of nonverbal communication the two that I find important and most prevalent in my small group experiences are the things we know lead to interpretation and the assignment of meaning, and culture norms and expectations guide our interpretations. The norms of people depend of which culture they are a part of and something seen as a problem in their eyes may not seem like a problem in person who is a part of a different culture. In my own experience, my high school had some Japanese exchange students, we were all a part of a group, and they were very non-conformational and apologized after every disagreement they had with the group. I found this strange but thinking back on it, it is how there society operates. When talking about the principle of the things we know lead to interpretation and the assignment of meaning I think of a time when I was in a group for a middle school project. We had someone who was very into telling long drawn out stories during meetings and people in the group became fidgety, like playing with their pen on doodling on their paper this meant they were disinterested of loosing attention.

post # 3

Following the guidelines for observer feedback to a group is important. There are simple rules that you should follow that will greatly improve your feedback and in turn improve the group. First avoiding generalization is important. Being specific is helpful for a group so they can pin point a problem, or strength. Second, paying attention to behaviors in the group that could be changed is key. The point of feedback is to better the group and to better the group you must better the individuals in the group. Do not debate or argue with the group. You must remember it is not about you or your thoughts, it should be all about the group so leave the debating to them. Try not to micro manage the group, or go over every little process that involves group work. If you chose two or three specific things that is better the group. Remember your role as an evaluator or developer and try not to get give personal opinions because you are not there as a group member. Try to focus on the positive things the group did and always end your sessions with detailed suggestions on how the group can improve. When presenting ideas to the group be as clear and concise as possible, if the group did not understand your feedback you wasted both of your times. Try your best to compliment in public and criticize in private, you wouldn’t want to offend someone in front of their group. Lastly, and most importantly develop a solid relationship with the group members because this will pay off in the end.

group evaluation

Group process evaluation to a group is very important for many reasons and there are a couple ways one can go about offering valuable feedback to a group. One tool a group can use is verbal interaction and content analysis. This method keeps record of how many time one group member address another and what kind of comments are made. This method is good for keeping track of individuals behaviors. Another method mentioned for group evaluation is ethical reflection. This method involves keeping a journal of everything that happens in the group. Important insights that could have been forgot about are easier to remember when written down and is good for the group.  The journal is also used to observe ethical behavior the group used during work over time. This method is important because unclear ethical behavior will lead to a lack in trust that will destroy the group.

observers or consultants are important for small group growth

A group success is vital but not all groups succeed. The most important thing to realize when in a group that has not met expectations is to salvage the most you can by learning from your mistakes. Realizing what you have done wrong can be difficult when you are wrapped up in a group. For this reason observers or consultants are important for small group growth. Observers and consultants are the best pick for evaluating groups because group members themselves cannot efficiently evaluate the group while being a part of the group process, or contributing to the group. Outside observes can also provide insights that might not been mention before. In addition, observers or consultants skills are specific to evaluation making them the best bet to have a solution for a group. In the end using a consultant can benefit small groups because they offer skills and insights that can help a group grow so they can produce better outcomes.

chapter 5 post 3

I thought that part on conflict management was interesting. The point of the paragraph was show that conflict within small groups is inevitable but is good because it is a sign of creativity. It then goes on and offers ways to solve conflict within groups. Although different cultures see conflict in different ways defusing conflicts well is important to leaving a positive imprint on the group. Some conflicts can lead to upset members who take themselves out of the discussion, which would ultimately hurt the group. I thought this was important because almost every group that I have been a part of has had some disagreement to a certain degree. Knowing how to handle conflicts within a group is something that is important and is something that every member should be aware of. Being conscious about the group process is important and is something that will come in handy.

chapter 5 "white men of privilege”

Concept of “white men of privilege” talks about how the majority of the economic, social, and political power lies in the upper to middle upper class white male. (pg. 83) this is important in a lot aspects but main importance is that it makes it unfair in the job area for people with diverse backgrounds and often offers “different employment experiences”. I do not really agree with the concept but I do not know how much creditability I have. For one I have never had a real job that I had to interview for and I am not a minority. The way I see it though is that everyone has a fair chance to get a job. If you have a well prepared resume and know how to interview you have just as good as a chance as the next guy. I am not going to say it never happens but for every time an employer picks someone because there race it happens for both sides.