Chapter 16: Small Groups & Decision Making
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the various perspectives on how and why people become leaders.
- Compare and contrast various leadership styles.
- Discuss the types of power a leader may use.
- Identify and discuss task-related group roles and behaviors; maintenance group roles and behaviors; and negative group roles and behaviors.
- Discuss the common components and characteristics of problems.
- Explain the five steps of the group problem-solving process.
- Describe the brainstorming and discussion that should take place before the group makes a decision.
- Compare and contrast the different decision-making techniques.
- Discuss the various influences on decision making.
Key Terms
- Achievement-Oriented Leaders
- Coercive Power
- Consensus Rule
- Designated Leaders
- Directive Leaders
- Emergent Leaders
- Expediter
- Expert Power
- Gatekeeper
- Harmonizer
- Information Power
- Information Provider
- Information Seeker
- Interpreter
- Leader
- Leadership
- Legitimate Power
- Majority Rule
- Minority Rule
- Nominal Group Technique
- Participative Leaders
- Problem Question
- Problem Statement
- Recorder
- Referent Power
- Reward Power
- Self-Centered Roles
- Supporter
- Supportive Leaders
- Tension Releaser
- Unproductive Roles
strive for excellence and set challenging goals, constantly seeking improvement and exhibiting confidence that group members can meet their high expectations
comes from the ability of a group member to provide a negative incentive
a decision-making technique in which all members of the group must agree on the same decision
officially recognized in their leadership role and may be appointed or elected by people inside or outside the group
provide psychological structure for their group members by clearly communicating expectations, keeping a schedule and agenda, providing specific guidance as group members work toward the completion of their task, and taking the lead on setting and communicating group rules and procedures
gain status and respect through engagement with the group and its task and are turned to by others as a resource when leadership is needed
a task-related role that functions to keep the group on track toward completing its task by managing the agenda and setting and assessing goals in order to monitor the group’s progress
comes from knowledge, skill, or expertise that a group member possesses and other group members do not
manages the flow of conversation in a group in order to achieve an appropriate balance so that all group members get to participate in a meaningful way
group role played by members who help manage the various types of group conflict that emerge during group communication
comes from a person’s ability to access information that comes through informal channels and well-established social and professional networks
group role including behaviors that are more evenly shared than in other roles, as ideally, all group members present new ideas, initiate discussions of new topics, and contribute their own relevant knowledge and experiences
asks for more information, elaboration, or clarification on items relevant to the group’s task
helps manage the diversity within a group by mediating intercultural conflict, articulating common ground between different people, and generally creating a climate where difference is seen as an opportunity rather than as something to be feared
a group role that is associated with a high-status position and may be formally or informally recognized by group members
a complex of beliefs, communication patterns, and behaviors that influence the functioning of a group and move a group toward the completion of its task
power that flows from the officially recognized position, status, or title of a group member
a commonly used decision-making technique in which a majority (one-half plus one) must agree before a decision is made
a decision-making technique in which a designated authority or expert has final say over a decision and may or may not consider the input of other group members
guides decision making through a four-step process that includes idea generation and evaluation and seeks to elicit equal contributions from all group members
work to include group members in the decision-making process by soliciting and considering their opinions and suggestions
a question that guides the group as it generates possible solutions
a single sentence that summarizes the problem a group is trying to solve
takes notes on the discussion and activities that occur during a group meeting
comes from the attractiveness, likeability, and charisma of the group member
comes from the ability of a group member to provide a positive incentive as a compliance-gaining strategy
group role behaviors that divert attention from the task to the group member exhibiting the behavior
group role characterized by communication behaviors that encourage other group members and provide emotional support as needed
show concern for their followers’ needs and emotions. They want to support group members’ welfare through a positive and friendly group climate
someone who is naturally funny and sensitive to the personalities of the group and the dynamics of any given situation and who uses these qualities to manage the frustration level of the group
group role behaviors that prevent or make it more difficult for the group to make progress
