Group Effectiveness

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Group Effectiveness

• MSE180 4/24/02

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What is a group?

• Interdependent set of people performing some
  function
• Role relationships among members
• Norms regulate functioning
• Shared identity (boundaries)

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Types of teams

• Work groups
• Project teams
• Quality circles
• Cross-functional teams
• Ad hoc teams
• Top management teams

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Stages of Group Development
Forming
Storming
Norming
Performing
Adjourning
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Stages of Group Development

• Project teams with fixed time frames

Set tone (1st meeting)
Midpoint Revolution
Adjourn
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Components of effectiveness

• Performance
• Member satisfaction
• Turnover, commitment, absenteeism
• Learning

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Team Effectiveness Model
Adapted from Cohen Bailey (1997)
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Group Exercise
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Group Exercise - Brainstorming

• A set of rules for idea-generating groups
• Not a panacea, but one of the best ways for
  face-to-face groups to generate ideas
• Increases speed, quality, commitment, and fun

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IDEOs Brainstorming Rules

• Dont criticize
• Build on the ideas of others
• Have only one conversation at a time
• Stay focused on the topic
• Encourage wild ideas

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Exercise - Agenda

• 1. Selected representatives leave the room -- no
  talking to one another (5 to 10 minutes)
• 2. Group brainstorming and decision-making by
  representatives in front of class (20-25 minutes)
• 3. Analysis and discussion of in-class group and
  group process in general (20-30 minutes)

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Assignment for Group

• Part 1 Brainstorming
• How can Hanes increase the sales of pantyhose to
  men?

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Assignment for Group

• Part 2 Decision-making
• What will you name the product?
• What slogan will be used to advertise the
  product?
• What jingle will be used to advertise the
  product?

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Volunteers for Brainstorming Group

• Four men
• Four women
• Leave the room for 5 minutes

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The Rest of the Class.

• Specialists on four aspects of group dynamics
• Roles
• Norms
• Communications
• Interruption

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Guidelines for Group

• Say your names
• Follow brainstorm rules
• Talk loud
• Write ideas decisions on the board

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Debriefing
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Role Specialists

• Who was the task leader of the group?
• What other roles emerged in the group?
• Was there any "jockeying" between members for
  these roles?

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Norm Specialists

• What were some of the key norms that seemed to
  be used by the group at the outset?
• What norms developed during the course of the
  brainstorming session?
• Where there any subtle (or not so subtle)
  conflicts about what the group's norms should be?
  

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Communication Specialists

• Who talked the most?
• Who talked the least?
• Who talked to whom?
• Which members rarely talked to one another?

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Interruption Specialists

• Who interrupted other members the most?
• Who was interrupted by other members the most?
• Which members, if any, engaged in "interruption
  battles," where each tried to interrupt the other?

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Debriefing

• Overall, what did the group do well?
• If you were an outside consultant, what would you
  advise to improve their process?
• How did the group develop over time?

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A few final points

• There are so many things going on in a group at
  once that it is impossible for any one person to
  comprehend it all
• As a result, group members are often unaware (or
  dimly aware) of how the group process
• Is working
• Is affecting decisions
• Is affecting members

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Preparation for Next Class

• Guest Speaker Prof. Margaret Neale
• Readings
• Neale Bazerman
• Wolf
• Sebenius
• Project plans due on May 1 (next Wed.)