Team Proposal Presentation

Working in Small Groups

Overview of Team Presentation Assignment

 20-30 minutes (i.e. 4-6 mins/team member)  10 minutes for Q & A (audience will roleplay committees)  Intro/Background  Structural  Environmental  Technology  Traffic  Conclusion

Speaker Responsibilities

Individual Speakers:  Intro with preview    Relate section to the audience Body with transitions between main points Conclusion Moderator:  Introduction   Team transitions Conclusion/Q&A  Everyone must use Visual Aids

Small Group Communication

Propositions about Group Communication

 Decisions = higher quality  Higher commitment to group decisions  Pitfalls and hazards are regularly uncovered  Morale is higher  Increased responsibility for the task  Blame for errors is shared

Functioning Group Behaviors

 Participants know each other by name or role.

 There is a generous amount of interaction.

 Each participant has some influence on the others.

 Each participant defines him/herself as a member of the group and is also defined by outsiders as a member.

 There is a common goal, interest or benefit in holding membership in the group.

 There is leadership.

Building an effective group takes planning.

1) Selecting a Leader 2) Sharing Leadership Roles 3) Communicating Effectively 4) Problem-Solving Efficiently

Types of Leaders

 Shared or No Specific Leader  Implied Leader  Emergent Leader  Designated Leader

1. Selecting a Leader

 

Select a leader able to handle the responsibility.

  Authority Pressure for uniformity    Status differentiation Disruptive behavior Incompatibility between individual and collective goals

Leadership style should vary with climate of the group.

    Directive if task is ambiguous Supportive if unsatisfying Participative if group needs control Achievement-oriented if no motivation

2. Sharing Leadership

 Leadership - A group may not always have a leader but it always has leadership.

 Group members can share the three leadership functions.    Procedural Needs – “housekeeping” Task Needs – “focus” Maintenance Needs – “relationships”

Procedural needs involve “housekeeping tasks”.

 Place and Agenda  Notes and Handouts  Summarizing progress

Task needs provide “focus”.

 Analyze  Delegate  Collect info  Solicit views  Focus  Devil's advocate  Criteria  Reach consensus

Maintenance Needs involve “interpersonal relations”.

 Getting along  Contributing  Supporting  Satisfaction about accomplishments  Satisfaction about roles

3. Effective Communication



Effective group discussion takes time.

    Balance between emotional and rational Sincere skepticism is encouraged Group norms are clearly identified Some topics not appropriate



Ineffective group discussion is more common.

     Failure to contribute Conformity Poor Environment Control Rigid   Lack of Patience Too much leadership or wrong type

Groupthink Conditions

 Being out of touch  Being out of order  Being overruled  Being out of resources

Groupthink

Symptoms  Group’s tendency to view itself as powerful  Closed-mindedness  Pressure toward uniformity Minimizing Techniques  Question self/actions    Divide into subgroups Involve outsiders Add diversity

4. Efficient Problem-Solving

 Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Method    Define and narrow the problem Analyze the problem Establish criteria for solutions   Generate potential solutions Select the best solution/s

1. Define the Problem  Specific  Open  Avoid Bias 2. Analyze the Problem  How Severe?

 How many people are affected?

 What if the problem is not resolved?

 What are the Causes?

3. Establish Criteria for the Solutions  What must solution achieve?

 What might limit the choice of solutions?

4. Generate Potential Solutions  Avoid judging while brainstorming  Individuals record their own 5. Select the Best Solution  Compare to established Criteria  Evaluate all solutions

Review: Small group communication takes planning.

 Selecting a Leader  Shared Leadership  Discussion  Problem-Solving