Communication Science 1

ACCSB1-22

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Week 4 – Small Group Communication

In this week we will be looking at the small group communication context where:
• The difference between small group communication will be defined
• Tactics around building group cohesiveness will be discussed
• The management of diversity in a small group will be explored
• Perspectives on leadership in small groups will be shared
• Steps toward resolving conflict in small groups will be looked at
• Select formats for reaching specific communicative goals through facilitated small group
communication will be covered.
What will be covered in this lesson?

Week 4 Lesson 1:

• Introduction
• Defining the small group communication
Week 4 context
Lesson 1 • Advantages and disadvantages of small group
communication
• When is the small group not the most
appropriate context of communication?
• Group climate
 • Introduction

Referring to the introduction that you read on MyLMS and in the text book p. 193,
Answer the following question:

• Would you describe you current Communication Science class as a small

group? Explain your answer.

You can present this definition in pairs, groups, breakout rooms or F2F depending on
your class size and mode of delivery.

(Unsplash – small group network, 2021)

 According to Steinberg and Angelopulo
(2015, p. 194), arriving at a scientific In addition, Gamble and Gamble (1987)
definition of a group is not easy. A group is says that a small group is composed of 3 to
not merely a random collection of individuals 12 people interacting face-to-face in such a
who happen to occupy a particular space at way that each person influences and is
the same time. Thus, six people waiting for a influenced by every other person in the
taxi at a taxi rank are not considered a group. group. It can be agreed upon in this study
Neither are 100 people watching a film guide that a small group will comprise 3-12
together in a cinema. They are individuals people depending on the task of the group.
because they were there for different reasons.

(Rasmussen, 2015) (WSJ, 2022)

• Advantages and disadvantages of small group communication

Referring to what you read on MyLMS and in the text book p. 195-196, Answer the following question:
• You’ve worked in group assignment projects before, when does working in a small group
become ineffective for task completion?
You can present this definition in pairs, groups, breakout rooms or F2F depending on your class size and
 • Group Climate

1. Supportiveness
2. Participative decision making
3. Trust among group members
4. Openness and honesty
5. High performance goals

(Unsplash – Gupta, 2018)

Referring to what you read from MyLMS and the textbook pages 197-198, answer the following questions

•How do you know when a group climate is going to be effective for task completion? (List the green flags of a positive work
environment)
•How do you know when a group climate is ineffective for task completion? (List the red flags of a negative work environment)

You can present this in pairs, groups, breakout rooms or F2F depending on your class size and mode of delivery.
What will be covered in this lesson?
Week 4 Lesson 2:

• Group member roles

• Group formation
• ‘Groupthink’: making sure cohesiveness works
Week 4 •
•
Diversity
Leadership roles
Lesson 2 •
•
Group problem solving process
Strategies for conflict resolution: moving from
destructive to constructive
• Communication formats for small groups
• Conclusion
• Group member roles

(Unsplash – Pham, 2018)

Referring to what you read on MyLMS, and in the text book p. 198-199, Answer the following question on group member roles:

• Say you are in a group and each person has a role (speaker, scribe, leader, communicator etc.) Pick a role for
yourself and explain how the execution of your role could have a beneficial or detrimental impact on the group’s
success in goal attainment. List one example role-impact.
You can present this answer in pairs, groups, breakout rooms or F2F depending on your class size and mode of delivery.
 • Group formation

Referring to what you watched on MyLMS, Week 3 tile, book notes. 3.3 and in the text book p. 199-200, Answer the
following questions on group formation:

• Based on your experience of working in a group, how did the group’s identity change or alter with each
of the five stages outlined in the group formation process?
You can present this definition in pairs, groups, breakout rooms or F2F depending on your class size and mode of delivery.
• Small group challenges

• Groupthink
• Diversity
• Team Leadership
• Problem Solving
• Conflict

(Unsplash – Gouw, 2016)

Referring to what you read on MyLMS, and in the text book p. 201-204, take a poll on the following question:
• Group think is an effective way to reset group harmony? Yes or No?
Based on the responses, discuss.
You can discuss this definition in pairs, groups, breakout rooms or F2F depending on your class size and mode of
delivery.
• Diversity

Referring to what you read on MyLMS, and in the textbook p.202

Answer the following question on Diversity:

• South Africa is rich in cultural diversity. How can the

diverse group members add to the creative perspectives
required when completing a group project?

• How does narrow-mindedness of some group members

hinder the potential of diverse perspectives?

You can present this answer in pairs, groups, breakout rooms or F2F (Unsplash – Rounce, 2014)
depending on your class size and mode of delivery.
• Leadership Traits • Leadership styles
 Authoritarian leaders: are strongly task orientated and have firm
 Ability: Leader generally exceed average group opinions on how to achieve the group’s goals. They exercises direct
members in intelligence, activeness, co-operation and control over the group by determining policy and procedure, assigning
popularity. tasks and roles to members, and deciding who may talk and who may
not. This type of leader makes decisions without consulting a group.
 Sociability: dependability, activeness, co-operation
and popularity  Democratic leader: People orientated. They guide rather than direct a
group by involving all members in discussion and debate and letting
everyone's points of view be heard . While such a leader may suggest
 Motivation: leaders exceed non leaders in the area of alternatives, it is left to the group to decide on specific policy, procedure
initiative, persistence and enthusiasm. and the tasks and roles of members.

 Communication skills: Leaders also reveal a high  Laissez-Faire leaders: A leader who adopts the ‘let them do their own
level of competency in a variety of communication thing’ attitude and try not to direct the group at all. They supply
skills. information, advice and material when asked but do not actively
participate in group decisions. The group has complete freedom in
determining policy, procedure, tasks and roles.

Referring to what you read on MyLMS, and in the text book p. 202-204, Answer the following questions:
• Under which leadership style do you work best?
• Name a leader in your immediate social context or in mainstream media that fits the traits of an effective leader
and give reasons for your answer.
You can present this answer in pairs, groups, breakout rooms or F2F depending on your class size and mode of delivery.
• Group problem solving process
(NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE GROUP FORMATION PROCESS FROM LESSON 1)

1. Identify and accept that there is a problem

2. Agree on certain definitions and conduct
the necessary research
3. What should the end outcome look like for
the group? What should the solution
accomplish?
4. Brainstorm possible solutions
5. Implement the chosen solution and put it
into action

Referring to what you read on MyLMS, and in the text book p. 204-206, answer the following question:

• Based on your experiences with group tasks, which stage in the group problem solving process would be the
hardest to achieve, explain why?
You can discuss this definition in pairs, groups, breakout rooms or F2F depending on your class size and mode of delivery.
 • Strategies for conflict resolution

Referring to what you watched on MyLMS, Week 3 tile, book notes. 3.7 and in the text book p. 204-206, Answer the
following questions on group conflict:

• Which resolution strategy above is effective or ineffective? Why or why not?

You can present this definition in pairs, groups, breakout rooms or F2F depending on your class size and mode of
delivery.
• Communication formats for small groups
Quality circles Buzz Sessions Team meetings

(Unsplash – Redd, F 2019)

(Unsplash – Getty, 2022) (Unsplash – wosintechchat, 2019)

Panel discussions Nominal group technique Brainstorming

(Unsplash – Lisakov, 2023)

(Unsplash – Kaleidico, 2018) (Unsplash – Getty, 2023)
• Conclusion of small group communication

•Name two ways you could improve the small

group communication during your next small group
task for a campus-specific assignment or project?

You can present this definition in pairs, groups,

breakout rooms or F2F depending on your class size
and mode of delivery

(Unsplash - Forouzani, 2020)

What Happens Next?

• Well done on finishing your Week 4 lecturer-led sessions.

• Now it’s time to continue your studies outside of the classroom.
• Begin reading the content based on Mass Communication
• Reminder : Your assignment is due next week – in week 5.
Slide references

Rasmussen, N. 2015. Today in Disney History the Lion King steps into theatres [online]
https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/06/today-in-disney-history-the-lion-king-steps-into-theaters/
Date Accessed 08/05/2017

Vranica, S. 2014. Behind the pre-planned Oscar Selfie: Samsung’s Ad strategy, [online]
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304585004579417533278962674
Date Accessed 08/05/2017

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