Class session 1 groups and teams overview

An Introduction An Introduction

Group and Team Group and Team FacilitationFacilitation

February 12, 2015February 12, 2015

Welcome!Welcome!

� Who’s who?Who’s who?� An introduction to groups and teams An introduction to groups and teams � Overview of the course syllabus and Overview of the course syllabus and

assignmentsassignments� Using the class blog, Using the class blog,

http://wp.vcu.edu/adlt675spr15/http://wp.vcu.edu/adlt675spr15/

How the course is organizedHow the course is organized

� Three segments Three segments � Learning to Learning to observeobserve group and team group and team

dynamicsdynamics

� Learning to Learning to facilitatefacilitate group dynamics (Levi group dynamics (Levi text chapters)text chapters)

� Learning to Learning to interveneintervene in group dynamics in group dynamics (Schwarz text chapters ) (Schwarz text chapters )

Assignment # 1 – Blogging for Reflective Assignment # 1 – Blogging for Reflective Practice (15% grade)Practice (15% grade)

Assignment # 2 – Team- Facilitated Chapter Assignment # 2 – Team- Facilitated Chapter Discussions and Activities (20% grade, shared)Discussions and Activities (20% grade, shared)

Assignment # 3 – Team Teaching in Assignment # 3 – Team Teaching in Facilitation Skills (25% grade) Facilitation Skills (25% grade)

Assignment # 4 - Individual Assessment Assignment # 4 - Individual Assessment of Learning in the Team Experience - of Learning in the Team Experience - Final Paper (25 % grade)Final Paper (25 % grade)

Assignment # 5 – Reflection, Participation, Assignment # 5 – Reflection, Participation, Involvement (10% grade)Involvement (10% grade)

What do you know already What do you know already about the nature of groups about the nature of groups and teams?and teams?

Problems in Entering a New Group Problems in Entering a New Group

� Identity - Identity - Who am I to be?Who am I to be?

� Control & Influence - Control & Influence - Will I be able to control Will I be able to control and influence others?and influence others?

� Needs & Goals - Needs & Goals - Will the group goals include Will the group goals include my own needs?my own needs?

� Acceptance & Intimacy - Acceptance & Intimacy - Will I be liked and Will I be liked and accepted by the group? accepted by the group?

Early Struggles in the Life of a Early Struggles in the Life of a GroupGroup

To become an effective group, members To become an effective group, members must integrate individual differences must integrate individual differences among membersamong members

Our Collective Group Our Collective Group Memberships Identify Who We Are Memberships Identify Who We Are as Individualsas Individuals

What happens as individuals What happens as individuals join a new group? join a new group?

What has to happen for that What has to happen for that group to function as a team?group to function as a team?

Group Development Group Development

� First, a period of self-oriented behavior First, a period of self-oriented behavior

� As self-oriented concerns are As self-oriented concerns are addressed, people pay more attention addressed, people pay more attention to each other and the task at handto each other and the task at hand

� The work of “building” the group occurs The work of “building” the group occurs simultaneously with task simultaneously with task accomplishmentaccomplishment

Questions Asked by New Questions Asked by New Group Members Group Members

� Am I in or out?Am I in or out?

� Do I have any power or control?Do I have any power or control?

� Can I use, develop, and be appreciated Can I use, develop, and be appreciated for my skills and resources?for my skills and resources?

Tuckman’s Stages of Group Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development (1969, Tuckman Development (1969, Tuckman & Jensen, 1977) & Jensen, 1977)

� FormingForming

� StormingStorming

� NormingNorming

� PerformingPerforming

� Adjourning Adjourning

Task Dimensions Task Dimensions

TThe relationship between group he relationship between group members and the task they are to members and the task they are to perform. Task refers to the job they have perform. Task refers to the job they have to do and how they go about doing it.to do and how they go about doing it.

Process dimensionsProcess dimensions

Are affected by the relationships of group Are affected by the relationships of group members with one another -- how they members with one another -- how they feel toward one another and how they feel toward one another and how they feel about their membership in the group.feel about their membership in the group.

Affects decision-making, collaboration, Affects decision-making, collaboration, and willingness to engage.and willingness to engage.

Task and Process DimensionsTask and Process Dimensions

� Highly interdependent in practice; without Highly interdependent in practice; without both dimensions, group process does not both dimensions, group process does not existexist

� Task output is productivityTask output is productivity

� Process output is cohesivenessProcess output is cohesiveness

Relationship Between Cohesiveness Relationship Between Cohesiveness and Productivityand ProductivityPr

oduc

tivi

ty

Cohesiveness

Promoting Cohesiveness in Promoting Cohesiveness in GroupsGroups

� Encourage interpersonal attraction through Encourage interpersonal attraction through attitudinal similarity attitudinal similarity

� Increase contact timeIncrease contact time

� Build perceptions of others as likeableBuild perceptions of others as likeable

� Create opportunities for self-disclosure Create opportunities for self-disclosure

� Promote group identificationPromote group identification

Cohesiveness in Groups, con’tCohesiveness in Groups, con’t

� Create historyCreate history

� Accomplish somethingAccomplish something

� Develop relationships and shared Develop relationships and shared

normsnorms

� Promote acceptance of all membersPromote acceptance of all members

� Encourage external threatsEncourage external threats

Impact of Group MaturityImpact of Group Maturity

A Group Effectiveness ModelA Group Effectiveness Model

For a group to become a For a group to become a successful team, it must havesuccessful team, it must have

� Clear direction and goalsClear direction and goals� Good leadershipGood leadership� Tasks suited for teamwork - complex, Tasks suited for teamwork - complex,

important, challenging, and requiring important, challenging, and requiring coordinated efforts coordinated efforts

� Necessary resourcesNecessary resources� Supportive organizational environmentSupportive organizational environment

ReferencesReferences

Levi, D. (2014). Levi, D. (2014). Group dynamics for teamsGroup dynamics for teams. (4th ed). . (4th ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Schein, E. H. (1999). Schein, E. H. (1999). Process consultation revisited: Process consultation revisited: Building the helping relationshipBuilding the helping relationship. Reading, MA: . Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.Addison-Wesley.

Weisbord, M. R. (2004). Weisbord, M. R. (2004). Productive workplaces Productive workplaces revisited: Dignity, meaning, and community in the 21revisited: Dignity, meaning, and community in the 21stst centurycentury. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.