Page 209 - Essentials of Human Communication

188 Chapter 9 Small Group Communication

quality Circles A quality circle is a group of employees (usually about 6 to 12) whose
task it is to investigate and make recommendations for improving the quality of some organi-
zational function. The members are drawn from the workers whose area is being studied; for
example, if the problem were how to improve advertising on the Internet, then the quality
circle membership would be drawn from the advertising and technology departments. The
basic assumption is that people who work on similar tasks will be best able to improve their
departments or jobs by pooling their insights and working through problems they share.
Quality circle members investigate problems using any method they feel might be help-
ful; for example, they may form face-to-face problem-solving groups or use nominal groups
or Delphi methods. The group then reports its findings and suggestions to those who can
implement the proposals.

Objectives Self-Check
● Can you describe the problem-solving sequence?
● Can you use this sequence in group problem solving?
● Can you describe and use appropriate methods of decision making?
● Can you define nominal, Delphi, and quality circle groups?

Messages in the Media Wrap Up
Most television talk shows, you’ll find, demonstrate the effective use of small group communication techniques.
Analyzing these shows for the principles of small group communication that they follow will help you see the
principles discussed here in concrete operation.

Summary of Concepts and Skills Study and Review materials for this chapter
are at MyCommunicationLab

Listen to the Audio Chapter 2. Virtual groups and teams are increasing dramatically in
Summary at MyCommunicationLab businesses and social networking.
3. Small group interactions generally follow the five stages of con-
This chapter provided an overview of the four major types of versation: opening, feedforward, business, feedback, closing.
small groups (brainstorming, information sharing, personal
growth, and problem solving) and how they work, and the 4. Four popular small group formats are the roundtable, the
popular small group formats. panel, the symposium, and the symposium-forum.
5. Small group apprehension can be managed by using the
essentials of Small Groups and Teams same techniques for managing fear of public speaking.
6. Small groups develop norms (i.e., rules or standards of be-
1. A small group is a collection of individuals who share a havior) and are heavily influenced by the larger culture of
common purpose, are interdependent, operate with orga- which the groups are a part.
nizing rules, and see themselves as a group. A team is also a
small group, but it is usually established for a specific task brainstorming Groups
in which the members’ roles are specifically defined; mem-
bers are committed to accomplishing the task; and their 7. The brainstorming group attempts to generate as many
messages are largely content focused. ideas as possible by avoiding critical evaluation and