Why study Small Group Communication? - Concerned with people working together in small groups- It occurs frequently- But it often does not work (well)o But it’s still a common part of everyday existenceo People don’t often share information effectively o Don’t take advantage of all their memberso Time is wasted—inefficient - Groups can be smarter than their smartest memberso People can combine together to produce something greater than any one of them individually could have doneCriteria of a small group- 3-20 individuals who:o Influence one anothero Derive some satisfaction from maintaining membership from the groupo Interact for some purpose (affiliation or otherwise)o Assume Specialized roleso Are dependent on one anothero Communicate face to facePhases in group development- Formingo Zero history group – group that has come together for the first timeo Intact group – a group that has a past that you have just joinedo More cautious and polite the first time- Stormingo What the communication environment/pattern is likeo Where people assert their individualityo Disagreeing hereo Not in agreement on the leader/meeting times/etco Jockeying for positiono Establish who knows whato How things are going to be doneo Argued that if there is no conflict here, it will cycle back later.- Normingo Where the group figures it out – compromises and decisionso Balance group needs and individual needso Where cohesion sets in- Performingo The final stageo Open for businesso When the group does what the group’s purpose isCharacteristics of groups- Size (group of 3 and group of 20 are vastly different)o Satisfaction – people are typically more satisfied in smaller groupso Performance – Bigger groups can do more work, but can be cumbersome and difficult to manage- Cohesiveness o The emotional commitment that evolves from working togethero Chemistryo Satisfaction – groups that are more cohesive are more satisfyingo Performance – cohesive groups perform much better- Network characteristicso Patterns of communication within any small groupo Centralized network has a central member (Wheel) Decentralized is where everyone communicates with each other, no middle.