Overview of chapter 11
Perhaps the greatest interpersonal skill needed... is the ability to work compatibly with others, regardless of whether or not you like them personally. (Lahiff & Penrose 1997)
To start you thinking
How well do you work in a group? Do you prefer to work alone? What are the advantages and disadvantages of working in a group?
Many of the activities in the workplace are performed by groups and these can have a significant and positive impact on individual work performance. Communication and interaction, whether in a group or team, have many advantages but some limitations. They offer the opportunity for better decision making and offer members a sense of belonging and inclusion. However, they can lead to disadvantages such as peer group pressure and undue conformity to the group by an individual. A team is a specific type of group. The benefits of teamwork have now been recognised and organisations are establishing teams to complete tasks once done by individuals.
Learning objectives
On completion of this chapter you should be able to:
- describe the nature and development of a group within an organisation
- discuss the roles adopted by members of a group
- differentiate between the advantages and disadvantages of group decisions
- analyse the factors that influence group performance
- describe different decision-making techniques in groups
- outline the communication skills used in groups.
Topics
- 11.1 Overview of groups and teams
- 11.2 The nature of groups
- 11.3 Group development
- 11.4 The advantages and disadvantages of groups
- 11.5 Improving group performance
- 11.6 Decision making in groups
- 11.7 Communication in groups
Next PageIn your text
Read Chapter 11 in your text Dwyer, J. 2005, Communication in Business: Strategies and Skills, 3 rd edn, Pearson Education Australia, Frenchs Forest , Australia .
