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Tools for Assessing and Evaluating Groups 341

Are any self-centered hidden agenda items interfering with progress toward the goal?
Are any norms interfering with cohesiveness and progress?
Are arguments being expressed sensitively and being managed to test ideas and achieve consensus, or to win?
Role Structure
Is there a designated leader?
If so, how well is this person performing the role? With what style? Are others encouraged to share in
leader functions?
If not, how is leadership distributed? Are any needed services missing?
Are all necessary functional roles being provided?
Are there any ego-centered behavioral roles?

Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Procedures
How vigilant are the group’s problem-solving procedures?
Do members seem to be adequately informed or are they planning how to get needed information before
reaching decisions?
Are information and ideas being evaluated thoroughly for effectiveness and possible negative
consequences, or accepted without question?
Are criteria shared by all group members, or explicitly discussed and agreed upon?
Are there any tendencies toward groupthink?
Has some procedure or agenda for the discussion been accepted by the group? If so, how adequate is it
and how well is it being used?
Are information, interpretations, proposals, and decisions being recorded?
Are these provided in some record visible to the entire group?
How creative is the group in finding alternatives?
How frequently are summaries being made and used to focus and move discussion toward the goal?
How are decisions being made?
If needed, is the group making adequate plans to implement its decisions? To evaluate the adequacy of its
actual solution(s), and possibly make changes later?
Might procedural changes or special techniques such as brainstorming, committee procedural rules, nominal
group technique, or computer charting be beneficial to the group?

to change. Note also that most of the areas of focus in Table 12.13 include questions
relevant to a group’s computer use. In fact, you can assess a group’s computer use by
adding sections such as teleconferencing or electronic brainstorming.
Obviously, you cannot consider all these questions at the same time. Concentrate on
the one or two factors that seem most important or most problematic. With increased expe-
rience you be able to pay attention to more factors.

Ethical Principles for Consultants
A consultant usually makes a detailed feedback statement to the group that assesses
the group’s strong and weak points. When you do so, respect both the individual
members and the group as an entity. Don’t poison the well for future observers and
consultants. The ethical standards that apply to observers are analogous to those

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