Page 28 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J

The Small Groups in Everyone’s Life 11

often are not voluntary. Cohorts, sometimes referred to as learning communities,
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are used by universities to group selected students around a program of study. Stu-
dents often take a set of courses together. Cooperative learning groups are composed
of students selected by teachers to work on a class assignment or topic. The group’s
output, often a report and presentation, is evaluated at the group level. Such assign-
ments characterize a major component of many small group communication courses.
Collaborative learning groups, similar to cooperative ones, are used to enhance indi-
vidual achievement. For example, students may be grouped to work on course papers
where they tutor each other in an effort to improve their individual writing skills. In
addition to learning about specific subject matter, members of such groups also learn
skills of effective speaking, listening, critical thinking, and effective interpersonal
communication.

Problem-Solving Groups
Problem-solving groups formed to address some condition or problem vary widely in Problem-Solving Group
their composition and functioning. Examples we have already mentioned include the A group whose
Artsfest Planning Committee and the various search and rescue teams that helped purpose is finding
Haiti after its earthquake. There are many ways of describing subtypes of ways to solve a
problem-solving groups. In this book, we deal with major subtypes prevalent in our problem or address a
modern organizational and social life: committees, quality control circles, self- particular condition.
managed work groups, and top management teams.
Committees are groups that have been assigned a task by a parent organization or Committee
person with authority in an organization. Committees may be formed to investigate A small group of
and report findings, recommend a course of action for the parent group, formulate people given an
policies, or plan and carry out some action. assigned task or
responsibility by a
larger group (parent
organization) or
person with authority.

©Digital Vision/Getty Images A committee discusses

the content of a report.

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