Page 34 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J

The Small Groups in Everyone’s Life 17

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

The Artsfest Planning Committee reinforces a critical 4. Does this group meet the requirements to be
theme of this text: Small groups provide people with an defined a “small” group?
invaluable way to solve complex problems. Reviewing the 5. How might this initial secondary group evolve into
story, we learn that individual skills, well coordinated, a primary one?
can produce amazing results. 6. Select one of the members mentioned. How might
the member have behaved as a participant–observer
1. What individual needs are likely being met by being
a member of this group of volunteers? in this group?
2. What do these members gain by devising a plan, 7. Which ethical principles are most evident in this
together, as opposed to separately? story?
3. How are the unique features of a group evident in
this story? Which ones are not evident?

KEY TERMS

Test your knowledge of these key terms in this chapter. Definitions can be found in the Glossary.
Activity group Interdependent goal Secondary group
Committee Learning group Self-managed work group
Ad hoc committee Participant–observer Small group
Standing committee Personal growth group Small group discussion
Ethics Primary group Social loafer
Group Problem-solving group Top management team (TMT)
Grouphate Quality control circle

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Frey, Lawrence R., ed. New Directions in Group Lafasto, Frank M. J., and Carl E. Larson. When Teams
Communication. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, Work Best: 6,000 Team Members and Leaders Tell What
2002. It Takes to Succeed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2001.

NOTES

1. Kurt W. Back, “The Small Group: Tightrope 3. Diane Cole, “Meetings That Make Sense,”
between Sociology and Personality,” Journal of Psychology Today (May 1989): 14.
Applied Behavioral Science, 15 (1979): 283–94. 4. Bill Lawren, “Competitive Edge,” Psychology Today
2. Lawrence W. Frey, “Applied Communication (September 1989): 16.
Research on Group Facilitation in Natural 5. Sayed M. Elsayed-Elkhouly, Harold Lazarus, and
Settings,” in Innovations in Group Facilitation: Volville Forsythe, “Why Is a Third of Your Time
Applications in Natural Settings, ed. Lawrence R. Wasted in Meetings?,” Journal of Management
Frey (Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, 1995): 1–26. Development, 16 (1997): 672–76.

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