Page 83 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J

66 Chapter 3

The Bona Fide Group Perspective You have probably participated in a classroom
group assigned to complete a project. To what extent do you think your classroom
group is similar to or different from a “real” group in an organization? Do you think
those differences are important? Communication scholars Linda Putnam and Cynthia
Stohl developed bona fide group theory in large part to correct what they perceived as
naïve assumptions about groups; in particular, they wanted to call attention to the
importance of a group’s context, or environment, which they believed most group
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Bona Fide Group scholars failed to acknowledge. The bona fide group perspective states that bona fide
Perspective (i.e., genuine, naturally occurring) groups have stable but permeable boundaries and
The perspective that borders and are interdependent with their environments. Earlier group studies seemed
focuses on naturally to imply that what happened inside a group—the internal process—was the appropriate
occurring groups with focus for small group communication inquiry, but Putnam and Stohl demonstrated
stable but permeable that, if we really want a richer understanding of a group, we must understand that
boundaries and are group’s relationship with its environment.
interdependent with First, bona fide groups have stable but permeable boundaries. The boundaries
their environment.
must be recognizable (otherwise, there would not be a group), but they are not
rigid—they shift due to four factors. First, group members have multiple group
memberships—they belong to several groups at once, and sometimes their roles con-
flict. For example, you may want to agree with your group on a proposal to distribute
organizational resources differently, but if the proposal will cause your department to
lose resources, the department members will expect you to argue against it, no matter
how you may feel personally. You aren’t entirely a free agent as a group member.
Second, group members represent other groups, whether they want to or not. We
know several female faculty who constantly are asked to serve on committees to
ensure that women’s concerns are adequately represented. Third, group membership
often fluctuates, with old members leaving and new members joining the group. In
many cases, these fluctuations are required by the organization’s bylaws. For instance,
once the church’s steering committee became an official board, voted by the mem-
bers, it was required to hold yearly elections and term limits were imposed. Bill, the
original chair, was organized and efficient. Dirk, a newer member who became chair,
loved to tell jokes and often got the group off task. Consequently, the board meetings
became longer but were more fun (for some people). Finally, group identity formation
refers to the varying levels of commitment and belonging members feel to different
groups they belong to. New members of the church board, who had not experienced
the death of the minister, the anxiety of conforming to the denomination’s require-
ments, and the weekly steering committee meetings, did not bring with them the same
intense dedication. However, they did bring in fresh perspectives and creative ideas
that ultimately changed the way things were done.
Second, bona fide groups are interdependent with their relevant contexts, which
means that a group both influences and is influenced by its environment. Four factors
contribute to this interdependence. First, members experience intergroup communi-
cation, which means that they interact constantly with members of other groups,
exchanging information and ideas. In our church board, Bill, the lawyer, talked to his
office partners about the board and vice versa. These interactions simultaneously
influenced both groups. Second, groups must coordinate their actions with other

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