Group Discussion And Small Group Decision Making

Communication and Group Decision-Making takes stock of recent group communication research - with an explicit focus on communication processes. This book is recommended for academics, professionals and researchers in communication and organization

A step-by-step guide to the most efficient and effective method for participatory group decision-making Are you frustrated by that common challenge called group decision-making? Consensus-Oriented Decision-Making can help! Clearly written and well organized, keep this book by your side and refer to it often. Groups you are part of will function better as a result. -- Peggy Holman, author, Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunity For any group or organization to function effectively, it must be able to make decisions well. Consensus-Oriented Decision-Making is the first book to offer groups (and group facilitators) a clear and efficient path to generating widespread agreement while fostering full participation and true collaboration. Poised to become the new standard for group facilitation, Consensus-Oriented Decision-Making combines: Deep insight into complex group dynamics Effective conflict resolution techniques Powerful communication skills Groups using this simple, step-by-step approach experience increased cohesion and commitment and stronger relationships as a result of their successful cooperation. Incorporating the principles of collaboration, inclusion, empathy, and open-mindedness, the consensus-oriented decision-making (CODM) process encourages shared ownership of group decisions. The method can be used in any group situation, regardless of whether the final decision-making power rests with a single person or team, a vote of members, or unanimity. Business, government, nonprofit, social, and community organizations can all benefit from Consensus-Oriented Decision-Making . Whether you are a designated facilitator or an active participant, understanding this powerful framework will help you contribute to the success of your group through achieving maximum participation and efficiency, a clearer decision-making process, better decisions, and improved group dynamics. Tim Hartnett, PhD, is a group facilitator and mediator who blends extensive knowledge of non-violent communication with insightful understanding of group dynamics and effective techniques for conflict resolution.

This affordable, concise guide to group discussion offers comprehensive coverage of the standard agenda, an approach that works for any problem-solving discussion. Readers learn a proven, relevant, practical approach to solving problems. The authors emphasize the creative potential of individuals and urge them to apply that creativity to their discussions, including imaginative ways to foster equal participation, inventive gathering of background information, rhetorically-sensitive handling of conflict, and critical assessment of potential solutions to a problem. Dynamic group discussion is a rewarding experience, and this book maps the route to effective communication in groups for participants and for leaders. As a collective effort, group discussion provides firsthand experience of the enhancement of individual abilities when working as part of a team, encouraging mutual respect and the synergies of collaborative efforts.

Communication and Group Decision-Making takes stock of recent group communication research - with an explicit focus on communication processes. This book is recommended for academics, professionals and researchers in communication and organization

From the Publisher: With a focus on the individual group member, The Fundamentals of Small Group Communication encourages readers to reflect on how their communication behaviors and practices contribute to their current small group experiences. In this easy to read text, authors Scott A. Myers and Carolyn M. Anderson introduce students to the fundamental issues faced by all small groups, such as socialization, development, ethics, and diversity, and the procedures utilized by effective small groups. The book is organized around three overarching themes-characteristics of small group communication and the individual group member, the group task, and group member relationships. Each chapter opens with a case study and includes an "Ethically Speaking" box that allows readers to reflect on how ethics is central to the small group communication process. It is intended for undergraduate courses that introduce students to the basic fundamentals of small group communication.

Using an approach that blends theory and applications, the authors of this group communications text continue to emphasize the importance of evaluating group dynamics in their varied contexts. The importance of the ethical responsibilities of a group are emphasized, and the analysis of small group decision-making processes, both as a non-participant and as an active member of the group using the participant-analyst model and more formal instruments, is encouraged. There is also comprehensive coverage of conflict management, showing the sources, functional benefits, and means to control conflict (ch. 10). The use of real life examples of group communication throughout the text helps students easily transfer principles and concepts to their own situations. In the third edition, adopters will find expanded coverage of group culture and group norms, as well as listening as it relates to group success and leadership; up-to-date information on focus groups and teleconferencing; and expanded advice on conducting library research.