Intercultural communication teamwork and leadership/Groups, teams and leadership/Working in business groups
Read Chapter 19.2 and 19.3 in Business Communication for Success.
Chapter 19.2 discussed developmental group cycles of growth, transformation, and separation, as exemplified in Tuckman’s (1965) well-regarded model of group forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. This reading also discusses Moreland and Levine’s proposal that team members fulfill new, full, divergent, marginal and ex-member roles in fluid and sometimes unexpected ways. Chapter 19.3 describes Dewey’s seven step reflective thinking sequence for problem solving. Take note of the table that introduces an example of a cost-benefit analysis for a set of solutions proposed to solve a hypothetical problem. You will be asked to use it in the exercises!
Recommended: Chapter 19.2 Exercises 2 and 4, and all the exercises in Chapter 19.3. These exercises first ask you to reflect on your experience of the various roles played by group members, including yourself. They next invite you to use Dewey’s seven-step framework to analyze one of your group problem-solving experiences, and to practice using cost-benefit analysis in personal decision-making. What new insights came up as you worked through these exercises? You will also have an opportunity to research a real-world example of business communication in groups and teams.
