Small Group

Task-oriented

Aim

Formed to solve a problem

Promote a cause

Generate ideas or information

Type of tasks

Production

Discussion

Problem solving

Structure

More rigid

Require honed problem-solving skills

Relational-oriented

Aim

Promote interpersonal connections

Focused on quality interactions that contribute to the well-being of group members

Decision making

Directed at strengthening or repairing relationships

Not aiming at completing discrete tasks or debating specific ideas or courses of action

Establish an overall group climate

Types

Task

The commitment of group members
to the purpose and activities of the group

Higher task cohesion

Still need some degree of social
cohesion in order to be balance

Determined by the purpose
of the group

Social

The attraction and liking among group members

Higher social cohesion

More fair of a decision making

More shared resources

More synergy between members

The potential for gains in performance

Heightened quality of interactions

Produces better products than individual does

Wider exposure to diversity

Broaden our perspective

Increase knowledge

Define the problems

Elements of problems

The current undesirable situation

The goal or more desirable situation

Obstacles in the way

Aim

Should be able to compose a single sentence that summarizes the problem

Problem statement

Avoid wording in the problem statement or question that hints at potential solutions

Analyze the problems

Steps

Discuss the potential causes of the difficulty

Begin setting out an agenda or timeline for the
group’s problem-solving process

Looking forward to the other steps

Generate possible solutions

Shouldn't be evaluated

Proposed

Clarified

Think what we could do

Many problems are multifaceted

necessary for group members to
generate solutions for each part of
the problem separately

Making sure to have multiple solutions for each part

Evaluate solutions

Evaluated based on

Credibility

Completeness

Worth

Tasks

Analyze each solution based on its potential effects

Would be wise to make a set list of criteria for evaluating each solution

Evaluate outside

Delay the final decision in order to get
a better agreement

Implement and assess to solutions

Shouldn't be rushed

Lead into bad solutions

Steps that lead to better solution

Poll those who will be affected by the solution

Do a pilot test to observe the effectiveness of the solution

See people's reaction about the pilot test

Subtopic