Small Groups Research Paper

Small Group
Name:
Institution
Introduction
Thesis: To look at the importance, essential elements, and keys to a successful small group including elements of service learning and its impact on education with the aim of compiling a comprehensive study that can be used as a point of reference by teachers and students.
Small groups and community are two aspects of the American college environment and workplace that are difficult to separate. Small groups exist in both the academic settings and within the communities where the small groups function and produce good results. This paper will particularly emphasize on the area of small group communication, which is an important area of study in the academic circles today (Rothwell, 2012). This paper focuses on the theories and principles of communication in relation to small group process. This paper also looks at the challenges and barriers associated with effective group discussion. Finally, research application as it pertains to both actual and hypothetical small group situations has been discussed.
Definition
Peter McCrorie (2006) in his book Teaching and Leading Small Groups says that the typical understanding of a ‘small group’ is 8 to 12 learners who are facilitated by a teacher. Learner-centered is the purist view of small group teaching where all students participate actively in the accomplishment of the project the group is working on (McCrorie, 2006). McCrorie says that groups in clinical teaching may consist of the smaller number, sometimes 2-4 students while, in other cases, small groups may comprise even up to 20 or 30 students in cases where the higher education programmes take larger numbers. However, McCrorie clearly states that the size of a small group is less important in the definition of a small group but the significant characteristic of a small group is the task that the group does (McCrorie, 2006).
Importance of Small Groups
Small groups offer definite benefits in an organization or business setting. Rather than an individual employee working on a project alone, the organization structure provides for employees to work together in small groups. This business model has many benefits for the organization. However, lack of communication among small group members can cause many problems that may affect the entire organization. Small group communication is, therefore, an important key to successful small groups operation, thus it is worth examining the examples of the significance of small groups;
Function
The employees with the different set of skills, knowledge bases, and functions can be grouped together with the aim of fostering creativity and improving the organizations’ efficiency. A small group is also rational in that it gives staffs a sense of belonging in the organization especially in the organization that has a huge workforce. Small group members can take huge and complex projects and assign small modules of the project the member who is skilled in that particular area. For example, an employee with skills in programming may be given the responsibility of coding a specific module in large programming project. Likewise, an employee who excels in statistics in the same group may be given the responsibility of putting together numbers for the project (Rothwell, 2012).
Shared Ideas
Sharing ideas in a small group is very essential in the success of a small group performance. This is why the small group members should have regular meetings to discuss and brainstorm the challenges on the project forecast on the direction to follow. Members in such meetings come up with creative solutions that push the group closer to a better finished project.
Accountability
Accountability is part of the collaboration process in a small group. Establishing Gantt charts, workflow grids, with projected deadlines, help everyone to participate and contribute to the project. Working in small groups helps each employee to develop in their work ethic, and increase on their capacity to do a thorough research on each aspect of the project to submit the completed work according to all the specified guidelines and within the specified time. In addition, fact-check the work of your co-worker helps keeps off the project from failing or unnecessary delays (Diller, 2007).
Essential Elements
The four stages of small group development are an essential element of a small group. Small groups go through four stages of group development namely;
Forming
This is the first stage that entails the initial group formation process. Under this stage, there may be the drafting of a charter where the leader is given formal authority to lead the group. Formation stage entails the team coming together, knowing each other and starts working together (Michaelsen, et al. 2012).
Storming
As time progresses and small group members became familiar to each other, conflicts may arise within the group due to integration of different personalities. This stage entails where the leadership, the management authority, and technical expertise come together to deliberate on the light issues, and conflicts that need to be addressed before the team can progress with its endeavor (Michaelsen, et al. 2012).
Norming
After the problems are resolved in the storming stage, a small group becomes stronger, and the team may enter into a phase of normalcy. The team members become familiar with each other and collaborate in the achievement of their goals. They understand the various elements of how the group operates such as the processes and procedures, the perking orders, how to collaborate and interact with the team members. The group now has reached the level of problem solving and communication (Michaelsen, et al. 2012).
Performing
Performing is the highest level that the small group can attain. Here the team members can process their strengths and weakness while accomplishing the goals of the team goals. The team also becomes more efficient and expertize is developed. Innovation starts to be generated, and the success of the team is at its pinnacle. The team members can come together and celebrate their achievements (Michaelsen, et al. 2012).


Sources: (Diller, 2007).
Keys to Success
Teamwork
In order for a small group to achieve its objectives, various features need to be applied to benefit the group. A small group should first embrace teamwork, which is achieved through distribution of tasks among the team members. For example, I was a member of a small group where we were required to research a class assignment on the topic “effectiveness and productivity of teamwork in the company.” Our first goal was to design a structure that defined the project we were carrying out and then determine how we would achieve them. To achieve these goals our small group used the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time- bound) analysis theory (Rothwell, 2012).
There were several influence styles used by individuals in our small group, but the main one was the direct interpersonal influence. Interpersonal influence involves the interpersonal relationship between the leadership and small group member’s which acts as a source of influence in the group. This is the influencing style that was implemented in our small group, and it worked effectively in propelling the small group to achieve its goals.
Leadership
Influence and leadership plays a major role within a small group. The influence from both the leadership and small group members is very instrumental in steering the group towards achieving its goals. This influence is what acts as the driving force through which the small group achieve its goals. On the leadership, the small group should appoint strong leaders who are able to help the team through the formation process. They should be visionary and quick to identify conflicts and facilitate in the conflict resolving process. The leaders should also have the capacity to identify the talents of each of the group member and delegate tasks according to one’s potential. The small group members develop leadership skills, which gives them the experience that they can utilize when they become leaders in the future. In a small group, teamwork should be the core of the team such that it becomes difficult to identify the leader as each of the small group member is seen sharing in the influence and leadership.
Decision-making in Small Groups
Small groups are often faced with both simple and difficult decisions that the team is required to make. Simple decisions can be made through brainstorming among the members. However, the more difficult decisions require a decision making process which should be formulated by the small group members. First the objectives of the small group are established, then the team members begin to explore the facts and the uncertainties that they may be having. These facts are then analyzed, and the best alternative for the small group is chosen. Before the decision has been made, the members re-evaluate the alternatives. The final stage in the decision-making stage for complex situations involves making the final decision and documenting it. In small groups, the process of decision-making involves every member.
Communication
It is important for the group member to meet from time to time to deliberate the project at hand. These meetings are instrumental as they give the team members an in-depth insight into effective communication skills. Communication serves as an important tool for the small group to come up with a sound decision that relates to the project the group is carrying out. Each opinion raised should be discussed extensively among the group members. By this, every person in a small group not only enhances their communication skills but they also learn to be good listeners to others. The confidence of passing a message to other people and self-expression that is understandable to the audience is developed.
Technology
The recent advancements of new technologies have not only improved on communication within the small groups and how the small groups interact. Communication tools such as telephones and videoconferencing are costly although some organizations use this technology. However, emergence of new technology, Internet in particular has allowed for both the synchronous and asynchronous communication across the small group members at comparatively low costs. These technologies have altered the functions, and processes and membership of small group members.
Research on has found that the new communication technology has the capability of creating new environments that yield more dynamic, fluid and open small group environments. For example, recent research conducted by The University of Sydney shows that online discussions assist in collaborative learning in the college and university classrooms. A study on the same context has found that students who were engaged actively in online discussion attained higher grades in comparison to those who did not participate. New communication technologies also are able to provide avenues for active participation for disadvantaged and marginalized small group members. The disadvantage is that the new communication technologies may be costly in terms of both time and money for a small group. Small group members who are not familiar with the new communication technology within the group can become discouraged and frustrated. Computer software and hardware that is required in the implementation of the new technology are expensive to purchase and requires regular upgrades in today’s ever-changing technological world.
Service Learning
Production of industrious and active citizens is one of the main goals of the Education System in American. Despite this noble objective, the connection between the educational institutions and community involvement has not been nurtured. An innovative new approach called service learning seeks to address this challenge. For a long time, the academic curriculum or coursework and community service has been autonomous. Service learning intends to integrate the two with the aim of enhancing the academic course work, as opposed to being an additional to the coursework. In 1994, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) introduced service learning in more than 1,200 associate degree-offering institutions, in the United States. According to AACC recent national surveys, only a third of these colleges are yet to offer service l...