COMM 200 Exam III Study Guide
Lecture #7a: Groups: Functional Group Decision Making (Week 11)
Chapter 8: Group Communication (Dainton & Zelley, 2015, pp. 137-141 only)
✓ Group Communication Defined
-What is a group? Be able to describe.
-Group: a system of three or more individuals focused on achieving a common purpose who
influence and are influenced by each other
-How is group communication distinct from other types of communication? Be able to explain.
o Be able to describe the three (3) distinct features.
Task communication
Socio-emotional
communication
Group role
✓ Functional Group Decision Making
-What is a function? Be able to describe and provide examples.
function: refers to what communication does
example: an apology serves as a function of relationship repair; jokes serve as a function of tension
release
-What are the four (4) functions of functional group decision making (see Table 8.1)? Be able
to describe each and provide examples.2
Problem analysis Groups must take a realistic look at the nature, extent, and
likely causes of the problem.
Goal setting Necessitates that all members are clear about what they are
trying to accomplish.
Identity alternatives Group members brainstorm to generate many possible
solutions, maximizing likelihood that a good solution is
ultimately chosen.
Evaluate and select Evaluate the possible solutions generated in the previous
function.
-Do all four (4) functions need to be accomplished according to Functional Group Decision
Making?
-states that all 4 functions need to be accomplished to maximize the likelihood of an effective
decision and that no one function is more important than another.
-Do the functions have to be accomplished in a particular order? What is the similar pattern
that most groups use in tackling problems? Be able to explain.
-research suggests it doesn't matter whether they are completed in a particular order, just need to
be completed
-What are the three (3) types of communication in small groups (p. 141). Be able to describe
each and recognize in a scenario.
1) Promotive communication: geared toward one of the requisite functions
2) Disruptive communication: diverts, retards, or frustrates the ability of the group to achieve the
, Exam III Study Guide 2
requisite functions
3) Counteractive communication: messages that return a disrupted group back to the requisite
functions is likely to be most important for group decision making
Lecture Material:
✓ Small Groups
-How are small groups defined? Be able to describe and recognize in a scenario.
● Small Groups
○ Number of individuals
-In terms of number of individuals, what do most scholars agree is the minimum number of
people in a small group? What is the suggested optimal number of individuals for a small
group?
○ (min. 3; 5-7 people) that work together to achieve some common purpose
✓ Attributes of Groups
-What are the four (4) attributes of groups? Be able to describe each.
Attributes of groups
● Cohesiveness: togetherness
● Synergy: multiple perspectives
● Networks: patterns through which information flows
● Roles: position of members (and relation to group)
✓ Model of Decision Making
-What are the three (3) components of the model of decision-making? Be able to describe each.
Model of Decision-Making
Input → process → output
● Input: obstacles to decision making
○ Example: task vs. interpersonal
● Process: how groups expend energy
○ Example: Phases in coming to decision; the steps going into the decision
● Output:
○ Example: quality of decision; productivity
✓ Functional Group Decision Making
-What is the main premise of this theory?
● Main Premise: Effective decision making is proportionate to the extent that communication
serves to insure that members adequately satisfy requirements of a task
○ Effective decision making = quality, appropriate
○ Communication is the instrument for decision making
○ “Why do some groups make good decisions while others make bad ones” -Hirokawara
-What is instrumental to decision making?
○ Communication is the instrument for decision making
✓ Functions of Decision Making
-What are the four (4) functions of effective decision-making? Be able to describe and recognize
in a scenario.
, Exam III Study Guide 3
● Four Functions of Effective Decision Making
○ 1 Problem Analysis: focus on nature, extent, and likely causes of problem
■ Information Gathering
○ 2 Goal Setting: all members clear about what trying to accomplish
■ Create standards or criteria
○ 3 Identify Alternatives: generate possible solutions
■ Brainstorming
○ 4 Evaluations of Pos./Neg. Characteristics: compare solutions with criteria; evaluate
pros and cons
-Are all four functions required for effective decision making? Are some functions more
important than others?
○ All four (4) function required for effective decision making
○ All functions equally important
✓ Communication in Decision Making
-What are the three (3) types of communication in decision-making groups? Be able to describe
and recognize in a scenario.
Communication in Decision Making
● Three (3) main types of communication in decision-making groups:
○ Promotive: interaction that move group along the goal path focused on requisites
○ Disruptive: interaction that divert or frustrate group members ability
○ Counteractive: interaction used to get group back on track
Lecture #7b: Groups: Groupthink (Week 12)
Chapter 8: Group Communication (Dainton & Zelley, 2015, pp. 141-144 only)
✓ Groupthink
-What is groupthink? What was it designed to explain? Be able to describe.
Groupthink: a dysfunctional “way of deliberating that group members use when their desire for
unanimity overrides their motivation to assess all available plans of action:
-Designed to explain and predict how bad decisions are made by groups.
-What are the three (3) antecedent conditions to groupthink? Be able to describe each, and
recognize examples in scenarios.
o Cohesion: refers to the degree of connection, or sense of solidarity, between group
members
▪ Why is cohesion necessary for a group? because groupthink emphasizes the
preservation of group harmony, a high degree of cohesion is necessary for
groupthink to occur
o Structural Flaws: refers to problems with the way the group is organized
▪ What are the four (4) types of structural flaws? Be able to recognize each.
1) group insulation: the group is somehow isolated from the larger world
2) biased leadership: if the leader already has his or her mind made up or has a
Lecture #7a: Groups: Functional Group Decision Making (Week 11)
Chapter 8: Group Communication (Dainton & Zelley, 2015, pp. 137-141 only)
✓ Group Communication Defined
-What is a group? Be able to describe.
-Group: a system of three or more individuals focused on achieving a common purpose who
influence and are influenced by each other
-How is group communication distinct from other types of communication? Be able to explain.
o Be able to describe the three (3) distinct features.
Task communication
Socio-emotional
communication
Group role
✓ Functional Group Decision Making
-What is a function? Be able to describe and provide examples.
function: refers to what communication does
example: an apology serves as a function of relationship repair; jokes serve as a function of tension
release
-What are the four (4) functions of functional group decision making (see Table 8.1)? Be able
to describe each and provide examples.2
Problem analysis Groups must take a realistic look at the nature, extent, and
likely causes of the problem.
Goal setting Necessitates that all members are clear about what they are
trying to accomplish.
Identity alternatives Group members brainstorm to generate many possible
solutions, maximizing likelihood that a good solution is
ultimately chosen.
Evaluate and select Evaluate the possible solutions generated in the previous
function.
-Do all four (4) functions need to be accomplished according to Functional Group Decision
Making?
-states that all 4 functions need to be accomplished to maximize the likelihood of an effective
decision and that no one function is more important than another.
-Do the functions have to be accomplished in a particular order? What is the similar pattern
that most groups use in tackling problems? Be able to explain.
-research suggests it doesn't matter whether they are completed in a particular order, just need to
be completed
-What are the three (3) types of communication in small groups (p. 141). Be able to describe
each and recognize in a scenario.
1) Promotive communication: geared toward one of the requisite functions
2) Disruptive communication: diverts, retards, or frustrates the ability of the group to achieve the
, Exam III Study Guide 2
requisite functions
3) Counteractive communication: messages that return a disrupted group back to the requisite
functions is likely to be most important for group decision making
Lecture Material:
✓ Small Groups
-How are small groups defined? Be able to describe and recognize in a scenario.
● Small Groups
○ Number of individuals
-In terms of number of individuals, what do most scholars agree is the minimum number of
people in a small group? What is the suggested optimal number of individuals for a small
group?
○ (min. 3; 5-7 people) that work together to achieve some common purpose
✓ Attributes of Groups
-What are the four (4) attributes of groups? Be able to describe each.
Attributes of groups
● Cohesiveness: togetherness
● Synergy: multiple perspectives
● Networks: patterns through which information flows
● Roles: position of members (and relation to group)
✓ Model of Decision Making
-What are the three (3) components of the model of decision-making? Be able to describe each.
Model of Decision-Making
Input → process → output
● Input: obstacles to decision making
○ Example: task vs. interpersonal
● Process: how groups expend energy
○ Example: Phases in coming to decision; the steps going into the decision
● Output:
○ Example: quality of decision; productivity
✓ Functional Group Decision Making
-What is the main premise of this theory?
● Main Premise: Effective decision making is proportionate to the extent that communication
serves to insure that members adequately satisfy requirements of a task
○ Effective decision making = quality, appropriate
○ Communication is the instrument for decision making
○ “Why do some groups make good decisions while others make bad ones” -Hirokawara
-What is instrumental to decision making?
○ Communication is the instrument for decision making
✓ Functions of Decision Making
-What are the four (4) functions of effective decision-making? Be able to describe and recognize
in a scenario.
, Exam III Study Guide 3
● Four Functions of Effective Decision Making
○ 1 Problem Analysis: focus on nature, extent, and likely causes of problem
■ Information Gathering
○ 2 Goal Setting: all members clear about what trying to accomplish
■ Create standards or criteria
○ 3 Identify Alternatives: generate possible solutions
■ Brainstorming
○ 4 Evaluations of Pos./Neg. Characteristics: compare solutions with criteria; evaluate
pros and cons
-Are all four functions required for effective decision making? Are some functions more
important than others?
○ All four (4) function required for effective decision making
○ All functions equally important
✓ Communication in Decision Making
-What are the three (3) types of communication in decision-making groups? Be able to describe
and recognize in a scenario.
Communication in Decision Making
● Three (3) main types of communication in decision-making groups:
○ Promotive: interaction that move group along the goal path focused on requisites
○ Disruptive: interaction that divert or frustrate group members ability
○ Counteractive: interaction used to get group back on track
Lecture #7b: Groups: Groupthink (Week 12)
Chapter 8: Group Communication (Dainton & Zelley, 2015, pp. 141-144 only)
✓ Groupthink
-What is groupthink? What was it designed to explain? Be able to describe.
Groupthink: a dysfunctional “way of deliberating that group members use when their desire for
unanimity overrides their motivation to assess all available plans of action:
-Designed to explain and predict how bad decisions are made by groups.
-What are the three (3) antecedent conditions to groupthink? Be able to describe each, and
recognize examples in scenarios.
o Cohesion: refers to the degree of connection, or sense of solidarity, between group
members
▪ Why is cohesion necessary for a group? because groupthink emphasizes the
preservation of group harmony, a high degree of cohesion is necessary for
groupthink to occur
o Structural Flaws: refers to problems with the way the group is organized
▪ What are the four (4) types of structural flaws? Be able to recognize each.
1) group insulation: the group is somehow isolated from the larger world
2) biased leadership: if the leader already has his or her mind made up or has a
