Group and public communication: The what, why, where, when, who, and how

This post explores group (and to a lesser extent) public communication using the 5 Ws and H of journalism. It offers a concise summary of group communication scholarship.

What is group/team/public communication and what theories help us explain or predict the process?
A group is comprised roughly of three to 19 individuals joined by a common purpose and who influence each other as they work towards their stated vision or goal (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 5).  A team is different from a group in that the former is more structured (p. 6).  Various theories help explain or predict group processes. Systems theory emphasizes the interdependence of  groups, social exchange theory shows how reciprocal benefits influence group behavior, structuration theory explains how groups use and amend rules to achieve their ends, symbolic convergence theory reveals how  communication behaviors unify the group, and functional theory highlights specific activities groups must perform to achieve success (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, pp. 39-45; Frey, 2004). Dialectics is another theory that explains group processes in terms of the reconciliation of conflicting forces of belonging and separation (Kramer, Benoit, Dixon, and Benoit-Bryan, 2007). When the activities of individuals or groups seek to influence culture or politics, they are operating in the public sphere (McKee, 2005).

Why group/public communication?

Groups allow members to bring more information, perspectives, and creativity to problem solving than individuals working in isolation, while fulfilling members’ needs such as belonging and self-actualisation (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, pp. 12-13, 52-54). Communication in the public sphere using channels such as the media allows citizens to be involved in shaping political and cultural structures (McKee, 2005).

Where does group and public communication take place?

Group and public communication are pervasive. From families, to churches, to businesses and in the public sphere, through political parties, community organizations, and various interest groups, we see group and public communication at work. An emerging new venue is cyberspace, which is redefining the traditional rules and processes of group and public communication resulting in new opportunities and challenges (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, pp. 20-25; Li, 2007; Han, 2007). Regardless of the meeting place, a supportive climate is important to foster group cohesiveness (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 102).

When does group communication take place?

While scheduling is important for face-to-face interactions, gone are the days when individuals needed to meet at the same time to engage in group work. One important benefit of online technology is asynchronous group/public communication (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 21).

Who should join/lead the group?

Research indicates that groups are strengthened by diversity (social, educational, racial, age, gender, skills) but if heterogeneous groups are not well managed, it can result in negative outcomes, including potential conflict (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, pp. 64, 92-97; Mannix & Neale, 2005). Group leaders may emerge naturally (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 297) or they may be formally appointed. In either case, group leaders can be examined using a traits, functional, situational, or transformational perspective (pp. 284-297).

How do you get the best out of group processes?

To succeed, groups need to fulfil task and group building/maintenance functions that encompass problem-oriented competencies, solution-oriented competencies; discussion management competencies; and relational competencies (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, pp.26-28). Groups must be especially good at managing conflict (pp. 151-168) and at employing traditional and alternative brainstorming to arrive at creative, collaborative solutions to problems (pp. 268-277).

References

Beebe, S. A., & Masterson, J. T. (2009). Communicating in small groups: Principles and practices (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.

Frey, L. R. (2004). The symbolic-interpretive perspective on group dynamics small group research. Small Group Research, 35, 277-306. doi: 10.1177/1046496404263771

Han, C. (2007, May). Towards an online public sphere: A case study of an online civic journalism. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, San Francisco, CA.

Kramer, M. W., Benoit, P. J., Dixon, M. A., & Benoit-Bryan, J. (2007). Group processes in a teaching renewal retreat: Communication functions and dialectical tensions. Southern Communication Journal, 72(2), 145-168. doi:10.1080/10417940701316476

Li, S-C. S. (2007). Computer-mediated communication and group decision making: A functional perspective. Small Group Research, 38, 593-614. doi:10.1177/1046496407304335

Mannix, E., & Neale, M. A. (2005). What differences make a difference? Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 6(2), 31-55. doi:10.1111/j.1529-1006.2005.00022.x

McKee, A. (2005). The public sphere: An introduction. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.