Functional Approach to Group Dynamics PDF

FUNCTIONAL APPROACH GROUP DYNAMICS PRESENTED BY: RAMOS, KRISTINE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. What factors help improve a team’s ability to solve problems? 2. What factors disrupt a team’s ability to solve problems? FUNCTIONAL APPROACH: ADVICE ON IMPROVING TEAM PROBLEM SOLVING Functional approac...

FUNCTIONAL APPROACH GROUP DYNAMICS PRESENTED BY: RAMOS, KRISTINE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. What factors help improve a team’s ability to solve problems? 2. What factors disrupt a team’s ability to solve problems? FUNCTIONAL APPROACH: ADVICE ON IMPROVING TEAM PROBLEM SOLVING Functional approach tries to improve a team’s ability to solve problems by understanding the factors related to effective problem solving and the factors that disrupt team problem solving. The functional approach illustrates what can go right (and wrong) with the team problem-solving process. FACTORS THAT IMPROVE TEAM PROBLEM SOLVING An effective team should include intelligent problem solvers or vigilant critical thinkers. The team should analyze the problem, develop alternatives, and select the best solution. The problem-solving process should be relatively free of social, emotional, and political factors that disrupt a rational analysis.  FACTORS THAT IMPROVE TEAM PROBLEM SOLVING The following are characteristics of effective team problem solvers (Beebe & Masterson, 1994; Janis & Mann, 1977): Skilled problem solvers view problems from a variety of viewpoints to better understand the problem. Rather than relying on its own opinions, an effective team gathers data and researches a problem before making a decision.  FACTORS THAT IMPROVE TEAM PROBLEM SOLVING The following are characteristics of effective team problem solvers (Beebe & Masterson, 1994; Janis & Mann, 1977): A successful team considers a variety of options or alternatives before selecting a particular solution. An effective team manages both the task and relational aspects of problem solving.  FACTORS THAT IMPROVE TEAM PROBLEM SOLVING The following are characteristics of effective team problem solvers (Beebe & Masterson, 1994; Janis & Mann, 1977): A successful team’s discussion is focused on the problem. An effective team listens to minority opinions. Skilled problem solvers test alternative solutions relative to established criteria.  FACTORS THAT HURT TEAM PROBLEM SOLVING The following are characteristics that disrupt a team’s ability to solve problems: Project teams often jump quickly to the solution stage without adequately defining the problem (Hackman & Morris, 1975). Teams often seek “satisficing” solutions rather than optimal solutions due to constraints (Simon, 1979).  FACTORS THAT HURT TEAM PROBLEM SOLVING The following are characteristics that disrupt a team’s ability to solve problems: The difficulty of determining the best solution limits a team’s ability to objectively select the best solution. Communication problems may interfere with a team’s ability to analyze and solve problems.  FACTORS THAT HURT TEAM PROBLEM SOLVING The following are characteristics that disrupt a team’s ability to solve problems: A team’s problem-solving process can be disrupted by a number of non-task-related factors such as: (a) the desire to reduce uncertainty; (b) politics; (c) competition; and (d) unequal power. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING  REFERENCE: Levi, D.J. (2016). Group Dynamics for Teams (5th Edition). Sage Publications, Inc. 11, 250-251.