Chapter 8 – Monitor
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8.2 Monitoring Group Processes
(click the activity index number to take you back to the activities index)
Various groups of staff play important roles in programs and courses. When using the
Monitor role as an Academic Coordinator you will be critically aware of group
cohesiveness and performance and detect any signals that all is not well.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this activity is to assist you in monitoring
the cohesiveness and performance of critical groups
involved in your program.Groups will always differ in their cohesiveness with some members having stronger
bonds with selected individuals (Robbins, Millett, & Waters-Marsh, 2004). Academic
Coordinators who can build cohesion within their program team and have clear
processes in place to support the performance of the group will be more effective and
successful in implementing change processes.
Two phenomena that can impact on the productivity and performance of team
decision-making processes are groupshift and groupthink (Robbins et al., 2004).
Monitoring the performance of teams around these two phenomena is one way of
ensuring quality performance outcomes for your program.
Groupshift
In groupshift, the group may decide to take on board a risky or exaggerated approach
to resolving a problem. This is made possible by the shared risk of a group decision. A
decision that is riskier than is necessary or desirable may be taken because if
unsuccessful, the penalty is shared by the group. One person does not suffer the blame
and as a result, the group may be more daring in their decisions. In this case, it is
essential that there is regular monitoring of the results of the decision by the group so
that alternative action can be taken if the outcomes of the decision do not turn out as
positively as was anticipated. These processes establish some accountability for the
group members and can assist in softening the negative impact of groupshift. It is
important that Academic Coordinators monitor the negative aspects and utilise the
positive aspects of groupshift.
Of course, in some circumstances, groupshift can be used to support innovation and
calculated risk taking. In these situations, it is equally important that the effects of the
decision are monitored.
However, groupshift can also result in a ‘shift’ in the opposite direction with decisions
being overly cautious and minimalistic, because members are very risk averse. Risk
aversion can increase as a result of cohesion and commonality amongst group
members. An Academic Coordinator who is savvy needs to be aware of these ‘shifts’ in
the decision making of the group and manage them carefully.