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appendix a
Speaking in Small Groups aPPenDix a
Across the Globe, the ability to work well in small groups is essential in organizations
that regularly accomplish tasks through cooperative teams and groups. In fact, recent
college graduates said the ability to work in teams is the most important skill that
employers seek.^1 Task-oriented teams often produce excellent results, but they can be
frustrating if you are unaware of group dynamics. This appendix first presents some
advantages and disadvantages of group work. Next, it gives tips for working in two types
of groups: investigative groups and problem-solving groups. It closes with a description
of formats commonly used to present the group’s final product.Advantages and Disadvantages
of Group Work
You’ve probably heard the saying “Two heads are better than one.” However, when
you’re trying to accomplish a task with a group plagued by scheduling conflicts,
dominating members, or nonparticipants, you may be tempted to work alone.
Truth be told, the many advantages of group work must be balanced against the
disadvantages.Advantages of Group Work
The advantages of working in groups and teams gave rise to their popularity:^2
• Groups have access to more information and knowledge than an individual
working alone. It’s only reasonable that more people equal more experiences and
more combined knowledge, and a person who has expertise in one area but lacks it in
another needs others to balance those weaknesses. Together, the group can pool
resources and generate more information than an individual could produce.
• Participants bring various viewpoints to the group that can help more creative
ideas emerge. By combining personalities and thinking styles, the group as a whole
can respond more creatively to an issue than if the solution relies on only one
person’s ideas. Diversity within a group also increases the members’ understandings
of different cultural perspectives that bear upon the issue.
• Group work provides a deeper level of involvement and learning. When everyone
participates, the group can do three to four times as much research in approximately
the same time as a single person working alone. Discussions also let group members
ask and answer questions that clarify confusing ideas and sharpen critical thinking
skills. Consequently, many people learn better in small groups.Appendix
A
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