MCCMCC Group Observation Salad Dressing Bottle Packaging Video Analysis Discussion

Instructions:

In a non COVID-19 world, this assignment would require you to do your best to physically attend a group meeting. Ideally, it would be a small group (5 – 12 people) but a larger group would also work. Unfortunately, as it is unsafe for you to physically attend a meeting, you can select to observe a group meeting online. Be sure to let us know the size of the group so we can get a sense of your experience.

If you are already a part of a group at work or if you are already attending a support group, church/religious group, or any group where there is a designated leader present, please feel free to observe the group you are participating in but communicate that in your answer to question #1.

Note: Avoid social groups such as a group of friends hanging out or a group of people playing a video game online, or a group of ants building a nest (yes, I know! I had to say this because I received an assignment in the past where someone ‘observed’ a group of ants, haha 🙂 I’m sorry but I will mark the assignment with a ZERO! If you are unsure, please check with me.

–You need to answer six questions about the group you observe. There isn’t a time requirement about how long you need to watch the group. You do need to watch long enough to be able to clearly answer the six questions.

–Please try to watch a group meeting from start to finish online or if you attend one, stay and watch the whole meeting. For example:

Focus Group Research: Premium Salad Dressing Packaging by Weatherchem*
Please select another group online other than the above (avoid using the salad dressing focus group meeting)

–Be sure to include the link if you watch an online group. Points will be deducted if no link is posted.

–Post your answers in the discussion text box. (You don’t have to attach a Word document – but that is an option if you would like to post it that way in the discussion board.)

–Once your answers are posted, respond to two classmates. You can add insight about group communication and/or ask a question related to group communication. Answer questions which are posted to you as best as you can. Your response needs to be thoughtful, in-depth, and meaningful, and not merely agreeing or disagreeing with classmates.

Follow this format: Please number each of the questions in your post so it is easy for us to follow your writing. Remember to answer six questions (copy the questions, paste them in your text box and respond to each with clear supporting details from your group observation). Vague, generalized responses will likely not earn a good grade for this assignment.

Question 1. Observe one group meeting – or at least enough of a meeting to answer the questions for us. The group needs to have an identifiable leader. For example: a work group at a school or company run by a manager, a small school board meeting (smaller city / towns have smaller districts) lead by the board president, an open 12-step meeting (such as Alcoholics Anonymous) with a moderator.

Be specific — As part of your answer for question #1. write down the name of the meeting, where it was located, the number of people who attended (approximately). If you can get this specific information from an online group, that is fine too. You may search www.youtube.com for work groups, small groups, focus groups, etc.

If you choose an online group, please don’t forget to provide the link as part of your answer to question #1.

Question 2. Describe what type of group it was. Was it a focus group, support group, work group, problem-solving group etc. ? Your answer may be brief but please write in complete sentences.

Question 3. Describe the group format and how the format influenced communication (verbal and/or non-verbal messages). For e.g. You may write about how the group was arranged – Were people seated in a horse shoe style or in a circle? How did the arrangement of their seating and positions affect verbal and/or non-verbal message?

Question 4. Describe two roles you observed (from chapter reading p. 200 -208 and the links below). Be sure to first identify whether they were task, maintenance, or individual (negative) roles – and then describe the specific roles. Please do not make up your own roles, select roles from the textbook on p. 200 or the list provided in the links below:

https://open.lib.umn.edu/communication/chapter/14-2-group-member-roles/ (Links to an external site.)

https://www.comm.pitt.edu/roles-groups (Links to an external site.)

Question 5. Describe the stages of group development which you observed. Use the model below (Tuckman’s Periodic Phases of Group Development model–Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning). It is very straightforward and easier to apply to groups. Clearly list the phases and apply your group observation to each phase. If the storming phase didn’t happen in the group, be sure to state that. A simple and clear format is as follows:

Forming: Describe how the group came together. Did members greet each other? How did the meeting officially begin? Does the group have history together or are they meeting for the first time maybe?

Storming: Describe any group conflict you observed such as disagreements, tensions, personality or idea clashes, language barriers or cultural differences that lead to a problem in the group etc.

Norming: What were the rules and guidelines for behavior in the group? For e.g. how did they make sure that people got a chance to speak without interrupting others or were there established rules that were reminded and followed?

Performing: What was the group’s output? Did they produce something or come to a decision on something? Did they brainstorm and then generated a solution? Anything the group produces is considered a ‘performance.’

Adjourning: How did the group end its meeting?

This link is helpful on Tuckman’s FSNPA Model:

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-principlesmanagement/chapter/reading-the-five-stages-of-team-development/ (Links to an external site.)

The image above was adapted from Principles of Management: Module 8 (OER)

Question 6. Identify two or more leadership functions (skills) which you observed. If you didn’t observe more than one function, identify a second one which would have helped the group and explain why you believe it would have benefited the group. You should apply leadership styles from the chapter reading (pp. 196-199) for this question.

Remember to post thoughtful questions or meaningful comments to two classmates in order to complete the assignment.