Small groups exist in organizations for many reasons. Some are formally created, permanent bodies for information sharing, decision making and problem solving. Others are ad hoc groups organized to deal with specific issues.
Employees often form their own informal groups to share information.
Regardless or origin, all groups exhibit similar patterns of behavior and encounter similar problems. With proper training, groups can accomplish far more than any individual members on their own. This course will examine how communication develops and is sustained within small groups, the dimensions of group character, and the effects of group character on communication. We will use a mix of theory and practice to analyze case studies, participate in group decision-making exercises and review the required text. We seek the answers to this question by learning, in this course, to systematically observe the behavior of others.