Forming Storming Norming Performing

The purpose of this book is to provide an introduction to Group and Team Communication. Emphasis is placed om giving readers guidelines for becoming successful communicators in groups and teams. Specific emphasis is placed on these topics as they relate to group and team communication: basic information, verbal and nonverbal communication, listening, conflict, problem solving, presentations, leadership, computer-mediated discussions, and performance evaluations.

1. The Basics
• Definitions
• Small Group
• Team
• The Context of Small Group Communication
• The Group Versus the Individual
• The Importance of Studying Small Group and Team Communication
• Paradoxes
• Summary
  
2. Group Categories and Types
• Dichtomous Categories
• Primary Groups versus Secondary Groups
• Formal versus Informal Groups
• Task versus Social Groups
• Therapeutic and Non-therapeutic Groups
• Specific Types of Groups
• The Family
• Adolescent Groups
• Work Groups
• Self-Help Groups
• Growth Groups
• T-Groups
• Marathon Encounter Groups
• EST (Erhard Seminar Training)
• Conclusing Remarks on Growth Groups
• Summary
  
3. Communication in Groups: Theoretical Considerations
• Theories of Small Group and Team Communication
• Berne's Transactional Theory
• Gordon's Effective Communication Theory
• Dale Carnegie's Infleunce Theory
• Fundamental Techniques in Handling People
• Ways to Make People Like You
• Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking
• Ways to Change People WIthout Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment
• Leary's Reflex Theory
• Existential Theories
• Buber's Existential Theory
• Rogers' Existential Theory
• Summary of Existential Approaches
• Laing's Perception Theory
• Goffman's Dramaturgical Theory
• McGinty's Group Rank Theory
• The DOs
• The DONT's
• Theoretical Reflections
• Summary
  
4. Verbal Communication in Groups and Teams
• Language As A Model of The Universe
• General Semantics
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Stuttering
• The Placebo Effect
• Anecdotes
• Implications
• Metaphor
• Other Figures of Speech
• Connotation and Denotation
• Vagueness
• Ambiguity
• The Pygmalion Effect
• Revelation Through Language
• Summary
5. Nonverbal Communication in Groups and Teams
• Organismics
• Cosmetics
• Costuming
• Kinesics
• Haptics
• Oculesics
• Vocalics
• Chronemics
• Proxemics
• Objectics
• Summary
  
6. Listening in Groups and Teams
• Passive Listening
• Active Listening
• Verbal and Nonverbal Listening
• Indices of Listening
• Recruiting Listeners
• Summary
  
7. Theories of Group Development
• Systems Theory
• Systems Concepts
• Closed or Open
• Interdependence of Parts or Elements
• Hierarchy
• Feedback
• Equilibrium
• Groups As Systems
• Group Development Theories
• Lewin's Field Theory
• Bennis and Shepard
• Mintzberg, Raisinghani, and Theoret
• Tuckman
• Fisher
• Bales and Strodtbeck
• Discussion
• Summary
  
8. Forming
• Why Do People Join Groups?
• Biological Reasons
• Interpersonal Reasons
• Schutz's Interpersonal Needs Theory
• Inclusion
• Control
• Affection
• Implications of Schutz's Theory
• Assessing Interpersonal Needs
• Maslow's Need Hierachy
• Goffman's Need to Impress View
• Practical Resons for Joining Group
• Dynamics Of The Newly Formed Group
• The Naïve Member
• The Sophisticated Member
• The Game Player
• Summary
  
9. Storming
• Types of Conflict in Groups and Teams
• Personal Conflict
• Interpersonal Conflict
• Task Conflict
• Administrative Conflict
• Group Management of Conflict
• Force
• Majority Vote
• Negotiation
• Consensus
• Mediation
• Arbitration
• Fractionalization
• The Personal Management of Conflict
• Use the "Count to Ten" Rule
• Introspect
• Depersonalize Your Comments
• Listen Attentively
• Don't Be Defensive
• Be Cooperative
• The Positive Side of Conflict
• Conflict can Improve Decision Quality
• Conflict Arouses
• Conflict and Cohesion
• Structured Conflict
• Summary
  
10. Norming
• Cohesiveness
• Conformity
• Festinger's Group Locomotion Hypothesis
• Festinger's Social Comparison Theory
• Newcombe's ABX Theory
• Sherif, Sherif, and Nebergall's Social Judgement Theory
• Thibaut and Kelly's Social Exchange Theory
• Groupthink
• Combating Groupthink
• Groupthink Phenomenon Questioned
• Compatibility
• Summary
  
11. Performing: Part One: Problem Solving
• Problem Solving
• Definition
• Types of Problems
• Problems of Fact
• Problems of Belief, Value, and Attitude
• Forensic Problems
• Problems of Policy
• Problem Sources
• Inherited Problems
• Assigned Problems
• Discovered Problems
• Framing the Problem
• The Problem Solving Process
• Information Gathering
• Reasoning with the Gathered Information
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Reasoning by Analogy
• Generating New Ideas
• Role Playing
• Metaphorical Thinking
• Fantasy Chaining
• Brainstorming
• The Rules for Brainstorming
• The Buzz Group or Phillips 66 Techniques
• The Nominal Group and Delphi Techniques
• The Nominal Group Technique (NGT)
• The Delphi Technique
• The Focus Group Technique
• Projective Techniques
• Chat Rooms
• Audience Analysis
• Deciding Upon A Solution
• Summary
  
12. Performing: Part Two: Group Presentations
• Group Presentation Principles
• COP
• Content
• Organization
• Presentation
• RAMP
• Reason
• Audience
• Medium
• Presenters
• Group Presentation Formats
• The Panel
• The Forum
• The Colloquium
• The Symposium
• Reviewing Public Presentation Formats
• Summary
  
13. Leadership
• Some Thoughts on Leadership
• Definition
• Are Good Leaders Born or Made?
• Leadership Styles
• Authoritarian Leadership
• The Authoritarian Leadership Style
• Consequences of Authoritarian Leadership
• Democratic Leadership
• The Democratic Leadership Style
• Consequences of Democratic Leadership
• Laissez-Faire Leadership
• The Laissez-Faire Leadership Style
• Consequences of Laissez-Faire Leadership
• Discussion of the Leadership Styles
• Leadership and Power
• Theories of Management
• The Theory X Manager
• The Theory Y Manager
• The Theory Z Manager
• The Theory K Manager
• Discussion Of The Theories of Management
• The Leader In Action
• How Can A Leader Satisfy The Group's Task Needs?
• How Can A Leader Satisfy The Group's Interpersonal Needs?
• How Can A Leader Satisfy The Group's Administrative Needs?
• Characteristics of Admired Leaders
• Leaders on Leadership
• Leadership and Goals
• Summary
  
14. Computer-Mediated Communication in Groups and Teams
• Computer-Mediated Group Discussions
• Category 1: Incidents In the FTFGDs That Fostered A Good Interpersonal Climate
• Category 2: Incidents In the FTFGDs That Did Not Foster A Good Interpersonal Climate
• Category 3: Incidents In the CMGDs That Fostered A Good Interpersonal Climate
• Category 4: Incidents In the CMGDs That Did Not Foster A Good Interpersonal Climate
• Category 5: Incidents In the FTFGDs That Promoted Successful Goal Achievement
• Category 6: Incidents In the FTFGDs That Did Not Promote Successful Goal Achievement
• Category 7: Incidents In the CMGDs That Promoted Successful Goal Achievement
• Category 8: Incidents In the CMGDs That Did Not Promote Successful Goal Achievement
• Gender and CMGDs
• Computer-Mediated Focus Groups
• Computer-Mediated Brainstorming
• Summary
  
15. Evaluating Groups and Teams
• Bales' Interaction Process Analysis
• Bales' Categories
• Bales' Norms
• Flanagan's Critical Incident Technique
• Establishing The General Aim
• Planning The Study
• Collecting The Data
• Analyzing The Data
• Using The Data
• Benne and Sheats' Role Analysis
• Roles People Play In Groups
• Group-Task Roles
• Group Maintenance Or Interpersonal Role
• Self-Centered Roles
• The 360
• Rating Scales
• Technique Blends
• Summary
  

I was a bit reluctant when I approached this book, as the title seemed to indicate a re-hash of Tuckman, but I was pleasantly surprised by a very good overview of Group and Team theories and practices, written in clear text. This book will in no way make you an expert (or even an informed layman) in the Group theories, but it will introduce you to them, and their frameworks, as well as giving you tips on where to go next. I rather enjoyed it, but a Table of Contents would have been appreciated, as well as consistency in the headings.

All in all, a good book to read, even if you think you know the subject well enough already.