EDCO 205 GROUP PROCESS
PROFESSOR: Dr. Faridah S. Abdullah., LPT, RGC
UNIT 11: GROUP DYNAMICS
Group functions
Tree functions that influence the effectiveness and productivity of groups are:
1. Task functions
2. Maintenance functions
3. Self-interest functions.
1. Task functions
- This functions is the primary reason for the establishment of a group. To
achieve the task, they must have members that fulfill some or all of the
following roles:
a) Initiating – by the proposing tasks or goals, defin9ing problems and suggestions
procedures for a solutions.
b) Information seeker – by requesting facts, seeking relevant information and asking
for suggestions or ideas.
c) Information giving – by offering facts, providing information, stating beliefs and
giving suggestions or ideas.
d) Clarifying ideas – by interpreting and clarifying input, indicating alternatives and
giving examples.
e) Bringing closure – by summarizing, restating and offering solutions.
f) Consensus testing – by checking for agreements and sending up “trial balloons”.
2. Maintenance Behavior
- Each group needs social- emotional support to be effective. Some members of
the group will take the lead in providing this support which consist of the
following:
a) Encouraging – by showing regard for other members and providing
positive response to their contributions.
b) Improving group atmosphere – by expressing group feelings, sensing
moods and relationships and sharing feelings.
c) Harmonizing- by reconciling differences and reducing group tension.
d) Compromising- by admitting errors and looking for alternatives.
e) Gate-keeping – by attempting to keep communications flowing,
facilitating the participation of others, and suggesting procedures for
sharing discussion.
f) Standard setting – by reminding members of group norms, rules and
roles.
3. Self- interest and Behaviors
- This third functions displayed by some individual, members generally takes
away from group performance and effects task achievement at the expense of
the group. Activities that identify self-interest behavior are as follows:
a) Dominating and Controlling – by displaying lack of respect for others,
cutting them off, not listening and restating others members. suggestions
with a different meaning.
b) Blocking- by stifling a line of thought and changing the topic either away
from the point of view or back to his or her own interest.
c) Manipulating – by providing self- serving information or single point of
view designed to achieve a decision that consistent with their position.
d) Belittling – through put-downs, sneering at other’s point of view or
making jokes about another members’ contribution
e) Splitting hairs – by nit-picking, searching for insignificants details that
delay a solution or undermining another person’s point of view.
Reporter: Norhaedah B. Dangdang., LPT
