Running head: GROUP COMMUNICATION PAPER

Learning Team D Susan Valera COM 530 February 11, 2014 Mrs Tonya Boddie

GROUP COMMUNICATION PAPER

Memorandum: TO: New Manager FROM: Learning Team D DATE: February 11, 2014 SUBJECT: Group Communication Memorandum Welcome to the Learning Team D. We look forward to this opportunity for working together to create a more successful group. As you take on the position of the new manager, you will be responsible for introducing new employees to their teammates and their work environment. As I understand you are an accountant and have very limited background in group formation and communication. In order to assist you in group formation and communication, you are required to draw upon the workplace experience of your Learning Team D members by using real-life examples to help you describe the five stages of group development briefly and explain how relationships form in groups. During this process, you are also expected to describe the role of group communication, analyze barriers that may exist and describe techniques to overcome those barriers and enhance group communication. In this transition to new manager, you will have the opportunity to lay a foundation for sustained improvement in organizational performance. It is, however, important to understand that becoming a new manager of a group and adopting its rules and practices changes the group view in different ways. To make the transition successful, continue to learn as much about the group through discussions with you and others, and introduce the new hire to the group before arrival and on the first day and provide clear expectations and information, measurable deliverables, regarding the team to be inherited. According to (Robbins, S. & Judge, T., 2011), no individual, group, or organization one can exists without sharing meaning among its members. Groups generally pass through a predictable sequence in their evolution, which we call the five stage model of group development. Five Stages Group Development Model: Forming Storming Norming Performing Adjourning.

GROUP COMMUNICATION PAPER

In the first stages of the team building, the forming of the team occurs. In the forming stage the members form a relationship with one another, exchange personal information, and make new friends. For example, during the first week of the campus class, the team is form. Normally, the people next to you automatically become your team mates. In this stage, it involves the transition from a group of individuals to a functioning team. There is often some fear, uncertainty, avoidance of conflict and anxiety about the success of the project. To overcome these barriers and enhanced communication, allow uncertainties and concerns to be voiced and be supportive of all contributions. Schedule a meeting to explain the goals, discuss the status of the project, provide clear direction and purpose and involve everyone in developing the project plan. In this second stage, storming can be a bit uncomfortable or unpleasant but its significant for the growth and development of the team. The team oftentimes s critique, and confront each other to decide on the best course of action and talk what ideal leadership they will accept. Members may show annoyance, distrust, and resistance to the task. For example, in my previous learning team, we challenge each other's ideas and perspectives, in some cases, it can be argumentative and disagreeable but in the end we resolve our issues and make better decisions for our projects. However, if the conflict is not resolve, members may isolate or even remove themselves from the group during this phase. In order to prevent divisions from occurring and help improve group communication, ensure all opinions are heard. Involve the group in resolving issues, facilitate resolution of conflict by combining opinions and identifying consensus views. As conflicts are resolved, remind group of agreed procedures and, help team members move constructively from conflict toward renewed commitment to the group. After the chaos of Storming, the team moves into the calm; we call the norming stage. This is when team members start to resolve their differences, appreciate their teammates' strengths and weaknesses, and respect the authority of a leader and come to a shared plan for the team. Norming occurs when the group demonstrates cohesiveness and their interactions are characterized by openness and sharing of information on both a personal and task level. For example, in my previous job, I was assigned to lead a group of subordinates to get the space ready for inspection, and the work went like clockwork from start to finish, they are able to ask each other for help and manages to work for the success of the team's goals. However, in norming stage, team members may resist change and begin to fear the predictable future breakup of the group. To overcome these barriers and enhance group communication, the manager needs to continue to look for opportunities to encourage and recognize individual and group achievements. Develop team building activities and continue to maintain a sense of forward progress and positive development. By this time, the third stage of performing, the team are motivated, well-informed, competent, and able to handle the decision-making process without supervision. The team reaches the performing stage when everyone able to work together toward common goals, collaborating effectively and independently working through interpersonal problems and challenges. In this stage, communication among team members or with leadership often appears effortless. For instance, this is similar to the week three of the learning team assignment; where everyone is cooperating and collaborating to complete the team project on time and very seldom fall back into the storming phase. This is the stage at which the group performs most effectively, exhibit

GROUP COMMUNICATION PAPER

high morale, and individual members have become self-assuring. However, the arrival of a new manager may cause a temporarily setback. To overcome these minor setback and improve communication, encourage and assist efficient planning for task achievement. Keep the team members be aware of the overall goal is productivity through problem solving and work. The final stage is called Adjourning. In this stage, the group recognize what they've done, and wittingly move on. However, this stage doesnt apply to all groups. It is essentially limited to temporary task groups working under a time-constrained completion deadline. Adjourning involves dissolution. It entails the termination of roles, the completion of tasks and reduction of dependency. For this particular organization the group work is completed and formally ends team's existence. For example, during the completion of the project, each of the individuals on the team will be moving to other projects within the organization, but no one is going to be on the same project. They will miss working with each other but have promised to remain friends and keep in touch and hopefully to work together again soon. Some team members may feel a sense of deep satisfaction at the accomplishments of the team and others may feel sadness or a sense of loss. Given these conflicting feelings, can create a barrier to future individual group development. In order to overcome these barrier and improve group communication, suggest to the team to reflect on their work, comment on perceived value, the outcomes, and the experience. Identify what the group thought went well, and what could be improved. In this memo, I have describe the five stages of group development briefly and explain how relationships form in groups. Examine the barriers that may exist and describe the methods to overcome those barriers and enhance group communication.

GROUP COMMUNICATION PAPER

References Robbins, S. & Judge, T. (2011). Organizational Behavior (14th ed.). One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 07458: The Prentice Hall; Pearson Education Inc. Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing - Team ... - Mind Tools (2013). Retrieved from http www.mindtools.com eam anagement

Forming, Norming, Storming, Performing - Niwot Ridge Consulting (2013). Retrieved from http://www.niwotridge.com/PDFs/FormStormNormPerform.pdf Stages in Group Development - Oxford University Learning Institute (2013). Retrieved from http://www.learning.ox.ac.u ... developmentprogramm... Holmen, S., (2013). Norming Group development: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing. Retrieved from http://www.cheetoism.pbworks.com/w/page/9794892/ ormingGroup development: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing