CH 2 : Groups as Open Systems

According to the systems theory, which of the following is true about elements in a group?

Many individual elements affect the dynamics of a group.

difference between traditional small groups and virtual groups

Traditional small groups manage their knowledge internally, whereas virtual groups assume tasks that are innovative and multifaceted.

An example of an input received from members in a small group is

Value

Frank, Kim, and Adam are members of a small decision-making group in a firm. This group functions interdependently with its environment. In this scenario, identify the true statement about a group as a system.

Without mutual influence, a group is merely a collection of parts with no interdependence.

Theory

a "map of reality" that helps us navigate unfamiliar territory and make decisions.

Open System

a system with a free exchange of information with its environment

closed system

a system with limited flow of information between itself and its environment.

Inputs entering a(n) _____ group system are worked on and communicatively transformed during the throughput process to be sent out from the system as outputs.

open

Boundary Spanning

- A group member who scans the group's environment to allow or prevent information from flowing into and out of the group - helps bring relevant information back to the group - buffering and bringing up borders help protect the group from outside influences - scouting and coordinating activities help extend the group's access to outside resources

Environment

- A system does not exist in a vacuum but is embedded in multiple surroundings or contexts - consists of everything outside the group, much of which potentially affects the group. - A group does not exist apart from its environment.

Paul, Mark, and George are members of an activity group. They understand that interdependence is a key characteristic in becoming a group. In the context of interdependence, identify a true characteristic of a small group.

In small groups, one member cannot reach the objective alone

Harris, Tom, Charles, and Nancy work as a small group in a firm. For effective group problem solving, the group participates in critical feedback session. In this scenario, what is true of critical feedback?

It is hard to give and receive.

an example that illustrates a characteristic of feedback

Sally thinks feedback is the environment's response to a system's output.

Throughput Processes

are influences on the system that result from actual activities within the group as it goes about its business.

The key to understanding a small group as a system is the assumption that _____.

communication connects the relevant parts of a system

Mark is studying about the complexity of small groups. He learns that this complexity and the fact that group members have choices about their behaviors make it impossible to predict where a group will end up. He also learns about the concept that suggests that groups can start out at very different places but end up at the same place. The concept illustrated in this scenario is called _____.

equifinality

True or false: Groups are like lead boxes that keep things from getting in or out.

false. A group does not exist apart from its surroundings, or environment, which consists of everything outside the group, much of which potentially affects the group. Groups are not like lead boxes that keep things from getting in or out.

True or false: Systems theory concepts warn us not to oversimplify our description of group interaction.

true. Systems theory concepts warn us not to oversimplify our description of group interaction. All parts interact to produce the entity called a "small group."

What's included in a group's throughput processes?

- How conflict is managed by everyone in the group - How the group's leadership develops - The group's rules

collaborating groups

- Members of groups represent other organizations. - power positions must be continually negotiated.

interdependence

- The elements of a system mutually influence each other. - refers to the fact that each element of a system simultaneously influences and is influenced by the other elements.

Synergy (nonsummativity)

- a system's ability to take on an identity separate from its individual elements - when group members come together, they create an entirely unique entity that is something other than just a collection of individual parts.

In the context of systems theory, homeostasis is a(n) _____.

- dynamic balance - emphasizes balance and draws attention to system stability rather than change

Feedback

- monitor its progress toward the goal and make corrections when needed - It is best to pose feedback as a group issue than a personal issue. - part of the system's output that is returned to the system as input - is evaluated by its source as well as its content.

In the context of nonsummativity, a process loss is also known as a(n) _____.

- negative synergy - a group's output is worse than expected given the abilities of the group members

In the context of nonsummativity, an assembly effect is also known as a _____.

- positive synergy - the output is superior to the averaging of the outputs of the individual members

Inputs are

- the "raw materials" that initially form the group and that are used by members to perform their work. - consist of all the factors that are brought into the group from the outside.

General Systems Theory is

- used as a broad framework for organizing the many elements that constitute a small group. - a comprehensive theory that applies to all living organisms, including social systems such as groups.

Virtual Groups

- whose members complete most or all of their work without meeting face-to-face - work online at the same time. - "location" is actually an electronic network of members.

What was a significant advance in small group communication theory?

Characterizing a group as a social system

the scenario that illustrates a characteristic of output.

Don believes that outputs can reenter the group system as inputs affecting throughput processes and influencing new outputs.

Bob, Rhonda, and Mike are members of a small group. As a working group, they fail to achieve their goals and face dissatisfaction. They believe that their dissatisfaction is a result of multiple causes. In this scenario, which of the following is true about multiple causes?

In groups, many factors combine to produce the final outcome.

George, Bianca, Sam, and Ali are members of a small group. While building the group, what is the key characteristic they have to look for in determining whether this collection of individuals has become a group?

Interdependence

an advantage of openness in a system.

It allows free interchange with the environment.

Bona Fide Group Perspective

It emphasizes that real-world groups both influence and help shape the same environments.

the difference between an open and a closed system.

Molly informs her group that unlike a closed system, an open system can use its acquired information in its critical thinking.

Identify the person who has understood the concept of outputs correctly.

Rick says that outputs are products of a group's throughput processes.

Megan is helping her sister, Rhea, understand the differences between an open and a closed system. They discuss that a closed system has little interaction with its environment, whereas an open system has a great deal of interaction. Identify another difference Megan should teach her sister.

Unlike a closed system, an open system can become overloaded with excess information.

Good theories _____.

are used to improve decision making

Lisa is a student who is currently studying about the interactions systems have with their environment. She learns about a system that has little interaction with its environment. In this scenario Lisa is most likely studying about a(n) _____ system.

closed

In the context of throughput processes, _____ is the central activity in a transformative process.

communication

An example of a small group input from environmental factors is _____

physical surroundings

In the context of boundary spanning, scouting and coordinating activities help _____.

extend the group's access to outside resources

True or false: Changes to one part of a system seldom have any effect on the other parts of that system.

false. A system is composed of parts that are interdependent with each other. Any change in one part ripples through the entire system.

True or false: The outputs of a small group's interaction are always positive and helpful to both the group itself and its parent organization.

false. Although the outputs of a small group's interaction are hoped to be positive and helpful, some outputs are toxic waste to both the group itself and its parent organization. Hasty decisions, dissatisfaction of group members, and shoddy products are examples of toxic waste.

True or false: A team can add up the statistics of each member and figure out how it will perform.

false. Sometimes a team performs better than the individual abilities of the members would lead one to expect and sometimes it performs worse. One cannot just add up the statistics of each member and figure out how the team will perform.

The concept of equifinality suggests that _____.

groups can start out at very different places but end up at the same place

Multifinality

groups starting out the same may end up in very different places

a disadvantage of openness in a system

he company runs the risk of becoming overloaded with more information to coordinate.

An example of a small group input from resources is _____

information about task

In the context of bobsled players, whether they are smart or not, whether they were relatively fast or slow, how well they "read" the subtle nature of the course are all _____ characteristics that the members bring with them to the group.

input

System

is composed of parts that are interdependent with each other, connected in such a manner that any change in one part ripples through the entire arrangement.

multiple paths

more than one appropriate way to reach a particular goal or endpoint

In the context of the complexity of small groups, two experienced theater groups compete in intercollegiate competitions. One of the groups ends up losing many of the competitions and the other one ends up winning the championship. This scenario is an example of _____.

multifinality

Chris and his teammates win the intercollegiate quiz competition. At the end of the competition, the team had high morale, which occurred for several reasons, such as they became the champions, their college supported them, and all the members contributed to the team's success. This scenario is an example of _____.

multiple causes

Ron, Danny, Jack, and Hailey decide to have a party for their theater group's first anniversary. Each of them has a number of ways to plan the party. However, they are unable to decide one "right" way. Ron, Danny, Jack, and Hailey are facing the problem of _____.

multiple paths

James, Richard, and Jennifer form a small group to complete their college project. As a group, they are interdependent, mutually influencing one another and also the environment in which they operate. In this scenario, the group formed by James, Richard, and Jennifer is an example of a _____.

system

John uses a "map of reality" that helps him navigate unfamiliar terrain and make decisions. This map, shows him how to get from one element to another. In this scenario, John is using a(n) _____.

theory

Michael is a very curious student. In times of doubt, he finds his path by using a(n) _____ like a map, which helps him navigate unfamiliar areas and make decisions.

theory

Outputs are

those tangible and intangible products or achievements of the group system emerging from throughput processes.