WORKING IN GROUPS

WORKING IN GROUPS
There are several factors that influence the quality of group work.
a. Informational resources: The better informed members are about the problem they are required to solve the better they are to reach a high quality decision.
b. Quality of Group Efforts: Group members should be careful in checking and rechecking information in other to help them make good decisions. Sloppily done work usually leads to poor decisions and negative consequences.
c. Quality of Thinking: Members need to arrive at appropriate conclusion through carefully thought out decisions based on the available materials and information.
d. Decision Logic: To reach the best decision, members should carefully consider the positive and negative qualities of all available choices and then selecting alternatives that offers the most positive and least negative attributes.

Problem solving procedures:
1. Ineffective problem Solving: This method uses decision making processes that fail to consider information or that thwarts the group process.
a. Autocratic decision making: Here the group leader decides which solution is best and then announces this decision to the group. Members have no option than to go along with the group leaders decision.
b. Minority decision making: Similar to the autocratic decisions, however here, the decision is made by a small number of group members.
c. rushing to judgement: In this situation, the group takes decision without proper investigation and discussions. Group may make this decision because of limited time and fatigue.
d. Mob rule. This is the worst method of group decision making. it is a rush to judgement couple with strong emotions. Usually these decisions create more problems than they solve.

Effective or rational model of problem solving
a. Define the problem
b. Investigate the problem
c. Set criteria for a solution
d. formulate possible solutions
e. Select the best alternatives
f. Put the chosen solution into Effect
g. Decide what happens to the group.

Group Leadership
A leader is somebody who guides and directs others. A leader influences the behavior of others. A leader is that person who is strong willed, forceful and drives the group towards its goal.
An effective group leader is one who is capable of using a number of leadership styles and adopts a style best suited to the needs of the group at any given moment.
Traits of leadership:
1. Vision: Ability to see where the group should go.
2. Direction: Ability to help the group to remain focused to their goals.
3. Mediation: Ability to mediate and balance in group and out group relationship.

CREATION OF LEADERS
Leaders are often assigned to post by rank, election or authority. Military groups have officers, committees have chairs appointed by officials, a board elects one of its own as president.
Generally, leaders are created in the following ways.
a. Appointed Leaders: This is a leader appointed by members of the group
b. Emergent leaders: This is a leader that comes to the fore from the body of the group.

Leadership responsibilities.
1. Group Leaders should be prepared: See to the accomplishment of their tasks and those of the group. Involve in Research, Homework, and devote time to think about the group and its work.
2. Group Leaders need to be sensitive to group needs: They need to know when to encourage or discourage discussions, they need to balance the tensions between task activities and relational activities, maintain groups focus, and motivate the group at all times.

LEADERSHIP STYLES
1. Authoritarian: This is a structured, centralized style where leaders exercise tight control over group’s activities. This style is used when time is limited, group members are disoriented, and members trust the leader and when group leaders have the power to enforce decisions. Examples of roles that involve authoritarian leadership styles are, military, quasi military, teachers of small children, tour guides and crew chiefs.
2. Democratic: This style involves the leader making consultation with the group and after hearing its views, makes a decision. A democratic leader is not one who submits every issues to a vote of the group but rather is one who allows the group to express opinions about the problems to be solved. Final responsibility for the decision, however rests on with the leader.
3. Consensus Seeking: In this mode, the group leader is regarded as “first among equals” than possessing more power and rank than others. A consensus seeking leader is one who functions as a discussion leader and mediator, and summarizer. The leader elicits opinions from the group, tries to help discover a common ground for the individual concerns of members, and then makes sure all understand to what they have agreed. A consensus seeking style works best when members are informed, willing to interact, and flexible enough to make concessions in order to reach and agreement.
4. Laissez-faire: The last style of leadership is known as laissez-faire. this style is translated as “ Let the people do as they please”. The leader does little or nothing to influence the group’s decisions and actions. The Laissez faire leader is one who sits back and let’s happens what happens. While this may seem a road to disaster, laissez faire is often the best approach when group members are highly motivated, capable and self motivated. When all are doing what they are supposed to be doing, the best policy is to leave them alone to do their work.