Proposes a synthesis based on persuasive argument theories but including a revised social comparison component to account for group polarization. Indicates that group members first lean toward risk or caution based on the proportion of arguments on "both sides" but henceforth argue for the "correct side" using their…

Presents tips for effective meetings in the following categories: premeeting preparation, group process, presenting views with impact, accentuating the positive, dealing with politics, and bringing closure. (SK)

Seeks empirical data on whether communication is an essential element of effective decision making and whether the variance in group decision making is best accounted for by noninteraction or interaction sources. Shows that group communication is related to group performance independent of the influence of noncommunication factors like group…

Results of a questionnaire sent to human resource personnel (n=76) suggest that much of the interpersonal communication that occurs in business will be in the form of informal small group settings and that business educators should emphasize the communication processes that occur in those settings and provide a variety of experiential exercises…

Examines the structure of participants' conceptions of ideal group discussion procedures. Finds that about one-half of the participants favor a "reach-testing" procedure, one-fifth a linear procedure, one-fifth a procedure beginning with reach-testing and ending with a linear stage, and one-tenth beginning with a linear stage and ending with…

A consultant who works primarily with women focuses on the promotion of personal change through the use of group processes and collaborative learning reflects on her role as an adult education consultant. (JOW)

Highlights broad philosophical issues and future areas of research on personal relationships that derive from the author's earlier work. Discusses the dialectics associated with intraindividual, interpersonal, and intergroup dynamics as well as the effect of the physical environment on personal relationships. (RS)

Describes ways that components of Information Engineering (IE) methodology can be used by training system developers to extend Instructional Systems Development (ISD) methodology. Aspects of IE that are useful in ISD are described, including requirements determination, group facilitation, integrated automated tool support, and prototyping.…

Argues importance of communication for group decision-making performance and its impact on such performance are function of three task characteristics: structure, information requirement, and evaluation demand. Identifies task circumstances in which group communication can be expected to play role in determining decision-making performance, as…

Investigated assumption that positive group process results from cooperation among group members by analyzing specific components of cooperation involved in teamwork and relating them to group input variables in interdisciplinary health care team members (N=72). Found cooperation was significantly related to size of team and whether an individual…

A stratified random sample of 96 employees in a large firm saved a hard copy of all incoming and outgoing electronic mail for a 3-day period. Proposes a framework for understanding how electronic communication could affect group behavior in organizations. (70 references) (MLF)

Survey responses from 285 continuing education administrators identified positive and negative aspects of continuing education's marginality; positive factors were more frequently cited. Four distinct types of organizational behavior emerged: token, entrepreneurial, imitated parent, and assimilated. (SK)

This narrative of group processes in an adult education class explores the role of facilitator and group; the anxiety, discomfort, and satisfaction of group membership; maintenance and task functions of the group; and the inherently ambiguous nature of group process. (SK)

Discriminant analysis of differences between 32 active and 12 inactive quality circles on member participation and circle performance showed that active circles had a lower failure rate, higher attendance, and higher net savings in circle projects. (SK)

Describes how the Prep Editor can be used to support online collaborative editing. Discusses and illustrates how the Prep Editor interface allows student teams to extract the claimed and unclaimed work of each member and how this information can support a team's further decision making. (RS)