Qualitative observations of groups in Bellcore Group Decisions Support Systems (GDSS) laboratory were analyzed for task type, anonymity, evaluative tone, overall satisfaction with meetings, motivation, and task importance. Results suggest strategies for optimizing either quantity or quality of GDSS meeting results and suggests further research for…

Similarities and differences between group dynamics of women in all-African-American and all-White therapy groups are presented and discussed. White members attended more frequently and consistently. African-American women were more responsive to others' expressions of positive emotions and anger and focused more on day-to-day issues; Whites…

Explores attitudes, values, and behavior needed to be an effective member of an action learning team, including group process skills and problem-solving approaches. (SK)

Tests an integrative model of the relationships among diversity, conflict, and performance, using a sample of 45 electronics-industry worker teams. Functional background diversity drives task conflict; multiple types of diversity drive emotional conflict. Task conflict affects task performance more favorably than does emotional conflict. (102…

The learning sequence (TLS) is an adaptable, dynamic framework for designing any learning experience. TLS consists of seven steps (sense of each other, sense of place, group norms, relevance, the experience itself, reflection, transfer) that provide a foundation, a reference point to return to when an unexpected situation arises, and a common…

Examines three theses: (1) work teams should be analyzed as object-oriented activity systems; (2) the nature of teams depends on the type of production in which they are implemented; and (3) fluid forms of collaborative work organization are displacing stable teams. (SK)

Examines whether self-reported scores on a measure of self-monitoring would be related to leader emergence in student groups working on realistic, sustained projects. Reveals a low but significant correlation between self-monitoring and leader emergence and a negligible relationship in the overall sample but a significant moderate correlation in a…

Campers will be active and will test their limits; behavior problems are inevitable. If the reason for the behavior can be identified, it can be dealt with much more easily. Discusses seven roots of behavior problems, and what to do when campers violate the rules. A sidebar presents 21 strategies for dealing with challenging behavior. (TD)

Adventure therapy infuses experiential, physical activity into traditional talk therapy, drawing support from Piaget's theory that children construct knowledge from their actions on the environment. Several vignettes illustrate the point, noting the importance of laughter and physical touch to therapy. Using ropes for a "touch without…

Advances an "outsider within" perspective describing the ways that traditionally marginalized group members communicate in mainstream organizational settings. Explicates the process by which different cocultural group members come to adopt one or more communication orientations while interacting within dominant organizations. States the…

For 345 Asian participants in adventure learning, the cultural value of collectivism was negatively related to changes in task participation and social support. Changes in these two teamwork attitudes predicted similar changes in team spirit and organizational identification. Adventure learning might produce higher attitude changes in Western…

Discusses cooperative learning in second- and foreign-language learning. The article offers a working definition of cooperative learning accompanied by examples of cooperative activities easy to incorporate into everyday teaching routines. Arguments and counterarguments regarding the strengths and weaknesses of cooperative learning are presented.…

Presents an abstract of a planned session on teaching knowledge management, including knowledge management for information professionals; differences between teaching knowledge management in library schools and in business schools; knowledge practices for small groups; and current research. (LRW)

Investigates interactive processes among group partners and the relationship of these processes to problem-solving outcomes in two contrasting groups. Identifies three major contrastive dimensions in group interaction: (1) he mutuality of exchanges; (2) the achievement of joint attentional engagement; and (3) the alignment of group members' goals…

A loose group of individuals working on a task differs from an effective team on nine factors: clearly defined goals, priorities, roles and responsibilities, self-awareness, leadership, group dynamics, communications, content, and infrastructure. Ways to eliminate barriers and speed formation of effective teams could be based on those factors.…