Communicating in Small Groups: Principles and Practices

Beebe & Masterson (6th Edition)  © 2000


Chapter Twelve: Improving Productivity in Groups and Teams

OBJECTIVES:
 1. Identify three group approaches to improving quality in an organization.
 2. Give a meeting structure by preparing an agenda.
 3. Help facilitate interaction during a meeting.
 4. Identify what particpants and leaders should do during a meeting. 
 5. List and describe how groups and teams can effectivley use technology to enhance work productivity and quality.
 
This chapter provides information about skills and principles that can help you improve both your work productivity and quality.  Specific attention is given to specific formats and ideas that are related to enhancing your effectiveness as you work with others.

   I.  Principles and Practices of Improving Work Quality
     A.  Quality Circles - work to improve work productivity, morale, and overall work quality (p. 338)
     B.  Kaizen - continual improvement (p. 339)
     C.  Focus Groups - discuss particular topics so group leaders can better understand public perceptions
     D.  Self-Directed Work Teams - given responsibility to achieve results without being micro-managed.
           
 II.   Principles and Practices of Effective Meetings (see Review Box, p. 351)
     A.  Giving Meetings Structure  (see Review Box, p. 348)
           1.  Determine the Meeting Goal
           2.  Identify Items that Need to Be Discussed to Achieve the Goal
           3.  Organize the Agenda Items to Achieve the Goal
     B.  Ensuring that Meetings Have Managed Interaction
     C.  Leading Meetings
     D.  Participating in Meetings     

III.   Principles and Practices of Using Technology in Groups and Teams
     A.  Telephone Conferences
     B.  Electronic Mail
     C.  Video Conferences
     D.  Group Discussion Support Systems (GDSS)
           1.  Generating Ideas
           2.  Problem Solving
           3.  Managing Relationships
           4.  Critical Thinking
           5.  Technical Support

IV.   Putting Principle into Practice
     A.  Meeting Assessment
     B.  Analyzing Group Skills in Organizations
     C.  The Computer Networking Case
     D.  Evaluate a Meeting (p. 360)
 

There are specific skills and principles that can help you improve both your work productivity and quality.