Reviews the literature on self-managing teams to clarify the role of the external leader or coordinator of these groups. Conditions that aid in the development of self-management characteristics are identified; a model of group members and leader behavior is presented; and further areas of research are suggested. (14 references) (MES)

Examines the problem of assessing group process in a collaborative problem-solving situation. Results reveal that groups engaging in behaviors that facilitated collaboration obtained higher group and individual accuracy scores on a challenging problem set. Proposes that examining collaborative group process and outcomes offers a new direction in…

Explains that the goal of the journal is to help group workers understand what makes an effective group leader. Recommends that examination and processing of experiences with different groups is essential to the ongoing development of leadership skills. Details several changes made in the journal that provide different kinds of information to…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to review social identity theory and its implications for learning in organizations. Design/methodology/approach: This article is a conceptual paper based on a multidisciplinary review of the literature on social identity theory. This article explains the theoretical concepts, constructs, and findings of an…

This paper explores systems of classification to develop a conceptual model adequate as an organized knowledge base for organizational communication research findings. The paper notes that present classification systems employed in organizational communication textbooks and in reviews of organizational literature are not adequate to the task of…

Summarizes theories of group development encompassing the stages of orientation, conflict, integration, achievement, and breakup. Relates group development stages to leadership styles and the leader's relative concern for dimensions of task and relationship. Applies the five-stage model of group development to the progress of groups involved in…

Trends in the provision of mental health services have generated greater interests in brief group counseling. Offers one perspective for the integration of solution-oriented theory and techniques into counseling. (Author)

Surveys the field of audience studies, noting common concerns. Identifies models of the audience: audience as mass, audience as outcome, and audience as agent. Recommends exploiting the interdisciplinary potential, employing an enlightened empiricism, considering audiences as collectives as well as individuals, abandoning the active/passive…

The importance in Japan of group identity, the Japanese approach to decision making, and the way in which the Japanese avoid conflict and build consensus when making a decision are characteristics of Japanese interactions that are critical for Americans to understand in order to communicate successfully with the Japanese. Those who would be…

Interest has recently focused on group polarization as a function of attitude processes. Several recent reviewers have challenged polarization researchers to integrate the explanations of polarization to existing theories of attitude change. This review suggests that there exists a clear similarity between the social comparison and persuasive…

This paper focuses on group dynamics and introduces the use of initiative activities as a means of facilitating a more cohesive group experience in outdoor programs. Specific topics addressed and defined include: (1) curative factors of groups (universality, didactic learning, altruism, socialization, peer learning, group cohesiveness); (2) stages…

This paper discusses the dialectics of creativity, especially in group behavior; notes how stabilizing influences result in hard-programed behavior; outlines habits of thinking, learning, and behaving that help in developing creative potential; and presents exercises to encourage flexibility in the group creative process and counter inhibiting…

A new paradigm for computer-supported cooperative work and a research agenda for developing and testing this paradigm are proposed. The book outlines a comprehensive model of collaboration that integrates the cognitive/conceptual and social dynamics of groups. The challenge faced by all groups engaged in intellectual work is to divide the task so…

This paper presents an overview of the literature concerning discipline in the classroom, focusing specifically on the root causes of discipline problems and the development of problem-specific responses. A bibliography and suggestions for further reading are also included. (DS)

Eleven curative factors form a triangular framework for conceptual integration of the concerns, developmental dynamics, theoretical perspectives, and leader behaviors that characterize group counseling. The framework is useful for determining effective leader interventions, planning group activities, and generating research hypotheses. (Author)