Part VII Diversity in Groups

19 Sex, Gender, And Communication in Small Groups

What are some characteristics that are more important than sex in influencing a person's conflict style, leadership, decision making, and influence of a group?

Consider two ideas/concepts/assertions from this chapter that you feel are important to understanding and improving group communication. How might you investigate/apply/test these ideas?

Gender and the Emergence of Leaders: A Meta-analysis

1. This study found that gender role theory accounts for differences between men and women in group leadership. What does that mean?

2. What, if anything, should you do about that when you are working in a small group context?

3. How does this finding fit with the Reading 19 from the text?

20 Communication in the Multicultural Group

You are about to enter a group with members from another culture that you have no experience or knowledge of. What should you be aware of and guard against?

Consider two ideas/concepts/assertions from this chapter that you feel are important to understanding and improving group communication. How might you investigate/apply/test these ideas?

21 Cross-Cultural and Intercultural Work Group Communication

You and others of your organization are about to enter into important negotiations with counterparts from a Japanese firm. How do you prepare your group?

Consider two ideas/concepts/assertions from this chapter that you feel are important to understanding and improving group communication. How might you investigate/apply/test these ideas?

Ethnic Diversity and Creativity in Small Groups

1. What did they do?

2. Why did they do (what where they looking for)?

3. What did they find?

4. What are the implications for managing diversity in small groups?