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Decision-Making Group Interaction: Achieving Quality, 4/E
Bobby R. Patton, Central Missouri State University
Timothy M. Downs, Gannon University

ISBN-10: 0321049195
ISBN-13: 9780321049193

Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
Copyright: 2003
Format: Paper; 192 pp
Published: 07/01/2002

Suggested retail price: $76.80
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Decision-Making Group Interaction provides a practical understanding of communication in task-oriented groups, focusing on effective processes that yield quality outcomes.

With an overall emphasis on quality—from interactions in group contexts and effective group processes to effective outcomes of groups engaging in decision making processes—this text reinforces the importance of groups continuously attempting to achieve quality group decision-making outcomes as a result of engaging in quality communication practices, mirroring an emphasis placed on communication in group settings in businesses across the country. This text is thought-provoking and provides students and instructors with the necessary information to stimulate interactions in the classroom that will inspire continuous application outside the classroom.

  • Offers numerous real-world applications, including models for observing group behavior, to help students understand how to apply these concepts.
  • Includes examples throughout the text to stimulate discussions in the classroom.
  • Provides exercises for assignments, enabling students to apply the information concretely.
  • Exposes students to introductory theory to help them understand the foundational principles of small group communication.
  • Overviews small group research from a historical perspective, showing its interdisciplinary origin and how our understanding of it has evolved over time.

  • Provides scenarios at the beginning of each chapter that attract student interest and serve as a conceptual framework for the material included in the rest of the chapter.
  • Each chapter contains a case study that summarizes the information and serves as a catalyst to help students analyze the case study either in a group or as individual work.
  • A new Chapter 9, “Using Technology in Quality Groups,” helps students understand the types of technology available and how to use them to facilitate group interactions.
  • Chapter 8, “Leadership in Quality Groups,” covers new perspectives on leadership that enable students to understand the importance of leadership to the development of an effective team
  • Chapter 7, “Task Format in Quality Groups,”provides unique strategic planning information—not included in other group communication texts—offering students key information on similar processes often used in business.
  • Includes futurist discussion of groups in Chapter 12, “Quality Groups in the 21st Century,” which serves as an excellent summary of the text and provides students with insights into the future of group communication.
  • Conceptualized discussion on groups as “systems” in Chapter 1 and referenced throughout the text.

Each chapter begins with “Scenario” and concludes with a “Case Study,” “Summary,” “Applications,” and “References.”

1. Communication in Decision-Making Groups: An Introduction.

Why Groups?

Groups as Systems.

Quality and Applications.

Groups as Interdisciplinary Study: A Brief History.



2. Quality Communication in the Group.

Communication Networks.

Communication Intentions.

Characteristics of Quality Group Communication.



3. Quality Participation in the Group.

Theoretical Framework: Field Theory.

Perceptions of Others.

General Predispositions.

Cultural Factors.



4. Characteristics of Quality Groups.

Characteristics of Quality Groups.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Quality Groups.



5. Critical Thinking in the Quality Group.

Procedural Description of Critical Thinking.



6. Promoting Cooperation and Positive Conflict.

Interdependence and Conflict.

Within Group Conflict.

Types of Conflict.

Conflict Between Groups.

Promoting Cooperation.

Managing Conflicts.



7. Task Formats of Quality Groups.

Teamwork-Defining Characteristics.

Strategic Planning.

Functional Teams.

Improvement Groups.

Brainstorming.



8. Leadership in Quality Groups.

Review of Traditional Approaches to Group Leadership.

Characteristics of Leaders.

Styles of Leadership.

Situational Leadership.

Task and Maintenance Function.

Group-Centered Leadership.

Leadership Behaviors.

Recent Perspectives in Leadership.



9. Using Technology in Quality Groups.

The Advent of New Technologies.

Developing Effective Communication Networks.

Technology and Mediated Instruction.



10. Process Measures of Group Quality.

Benchmarking.

Observing Group Behavior.

Process Analysis.

Interpersonal Perception Sale.

The T/P Questionnaire.



11. Presenting the Findings of the Quality Group.

Data Collection And Analysis Tools.

Mobilizing External Resources.

Integrating Your Thinking With That of the Audience.

Changing Your Listeners' Attitude.

Helping Listeners Decide Questions of Policy.

The Persuasion Paradigm.



12. Quality Groups in the 21st Century.

Dimensions of the Future.

A Projected Future of Groups.

Interprofessional Communication- Means to Quality.

Recognizing Quality- Award Winning Projects.

Building Quality Decision-Making Groups.

For Small Group Communication


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Pearson Higher Education offers special pricing when you choose to package your text with other student resources. If you're interested in creating a cost-saving package for your students contact your Pearson Higher Education representative.


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