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Hedley Dimock, Raye Kass
Captus Press,
ISBN
978-1-55322-236-1
(2011)
In addition to the basic concepts of workgroup effectiveness, such as leadership styles appropriate for the situation, group structure, individual values and behaviour, and influencing groups for results, the fourth edition of Making Workgroups Effective has doubled its content to fully cover the new groups and different dynamics of the digital generation. The changes erupting from the digital revolution have led to major paradigm shifts in our society, especially in the role and functions of groups within it. New content in this edition identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the social and cultural changes resulting from digital communication that helps manage group tasks. The digital world permits meetings without travel but risks losing the "human touch". Suggested action steps preserve the "human touch" while utilizing what technology has opened up for us: virtual groups using twitter for task planning and the Internet for data collection. The impact of globalization ‒ multicultural groups, short life-span groups with shifting membership, etc. ‒ and how emotional intelligence [E.Q.] has become as important as I.Q. in leading groups effectively are also thoroughly examined. Making Workgroups Effective is for the digital generation preparing for group leadership, as well as for the managers/leaders ready to shift their present skills and experience to deal with new group compositions, diversity, shelf life, member expectations, and ways of communicating. This handbook helps readers foster a healthy, productive workgroup environment, even with a large distance between group members. Instructors from different fields and expertise (management, health, human and social services, recreation, and education) will find the content relevant and can be easily integrated into their courses. Leaders working with groups will also find this to be an invaluable resource.
Contents Preface 1 The
New Realities of Workgroups in the Digital Age and Globalization The
New Group Factors for the Digital Age Where
Do These New Realities Leave Us? 2 Understanding
Group Behaviour Group
Leadership Functions of
Group Leaders Managerial Roles
and Behaviours Transformational
Leadership and Management Women’s Style of
Leading Other
Characteristics of Leaders Leadership and
the Group Leadership Style Situation
Leadership Theories Style The Effectiveness
Dimension Summary Some Implications Sex
Differences in Leadership and Effectiveness Sex Differences
in Group Performance Attitudes versus
Behaviour Leadership
Summary Reader
Applications of These Understandings 3 Group
Structure Group
Membership Factors
Contributing to Strong Groups Group
Standards and Social Control The
Power of Group Pressure The
Impact of Group Pressure Conformity Group Structure
and Goals Status and Position
(Hierarchical Structures) Influence and
Status Decision Making
Structures Frequently Asked
Questions Social Control
and Individual Development 4 Understanding
Individuals in Groups Emotional
Needs and Behaviour Patterns Growth
and Development Interpersonal
Behaviour in Adults What
Individuals Bring to New Group Experiences Similarities to
Other Groups Attitudes,
Beliefs and Values Usual Adjustment
Techniques Hidden Influences
and Agendas Testing the
Authority Figure 5 Influencing
Groups and Participants Influencing
Groups Influencing
Individuals Form Groups Modelling Peer Training Providing
Information and Utilization Frameworks Experiential
Learning Understanding
Cultural Differences Power
and Influence An
Integrative Approach to Educating and Influencing Individuals In
a Nutshell 6 New
Factors in Working with Groups Team
Involvement and Task Accomplishment in Our Digital Age: The good, The Bad
and The Ugly Context:
Semi-Virtual Teams in a Graduate Program Power, Influence
and Trust Issues Emerge The Digital
Village Semi-Virtual
Teams, Virtually Break Down Lessons Learned Replenishing Our
Human Moments: A Challenge Worth Exploring Emotional
Intelligence: The Other Side of Being Smart The New Yardstick
of Today Plugged in But
Tuned Out Balancing and
Managing Team Emotional Intelligence: The Heart of the Matter The Inner Rudder:
Our Most Precious Resource Essentials in An
Orbiting Space Station: A Summary of the
Significance of E.Q. Diversity
Is a Fact — And a Value “Walk the Line”:
A Glimpse into How Diversity Is Experienced Today The Diversity
Configuration That Emerged Personal Thoughts Personal
Narrative about Diversity Making
Differences Matter Space
Agency/Space Station. Diversity in Action: A Rare View Behind the
Scenes Bibliography
Dr. Hedley Dimock is the Director of the Centre for Human Resource Development, an independent consulting and research organization in Guelph, Ontario. He has been on the faculty of several universities, including McGill, Toronto, Concordia and Guelph. Prior to his university work, he was heavily involved in recreational, educational, health service and community work settings. His consulting work with over 400 organizations has taken him to all provinces in Canada. He has published extensively in both professional and popular magazines, and five of his ten books have been published in Japan. Dr. Raye Kass is an associate professor of applied human sciences and a program director of the Centre for Human Relations and Community Studies at Concordia University, Montreal. She has led over 1,000 workshops in leadership training, communication skills, team building, problem solving and conflict management throughout the world — in the U.S., Europe and Asia with special programs in Lausanne, London, Manila, Moscow, Singapore, Strasbourg and Toulouse. She is the author of the book Theories of Small Group Development, now in the 4th edition. Dr. Kass was Principal Investigator on two space simulation missions: the 1994 CAPSULS mission held in Canada; and the 240-day space simulation SFINCSS held in Russia in 1999-2000. Both these projects examined the psychological problems of living and working in an orbiting space station with an international multicultural crew. The project involved providing team building and team talk sessions that would equip crew to deal with problems arising from long-term isolation in close quarters. Dr. Kass is currently involved in a project with NASA-Ames Research Centre, which examines the effectiveness of various training approaches to counteract team dysfunction among multi-cultural and gender-mixed teams. Results from this study will serve as a test bed for similar activities to be performed for the New International Space Station.
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