Student Resources : Task Groups
A discussion group, by definition, discusses. Its goal is to get ideas out in the open. A task group, on the other hand, has a specific job to perform and an end product is expected. There are groups that have characteristics of both: things are not as “neat” as group type a vs. group type b. For our purposes here, we’re assuming that a task group is very distinct from a discussion group.
It is important to understand how a typical task group exists in time. Although the terminology is a bit clunky, speech communication instructors (and researchers) talk about a task group moving through the stages of forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. The second and third stages need to be explained. During the storming phase, group members compete for roles and responsibilities; during the norming phase, the group—with the various roles and responsibilities parceled out—determines what its operating procedures will be. These range from how formal will the group’s proceedings be to whether or not it’s ok to leave your cell phone on.
There are four different kinds of talk that a task group engages in—social talk, role talk, problem-solving talk, and talk about the group (usually how well or how poorly it’s doing, perhaps in comparison to other groups). When you map the kinds of talk onto the phases, some important patterns are noteworthy. During the forming phase, social talk will dominate; during the storming phase, role talk; during the norming phase, a mix; during the performing phase, problem-solving talk; and during the adjourning phase, a mix. These patterns are worth noting because they can guide you as to what you should be doing if you want to be a productive task group member. For example, you shouldn’t engage in problem-solving talk during the forming, storming, and norming phases. Such talk would be premature, and you might look like you’re trying to push your particular ideas on the group. You shouldn’t engage in much if any social talk during the performing phase. Such talk, at that point, would be a distraction, and you might come across as not being really interested in doing the group’s task.
As is the case with discussion groups, there is bad group behavior to be avoided such as dominating, blocking, and clowning around. And there is good group behavior to enact. Even more so than for a discussion group, it is important for the group as a whole to enact the various behaviors we might list under the categories task roles, procedural roles, and emotional support roles. It is more important for a task group because there is usually an expectation that a task group will produce something, not just get ideas out on the table. The task group must succeed in a more tangible way than a discussion group.
So, task roles include initiating discussion, seeking information, giving information, seeking opinions, providing opinions, elaborating on others’ ideas; clarifying what others have said; seeking compromise when there are differences of opinion; and summarizing what the group thinks.
Procedural roles include regulating participation, keeping the group on-task, and recording the group’s ideas and decisions. Emotional support roles include energizing the group, supporting those who take risks, harmonizing the group, and releasing tension—perhaps through a touch of humor.
Many of these behaviors will be enacted by the task group leader/s. Whereas discussion groups may not even have leaders, task groups seem to require them. But note I said “leader/s.” It is quite possible for two people to share leadership responsibilities. In such a case, many of the behaviors listed above will be performed by the two. A task group, however, should not rely on the leader/s to do all the work. For a task group to function well, others will have to pitch in and enact some of these good group behaviors.
If you look at the list, you probably can find some you’re comfortable with and some you’re not. That’s normal. With an awareness of what you’re good at in mind, see where you might contribute. Your contributions may vary from task group to task group, depending on the mix of people in the particular groups.
One last dimension of task groups is worth noting. Whereas talk in discussion groups tends to be directed to the group as a whole, much talk in a task group centers on the leader/s. Especially if the group elects more formal operating procedures, much talk will be from group members to the leader/s and from the leader/s to the group as a whole. This is a rather different communication pattern from that characterizing discussion groups.
Task groups, by definition, perform tasks. An efficient task group will typically follow a somewhat set procedure in doing so. Some academic disciplines will prescribe or suggest a procedure. For example, if the task group is working in a science laboratory, the group will be expected to follow whatever laboratory procedures are normal in that science. But, in a situation where there is no set procedure, the following eight-step procedure might provide a useful model:
- define and analyze the problem
- determine the goals a solution must meet
- pinpoint any constraints that might prevent meeting those goals
- generate possible solutions
- evaluate these solutions with the goals in mind
- select the best solution/s
- discuss the implications of that selection
- confirm selection (or loop back) and develop an implementation plan.