Cristian Zambrana Presentations blog

Cristian Zambrana

I thought all presentations from not only my group but the other groups were very enjoyable to sit through and found them very informative. More specifically the presentations in Group 2. The reason I enjoyed Group 2's presentations on Chapter 9 "Communicating in Groups" is because I  found the topic to be very relevant and important since communication and teamwork are skills that people use not only throughout college, but also in future careers and everyday life. I also enjoyed the visuals the presentations had to offer which made it easier to understand and stay engaged throughout it. Another thing I also really enjoyed from the presentations were how in depth they went with the topics or definitions. For the section "The Nature and Types of Groups". The three different types of groups being Families, Social Groups, and Support groups were very fleshed out and well described. Families were described as a group with shared purpose and one of the most important types of groups since they are the first groups experienced by anyone. Families not only shape who we are but how we might communicate with others later down the line. The next type of group was social group which were explained to be made up of people who care for each other and help each other feel connected. I thought this was easy to understand because social groups are something everyone experiences in their daily lives, such as friendships or classmates. The last type of group was support groups. Support groups are formed when people come together because they might face the same issues or experiences. Support groups offer things such as emotional support, a safe environment and honest feedback. I thought this was an important part of the presentation because it showed how groups can also exist for helping people through difficult situations, not just for social interaction. Another presenter also spoke about three more common types of groups, the first one being interest groups. Interest groups are groups formed when people come together because of shared hobbies or interests. Examples given were formal groups like the neighborhood watch or informal like biker gangs. The next group mentioned was service groups which are groups of people coming together for a greater cause such as charity work or raising money for organizations. Finally, the last group was work groups and teams which are groups formed to complete a task and a team is group where members hold each other accountable. The two types of work groups discussed were heterogeneous groups, which are likely to include different ideas and perspectives, and homogeneous groups, which are more likely to reach quick agreement but may overlook important details Out of the three different groups, I thought service groups were the most important because they focus on helping others and contributing to the community/common goal. Even though I personally have never been involved in any service groups, I can see how they play a big role in bringing people together for a shared purpose. Interest groups also stood out to me because they are very common in places like colleges or schools, especially with clubs and other organizations. Work groups and teams felt the most familiar because they relate directly to group projects in classes, which is something most students might experience regularly. The next presentation focused on what makes a group healthy and effective. It was explained clearly and in depth that there are several key factors that contribute to a successful group, such as having ethical goals, interdependence, and cohesiveness. Within healthy groups such as the American Red cross, they follow honorable and honest ideals. Other unhealthy groups would be groups such as criminal gangs who find success at the expense of society. I thought this was important because it shows that groups should not just focus on completing tasks, but also on doing things in a fair and respectful way. Interdependence was also discussed, which means that group members heavily rely on each others skills to reach their targeted goal. A very good example used in the presentation was if any member of an orchestra were to underperform, the sound would be compromised. I thought this made sense because most groups require people to divide responsibilities and put trust in each other that they will contribute their part. Without interdependence a group would not function properly. The last factor of a good and healthy group is cohesiveness. In cohesive groups, members hold respect for each other and support each other. Cohesiveness is how close a group really is and provide a sense of comfort among members which would allow them to work better with each other. I thought this was interesting because it shows that  how well people get along and cooperate can help groups function effectively. The next part of the presentations focused on additional characteristics of healthy groups, including norms, accountability, and synergy. Norms are expectations and behaviors that guide a group on how it works together as a whole. Healthy groups might develop positive norms because they reduce confusion and conflict when working on something together. I thought this was important because it shows that these shared expectations help keep the group organized and make it easier for members to work together. Accountability was also described as each group member being responsible for their own work and contributions. I thought this was most relevant because of group projects not only in college but at work or other situations as well as it is easy for some people to rely on others too much. The last characteristic of a healthy group was synergy. Synergy refers to the idea that group members might produce better results when working together rather than alone. As everyone has different skills they can contribute when working on a project. I thought this highlighted the main benefit of group work. When combining the different ideas and skills for one bigger project, it can create a better outcome than one person working alone.