Helen:
So, Brad, what did you think of the article on group work?
Brad:
Oh hi, Helen ... yeah it was pretty good ... with helpful pieces of advice on how to make group work effective.
Helen:
I think we were lucky to be given such a straightforward text to present at the management skills seminar.
Brad:
Yeah ... actually shall we discuss it now ... have you got time?
Helen:
Sure ... it’s only a ten-minute presentation, so we just need to explain and then give our views on the main points raised in the article.
Brad:
I’ll jot down some notes ... Right.
Helen:
So, there are three main sections. I suggest we start with listening.
Brad:
Yeah ... effective listening in groups ... because it’s not something that’s
Helen:
No ... and we should say that in the presentation.
Brad:
Yeah ... And also effective listening’s pretty simple, you know, I don’t think it’s hard to learn.
Helen:
Well ... people think it’s easy, but in my experience most of us tend to be very lazy listeners.
Brad:
OK - I wouldn’t argue with that.
Helen:
Something I do think we should emphasise is the power of the listener’s
Brad:
... not that you’re just waiting for them to finish.before jumping in with your own
Brad:
Right ... the next section is on goal setting - let’s make sure we’re clear what the
Helen:
Yeah - well, firstly it says that all group members must be given time to
Brad:
... that’s it, yeah.
Helen:
... and then did it say that the whole group should agree on common goals?
Helen:
That’s a bit too strong. It’s more that everyone’s agendas should be equally acceptable ... but it does say that goals have to be realistic, you know ..... achievable within a particular time?
Brad:
You’ve got it. That’s really what the article’s saying. There isn’t really any point in having ‘ideals’ if group members know they won’t come to anything within a reasonable period …
Brad:
So ... I think a summary covering those points will be enough for that part of the presentation, don’t you?
Helen:
Yep ... Now the last section is about conflict resolution.
Brad:
Actually, I thought it was the worst part of the article.
Brad:
I don’t think it went into sufficient detail on the issue.
Helen:
Actually I thought it devoted too much space to it but that it was all rather boring, you know.
Brad:
It didn’t mention some of the more radical theories ...
Helen:
... absolutely .I found that really irritating.
Brad:
Right ... and also I think it could have said more about conflict sometimes being healthy in groups …
Brad:
Absolutely ... it just mentioned rather glibly about how we should avoid thinking of winners and losers and that quick resolution of conflict is always desirable.
Brad:
Without explaining what these terms mean ... ?
Helen:
Well, it gives quite detailed definitions but doesn’t develop a proper argument.
Brad:
Right ... So for the presentation, I think we just give some definitions and ...
Helen:
... and then explain what we felt were the weaknesses in the article’s treatment of conflict resolution.
Brad:
So, let’s think about what we have to prepare for the actual presentation.
Helen:
Well, I suppose we’ll use PowerPoint ... but I’m hopeless at using it, especially if it has any visuals. I really have to look into doing a course on it because I know I’ll need it in the future.
Brad:
Don’t worry, I’m quite happy using PowerPoint and I’ll put it together when everything else is ready.
Helen:
That’s a relief ... but, yes, do that later.
Brad:
OK. Now, I heard the tutor saying we have to include some well chosen quotations from the article?
Helen:
I’m not sure if we do ... I’ll email him to find out.
Brad:
No need, I can just have a look at the specs he gave us when he set the task ...
Helen:
That’ll be quicker.
Brad:
But the tutor definitely said we have to prepare a handout to go with the talk ... I’m not really sure how we do that.
Brad:
But the tutor definitely said we have to prepare a handout to go with the talk ... I’m not really sure how we do that.
Helen:
Sarah did one last year ...
Helen:
She’s doing the same option as me on marketing. I’ll ask her advice on what to include.
Brad:
Great. So that just leaves the bibliography at the end. I suppose it’ll mainly be articles.
Helen:
Yeah. So we’ll just look on the web ... and we can leave that till later.
Brad:
But we’ve been advised against that ...
Helen:
Well, we could have a look through some journals in the library.
Brad:
I think we should start by looking through module handbooks. I think that’ll give us some good leads.
Helen:
Yeah ... you’re probably right. So, that’s all the ...
