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Theories of Small Group Communication
Web Resources
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- Functional Theory of Decision-Making (U Colorado)
This course website provides only limited description of the functional theory of decision making, but has details on one of the authors (Hirokawa) and several references on the theory.
- Meet Randy Hirokawa
Randy Hirokawa is the Chair of the Department of Communication at the University of Iowa. This site leads you to a list of his published work, a brief description of his research agenda, and other related information.
- Meet Dennis Gouran
This is the homepage of Dennis Gouran, Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences and Labor Studies and Industrial Relations at The Pennsylvania State University, one of the co-authors of the functional theory of decision-making.
- Groupthink: The Challenger Video
Several authors have used the Challenger disaster as a case in which groupthink occurred. This link provides some details on the theory. The “free preview link” leads you to a brief video (RealPlayer or Windows Media Player version), with excerpts of the video. Or, for only $895, you can order the video for yourself!
- The Challenger Disaster: An Official (NASA) History
The first half of this governmental report is highly technical. What is more relevant for our discussion of groupthink is the last half of the chapter (pp. 370 ff), which outlines the various discussions and teleconferences surrounding the Challenger disaster. One of the parties involved (Mulloy) explicitly states to the Senate subcommittee that groupthink occurd (p. 377).
- Groupthink and the Colombia Disaster—Mediate.com
This article by Wes King discusses the recent Colombia spaceshuttle disaster in terms of groupthink. The article appears on Mediate.com, an online publication dedicated specifically to mediation in organizations. King applies principles of groupthink theory to improving organizations.
- Tuckman’s Group Development Model
This Allyn & Bacon Communication Studies webpage (by Tim Borchers) gives a brief outline of the various stages of Tuckman’s theory, compared to other group development approaches. There are links for activities and other sources on small group communication.
- Meet Bruce Tuckman
Bruce Tuckman, the originator of the group development theory that starts our chapter, is a professor in the College of Education at Ohio State. This link leads to his list of publications and text files of recent papers he has presented.
- Structuration Theory: Theory.Org
Theory.Org—an extensive “new medias” study site hosted by David Gauntlett, professor of media and audiences at the University of Bournemouth (UK). While the website is geared toward media, it provides some interesting links on Giddens, including a brief summary of structuration theory—oh yes, and a link to buy your own Lego® model of Dr. Giddens!
- Meet Anthony Giddens (and Structuration Theory)
Anthony Giddens, the key writer in structuration theory (prior to its extensions to organizations by Marshall Scott Poole and others) has been the director of the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has written over 34 books, some of which have been translated into 30 languages. This site—the Director’s site from the LSE—gives Giddens’ history, a bibliography of sources both by and about Giddens. The FAQ link leads to concise explanations of Gidden’s views on globalization, modernity, and, of course, structuration theory.
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