INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT

[MODULE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION]

1ST SEMESTER / 2019 / FKUI 2019
[CUT AQILLA RHANIA]
[1906317190] – GROUP A

Types of Group Communication and How to Communicate Within

the Groups

Introduction

Every person belongs at least to one group in this life, and it could be more than one. The
common reason why people join a group is because they shared a similarity, interpersonal
attraction, and the need for affiliation and sense of belonging 1. Group could be characterized
by the size, interdependence, task, group norms, and shared identity 1. Characteristic
determine the type of group which resulting in a variety type of group shaped by the diverse
units of characteristic. As a result of the variety from the characteristic, there are several
types of groups. The division of the group is usually based on the type of communication that
happened within the group.

Topic Discussion

There are 5 categories of group that based on the ways of communication within the group.
The first type is task oriented and relational-oriented2. The two is differentiate based on the
goals that were promoted within the group. For task-oriented, as stated in the name, it
purpose is to solve problems, generate ideas/information, and promote causes. An example of
the task-oriented setting is office environment, the approach to the group in task-oriented is
more professional than the relational-oriented group. In professional environment, group
communication could inflict conflict between each member of group when there are
differences in opinion between each other in solving a problem. To avoid conflict,
maintaining a good flow of communication is essential, that’s why a good problem-solving
skill is also prominent. To achieve a good problem solving in group communication, several
steps such as identifying the problem, ventilate feeling, describe the problem, and develop
solution are essential in maintaining the flow of group communication 3. Relational-oriented
group is a type of group which emphasized on the quality of communication between each
member of the group2. It also promotes interpersonal communication and contributes to the
development of the well-being each group members. The communication between each
members of the group is also based on emotional connection, therefore it’s an unprofessional
communication. The example setting for relational-oriented group is family or group of close
friends, therefore the communication flow in this group would be less formal and keeping the
communication flow would be easier but still essential in keeping it positive, because this
type of group members is the one who is close to oneself 4. The second type is team2. The
difference between team and group is, a group have a common goal between each member of
it, and in team, they have complex goals that have to be reached in a different way although
they have the same view or perspective on what have to be done. Usually it’s harder to
maintain the group communication within the team, because there’s a complex set of goals
that needed to be achieve and the variety of people in it too, to simplify it the group
communication also has to have a good problem skill within the team to make sure the flow
of communication didn’t have any hindrance2. The third type are primary and secondary
group1. For primary group, it plays an essential part on building someone’s life and
personality, for example family1. It also based on emotional connection between the members
of the group. The approach and the way to communicate within the primary group would be
less formal compare to secondary group. Secondary group have less frequent face-to-face
interaction compare to primary group1, also secondary group is similar with task-oriented
group, therefore it would be less in emotional connection between the members of the group.
The way to communicate within the secondary group is actually similar to the task-oriented
group where the setting is more professional, therefore the approach would be more formal.
The example of the setting in secondary group are in organization or union 2. The fourth type
of group are In-group and out-group2. In-group is based on the sense of belonging a person
has built towards the group, the reason behind the attachment is because the in-group took an
abundant part on shaping the person’s life. The approach for the in-group would be similar
with the primary group because the base of the two group is also similar. For out-group, the
significant difference that contrast to the in-group is a sense of competition between each
member of the group and an absence of a feeling for attachment. To maintain a good flow of
communication in the midst of competition between the member is with keeping the
competition a healthy one, which pushed each member to be the best version of him/herself 2.
The last type and the most different type of group is reference group2. Reference group
provides standards of measurements, this group facilitate other members to compare each
other with the people they look up to, in this group, the communication is done by based on
how we act around people we look up to, it’s not professional but didn’t have any emotional
correlation2. The ideal communication would be in a formal way.

Conclusion

The variety of group depends on the characteristic and the type of communication within the
group. To perceive ways of communication in group, one has to acknowledge the type of
group firstly, therefore one would know the appropriate approach within the group. There is
abundant type of group but the outline from each type of group is similar, the thing which
differentiate is the intention and the type of connection within the group. The types are task-
oriented and relational-oriented group, team, primary and secondary group, in-group and out-
group, reference group. from the variety of the group, there are similarity in the ways to
communicate within the group, which is maintaining the flow of communication with each
members of the group.
References

1. Smith MK. What is a group? [internet]. Unknown: Infed; unknown [cited in 2019 Oct
8]. Available from: http://infed.org/mobi/what-is-a-group/
2. Unknown. Defining group communication [internet]. Unknown: Coursera ; unknown.
Available from: https://www.coursera.org/lecture/communicationtheory-academia-
practice/defining-group-communication-cfBU3
3. North M. How to communicate more effectively in the workplace [internet].
Cambridge: Harvard Extension School; Unknown [cited in 2019 Oct 8]. Available
from: https://www.extension.harvard.edu/professional-development/blog/how-
communicate-more-effectively-workplace
4. Barett TD, Kertesz J, Rotkirch A, Ghosh A, Bhattacharya K, Monsivais D, et al.
Communication with family and friends across the life course. PLos One [internet].
2016 Nov 28 [cited in 2019 Oct 9]; 11(11). Available from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5156499/