Task Roles & Group Roles

• self-concept affects both how you relate to others in group & how they relate to you
• roles are sets of expectations assigned o you by others
◦ manages uncertainty in group communications
◦ result from
▪ self concepts
▪ perceptions others have about your position in group
▪ people's actual behaviour as they interact
◦ self concept is biggest factor in determining role
• self concept develops, how?
◦ Other people influence
▪ ie parents, teachers, people we respect
◦ gender (both biological and psychological) affects communication with others
▪ women: use communication to support others, connect & achieve closeness
▪ men: use communication to accomplish tasks, assert individuality
◦ sexual orientation
▪ we must be sensitive to differing attitudes regarding sexual orientation
◦ culture of origin
▪ our cultures value certain things, which we internalize
▪ So, North Americans may see self as individualistic, values individualism
▪ Japanese person may see no strong division between self & others
▪ influences self-concept and affects willingness to communicate in group
• ie affects how we view situations and respond
◦ groups we associate with, ie school, clubs, religion, political, social groups
◦ interpretation of own behaviour, but this is subject to bias & distortion
• we have expectations & perceptions based on past experience, that we bring with us to new
group
◦ these provide a foundation for roles as assume
• role is worked out between self and others
◦ role can become part of self-concept
• we assume roles based on interest, ability, and needs
◦ in teams, roles are often assigned
▪ can help with achieving tasks efficiently
◦ can be elected to a role
◦ can be assigned formally or informally
• there are two types of roles: task & group maintenance
◦ task: help accomplish tasks
◦ group maintenance: defines social atmosphere
TASK ROLES
• initiator-contributor: new ideas or approaches to solving a problem
• information seeker: ask for: suggestions, clarification, facts, or info relating to an issue
• opinion seeker: asks for clarification of values/opinions of group members
• information giver: provides stats, facts, evidence relating to problem
• opinion giver: offers opinions about ideas being discussed
 • elaborator: helps group see how an idea could work if the group accepted a particular action
• coordinator: tries to note connections between ideas provided by others
• orienter: attempts to summarize what's happened & keep group focused on task
• evaluator-critic: tries to judge evidence and conclusions offered by group
• energizer: tries to push group into action & increase productivity
• procedural technician: distributes papers, runs errands to help group achieve
• recorder: writes down others ideas, keeps record of progress

MAINTENANCE ROLES
• encourager: offers praise/understanding/acceptance of others ideas
• harmonizer: mediates disagreements in group
• compromiser: tries to resolve conflict through finding acceptable solutions
• gatekeeper/expediter: managers discussion through encouraging shy people to talk and limiting
talkative people
• standard setter: helps set standards/goals for group
• group observer: records group process to evaluate groups procedures
• follower: goes along with suggestions. Serves as audience to group