Working with Groups (2nd ed)

"Working with Groups" looks at the field of small group dynamics, focusing on the behaviour and processes typical of management, planning, decision making and learning groups.

For the second edition of this book, the "key concepts" approach has been retained, taking the reader from theoretical frameworks through to practical applications.

It is divided into five parts: Part 1, Approaches to the Study of Groups, describes frameworks for the study of the conscious and unconscious processes underlying group behaviour.

Part 2, Organisation, provides an overview of the structures and processes that are universal in the way work groups establish and develop themselves.

Part 3, Work, then takes up the major day to day operations typical of all task groups.

Part 4, Learning, presents some models of group effectiveness and explores the relationship between group development and learning.

This part closes with an overview of team building and the concept of the self-managing team.

Part 5 presents four case studies, each set in a different context.New prominence has been given to groups as open systems, in recognition of the fact that systems thinking continues to gain ground in both the traditional and contemporary approaches to group behaviour.

There is material drawn from the Gestalt and Tavistock traditions of individual psychology and group relations, on managing diversity and on self managing work teams.

As a result, the book should contain a balance between the conscious and the unconscious realms of human behaviour in work groups.

It is aimed at departments and students of business, organizational behaviour, management, public relations, personnel and group dynamics, and professional practitioners in any of the above areas and education, health, psychology and social work.