Group Facilitation: Problem Resolution Strategies
Resolving problems that can and often do emerge in small groups is a task assigned to a group facilitator or leader (French, Bell & Zawacki, 2000). In this report, a number of strategies for addressing potential problems in an academic project group or team by the designated facilitator will be addressed. These strategies focus on facilitation of member activity, engagement and empowerment; Lester, Ready, Hostager and Bergmann (2003) contend that a facilitator's role is to move a group process forward, working directly with group members to ensure that each member completes his or her tasks in a timely and appropriate manner. Excellent interpersonal communication skills along with a proactive, transformational leadership style are seen by many analysts as key to effective group facilitation (Stahl, 1995; Trenholm & Jensen, 2000).
The types of problems that an academic project group - or any other small group - can encounter are quite numerous. Member failure to complete a task in a timely manner, poor communication channel development leading to confusion and uncertainty, poor leadership, unresolved conflict between group members, and faulty execution of tasks are among those problems (Ivancevich, 1998). Generally, a group facilitator is responsible for ensuring that such problems, once identified, are ameliorated. This makes it possible for the group to remain on track.
The first strategy recommended for an ad hoc academic work team required to complete a multifaceted project involving several distinct "deliverables" (i.e., reports, analyses of data, presentations) over the course of a semester is team building. Ivancevich (1998) has commented that the most successful teams - and facilitators - are those that understand the importance of creating synergies among and between team members. Team building is defined by Ivancevich (1998) as a development process that helps...