In Mixed Company

Rothwell (communication studies, Cabrillo College) introduces students to small group communication, focusing on the idea that cooperation is usually superior to competition and using a communication competence model, systems theory, and a focus on power in groups. He discusses theoretical foundations, how groups are formed and developed, how to establish the proper climate, the roles of group members, how to build teams and instill teamwork, decision making/problem solving, and power and conflict. This edition adds many references to incorporate recent research and theory; new examples, including business-oriented and workplace examples; more discussion of the influence of technology; and topics like structuration theory, developing codes of conduct to thwart disruptive behavior, the "rule of seven" and the influence of group size, the global language of business, the linguistic divide, and ostracism in the multicultural workplace, global language and multicultural miscommunication in virtual groups, nonverbal communication and jurors' perceptions of judges, humor and secondary tension relief and defensive vs. supportive communication, the praise-first-then-describe approach to supportive communication, respectful leadership, abusive communication between doctors and nurses, pilot projects on teamwork among doctors and nurses, and angry leaders and motivation of followers. It has more on topics like member diversity, deep diversity, culture, "bad apple" research, disruptive behavior, gender diversity and accuracy of group decision making, gender and hypercompetitiveness, hazing, defensive vs. supportive communication, management vs. leadership, leader-follower interconnectedness, information overload, criteria development in group decision making, Murphy's law, critical thinking, the benefits of provoking conflict, and virtual group effectiveness. Annotation c2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)