Group Effectiveness In Complex Problem Solving-A Process-Based Study With The Perspective Of Functional Theory

With the increasing complexity of work-tasks, group-works have become more and more important for the organization. One standard to measure the productivity of group-work is Group effectiveness. Previous research showed that group effectiveness was influenced by many factors, including individual characteristics, organizational context, task property, and group process etc. And group process was considered as the mediator and/or moderator variable to group effectiveness. The group process was defined as the interactions among group members. However, there was no consistent result about the relation between group process and group output in the area of small group research. The main reason was that there was no agreed measurement standard. So it was necessary to identify how the group process influent group effectiveness by developing one practical analyzing tool. The functional perspective was the one most commonly used by theorists and researchers who seek to understand the relationship between group process and effectiveness. Based on functional perspective and complex problem solving task, this study adopted multi-trait methods to explore the characteristic of group process in complex problem solving and build the model of group effectiveness.In the first chapter, I did the theoretical review in relevant research fields, covering complex problem solving (CPS), group process and effectiveness, functional perspective of group decision making, proposed that the group process had strong effects on group effectiveness in CPS situation, and the characteristics of CPS as following complexity, dynamics, in transparent, and time-delay, group process included task-oriented interactions and relation-oriented interactions. Based on the critical review of previous research, the study's purpose was to understand the mechanism of group process influenced group effectiveness in CPS situation.The second chapter quantitatively analyzed the group process during complex problem solving through the system data from computer simulation-SYNTEX. As the exploratory step, the CPS traditional method (individual difference approach) was applied to compare the differences in the task process and result between effective and ineffective groups. The results supported the proposition that group process influenced group effectiveness, and showed the process differences between effective and ineffective groups, including system variable controlling, information collection and processing, process management, and decision strategy.The purpose of the third chapter was to develop group process observation system for analyzing group process, and build the model of group effectiveness. There were three parts in this chapter. The first one focused on the group process observation system development and its quality. Based on functional perspective and previous research, the study developed high reliability multi-level group process interaction observation system, which includes 5 main categories and 10 sub categories. The second part used the observation system to analyze the group process. The result showed the process characteristics in group CPS, and found there were differences in main functional categories transition between effective and ineffective groups. Based on the comparing results, the third part tried to build the model of group effectiveness through multiple regression analysis. The model showed different interaction behavior had different effects on group effectiveness, the interactions such as problem identification, group reflexivity, controversial discussion, social reinforcement had positive effects, and the interaction including ideas diversity, performance strategy, conflict management had negative effects. The result reported that there were interactive effects among interaction behaviors.The forth chapter investigated the process variable that members of group believed facilitate and inhibit group effectiveness. Previous research argued group member most awared the factors that facilitated or inhibit group progress during the process. The study used semi-structured group interview and content analysis to elaborate these factors. The reports confirmed the results from process analysis, and found some process variable which just could be measured subjectively. And the comparison results also showed the perceived difference between effective and ineffective groups.The isolated consideration of single determinants did not do justice to the complexity of interaction processes in groups. In order to examine the results from the study, the fifth chapter operated three different patterns of group diagnostics and reflection to check the effect after the groups understood the mechanism of group process. The result showed the manipulation was effective, confirmed the study results in someway, and also provided the suggestions to improve group effectiveness.Chapter six summarized the main conclusions from the series studies into the following three theoretical developments: First, the characteristics group process in complex problem solving was identified in qualitative and quantitative ways. Second, the study compared and integrated the understanding about group process from process observation and group members' perception. And third, based on functional perspective of group decision-making, the study analyzed the influencing mechanism of group process, and built the model of group effectiveness.In the end of the present study, both theoretical and practical implications were elaborated. And the limitations of the study and further research were also discussed.