Just a look into the definition of group - just to make it more understandable. For a facilitator, "group" is important and therefore, s/he must have enough knowledge about group dynamism. These slides give some insight about groups.

1. HOW DOES A FACILITATOR
LOOK AT A “GROUP” ?
SAEID NOURI NESHAT
2013
Email: nourineshat@gmail.com
Weblog: http://cbfacilitation.blogspot.com

2. WHAT IS A GROUP?
• If you google it, the first
and the upmost answer
is:
A number of people or
things that are located
close together or are
considered or classed
together.

3. WHAT IS A GROUP?
• What do you think?
Based on this definition
in google, are those
standing in a bus stop,
a group?
They are “a number of
people”; they “are located
close together”.
In fact, they are a group
of people standing in a
bus stop, but they are not
considered a group – in
the way a facilitator looks
at it.
Coutesy of ©2006 Norfolk County Council

4. • There is a difference
between “a number of
people” and “a group”. A
number of people here in
this example “are located
close together” but they
are not a group.
• What do you think: what is
a group?

5. WHAT IS A GROUP?
• Sometimes, people say that the
group is a two or more persons
with a common goal.
Let’s go back to the but stop and
see if they have goals and whether
the goal is a common one !
Having one common goal or
objective does not make them a
group.
Bus, only
bus,
please
be on
time
Bus, when
will you
come?
I want to
get on
the bus
Hey Saeid,
you want me
to set my goal
as “wanting a
bus to come”;
if you want,
Okay, this is
my goal.
When I need
you, just
close my
eyes, and I’m
with “bus”

6. READ THESE WORDS FROM FORSYTH (2006)
“But what is a collection of human beings called? A group. ….
[C]ollections of people may seem unique, but each possesses
that one critical element that defines a group: connections
linking the individual members…. [M]embers are linked together
in a web of interpersonal relationships. Thus, a group is defined
as two or more individuals who are connected to one another by
social relationships.”
“Hundreds of fish swimming together are called a school. A pack of
foraging baboons is a troupe. A half dozen crows on a telephone line
is a murder. A gam is a group of whales.”

7. INTERCONNECTEDNESS !
• Let’s talk more about
this definition:
“a group is defined
as two or more
individuals who are
connected to one
another by social
relationships”.
• What do you think?

8. EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS:
• A man and a woman fall in love and they are going to marry (a social
relationship).
• People may have a shared cause (for instance: let’s protect the
environment).
• People are challenged by a question and they have to face the
challenge (they may become socially related).
• Three persons who are studying in a school, are friends. They go to
cinema together. They are socially connected. They have a friendship
circle.

9. OTHER EXAMPLES OF GROUPS
• Find elements of “social relationship” in the following groups:
• A football team
• An internet listserv (where people exchange views on one specific
issue) or a friendship group in facebook
• A college psychology class with 14 participants
• A cult
• A community-based group working to create a better environment for
the citizens with their participation
• A business team working on the vision and mission of a company

10. INTERACTION IS NECESSARY !
• For such social interconnectedness, interaction is a must.
Conformity
Coordination
Cohesiveness A group is said to be in a state of cohesion when its members
possess bonds linking them to one another and to the group as
a whole. Each and every member feel a sense of group identity.
Solidarity
Conformity means that a member / members match their
attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms.
Coordination is the act of organizing the roles, making different
members work together for a goal or effect to fulfill desired goals
in the group.
Solidarity is unity that produces ties that bind members together.
Dynamics The flow of coherent activities - as envisaged - leads the group
towards the realization of its goals.

11. ATTENTION!
• A group may have “norms”, “roles” (assigned to group members),
“communication structure” (who talks to whom), and “a power structure”
(how much the members have authority and influence) but the group cannot
remain a group without having the interconnectedness – which means to have
“interaction”.
• A group dies if the interaction fades.
talking listening seeing
on-going feedback
Interaction

12. Primary groups Secondary groups
Planned groups
Founded/concocted
Emergent groups
Open group Closed group
Membership groups
Support groups Peer groups
Formal groupsInformal groups
Charity groups Friendship groups
Community-based groups
Fan groups
Teams
Project groups
Self-help groups
A FACILITATOR WORKS WITH/IN GROUPS…
It is practical for a facilitator to know about the following types of groups –
why they are beneficial and useful? Who are their members? What they do ?
and what could be the role of a facilitator in each group?

13. HOWEVER, THESE THREE FORMS ARE
IMPORTANT FOR A FACILITATOR:
Small groups Workshop group Public
Decision-making is easier It can be diverse/
or homogenous
More diversity
Good for resource-raisingAble to carry out a specific task
Effective for synchronic trainingConflict resolution can be easier
More sustainable
Participants become sensitive
Brain-storming brings more ideas
Participation increasesSuitable for
exchanging
experiences
Voices are heardDeep interaction
Knowledge sharing
Participatory evaluation
Needs assessment and priority-settingLearning by doing
Planning and goal-setting

14. RESOURCES
• FORSYTH, D. R. (2006). GROUP DYNAMICS (INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
EDITION).THOMSON/WADSWORTH: BELMONT, CA.
• LEWIN, K. (1945). "THE RESEARCH CENTER FOR GROUP DYNAMICS AT
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY". SOCIOMETRY 8 (2): 126–136.