Steiner's Taxonomy
Steiner's Taxonomy
Steiner's Taxonomy
Introduction
Steiner's taxonomy of group tasks are often studied when dealing with process losses in groups. Process loss is observed in groups when there is a reduction in their performance effectiveness or efficiency. This could be due to a variety of interpersonal processes, which may be caused by either motivation loss or coordination loss.
The speed and quality of the work is dependent on the least skilled member of the group.
In this way, this group member is like the rate determining step, It would be to the benefit of the group to assign the easiest subtask to such a member.
Group Composition
Members knowledge, skills, abilities, or KSAs outperform less skilled groups the best individuals make the best teams Group Diversity may outperform less diverse groups because their wide range of talents & traits enhances their cognitive flexibility i.e., creativity, alternatives, solutions
Task Demands
Question Task Type
Divisible
Qualities
Subcomponents can be identified and assigned to specific members
Examples
Playing a football game Building a house Preparing a sixcourse meal Pulling on a rope Reading a book Solving a math problem
Generating many ideas Lifting a great weight Scoring the most goals
Quality:
Optimizing
Interdependence
Additive Compensatory
Individual inputs are added together Decision is made by averaging together individual decisions
Estimating a pigs weight by asking 3 people to guess & averaging their guesses Averaging ratings of job applicants
Disjunctive
Group selects one solution or product from a pool of members solutions or products
Picking one persons answer to a math problem to be the groups answer Letting one art project represent the entire school
Conjunctive
Discretionary
Deciding to shovel snow together Choosing to vote on the best answer to a problem
Types of Tasks
Additive Task a task or project that a group can complete by cumulative combining of members input Compensatory Task a task or project that a group can complete by averaging together individual members solutions or recommendations Groups outperform individuals on additive tasks and compensatory tasks.
Cont..
.. Cont
Disjunctive Task a task or project that is completed when a single solution, decision, or recommendation is adopted by the group
Groups perform well on disjunctive tasks if the group includes at least one individual who knows the correct solution (truth-wins rule on Eureka problems) Groups rarely perform better than the best member (synergy, or an assembly bonus effect) Cont..
..Cont Conjunctive Task a task that can be completed successfully only if all group members contribute Groups perform poorly on conjunctive tasks unless less skilled members increase their efforts (the Kohler Effect) or the task can be subdivided. Kohler Effect an increase in performance by groups working on conjunctive tasks that require persistence but little coordination of effort and is likely due to the increase effort expended by the less capable members.
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