Group Work (Harvard Ref)
Group Work
This essay provides definitions of community groups and examples of these with an analysis of their purpose and structure. Followed by group dynamics theory and the significance of communication within groups. The role of the community worker within groups and how the worker could manage difficult situations are also analysed.
There are various definitions for groups I have included one; “To put it simply they are units composed of two or more persons who come into contact for a purpose and who consider the contact meaningful.” Theodore M. Mills (1967: 2) Groups can be formed to serve various purposes types of groups include self help, welfare, representative, minority, action (or pressure), liaison, voluntary organisations and social groups. In addition to the various purposes of groups they can also vary in their structure as they can have open or closed membership, be formal or informal, task or process orientated, regular or ad hoc and form for varying durations. The first example of a group is a youth sports team. The type of group would be an activity group and the structure is informal. The membership would be closed as there would have to be trials etc prior to a new member joining the team. They would be task orientated as their main goal is to win matches and eventually the league they are a part of. With training and matches they would meet on a regular basis they could also exist for a long period of time. A second example of a group is youth club this would be an activity, educational, issue based or a social group. The structure would be informal with an open membership within a boundary as there would be an age limit. The group could meet on a regular basis for a long period of time. The last example is a management committee they would meet regularly over a long period of time and be process orientated. The committee has a closed membership as the members need to be elected and it would also be formal as there are legal
This essay provides definitions of community groups and examples of these with an analysis of their purpose and structure. Followed by group dynamics theory and the significance of communication within groups. The role of the community worker within groups and how the worker could manage difficult situations are also analysed.
There are various definitions for groups I have included one; “To put it simply they are units composed of two or more persons who come into contact for a purpose and who consider the contact meaningful.” Theodore M. Mills (1967: 2) Groups can be formed to serve various purposes types of groups include self help, welfare, representative, minority, action (or pressure), liaison, voluntary organisations and social groups. In addition to the various purposes of groups they can also vary in their structure as they can have open or closed membership, be formal or informal, task or process orientated, regular or ad hoc and form for varying durations. The first example of a group is a youth sports team. The type of group would be an activity group and the structure is informal. The membership would be closed as there would have to be trials etc prior to a new member joining the team. They would be task orientated as their main goal is to win matches and eventually the league they are a part of. With training and matches they would meet on a regular basis they could also exist for a long period of time. A second example of a group is youth club this would be an activity, educational, issue based or a social group. The structure would be informal with an open membership within a boundary as there would be an age limit. The group could meet on a regular basis for a long period of time. The last example is a management committee they would meet regularly over a long period of time and be process orientated. The committee has a closed membership as the members need to be elected and it would also be formal as there are legal