Paradoxes of Group Life: Understanding Conflict, Paralysis, and Movement in Group Dynamics - Softcover

Smith, Kenwyn K.; Berg, David N.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 078793948X ISBN 13: 9780787939489

Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 1997

Synopsis

During the past decade, leaders have increasingly relied onself-managing work groups, multifunctional teams, andcross-national executive groups to create the organization of thefuture. Yet groups are not a panacea for organizational problems;conflicts between individuals or factions within a group oftencreate seemingly contradictory situations?paradoxes?that canprevent the group from reaching its goals.

In this groundbreaking classic, Kenwyn Smith and David Berg offera revolutionary approach to understanding groups and overcoming theproblems that often paralyze group members, the group as a whole,and relations among groups. They explore the hidden dynamics thatcan prevent a group from functioning effectively. And they show howan apparently paradoxical suggestion?for example, inviting asuccess oriented group to risk failure, or affirming the benefitsof going nowhere to a group focused on moving ahead?can breakaction barriers, overcome conflicts, and improve groupperformance.

Smith and Berg offer a different way of thinking about groups thatwill open new avenues of inquiry for professors and students ofgroup behavior, and they propose many innovative ideas that willprove valuable to consultants, trainers, therapists, and others whowork with groups on a regular basis.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Two organization behavior experts examine the contradictory situations that cause conflict within groups and offer a new perspective that helps to overcome the problems that paralyze group members, the group as a whole, and relationships between groups.

About the Author

KENWYN K. SMITH teaches at the University of Pennsylvania in the School of Social Work, and in executive programs at the Wharton Business School. He has devoted his career to the study of organizational change, group and intergroup dynamics, and conflict management. Over recent years, Smith has focused his studies on how organizational dynamics impact the physical and emotional health of employees DAVID N. BERG maintains a private practice in organizational psychology and also teaches in the department of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. A professor of organizational behavior for fifteen years, Berg continues to work as a consultant to various organizations and groups. He is the deputy editor of the Journal of Applied Behavioral Science and has an abiding interest in group and intergroup relations, as well as organizational diagnosis. He lives in Bethany, Connecticut.

Edition details

• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 078793948X
• ISBN 13: 9780787939489
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 336