CMST &230 Small Group Communication

CMST &230 Small Group Communication includes the analysis of leadership and discussion in small group contexts with a goal of developing communication behaviors that promote a more effective, efficient, and satisfying interaction in groups and leadership contexts. The course addresses the functional problems of leadership, organization in groups, developing involvement strategies within groups, problem solving, consensus building, and conflict management.

Small Wins Group Project

The groups participate in creating, organizing, and implementing a “small wins” community service project. The groups determine the community for the project as well as the service they wish to do for that community.

The concept of small wins was first coined by Organizational theorist Karl Weick. According to Weick:

  • A small win is a concrete, complete, implemented outcome of moderate importance.
  • By itself, one small win may seem unimportant.
  • A series of wins at small but significant tasks, however, reveals a pattern that may attract allies, deter opponents, and lower resistance to subsequent proposals.

The group members cooperatively write a report as an executive summary describing the their decision making process in a structured format: problem identification, problem analysis, solution criteria, solution suggestions, solution evaluation and selection, solution implementation, and conclusion.

The multimedia celebration that the groups submit is the documented evidence of the solution implementation involving all the members of the group.

Winter 2024

Fall 2023

Spring 2023

Spring 2022

Winter 2022

Spring 2021

Winter 2021