INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP INTERACTION IN A MANAGEMENT COURSE

Abstract

A program, “Effective Executive Practices,” was presented to commercial apprentices in a group situation. Three measures of individual interaction with the group were constructed, a measure of an individual's agreement with the group, a measure of the number of times that an individual was persuaded by his group to agree with the group's decision, and a measure of the number of times that the group's majority decision was not successful in influencing an individual's decision. These three measures were related to measures of intelligence, achievement, retention, personality, time to complete the program and the number of errors made.

Although the results are not always significant, there are indications that the three measures are related to personality, time and errors made.

An analysis of the top and bottom improvers reveals that there is a tendency for those subjects who were “persuaded” by the group to improve more than those who were not “persuaded,” but that merely agreeing with the group was no guarantee of high attainment. This result, however, was not significant.

The measures may well be related to “personality,” for there are indications that the less extroverted a person, the more adamant he is in group discussion, whilst the converse can be said with regard to the neuroticism scale.

Notes

* This study was completed at Birkbeck College under the general supervision of Mr. P. W. W. Cavanagh, whose support and encouragement is gratefully acknowledged.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Clive Jones *

* This study was completed at Birkbeck College under the general supervision of Mr. P. W. W. Cavanagh, whose support and encouragement is gratefully acknowledged.