Question

Task Functions 1. Information- or opinion-giver. Offers facts or opinions relevant to team task. 2. Information- or opinion-seeker. Asks others for task-related information or opinions. 3. Starter or energizer. Initiates or encourages task-related behavior (e.g., “We’d better get going on this”). 4. Direction-giver. Provides instructions regarding how to perform task at hand. 5. Summarizer. Reviews what has been said, identifying common themes or progress. 6. Diagnoser. Offers observations about task-related behavior of team (e.g., “We seem to be spending all of our time discussing the problem without proposing any solutions”). 7. Gatekeeper. Regulates participation of members. 8. Reality-tester. Checks feasibility of ideas against real-world contingencies.

Relational Functions 1. Participation encourager. Encourages reticent members to speak, letting them know their contribution will be valued. 2. Harmonizer. Resolves interpersonal conflicts between members. 3. Tension-reliever. Uses humor or other devices to release members’ anxiety and frustration. 4. Evaluator of emotional climate. Offers observations about socioemotional relationships between members (e.g., “I think we’re all feeling a little defensive now,” or “It sounds like you think nobody trusts you, Bill”). 5. Praise-giver. Reinforces accomplishments and contributions of members. 6. Empathic listener. Listens without evaluation to personal concerns of members.

Dysfunctional Roles 1. Blocker. Prevents progress by constantly raising objections. 2. Attacker. Aggressively questions others’ competence or motives. 3. Recognition-seeker. Repeatedly and unnecessarily calls attention to self by relating irrelevant experiences, boasting, and seeking sympathy. 4. Joker. Engages in joking behavior in excess of tension-relieving needs, distracting members. 5. Withdrawer. Refuses to take stand on social or task issues; covers up feelings; does not respond to others’

Identify the role each of the following statements represents. Once you have identified the role, then define if the statement is a Task, Relational or Dysfunctional function.

Example: "Debby, could you hold on and let Martin speak first?"

Answer: Role = Gatekeeper and this statement is a Task function.

STATEMENTS

1. "So far we have discussed six funding sources..."

2. "Although you seem to disagree, both of you are concerned with..."

3. "I think you're really on to something. That seems like the information we need."

4. "What else do you think we should consider?"

5. "George, that is a really stupid idea."

6. "This is an exciting idea we're considering. Before we commit, let's look at how much it's going to cost to see if we can really do it."

7. "If you ask me, this is just too much work. Let's quit and play a video game instead."

8. "OK. Now that we've finished brainstorming ideas, our next step is to evaluate them."

9. "I spent all yesterday evening making this graph. why doesn't anyone at least thank me for it?"

10. "I found three websites with research studies we can use in this project."

Answer 1

1. Role = Summariser and the statement is a task function.

2. Role = Harmoniser and the statement is a relational function.

3. Role = Praise Giver and the statement is a relational function.

4. Role = Information Seeker and the statement is a task function.

5. Role = Attacker and the statement is a dysfunctional statement.

6. Role = Reality tester and the statement is a task function.

7. Role = Joker and the statement is a dysfunctional statement.

8. Role = Direction Giver and the statement is a task function.

9. Role = Recognition Seeker and the statement is a dysfunctional statement.

10. Role = Information Giver and the statement is a task function.