Chapter 9: Communicating in Groups

Task Roles

In some cases, a role is defined by a task that needs doing, and a person is asked or appointed to fill it (or he or she volunteers). Such task roles are concerned with the accomplishment of the group’s goals—specifically, the activities that need to be carried out for the group to achieve its objectives. For example, your role on a committee charged with organizing a campus Zumba party might be to post advertisements for the event in key locations around campus, in the student newspaper, and on the university Web site.

Task roles can also be specifically related to the group’s communication; for instance:

An information giver offers facts, beliefs, personal experience, or other input during group discussions (“When the College Republicans posted their ad in the student lounge, they had good attendance at their event”).
An information seeker asks for input or clarification of ideas or opinions that members have presented (“Jeff, are you saying you don’t think we would get good attendance on a Thursday night?”).
An elaborator provides further clarification of points, often adding to what others have said (“I agree with Ellie about getting Spike to DJ the event—he has a huge following in town”).
An initiator helps the group move toward its objective by proposing solutions, presenting new ideas, or suggesting new ways of looking at an issue the group is discussing (“How essential is it that we schedule our event for the last Thursday of the month? If we moved it a week later, we wouldn’t have to compete with the Homecoming festivities”).
An administrator keeps the conversation on track (“OK, let’s get back to the subject of when to schedule the event”) and ensures that meetings begin and end on time (“We’ve got five minutes left; should we wind up?”). This role appears in online groups, too, where forum administrators (also known as moderators or masters) coordinate and sometimes screen the members’ comments.