How It Works
Individuals respond to 40 statements relating to the conditions within the group. Results are transferred to the group profile in order to create an overall picture of the perception of group development. Through discussion, group members determine what is needed to achieve improvement and develop an action plan.
Uses and Applications
The GDA is designed for application with groups that have specific tasks to perform. It is intended for use as a diagnostic system to help managers, leaders, consultants, and group facilitators determine how to improve group functioning.
The assessment has a variety of uses including:
- A tool for assessing how group members perceive the functioning of the group
- An action planning system to improve group productivity
- A learning exercise for group leaders
- A guide for appropriate group leadership behavior
- A diagnostic system for use in team building
Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate how the group is currently functioning
- Learn about the phases of task and process behaviors
- Discover the four group developmental stages and the characteristics of groups in off-diagonal stages
- Recognize what it takes to reach synergy
- Create and discuss a group profile to get a perspective on development
- Identify areas in need of improvement and develop a group action plan
Theory
The assessment is based on a theory originally published by John E. Jones Ph.D. The model of group development suggests that groups tend to go through predictable stages of growth as a result of the interaction of the two behavioral dimensions: task behaviors and process behaviors.