
Problem Solving in Teams and Groups - 2
Cameron W. Piercy
Copyright Year:
Publisher: University of Kansas Libraries
Language: English
Formats Available
Conditions of Use
Attribution
CC BY
Reviews





The Problem Solving in Teams and Group text is an exceptionally handy resource to consult, particularly as communication skills can always be improved for individuals, teams, and organizations. The text is packed full of solid information, from... read more
Reviewed by Steve Custer, Professor, Oakland City University on 9/13/24
Comprehensiveness
The Problem Solving in Teams and Group text is an exceptionally handy resource to consult, particularly as communication skills can always be improved for individuals, teams, and organizations. The text is packed full of solid information, from issues ranging on how to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of meetings to areas about resolving conflicts in groups and how to foster a positive work culture. I plan to utilize this material in several of my HR classes next term.
Content Accuracy
Upon inspection, no errors were found by this reviewer.
Relevance/Longevity
The issues addressed in this resource are timeless, from professional writing guidance to performance evaluation methods. Again, these concerns are always relevant to build key competencies for success in business and organizational management.
Clarity
This text was presented in a logical manner and it was extremely easy to read and comprehend.
Consistency
There was a consistent flow of information in each section to guide readers through a thorough investigation of the contents covered.
Modularity
The content was well assembled for quick reference to support multiple course learning objectives.
Organization/Structure/Flow
The table of contents was logically constructed and subdivided into three main sections: groups and teams overview, groups and teams in action, and group and team theory. The content was available in both PDF and online formats. There was a delay in downloading the PDF version, but that could be attributed to the WiFi connection at the time.
Interface
No interface issues were experienced by this reviewer.
Grammatical Errors
The reviewer did not observe any grammatical errors.
Cultural Relevance
This reviewer did not notice any offensive or insensitive material upon inspection.
CommentsOverall, this reviewer was very pleased with this resource and plans to incorporate it into future courses.





For the most part, this textbook is a great guide for understanding group dynamics and managing relationships in group settings. I appreciate the learning activities (e.g. quizzes, reflection & discussion questions) throughout several... read more
Reviewed by Brad Palmertree, Lecturer, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 6/18/24
Comprehensiveness
For the most part, this textbook is a great guide for understanding group dynamics and managing relationships in group settings. I appreciate the learning activities (e.g. quizzes, reflection & discussion questions) throughout several chapters. A few chapters seem out of place without relevant context or additional adaptation to demonstrate relevance.
Content Accuracy
The book seems accurate enough. I do question the accuracy of Wikipedia articles, however, which the text relies upon several times. I would supplement that material with other OER and/or journal articles.
Relevance/Longevity
The book is mostly up-to-date. The content on "Teaming with Machines" is well-placed. This could be updated to include the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI).
Clarity
The writing is clear and accessible. Most chapters have clickable text which brings up pop-up boxes with definitions of key terms.
Consistency
Most pages have consistent layout and flow. Since they come from different sources, though, some chapters are lacking learning objectives and learning activities.
Modularity
Chapters can easily be used on their own. Depending on the content, I probably wouldn't use more than one chapter at a time given the different source material.
Organization/Structure/Flow
Several sections are presented in a logical, clear fashion. I would appreciate covering group theories earlier in the text (this text places group theory last). The two writing chapters, for example, seem better suited for a writing course. The chapter on "Intercultural and Plane Crashes" offers necessary insight but the audience is clearly meant for those in aviation. With a few chapters seemingly out-of-place, I found the difference in content to be confusing. Some additional context and/or learning objectives at the beginning of those chapters would be helpful.
Interface
Most images and links work properly. However, several images are missing, particularly in the Leadership chapter.
Grammatical Errors
The text is well-written with very few errors.
Cultural Relevance
The text is mostly culturally-relevant. A variety of perspectives are provided; however, there is always room to grow in this area.
CommentsI would use some of this book for a graduate level course on leadership in groups & teams. I might consider other parts for an undergraduate course on leadership.





The book is written in accessible language, with practical learning activities and related resources interspersed. It was helpful to see the sample course syllabus and schedule, because it allowed me to consider similarities and differences with... read more
Reviewed by Eric Kaufman, Professor, Virginia Tech on 5/19/21
Comprehensiveness
The book is written in accessible language, with practical learning activities and related resources interspersed. It was helpful to see the sample course syllabus and schedule, because it allowed me to consider similarities and differences with existing courses that may benefit from adopting this textbook. Although the conceptual frameworks provided in the textbook are relevant for graduate students, they are sometimes presented in a way that seems more appropriate for undergraduate students. If the book was used for a graduate-level course, I believe it may need to be supplemented with scholarly publications that highlight the related research.
Content Accuracy
The content is generally accurate and unbiased. Some of the hyperlinked embedded within the text are broken.
Relevance/Longevity
The concepts are relevant for present-day application, including descriptions of many classical psychological experiments. However, in several chapters, I was somewhat disappointed the references were not more current and reflective of recent research.
Clarity
The text is written in accessible prose, and many of the chapters contain appropriate attention to terminology. While many images and textboxes are visually appealing, some of the figures are not as crisp as I would like them to be.
Consistency
There is much more variance between chapters than I had anticipated, making the book seem a little more like a coursepack (i.e., collection of resources) than a textbook. The difference in structure and approach are extreme enough that I believe students would find it frustrating. The variation may also be difficult for instructors to manage, as they consider different approaches to learning objectives, vocabulary, discussion questions, application activities, concept checks, outside resources, etc.
Modularity
The text is composed of many smaller reading sections, including Wikipedia entries. Accordingly, it could be reorganized and realigned without losses from the shifts. However, because most chapters are freely available elsewhere, I would be inclined to go back to those original sources (e.g., OpenStax, NOBA, and other Pressbooks), rather than relying upon this book, which may not reflect the most current version.
Organization/Structure/Flow
I appreciate the organization in three macro sections. However, I remain unclear why some chapters/sections are included and/or positioned where they are. For example, the chapter on “Intercultural and Plane Crashes” seems random. It would be helpful if each of the macro sections began with an overview of the contents, describing the mental model that explains the organization.
Interface
The interface is generally sufficient, but it varies from one chapter to another, which can leave readers confused about what to expect with different hyperlinks or font effects. Also, while many of the font effects are carried into the PDF version, some functionality is lost, which may cause some confusion for readers using the PDF version.
Grammatical Errors
The text contains few grammatical errors.
Cultural Relevance
The book contains cultural variety and sensitivity to the same level I would expect in similar textbooks. Like most textbooks, though, there are opportunities for underrepresented populations to be better reflected in the examples and images provided. While this varies from one chapter to another, I was pleased to see some demographic diversity in photographs included in the book.
CommentsBecause the book comes across more as a coursepack than a textbook, I may be inclined to create my own course rather than adopt this book. However, it did highlight related resources that could be used for such a coursepack or adopted as an alternate option for an open textbook.





I would be using the book for a graduate-level course in Adult Learning/Education, with a focus on leadership, particularly leading nonprofit organizations. The content is appropriate for the workplace. The content has a good broad overview of... read more
Reviewed by Renee Owen, Assistant Professor, Southern Oregon University on 1/12/21
Comprehensiveness
I would be using the book for a graduate-level course in Adult Learning/Education, with a focus on leadership, particularly leading nonprofit organizations. The content is appropriate for the workplace. The content has a good broad overview of different approaches to group dynamics and could be useful at the graduate level, although probably more appropriate for undergraduate. That is to say it is comprehensive and broad, more so than drilling more in-depth into particular areas. There is no glossary or index.
Content Accuracy
The book seemed accurate and up to date.
Relevance/Longevity
The content is definitely up to date, with many theories that have longevity. Workplace topics are, of course, changing rapidly in today's world, so there will be a need for updates, something the author cannot control.
Clarity
I liked the writing style. This text is easy to understand. It has a nice flow.
Consistency
The book is organized with consistency that is followed throughout the book, making it easy to navigate.
Modularity
I would not personally use the whole text, so the modularity of the book is important. It is organized and presented in a manner where chapters can be single, or even sections within chapters.
Organization/Structure/Flow
The organization is presented in a clear fashion, making it easy to navigate and to read.
Interface
The book is mostly in APA style, but there seemed to be a mixture of citation styles in some places. The images were important. I would prefer more images (but that is personal preference). Graphics, such as charts, are clear.
Grammatical Errors
I am not a good proofing editor. I did not notice errors.
Cultural Relevance
There was some attention paid to cultural responsiveness but did not extend the issue as much as today's world demands. More research on racial bias and the neuroscience of racial bias could be helpful. I appreciate the multi-racial photos, but there could be more.





The content covers a range of topics that are useful for a junior/upper level class about working in groups and teams. The content can be used for potentially two different courses- one a class about working in groups and the other one about... read more
Reviewed by Karishma Chatterjee, Assistant Professor of Instruction, University of Texas at Arlington on 3/6/20
Comprehensiveness
The content covers a range of topics that are useful for a junior/upper level class about working in groups and teams. The content can be used for potentially two different courses- one a class about working in groups and the other one about business communication in groups.
The book starts out by drawing a distinction between groups and teams, which is a useful way to start a class about problem solving in teams and groups. Certain chapters such as Chapter 18 had descriptions and images of empirical studies on conformity and obedience that would enhance student understanding of the content.
However, there were some chapters that needed additional content. For example, chapter 2 focuses on cooperation and chapter 3 is about social comparison. A section on competition, particularly the role of communication, and its effect on teams and groups is needed. If this book is being used in Communication courses, it would be beneficial to include how group processes such as competition and cooperation are communicative in nature. Gibbs (1961) communication patterns would be helpful in identifying how communication can create defensive or supportive communication climates in teams and groups. Similarly, the role of culture is alluded without mentioning Hofstede’s cultural dimensions.
Content Accuracy
Most of the claims seemed accurate. The content was error-free and unbiased. On page 308, a claim needs a citation.
Relevance/Longevity
As a whole, there was literature presented that covered the history of how we study groups and what group dynamics look like in existing businesses. The text is arranged in a way that updates will be straightforward to implement.
Clarity
The chapters were easy to read. However, the title of chapter Chapter 21 “Intercultural and Plane Crashes” is incomplete.
Consistency
The text seems to be internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework.
Modularity
The text is readily divisible into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within a course.
Organization/Structure/Flow
It is useful to start the book differentiating teams from groups given that people often use the two terms interchangeably. Students will appreciate the examples of different types of teams the author provides along with the organizational charts. References were provided at the end of each chapter, which is easier to look up as compared to textbooks that have all references listed at the end.
It would be helpful for the readers if there is a justification for the layout of the book. For example, chapter 5 Shared Information Bias would fit well with Chapter 15 Judgment and Decision Making. There is no rationale for why Chapter 5 is part of section 1 (An overview section ) and not section 3 (Group and team theory).
Interface
The book chapters have different citation styles. Some of the chapters seemed to be written in American Psychological Association’s (APA) style that uses in-text author citations and others are written in a different style with end notes . In section 1 most of the chapters are written in APA, while in section 2 and 3, there seems to be a mix of citations for the different chapters. The reader would have to adjust given that one can become used to reading in APA because of the first section.
Grammatical Errors
The book seems to be largely error free. There are two floating “I” on page 293
Cultural Relevance
The book is not culturally insensitive. There was some variation in pictorial representations. Study results also included women and people of different countries.





Thank you for developing this textbook. I teach a group dynamics course at a community college, and was looking for a new text for my course, as well as I want to help students reduce the cost of purchasing textbooks. With that said, I would... read more
Reviewed by Melvina Goodman, Adjunct Faculty, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College on 1/7/20
Comprehensiveness
Thank you for developing this textbook. I teach a group dynamics course at a community college, and was looking for a new text for my course, as well as I want to help students reduce the cost of purchasing textbooks. With that said, I would like to offer some constructive feedback about the textbook. Overall, the book is comprehensive as evidence that it provides good information about group work, stages of group and other things about the pros and cons of group.
It would have been helpful if the author had included more information in the introduction section including the purpose, how the book is organized, and maybe a personal note as to the reason he decided to write the book. That would be beneficial, because readers could decide whether or not they want to click the links of the table of contents to determine the content.
Content Accuracy
The text appears to be accurate, error-free, and unbiased.
Relevance/Longevity
The content is relevant and it addresses current trends as it relates to working with teams and groups. The information was somewhat generic, meaning, the information seemed tailored to the workplace, not necessarily for group counseling, although some of the activities are useful for teaching group counseling and group dynamics.
Clarity
The text is written simply and clearly. The language and terms are user-friendly.
Consistency
The psychology of groups section provided relevant information in terms of gaining an understanding of the rationale for groups and the overall role groups play in personal and professional development. It also provided good information on management and leadership styles.
Modularity
The sections can be easily divided for class assignments. This text provides ample activities to promote student learning and engagement. Group dynamics is a skills-based course. Since the classroom has various types of learners, it is significant to utilize various teaching methods to convey information. In addition to lecture and PowerPoint presentation, including icebreakers and other fun activities in the syllabus enhances the learning experience for students.
Organization/Structure/Flow
The text is organized well. I appreciate that the author included references within each chapter, instead of at the end of the text. Some of the chapters have a list vocabulary words, however for the sake of having information at your fingertips, it would be helpful if the author included a glossary, a name index, and a subject index.
Interface
There were no navigation issues, and all images and charts were clear.
Grammatical Errors
There weren't any noticeable grammatical errors.
Cultural Relevance
It was good to see that the author included images of various ethnic and cultural groups. Our world is becoming increasingly diverse, and it is imperative that publications and media outlets reflect today's world regardless of personal opinions and biases. Of course, there could be more images included throughout the book, since an image speaks volumes.





The textbook opened with a table of contents. The beginning chapter started with the difference between group (informal/formal) and team. A key distinction for students to know. The content included the five stages of group development. The book... read more
Reviewed by Tammy Hall, Instructor, ULL on 11/5/19
Comprehensiveness
The textbook opened with a table of contents. The beginning chapter started with the difference between group (informal/formal) and team. A key distinction for students to know. The content included the five stages of group development. The book did not give enough detail group diversity, benefits of diversity in groups, and group decision making--missing some key decision making processes (Delphi and nominal group techniques). The book did not contain a glossary or index. I was unable to find information on contemporary organizations and new types of teams--virtual teams.
Content Accuracy
The information is accurate. I did find that some information could have been fleshed out more and additional information added for example the punctuated equilibrium model for group formation was not discussed.
Relevance/Longevity
The information is broad enough to allow for additions.
Clarity
Excellent key terms. The terms were easy to understand.
Consistency
Some inconsistencies were evident in the book. The reader activities in the book were not evident throughout the different chapters. Some chapters had activities, key takeaways, and/or discussions but not all chapters.
Modularity
There were many areas of the text which were large areas of texts.
Organization/Structure/Flow
Perhaps the Groups Theory section should have proceeded the Groups & Teams in Action
Interface
The images were good.
Grammatical Errors
The book did not have any grammatical errors.
Cultural Relevance
No--I only noticed one set of children of color (picture depicting empathy) and African American male in the section discussing conformity. As an African American woman I could not relate to many of the images in the book.
CommentsSome of the paragraphs were long and perhaps should be broken up with graphics or other images.
Table of Contents
I. Groups & Teams Overview
- 1. Defining Teams and Groups
- 2. Cooperation
- 3. Social Comparison
- 4. The Psychology of Groups
- 5. Shared Information Bias
- 6. Inattentional Blindness
- 7. Teams as Systems
II. Groups & Teams (In)Action
- 8. Professional Writing
- 9. Supplemental Writing Advice
- 10. Persuasive Presentations
- 11. Groups and meetings
- 12. Gantt Charts
- 13. Organizational culture
- 14. Performance Evaluation
III. Group & Team Theory
- 15. Power in Teams and Groups
- 16. Judgment and Decision Making
- 17. Cultivating a Supportive Group Climate
- 18. Structuration Theory
- 19. Teaming with Machines
- 20. Leadership
- 21. Conformity and Obedience
- 22. Working in Diverse Teams
- 23. Intercultural and Plane Crashes
- 24. Conflict and Negotiation
About the Book
This textbook covers content relevant to COMS342 Problem Solving in Teams and Groups at the University of Kansas.
About the Contributors
Author
Cameron W. Piercy, Ph.D