Case 1 – Business: Social Media Quandary
2 Debriefing, Extensions, and Resources
Note: Debriefing is done in role either in groups or as a whole class
Interpersonal
- Who took initiative or was it shared by all? Could it be said that an informal leader naturally emerged?
- Did you actively listen to one another? Were there sometimes challenges being heard?
- How open was your team in changing their perspectives and adapting to new information?
Issues
- Due to the changing situation, did secrets emerge both internally as a group and externally with others?
- Regarding your social media start-up, what company and personal risks were articulated? Did these influence possible future actions?
- How great a factor was your company’s reputation in your deliberations and decision making?
- As your group discussed possible courses of action, did you encounter any loyalty, transparency, honesty and/or ethical boundaries?
Additional Resources
Extensions
- Watch the scene What’s News with You? from “Adult Education: Community Development”:
- What roles does social media play in other people’s lives? What power do they hold?
Assignments
The following suggestions could be undertaken either as a group or individually. They could be written as reflections, offered for discussion, or submitted as assignments for grading.
- What are the descriptors of a well-functioning team? What structural and personal characteristics can foster or impede a well-functioning team?
- Compose Tweets or social media posts from the perspectives of Kelly-Anne, Phoebe’s Closet, or your social media company in response to the scenario. Annotate it with reasons for your specific word choice and phrases, discussing the pros and cons of your choices.
- Depending on who you choose to contact, decide as a group how you will word your message.
Readings
- Belbin, M. (2022). The Nine Belbin Team Roles.
- Campbell, D. T. (1976). Assessing the impact of planned social change. Occasional Paper Series, 8.
- TherapistAid.com. (2015). Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills.
- Tuckman, B. (1965). Development sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63, 384-399.
- Venditti, P. & McLean, S. (2012). An Introduction to Group Communication.
