Communication Control and Leadership in Telecommunications by Small Groups

Abstract

This experiment examined the effect of communication control on the telecommunications of four-person problem solving groups, and on the emergence of leaders within the groups. In so doing, a comparison was made between two methods of managing multi-site teleconferences. Sixteen four-person teams solved four realistic problems, one on each of four days, by communicating over a closed-circuit television system with an added audio capacity. Teams were assigned to communications systems which either did or did not have centrally controlled switching so that only one person could talk at a time. These same systems also either did or did not have a helper appointed to help perform some of the experimenter's duties. Based on the results of the study, the conclusion can be made that a switched system such as that used here would be a suitable for use in multi-site teleconferencing.