A Model of Group Adaptation to Problem-Solving Tasks.

The efficiency of the power-function model in describing and predicting the adaptation of existing groups to new technologies has been demonstrated in a large number of industrial settings. The generality of this function in describing a second category of adaptation--that of newly established groups to existing technologies-is investigated in this paper. The adaptation of different sets of newly formed groups to two experimental tasks was investigated; twelve groups of three subjects were given a business simulation task and 11 groups of five subjects were given a common symbol task of the Bavelas-Leavitt type. It is concluded that the power-function model describes the adaptation of both sets of groups very efficiently and that a strong relation- ship between the parameters of this model may provide a method of predicting group adaptation curves at the initiation of task performance. The practical implication of these findings for organizational planning, co-ordination, and control are described. A set of behavioral elements common to the industrial and experimental processes are identified and discussed as a possible beginning in the development of a theory of group adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]