MEETINGS: FACTORS THAT AFFECT GROUP INTERACTION AND PERFORMANCE

There are many ideas of how groups should be managed and how people should behave to make meetings more effective; although, the premise on which such instructions are based are largely derived from anecdotal evidence. With a view to identifying factors that inhibit and improve group performance, participants were asked to explore video data of group interaction, which involved themselves and others. The video data was investigated using quantitative and qualitative methods to help uncover interaction trends and patterns. Using the same research methods, participants were asked to record a bona fide group meeting and identify overt factors that affected the group behaviour and performance. Using the aggregated research data, the most prominent factors affecting group interaction and performance are identified and the nature of group behaviour discussed.