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Organizational Behaviour Concepts Controversies Applications Sixth Canadian Edition Canadian 6th Edition Langton Solutions Manual
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Chapter 6 Groups and Teamwork 6-1
CHAPTER OUTLINE
LEARNING OUTCOMES
CHAPTER SYNOPSIS
The modern workplace consists of groups and teams. They are everywhere and we must understand how
to work effectively in them. Working collectively runs against the culture of North American life, but it is one
of the changes we’ve have had to make and to accept because of global competition. This chapter covers
some of the factors that have to be addressed to have successful work teams. In addition to defining
groups and teams and examining why people join them, this chapter discusses models of group
development, including the Punctuated-Equilibrium Model. The chapter also covers topics such as norms,
cohesiveness, and building effective teams.
STUDY QUESTIONS
It is impossible to cover all the material contained in the chapter during one or two lectures. To deal with
this problem, I present my students with a list of study questions to indicate what material they will be
responsible for on exams. I tell them that they will be responsible for these, even if the material is not
covered in class. I have found that this reduces anxiety overall, and I find it helps to make students aware
that not everything in a chapter is required material. I realize instructors vary in their approach, so this is
simply my approach.
My study questions for this chapter are
What is the difference between a team and a group?
What are the different kinds of teams?
What do roles and norms have to do with teams?
What are the stages of group development?
What implications can be drawn from the punctuated equilibrium model?
What are the factors that create effective teams?
What are the different roles required for effective group and team functioning? What functions are
involved in each role?
We devote two days to this topic. During the first class we often have our Fantasy Project presentations
(described in the introduction to the manual), so that consumes much of the lecture time. In order to get
them to start thinking about the topic, after the presentations, we have students de-brief their team
experience: what worked well, what didn’t, how will they improve their performance for next time. We then
use this to briefly discuss roles, norms and status.
In the second class, we run the Paper Tower exercise that’s at the end of the chapter. This is a well-loved
exercise by all of our instructors, and a big hit with the students. We use the exercise to discuss the stages
of group development and punctuated equilibrium. As well as what needs to be done to create effective
teams. I vary in my approach—sometimes I present this material as a mini-lecturette, and then run the
Fantasy Project, and debrief it referring back to the material. Other times, I start the class with the Fantasy
Project, and then use the debrief from that to guide and illustrate the lecture material. A lot depends on the
energy of my class. While I prefer to run exercises in the second half of the class, a recent section I had
tended to collapse if we did a high energy exercise in the first half. So, do be aware of the students’ energy
levels in making decisions about how to run class.
Be sure to examine “Exploring Topics on the Web” in the supplemental section below for possible
additional ideas to cover in class or assign for homework.
Be sure to examine the supplemental section below for additional exercises that can be used in class.
2. Types of Teams
1. Roles
Teaching Tip: One of the things I often like to talk about when teaching roles
is the Zimbardo prison experiment. Notes for this can be found in the
supplementary material below.
2. Norms
Teaching Tip: If the students have been working in permanent teams during
the term, this is a good opportunity to ask them for examples of norms they
have established to make their teams work. They can also report on previous
experience on teams.
Teaching Tip: Following up on the previous tip, you can ask students to
describe why the particular norms they have were developed. Were their
particular incidents that led to some of the norms?
For some teams, the end of one project may mean the beginning of
another.
Teaching Tip: I get the students to think about all the procrastination that
goes on during the beginning part of their work in a group. I also suggest that
since they’re aware of this, they might want to figure out ways to make that
first half more productive. Many students relate the idea that the group does
seem to pick up a lot of momentum during the second half, as they’re
approaching the deadline. You should also remind them that the model does
not mean that nothing gets done in the first half, just that less gets done.
Before going through the material on creating effective teams, you may want
the students to do the Paper Tower exercise. You can use it to review a
number of points from both the five-stage model and the punctuated
equilibrium model.
1. Context
Teaching Tip: This is a good place to discuss group vs. individual marks for
term projects, the signals that different choices made by instructors send, and
how to deal with possible equity problems while encouraging more team
performance. There is an exercise in the supplemental section below to
pursue this further.
2. Composition
Teaching Tip: Ask students: Consider a team with which they have worked.
Was there more emphasis on task-oriented or maintenance oriented-roles?
What impact did this have on the group’s performance?
Size
Generally speaking, the most effective teams have five to nine
members. Experts suggest using the smallest number of people
who can do the task.
When teams have excess members, cohesiveness and mutual
accountability decline, social loafing increases, and more and
more people do less talking compared with others.
Social Loafing. Social loafing is the tendency for individuals to
expend less effort when working collectively than when working
individually.
What causes social loafing?
A member may simply be lazy and becomes a “free
rider” coasting on the team’s efforts.
Members could also feel that his/her effort is not needed
or his/her skills are not adequate.
Teaching Tip: This might be a good place to discuss the Ethical Dilemma
Exercise, and how social loafing can be managed.
3. Work Design
The workplace itself has an impact on how teams develop. Such things
as freedom and autonomy, the opportunity to utilize different skills and
talents, the ability to complete a whole and identifiable task or product,
and the impact of the tsk on others are important characteristics that
increase team effectiveness.
4. Process
1. Extent of Teamwork
2. Self-Managed Teams
4. Group Cohesiveness
them difficult tasks and more freedom to accomplish those tasks creates
a more tight-knit group.
When task complexity and autonomy was increased teams in
individualistic cultures responded more strongly and became more
committed with higher performance ratings than teams in collectivistic
cultures.
Collectivistic cultures have a strong predisposition to work together as a
group.
Managers in individualistic cultures may need to work harder to increase
group cohesiveness.
(Note to instructors: the answers here are starting points for discussion, not absolutes!)
1. Contrast self-managed and cross-functional teams.
Self-Managed Work Teams are groups of 10 to 15 people who take on responsibilities of their former
supervisors, whereas, Cross-Functional Teams are employees from about the same hierarchical level, but
from different work areas, who come together to accomplish a task.
2. Contrast virtual and face-to-face teams.
Virtual teams use computer technology to tie together physically dispersed members in order to achieve a
common goal. Team members do not generally ever meet face to face. The three primary factors that
differentiate virtual teams from face-to-face teams are:
The absence of paraverbal and nonverbal cues. These communication cues often help clarify
communication by providing increased meaning, but are not available in online interactions.
Limited social context. Virtual teams often suffer from less social rapport and less direct interaction
among members.
The ability to overcome time and space constraints. Virtual teams allow people to work together who
might otherwise never be able to collaborate.
3. How do norms develop in a team?
Most norms develop in one or more of the following four ways:
Explicit statements made by a group member
Critical events in the group’s history
Primacy. The first behaviour pattern that emerges in a group frequently sets group expectations.
Carry-over behaviours from past situations. Group members bring expectations with them from other
groups of which they have been members.
4. Describe the five-stage model of group-development.
The five stages have been labelled forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Although we
now know that not all groups pass through these stages in a linear fashion, the stages can still help in
addressing your anxieties about working in groups.
Forming is characterized by a great deal of uncertainty about the group’s purpose, structure, and
leadership. Members are “testing the waters” to determine what types of behaviour are acceptable. During
storming, members accept the existence of the group, but resist the constraints that the group imposes on
individuality. Furthermore, there is conflict over who will control the group. During the norming stage the
group develops a strong sense of group identity and camaraderie. The fourth stage, when significant task
progress is being made, is called performing. The structure at this point is fully functional and accepted.
For temporary committees, teams, task forces, and similar groups that have a limited task to perform, there
is an adjourning stage where the group prepares for its disbandment. High task performance is no longer
the group’s top priority. Instead, attention is directed toward wrapping up activities.
5. Describe the punctuated-equilibrium model of group development.
Punctuated equilibrium suggests that temporary groups with deadlines have their own unique sequence of
action (or inaction):
The first meeting sets the group’s direction.
The first phase of group activity is one of inertia.
A transition takes place at the end of the first phase, which occurs exactly when the group has used up
half its allotted time. The transition initiates major changes.
A second phase of inertia follows the transition.
The group’s last meeting is characterized by markedly accelerated activity.
(Note to instructors: The answers here are starting points for discussion, not absolutes!)
1. Identify five roles you play. What behaviours do they require? Are any of these roles in conflict? If so,
in what way? How do you resolve these conflicts?
Typical roles include student, son/daughter, brother/sister, athlete, friend, church member, teacher, and
fraternity or sorority brother/sister. Probably a number of the roles contain conflicting elements. This
exercise can be very enlightening for students to realize the diversity of roles they manage during the
course of a school semester.
2. How could you use the punctuated-equilibrium model to better understand group behaviour?
The punctuated-equilibrium model helps group members understand that activities and behaviour in the
group is not a cut-and-dried, step-by-step procedure. There are periods of inertia, or regression, or
perhaps in some cases of desperation. This model can help group leaders better direct projects. If
members of a group set the tone of the group work at the first meeting, then the first meeting can be
structured for optimal work. If members show such inertia, only to become aroused close to a deadline,
then many small milestones to be met might keep the group working more effectively.
3. Have you experienced social loafing as a team member? What did you do to prevent this problem?
Students may give a variety of responses to the first question. Regarding the second, some may note that
they ignored it and became frustrated. Others might suggest that they themselves were loafers. This
should lead to a discussion of what to do about it. In general, team members need to be held accountable,
so ways to do this need to be established. Having goals and deadlines, and ways of rewarding members
are all things that will help.
4. Would you prefer to work alone or as part of a team? Why? How do you think your answer compares
with others in your class?
Teams have motivational properties for most individuals. Employees feel that their opinions are important
and they are able to experience greater job satisfaction by experiencing task identity when a team
completes an entire task. Teams generally have higher productivity and are a way to better utilize
employee talents. In any class there will be a mix of students who strongly prefer either team or individual
work.
5. What effect, if any, do you expect that workforce diversity has on a team’s performance and
satisfaction?
A strong, diverse workforce can increase both the creativity and accuracy of decisions, performance and
satisfaction, but it requires the development of cohesiveness through training, education, and time.
Diversity almost always means greater start-up time and costs.
Summary
Point: Studies from football, soccer, basketball, hockey, and baseball have found a number of elements
that successful sports teams have that can be extrapolated to successful work teams. Successful teams
make good use of cooperation and competition. They score early wins, and try to avoid losing streaks.
They have stable membership, and debrief after failures and successes.
Counterpoint: Sports teams have lots of variability so that we cannot assume that they give us a good
model of “teamwork. For instance, in baseball, for instance, there is little interaction among teammates.
Work teams are more varied and complex than sports teams. Not everyone on work teams is conversant
in sports, which makes it hard to apply the metaphor in some situations. And finally, work team outcomes
are not easily defined in terms of wins and losses.
Analysis
It’s important to figure out the best ways to work in teams, and there are things that we can learn from
some sports teams. However, we’ve seem sports teams that are big failures, because the individuals don’t
work together.
You can tie this exercise to students’ understanding and application of key stages of the group
development (forming, norming, storming, performing). The authors of this instrument propose that it
assesses team development behaviours in five areas: diagnosing team development (items 1, 16);
managing the forming stage (2-4); managing the conforming stage (6-9, 13); managing the storming stage
(10-12, 14, 15), and managing the performing stage (5, 17, 18). Students’ scores will range between 18
and 108.
Based on a norm group of 500 business students, the following can help estimate where individual
students are relative to others:
(Note to instructors: The answers here are starting points for discussion, not absolutes!)
1. One of the members of your team continually arrives late for meetings and does not turn drafts of
assignments in on time. In general this group member is engaging in social loafing. What can the
members of your group do to reduce social loafing?
In general, team members need to be held accountable, so ways to do this need to be established. Having
goals and deadlines and ways of rewarding members are all things that will help. Students will likely come
up with other ideas as well.
2. Consider a team with which you’ve worked. Was there more emphasis on task-oriented or
maintenance oriented-roles? What impact did this have on the group’s performance?
Depending on the situation, an extreme emphasis on task-oriented roles can alienate some group
members, unless the project is short-term and focused. On the other hand, an extreme emphasis on
maintenance-oriented roles can lead to the task getting done at a slower pace or not getting done at all.
Encourage students to talk about their preferences in how groups are run—there will be a great deal of
variation. Some really need and expect a relationship component to the group; others are very
task-oriented. This variance can be used to discuss the best way to accommodate the needs of very
different individuals within the same group or team.
3. Identify 4 or 5 norms that a team could put into place near the beginning of its life that might help the
team function better over time.
Students can recommend a variety of norms. Some examples:
Everyone must show up on time and prepared to interact within the group.
An individual who will not be turning in assigned work on time must notify team members well in
advance, rather than at the last minute.
We will take turns providing a snack for the meeting.
Every few days we will hold a quick discussion via email so team members can summarize where they
are on their individual tasks.
Our students have always enjoyed this exercise. It creates a lot of excitement, creativity, some chaos, and
is very helpful when it can be used as a true teambuilding exercise. We try to use it as the first exercise
that our permanent teams for the term work on together. The students tend to draw from that experience
over the term when the exercise is used in this fashion.
In debriefing the exercise explore with students how leadership developed in their team (or whether it did),
whether there was a division of labour, whether some individuals contributed more of the ideas for building,
whether some individuals tried to block others ideas. In examining the towers, have groups the built
successful towers talk about their group structure and organization. Also call on a group whose tower
“failed” to have them reflect on the way that the group worked together.
Summary
One of the most common problems in groups in general, and student groups in particular is social loafing
or shirking. Contributions to group outcomes are often not uniform, and sometimes there will be
individuals who do far less than their “fair share” of the work. How should shirking be addressed?
Analysis
The appropriate response to shirking is a classic “contingency” theory response – it depends! The
questions posed in the exercise raise many of the most important issues. Groups very often just “work
around” the individual in question – and sometimes they inform the instructor and sometimes they don’t.
Very often, students want to raise issues with group members confidentially, but that makes it very difficult
for the instructor to discuss and resolve. Instructors also can have very different approaches to this –
some are willing to get involved in mediating, some allow group members to be “fired” and others may
insist on equal grading and do not see a role for themselves in group disputes. It might be interesting to
know what the students think the appropriate role of the instructor should be!
Summary
Many companies proudly promote their team culture. At Toyota, teamwork is one of the core values.
Individualism is deemphasized. In its place is a system in which people are seen as intertwined value
streams. Before hiring Toyota tests candidates to ensure they are oriented toward teamwork. All work is
structured around teams, at all levels and all functions.
Questions
(Note to instructors: The answers here are starting points for discussion, not absolutes!)
1. Do you think Toyota has succeeded because of its team-oriented culture, or do you think it would
have succeeded without it?
Most likely students will perceive that Toyota’s success is because of the teamwork approach. The team
approach apparently empowers members to think, to be innovative, to be creative, and to want to perform
well. These attributes lead to better performance with continuous improvement in productivity.
2. Do you think you would be comfortable working in Toyota’s culture? Why or why not?
The answer will depend on a student’s bias. If the student is an individualist, then he or she is not likely to
see the Toyota environment as one he or she could work in.
3. In response to the recession and the firm’s first-ever quarterly loss, Toyota’s managers accepted a 10
percent pay cut in 2009 to avoid employee layoffs. Do you think such a response is a good means of
promoting camaraderie? What are the risks in such a plan?
The move shows that management is a part of the team and contributes to trust in difficult times. Risks of
such action will depend on students’ opinions, but among them might be the possibility of key management
people departing. Depending on what actions are taken for employees in the face of business downturn,
employees may interpret that the managers are an elite group since they were not laid off.
4. Recently, DCH Group, a company comprised of 33 auto dealerships, decided to adapt Toyota’s
culture to its own, particularly its emphasis on teamwork. DCH’s CEO, Susan Scarola, said, “Trying to
bring it down to day-to-day operations is tough. It was not something that everybody immediately
embraced, even at the senior level.” Do you think the culture will work in what is typically the
dog-eat-dog world of auto dealerships? Why or why not?
One of the possible answers to this question will revolve around whether or not the dealerships are
unionized. This creates a potential conflict with a combination of adversarial relations between employees
and management inherent in the union approach and the highly competitive nature of business. With this
conflict, teams are not likely to take root in the dealerships the way they need to in order to affect
productivity.
Sources: Based on A. Webb, “The Trials and Tribulations of Teamwork,” Automotive News (March 2, 2009),
www.autonews.com; J. K. Liker and M. Hoseus, “Toyota’s Powerful HR,” Human Resource Executive
(November 1, 2008), www.hreonline.com; J. K. Liker and M. Hoseus, Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of
the Toyota Way, New
Summary
IBM has clients in 170 countries and does two-thirds of its business outside the United States. As a result,
it has overturned virtually all aspects of its old tradition-bound culture. One relatively new focus is in the
teamwork area. The way IBM uses work teams extensively is unique. To instill in its managers an
appreciation of local culture IBM send hundreds of its employees to month-long volunteer project teams
various regions of the world. The company calculates that these multicultural, multinational teams are a
good investment.
Questions
(Note to instructors: The answers here are starting points for discussion, not absolutes!)
1. If you calculate the person-hours devoted to IBM’s team projects, they amount to more than 180,000
hours of management time each year. Do you think this is a wise investment of IBM’s human
resources? Why or why not?
Yes, it is a wise investment. This practice empowers employees to more effectively and efficiently find
solutions to problems and opportunities. Such improved productivity will pay for itself though increased ROI
(return on investment).
2. Why do you think IBM’s culture changed from formal, stable, and individualistic to informal,
impermanent, and team oriented?
It changed to be more responsive in the global market and to increase competitiveness. It worked!
3. Would you like to work on one of IBM’s multicultural, multinational project teams? Why or why not?
The answer to this question will depend on the student’s personal opinions and attitudes.
4. Multicultural project teams often face problems with communication, expectations, and values. How do
you think some of these challenges can be overcome?
Have the students read
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Managing_Groups_and_Teams/How_Do_You_Manage_Global_Virtual_Tea
ms%3F and have them suggest the challenges that must be addressed in the management of virtual
teams.
Sources: Based on C. Hymowitz, “IBM Combines Volunteer Service, Teamwork to Cultivate Emerging
Markets,” Wall Street Journal (August 4, 2008), p. B6; S. Gupta, “Mine the Potential of Multicultural Teams,”
HR Magazine (October, 2008), pp. 79–84; and H. Aguinis and K. Kraiger, “Benefits of Training and
Development
Practising Skills
The case asks students to suggest interventions to help this team get back on track. The team is faced
with a disruptive member who is causing lower morale for everyone. Students will come up with a variety of
ideas. Have them evaluate how well these ideas will work in practice and identify the pros and cons of
various approaches.
There is no one way to resolve the issues of this team, but possible things to consider include a team
meeting to reconsider the norms of the team and a discussion about how feedback is given to one another.
Teams need “devil’s advocates,” but they don’t need chronically negative individuals. One possibility might
be that instead of being allowed to simply give negative feedback, team members must also make a new,
positive suggestion. The intent is to ensure that the team doesn’t get stalled and can think about ways to
move forward.
The general approach to this problem should consider the characteristics of effective and ineffective teams.
Have students identify all of the negative behaviours of this team and then have them identify effective
behaviours that are not being used and strategies to introduced these behaviours.
Eckler needs to be told that she is appreciated for having creative and different insights, but that she
cannot continue to have a negative impact on the team by always seeming to criticize everyone else’s
ideas without bringing new ideas to the table.
Reinforcing Skills
The purpose of this exercise is to encourage students to apply material from the chapter in various ways.
The suggested activities encourage students to think about teamwork—what works and what doesn’t. In
the first exercise they are asked to explore how teams are used in the workplace and get managerial
insights into what makes teams more or less effective. In the second exercise, students are asked to
examine their own participation on teams and specifically consider the role that trust plays in making
teams work. Students may not be aware that trust is a big issue to them on student teams, and yet it
causes conflict because they worry about the impact of the team on things such as marks and class
standing. You might ask students how to increase trust between members of teams.
KEY TERMS
Adjourning - The final stage in group development for temporary groups, where attention is directed
toward wrapping up activities rather than task performance.
Cohesiveness - The degree to which team members are attracted to each other and are motivated to stay
on the team.
Conformity - Adjusting one’s behaviour to align with the norms of the group.
Cross-functional team/project team - A group of employees at about the same hierarchical level, but
from different work areas, who come together to accomplish a task.
Individual roles - Roles performed by group members that are not productive for keeping the group on
task.
Maintenance roles - Roles performed by group members to maintain good relations within the group.
Mental models - Team members’ knowledge and beliefs about how the work gets done by the team.
Multi-team systems - Systems in which different teams need to coordinate their efforts to produce a
desired outcome.
Norming - The third stage in group development, characterized by close relationships and cohesiveness.
Norms - Acceptable standards of behaviour within a group that are shared by the group’s members.
Performing - The fourth stage in group development, when the group is fully functional.
Reflexivity - A team characteristic of reflecting on and adjusting the master plan when necessary.
Role ambiguity - A circumstance where a person is unclear about his or her role.
Role conflict - A situation in which an individual finds that complying with one role requirement may make
it more difficult to comply with another.
Role expectations - How others believe a person should act in a given situation.
Role underload - A situation in which too little is expected of an individual, and that person feels that he or
she is not contributing to the group.
Social loafing - The tendency for individuals to expend less effort when working collectively than when
working individually.
Task-oriented roles - Roles performed by group members to ensure that the tasks of the groups are
accomplished.
Team - A small number of people who work closely together toward a common objective, and are
accountable to one another.
Virtual team - A team that uses computer technology to tie together physically dispersed members in
order to achieve a common goal.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL
1. Learn more about why people join groups, groupthink, group development, and other topics at the
Allyn & Bacon communication studies website found at: www.abacon.com/commstudies/index.html
Once there select the “small group” entry and then choose two or three more topics to read. Choose
the most interesting topic and take the interactive quiz. Email your results to the instructor.
2. Brainstorming is a group technique to encourage the development of creative alternatives. Now that
we know what it is, how do we do? What would you do if you were called upon to lead a brainstorming
session? Visit this U.K. website for an overview on how to conduct a brainstorming session
www.brainstorming.co.uk/tutorials/preparingforbrainstorming.html . You might also be interested in
visiting the home page of this same site found at www.brainstorming.co.uk/contents.html where you
will find lots of creativity exercises, puzzles, free training, articles and more. Make a list of the five most
important things you must do to prepare for a brainstorming session and bring it to class.
3. Moving from a traditional hierarchical structure to teams requires thought and planning. How teams will
be applied within the organization and their goals can be one of the most challenging aspects of the
process. Go to the web site www.teamtechnology.co.uk/tt/t-articl/tb-basic.htm to learn more about
team building.
4. What is the difference between a self managed team and a self directed team? The following web site
www.mapnp.org/library/grp_skll/slf_drct/slf_drct.htm has a series of links on team topics where you
can find the answer to the above questions and many other questions. Write a short reaction paper on
one of the topics from this site.
5. Virtual teams require tools to support their effectiveness. For example, how do they hold meetings?
We often assume the technology is there (e.g. the telephone), but most technology supports only
one-on-one communication. When a meeting is held on the phone there must be technology to
support all members being on the line at once. Learn more about virtual team tools at
www.objs.com/survey/groupwar.htm . Write five facts you learned about groupware and collaboration
support and bring to class for further discussion.
The guards received no special training in how to be prison guards. They were told only to “maintain law
and order” in the prison and not to take any nonsense. Physical violence was forbidden.
To simulate further the realities of prison life, the prisoners were allowed visits.
Mock guards worked eight-hour shifts; the mock prisoners were kept in their cells around the clock and
were allowed out only for meals, exercise, toilet privileges, head-count lineups, and work details. It took the
“prisoners” little time to accept the authority positions of the guards, or the mock guards to adjust to their
new authority roles.
After the guards crushed a rebellion, the prisoners became increasingly passive. The prisoners actually
began to believe and act as if they were inferior and powerless.
Every guard, at some time during the simulation, engaged in abusive, authoritative behaviour. Not one
prisoner said, “Stop this. I am a student like you. This is just an experiment!”.
The simulation actually proved too successful in demonstrating how quickly individuals learn new roles.
The researchers had to stop the experiment after only six days because of the pathological reactions that
the participants were demonstrating.
What should you conclude from this prison simulation?
The participants had learned stereotyped conceptions of guard and prisoner roles from the mass media
and their own personal experiences in power and powerless relationships at home. This allowed them
easily and rapidly to assume roles that were very different from their inherent personalities.
Start as above, however, instead of having the groups/individuals create a list, give them one-to-three
short papers to grade. It (they) can be the one(s) you wrote for this exercise or one(s) from a previous
class with identifying marks removed. Each group/individual should all have the same items to grade.
Give the assignment instructions and the learning objectives for the paper.
If possible, separate the individual graders from the group graders in separate rooms while they perform
the task. Ask them to record their start and end times on the assignment. Tell them that when they have
completed the task to wait where they are until you call them back into the room.
For the debriefing, post your version of the graded assignment so students can compare their work with
yours.
Discuss the issues of group decision making as applied to their task. Where were they effective or not?
What were the problems?
Ask if they would prefer this to what typically happens in the college classroom in terms of grading. Why or
why not?
35
DE L’INTÉRIEUR.
... Quant aux approvisionnemens des armées et de la
marine, les commissaires éprouvent des obstacles, en ne
pouvant, d’après le dernier décret, acheter que dans les
marchés.
Le comité s’est occupé ensuite de sonder la plaie et de
connaître la source de toutes les agitations qui tourmentent la
république.
Ici des vérités doivent nous être déclarées; car, vous êtes
sur le bord d’un abyme profond, et la Convention Nationale,
au milieu de ses divisions, a oublié qu’elle marchait entre
deux écueils, et qu’elle était conduite par l’aveugle anarchie.
D’un côté, l’exécrable plan de la guerre civile, secondé par
l’Anglais, et sans doute dirigée de Londres, de Rome et par
des agens correspondans à Paris, étendait ses ramifications
sur toute la France, et principalement dans les pays qui
étaient, depuis la révolution, infestés de fanatisme, ou qui
avaient été le théâtre des troubles fanatiques et des complots
contre-révolutionnaires.
D’un autre côté, une alarme générale s’est répandue parmi
les propriétaires d’un territoire de vingt-sept mil de lieues
quarrées, et ces craintes ont eu pour base des motions
exagérées, des journaux feuillantisés et des propos
sauguinaires; le mécontentement né de nos discussions
personnelles a altéré la confiance, mais vous êtes
nécessaires: les aristocrates, redoutant les passions des
patriotes, ont excité les hommes énergiques contre les
modérés auxquels ils se rattachent sourdement; ils ont
préparé des mouvemens contraires....
Marseille, Bordeaux, Lyon, Rouen, prenez garde, la liberté
vous observe sur votre marche dans la révolution; elle ne
vous croira jamais contraire à ses vues; mais craignez d’être
stationnaires dans le mouvement de l’opinion publique;
écrasez avec nous les révoltés, les anarchistes et les
brigands; mais aussi craignez le modérantisme et les
intrigues de l’aristocratie qui veut vous effrayer sur les
propriétés et sur le commerce, pour vous redonner des
nobles, des prêtres et un roi....
Au moment où le comité a été formé, presque partout les
administrations trop faibles ou trop au dessous des
circonstances se ressentaient de l’influence meurtrière des
passions particulières qui y correspondaient...
A Lyon, l’aristocratie a un foyer plus profond qu’on ne peut
le penser; elle est secondée par l’égoïsme et l’indifférence....
Mais les campagnes et les villes de department de Rhône
et Loire, surtout Villefranche, présente un autre esprit, et là
surtout paraissent ces signes heureux, là sont entendues ces
acclamations énergiques qui caractérisent le patriotisme.
A Marseille où tout annonce l’ardeur républicaine, à
Marseille où l’on voit presque à chaque pas un arbre de la
liberté ou une inscription civique, à Marseille où le pain, égal
pour tout et de mauvaise qualité, se vend sept sols la livre,
cette calamité est supportée sans murmurer, où l’on entend
des plaintes contre les traîtres, les égoïstes, les intrigans; où
les seuls malheurs dont on soit afflige sont ceux qui frappent
la République entière, Marseille a éprouvé des convulsions
violentes; mais si la répression de quelques excès de la
démagogie a fait craindre à de bons citoyens que le
modérantisme ne prévalût, le républicanisme n’en triomphera
pas moins des passions individuelles. Croyons que cette
grande cité ne dégénérera pas de sa renommée.
Nous avons à gémir sur des excès commis à Avignon et à
Aix; ce qui s’est passé d’irrégulier à Toulon, relativement aux
officiers de la marine, vous sera rapporté quand le comité
aura fait le travail de cette partie.
Le meilleur esprit règne dans ce moment à Perpignan; la
vieille antipathie nationale contre l’Espagnol, y réchauffé
l’esprit républicain que le département des Pyrénées
orientales avait déjà montré avec tant d’énergie le 21 Juin
1791.
Bayonne se rattache aux bons principes. Les trahisons lui
ont donné de l’énergie; mais si cette place est dans ce
moment menacée de près par l’ennemi, le zèle des
républicains méridionaux la défendra contre les ennemis du
dedans et du dehors.
Bordeaux ne cesse de fournir à la liberté et a ses armées
des trésors et des soldats; elle va défendre en même temps
les Pyrénées et les Deux-Sèvres.
Les intentions manifestées à Nantes ne se ressentent pas
assez de l’enthousiasme civique qui doit animer dans ce
moment tous les citoyens. Ses moyens auraient pu être plus
efficaces; il y a du mécontentement et des craintes sur les
effets des divisions intestines.
A Orléans, l’esprit public s’améliore, depuis que
l’aristocratie a été frappée par la loi révolutionnaire; mais
cette ville a le droit d’obtenir que les procédures faites par les
commissaires soient bientôt jugées, les coupables punis et
les bons citoyens rassurés.
Dans le département de l’Allier, une correspondance
interceptée a fait découvrir des traînes contre la liberté, elles
étaient ourdies par des prêtres déportés, de concert avec
leurs agens à Moulins. Les corps administratifs, qui vivent
dans la plus heureuse harmonie, ont mis en lieu de sûreté les
ci-devant que leur conduite avait rendus suspects et les y font
garder avec soin et humanité, jusqu’à ce que la République
n’ait plus rien à craindre de ses ennemis intérieurs et de ces
enfans dénaturés. Le peuple a partout applaudi à cette
énergie de ses magistrats, et il les a secourus, parce que le
peuple veut franchement la liberté.
A Roanne, le modérantisme est réduit en système, et dans
la crise où nous sommes, cette apathie politique est le plus
grand fléau de la République, qui ne peut s’établir que par le
développement de toute l’énergie nationale.
A Tain, dans le département de la Drôme, des patriotes,
que n’étaient qu’aisés dans leur fortune (le patriotisme se
trouve rarement avec la fortune), se sont cotisés, et, de
concert avec le Maire, ont fait, sans y être contraints par la loi,
mais par amour pour la patrie, une cotisation, dont le produit
a été employé à fournir du pain à un prix modéré, pour les
citoyens peu fortunés. C’est ainsi que dans les provinces
méridionales, les mœurs et l’humanité font plus que les lois et
le cœur des riches dans les grandes cités....
A Tours, l’administration d’Indre et Loire, apprenant que les
ennemis étaient à Loudun, et marchaient à Chinon, a pris la
résolution, par un mouvement civique et spontané, de se
transporter toute entière au milieu des dangers qui les
menaçaient, et décidée à s’ensevelir sous les ruines de la
ville, plutôt que de se rendre. Une commission y est restée.
Loudun a demeuré sans défense. Quelques aristocrates en
ont été heureusement chassés.
Poitiers, trop influencé par des fanatiques et par des
hommes de l’ancien régime, peut donner des espérances aux
révoltés, et déjà l’administration nous a fait craindre le résultat
du mauvais esprit d’une partie de ses habitans, malgré
l’énergie connue des patriotes qu’elle renferme.
Paris qu’on accuse sans cesse, qu’on agite presque
toujours, tantôt par des crimes, tantôt par des intrigues, tantôt
par des passions personnelles, tantôt par des intérêts secrets
et étrangers, et plus souvent encore par l’action prolongée ou
l’exaltation des passions révolutionnaires; Paris, réceptacle
de tant d’étrangers, de tant de conspirateurs, doit attirer vos
regards.
FINANCES.
Il a agioté le numéraire pour avilir l’assignat; il a fait
hausser les changes, par ses opérations à la bourse.
DISSENTIONS CIVILES.
Il a alimenté le fanatisme de la Vendée; il a fourni des
hommes, des armes et des munitions.[166]
ROYALISME.
C’est l’anglais, qui a combiné les regrets et ravivé les
espérances, par l’excès du républicanisme qu’il a fomenté,
par les motions des lois agraires, dont il cherchait ensuite à
faire imputer les projets à des patriotes connus....
GÉNÉRAUX.
Celui qui avait acheté Arnold en Amérique, a acheté
Dumouriez en Europe, et il a dû traiter de même les militaires
qui n’aiment pas la république....
DE L’ORGANISATION SOCIALE.
L’anglais a semé l’effroi dans l’âme des propriétaires par
des motions sur les partages des terres, et dans le cœur des
commerçans par le pillage des magasins....
L’anglais a imaginé de la bloquer, de l’affamer, de
l’incendier dans ses ports, dans ses édifices publics; de
détruire son industrie; il armé tour à tour l’aristocrate contre le
patriote, et le patriote contre l’aristocrate; enfin, le peuple
contre le peuple, espérant que le spectacle de nos troubles
ôtera au peuple anglais le courage de détruire chez lui le
despotisme royal.
PERTE DE PARIS.
C’est au cœur que les assassins frappent; c’est sur les
capitales que les conquérans dirigent leurs coups. On ne
pouvait perdre Paris par les armés; on a voulu perdre Paris
par les départemens; on y a semé dès terreurs pour le ruiner
par la fuite des propriétaires et des riches; on a semé des
idées de suprématie, pour séparer, pour isoler les
départemens de Paris.
The danger of civil war and vigorous methods for meeting it are
the subject of the passages that follow.
DIVISION DU TERRITOIRE.
L’anglais enfin a espéré diviser la France pour la morceler
ou la ruiner. Dans son délire, il a espéré de voir une
monarchie impuissante s’établir dans le nord, et des
républiques misérables et divisées se former dans le midi.
J’ai dévoilé le gouvernement britannique; il n’est plus à
craindre.
Dans un très grand nombre de départemens on a procédé
à la réclusion des personnes notoirement suspectes
d’incivisme et soupçonnées d’entretenir des intelligences
avec les émigrés et les contre-révolutionnaires. On en accuse
généralement les prêtres et les moines, les émigrés rentrés
impunément sur notre territoire, et les correspondants qui les
soutenaient de leurs fortunes et de leurs espérances.
On a dû prendre des mesures sévères, alors que tous les
aristocrates correspondaient à la Vendée, et que des lettres
interceptées annonçaient un rassemblement à Nantes.
Des arrestations nombreuses ont dû être la suite de ces
méfiances, de ces trahisons disséminées dans toute la
France; l’autorité, dans les temps de révolution, a plus d’yeux
et de bras que d’entrailles; mais le législateur doit à tous les
citoyens cette justice exacte qui vient régulariser les premiers
mouvemens et faire statuer sur la liberté individuelle avec les
précautions que les circonstances peuvent admettre. Vous
devez abattre également toutes les aristocraties et toutes les
tyrannies; vous devez approuver vos commissaires s’ils ont
bien fait, les blâmer et les punir s’ils ont violé les droits des
citoyens. Le comité pense que le comité de législation et de
sûreté générale doivent proposer incessamment une loi qui
règle le mode de jugement de la légitimité de ces
arrestations, et qui renvoie aux tribunaux les coupables ou
laissât en réclusion ceux qui ne sont que notoirement
suspects.
Le département de l’Ain voit l’esprit public se rétablir
parmises habitans.
La conspiration qui a éclaté dans l’Ouest semblait se
montrer dans les départemens de l’Ardèche, du Gard, de la
Haute Loire et du Cantal; mais les administrateurs et vos
commissaires sont parvenus à les réprimer. Ces troubles de
la Lozère ont un caractère plus fort; mais le patriotisme de ce
département et de ses voisins y mettra bientôt un terme.
Les tribunaux ont sévi contre les coupables; nous avions
craint que vos commissaires n’eussent dépassé leurs
pouvoirs dans le département de l’Ardèche, et nous les
aurions déféré à votre sévère justice pour donner l’exemple
de la punition de ceux qu’on affecte d’appeler des proconsuls,
pour empêcher le bien qu’ils peuvent faire ou en empoisonner
les résultats; mais un décret avait déjà mis hors de la loi les
coupables complices de Defaillant.
La trahison de Dumouriez que tout annonce avoir eu des
branches très étendus, a été un trait de lumière; elle a frappé
es administrations et les citoyens d’un coup électrique. Tous
nos moyens ont centuplé par cet évènement destiné à les
paralyser; mais de tous les maux préparés insensiblement
dans les départemens frontières comme dans le centre,
comme au milieu de nous le plus grand, le plus effrayant par
ses progrès, est la marche imprévue des contre-
révolutionnaires nobiliares, sacerdotaux et émigrés qui, du
fond de la Vendée et du Morbihan remontent la Loire,
menacent nos cités de l’intérieur, et emploient à la fois, des
moyens de terreur et de persuasion....
Les révoltés ont plusieurs corps de rassemblement. Le
principe qui s’était porté a Thouars, était, suivant les uns, de
quinze mille suivant la dernière relation envoyée par un de
nos commissaires, il était de vingt à vingt-cinq mille hommes
armés, partie de piques, partie de fusils; ils traînent avec eux,
treize pièces de canon, selon les uns, et d’après le dernier
succès de Thouars, trente pièces d’artillerie.
Ils sont commandés par des ci-devant nobles et
accompagnés par des prêtres; toutes leurs femmes leur
servent d’espions; ils se battent pour des fiefs et des prières.
Les agriculteurs fanatiques combattent avec fureur et ne
pillent pas; ils composent la moitié de la troupe.
Un quart est composé de gardes-chasses, d’échappés des
galères et de faux sauniers. Ils pillent, dévastent, égorgent, et
sont bien dignes de leurs chefs.
L’autre quart est formé d’hommes pusillanimes ou
indifférens, que la violence force de marcher, mais qui, à la
première défaite des brigands, se retireraient, et forment,
pour ainsi dire, la propriété du premier occupant. C’est à la
liberté de s’en emparer par des succès.
Il n’y a que les émigrés, les ci-devant, et les prêtres qui
voudraient mettre de l’ordre dans les rassemblemens, et de la
tactique dans cette guerre. Ils paient, les rebelles deux tiers
en numéraire.
Les chefs connus sont les ci-devant de Leseur, Laroche-
Jacquelin, Beauchamp, Langrenière, Delbecq, Baudré-de-
Brochin, Debouillé-Loret, un abbé appelé Larivière. Domengé
est colonel-général de la cavalerie; Demenens et Delbecq
commandent l’armée catholique-royale.
Le comité a pourvu journellement par des arrêtés pressans,
à ce que cette guerre intestine fût efficacement comprimée....
Déjà l’armée s’organise à Tours; une commission centrale
est établie à Saumur; déjà des troupes de ligne ont dépassé
Paris pour s’y rendre, et le renfort considérable que le comité
avait requis, est en route pour s’y rendre. Les voitures des
riches, les équipages du luxe, auront du moins servi une fois
à la défense de la patrie et de la liberté. Une armée est
dirigée en poste sur les rives de la Loire. C’est ainsi qu’un des
plus fameux guerrieurs du nord alla écraser en 1757 les
autrichiens à la bataille de Liffa ou Leuten, avec une armée
arrivée en poste sur le champ de bataille....
Le comité prépare un rapport sur les agens périodiques de
l’opinion publique, et sur les arrêtés violateurs de la liberté de
la presse.
Tel est le tableau de l’intérieur de la république, d’après les
rapports et la correspondance des commissaires et des corps
administratifs. Nous devons le terminer par une réflexion sur
les commissaires, dont on cherche trop à effrayer les
citoyens, et même plusieurs membres de la convention....
DES COLONIES.
Nous ne disons encore rien des colonies, quoique nous
ayons reçu des mémoires et des vues sur cet objet important
et malheureux, d’où dépend la prospérité publique, et
l’agrandissement de la marine française. Peut-être eût-il
mieux valu de ne pas plus parler dans les assemblées
nationales, des colonies que de la religion, jusqu’à ce que la
révolution du continent eût été à son terme. Perfectionner
dans ces contrées lointaines le commissariat civil, adoucir les
effets du régime militaire, détruire insensiblement le préjugé
des couleurs, améliorer par des vues sages et des moyens
progressifs le sort de l’espèce humaine dans ces climats
avares, etait peut-être la mesure la plus convenable; mais la
révolution a fait des progrès terribles sous ce soleil brûlant.
Saint-Domingue est aussi malheureux que les îles des vents
sont redevenues fidèles, et ses malheurs ne paraissent pas
rès de leur terme.
On examinera un jour s’il est des moyens de rattacher les
colonies à la France, par leur propre intérêt, c’est-à-dire, par
la franchise absolue de leur commerce avec nous, et une
disposition générale des droits perçus sur le commerce
étranger, dans ces mêmes colonies. De pareilles lois qui nous
défendraient mieux que des escadres, demandent d’être
méditées.
Cette partie de l’intérêt national, doit être traitée
séparément et avec une forte sagesse; le comité est chargé
de préparer en attendant ce rapport, des mesures propres à
diminuer les maux que cette belle colonie souffre encore.
DE LA FORCE PUBLIQUE DE L’INTÉRIEUR.
Elle se ressent partout de l’anarchie que règne. Là, elle
délibère; ici, elle agit au gré des passions. Disséminée dans
toutes les sections de l’empire, elle semble avoir une
versatilité de principes et d’actions, qui peut effrayer la liberté.
Dans une ville, les citoyens riches et les égoïstes, se font
remplacer; défendre ses foyers, semble être encore une
corvée plutôt qu’un honneur, une charge plutôt qu’un droit.
Dans une autre cité, le service public frappe des artisans peu
aisés ou des ouvriers, qui ont besoin du repos de la nuit, pour
le travail qui alimente leur famille, il est plus que temps
d’effacer ces lignes de démarcation intolérable dans un
régime libre. La nature seule a décrit des différences; elle est
dans les âges; les jeunes citoyens depuis seize ans jusqu’à
25, sont les premiers que la patrie appelle; moins occupés et
plus disponibles, c’est à eux de voler aux premiers dangers.
Cette première force est-elle insuffisante (car il ne faut pas
penser à la défection) l’autre âge plus fort et plus sage,
présente à la société ses moyens, c’est l’âge de 25 à 35; la
troisième classe sera de 35 à 45; la dernière réquisition doit
frapper tout ce qui peut porter les armes. Alors, la société
appelle à son secours, tous ceux qui partagent la
souveraineté; une exception favorable se présente pour les
pères nourrissant leur famille du produit de leur travail. Une
exception contraire doit frapper les célibataires et les hommes
veufs sans enfans.
C’est à la législation et à la morale à flétrir ceux qui ne
paient cette dette ni à la nature ni à la République.
C’est ainsi qu’il convient aux Français, d’organiser le droit
de réquisition. Cet exemple est sorti des besoins de la liberté,
dans les terres américaines. La réquisition est l’appel de la
patrie aux citoyens; cet appel peut être fait par les généraux,
quand la loi le leur a confié momentanément, et dans les cas
de guerre; cet appel peut être fait par le pouvoir civil dans
toutes les autorités constituées, et encore plus par les
assemblées nationales, qui sont à la fois pouvoir civil,
législatif et national.
Le comité a pensé qu’il devait présenter un mode uniforme,
de requérir la force publique dans toutes les parties de la
République, et de la part de toutes les autorités, afin que
chaque fonctionnaire et chaque citoyen, connaisse l’étendue
de son pouvoir ou de son obligation....
D’ailleurs, on trouverait plusieurs avantages à borner ainsi
la constitution aux articles nécessaires.
(1ᵒ) Une plus grande espérance qu’elle sera acceptée par
le peuple.
(2ᵒ) Une plus grande espérance encore que les citoyens ne
demanderont point si promptement, une réforme de la
constitution.
(3ᵒ) On détruirait par cette seule résolution, même avant
que la constitution fût faite, une partie des espérances de nos
ennemis, parce qu’alors, ils commenceraient à croire que la
Convention donnera une constitution à la France, ce que
jusqu’à présent ils ne croient pas.
En effet, il est difficile de ce tromper dans des articles
généraux importants, sur ce qui convient véritablement à la
nation française, et l’on n’a pas à craindre ces difficultés,
cette presqu’ impossibilité d’exécution qui, si on se livre aux
détails, pourraient faire désirer la réforme d’une constitution,
d’ailleurs bien combinée.
On pourrait donc proposer de borner la constitution à ces
articles essentiels, dans le nombre desquels on sent que doit
être compris le mode de réformer la constitution, lorsqu’elle
cessera de paraître, à la majorité des citoyens, suffisante
pour le maintien de leurs droits; et si l’assemblée adoptait cet
avis, elle chargerait quatre ou cinq de ses membres, adjoints
au comité de salut public de lui présenter un plan de
constitution, borné à ces seuls articles, et combiné de
manière que ces articles puissent être soumis immédiatement
à la discussion.
Le travail de ce comité ne prendrait qu’une semaine, et
l’assemblée pourrait suivre ses discussions sur la
constitution, car rien ne serait plus facile que de placer dans
ce plan, les points déjà arrêtés par la Convention.
Ce travail même serait utile, quand même l’assemblée
voudrait se livrer ensuite à plus de details:
(1ᵒ) Parce qu’il en résulterait un meilleur ordre de
discussions;
(2ᵒ) Parce qu’on aurait toujours alors, un moyen d’accélérer
le travail, selon que des circonstances impérieuses