T Group for a Work Team

Abstract

This case history tells of the use of T-Group training to improve interpersonal competence in a small manufacturing company. The beneficial effects enabled the company to accomplish specific and general tasks, producing economic gain, which would not have seemed possible prior to the T Group. Specific examples of such accomplishments are given. Certain findings are reported about the methods used in this T Group. These suggest that effective results in a T Group for a work team may be attained by (i) a prior level of trust in the boss, (2) presence of the boss in all T-Group sessions, (3) intensive and consecutive sessions followed by immediate application of learning on the job, (4) emphasis on improving individuals' interpersonal competence primarily for the sake of the business, (5) confrontation of each person as seen by others, and self-disclosure of personal feelings between people. The case history is in two parts-the company background prior to the T Group, and the day-by-day account of the dramatic highlights of each session.