Group Communication: The Realm of the Professional, Objective and Scheduled

Key characteristics: the focus is on the object (objectivity).

Group communication is the type of interaction that dominates the public realms of our lives, such as the academic, work and business environment.

Its main characteristic, and what radically distinguishes it from interpersonal communication, is objectivity.

This means that the reason for the encounter is not focused on the participants as subjects, but on an external and well-defined "object".

The purpose of the interaction is academic content, a work task, specific knowledge or a business transaction.

Communication does not occur for the simple pleasure of connecting, but to achieve a concrete and measurable end.

Defined roles: teacher-student, boss-subordinate, customer-supplier.

As a consequence of its objective nature, in group communication the participants do not act simply as individuals, but perform under roles that they must fulfill in a protocol-like manner.

The interaction is not between two people with their full personalities, but between a teacher and a student, a boss and a subordinate, or a customer and a supplier.

These roles bring with them a set of expectations, responsibilities and behavioral scripts that structure the conversation and keep it focused on the object.

This predefined role dynamic ensures that communication stays within established professional or academic boundaries.

Programmed nature and contextual invariance.

Unlike the spontaneity of a chat among friends, group communication is, by necessity, always scheduled.

Classes have schedules, business meetings are scheduled, and business transactions follow a planned process.

This scheduled nature is due to its contextual invariability.

The communicative event demands fixed and prearranged times, spaces and circumstances in order to be carried out successfully.

A performance appraisal cannot be conducted at just any place or time; it requires a specific setting and time that is appropriate to the purpose of the meeting.

Examples: a college class, a business meeting, a business transaction.

A traditional college class is a perfect example that illustrates all the characteristics of group communication.

It is objective, since its purpose is to impart knowledge about a subject. It is based on clear roles: the professor teaches and the students learn.

It is programmed, since it follows a syllabus and a defined schedule. And it operates under strict contextual invariance: it occurs in a specific classroom, on specific days and at specific times, to fulfill the academic purpose.

In the same way, a business meeting or the signing of a commercial contract are events that respond to this same pattern of structured, objective, role-based communication.

Summary

Group communication dominates public settings such as work or academia, and its main characteristic is objectivity. The reason for the encounter is not the subjects, but an external "object", such as a task or knowledge.

Due to their objective nature, participants do not act as individuals, but play protocol roles: teacher-student or boss-subordinate. These roles bring with them a set of expectations and scripts that structure the conversation.

Unlike interpersonal spontaneity, group communication is always scripted and demands fixed times and spaces. A university class is a perfect example: it is objective, role-based, scheduled and occurs in an unchanging context.