This introductory text for group communication courses presents both classic and current theories of small group communication, focusing on how groups work. The text offers practical information on small group communication skills with useful advice on how to work in groups. Instructors have praised the authors' attention to balancing theory and practice, and students appreciate the text's utility and academic focus.

• Chapter 11, Motivation and Groups, examines the differences between and the value of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and rewards, and also offers theories, methods, and tools to enhance member and group motivation.
• Virtual Groups boxes in every chapter address the reality that groups in the 21st century work increasingly in separate locations.
• The text's Model of Leadership Effectiveness applies and balances leadership theories with an emphasis on specific leader functions, strategies, and communication skills.
• A Diversity and Participation section added to Chapter 3 establishes a framework for understanding and applying communication theory, methods, and tools to diverse groups and examines cultural dimensions such as power distance, uncertainty, avoidance, individualism, collectivism, masculinity/femininity, long-term/short-term orientation, and high/low context communication.
• The Instructor's Resource Manual now includes new features, assignments, exercises, assessment tools, teaching tips, references and resources, test questions, and presentation software.
• The chapter on parliamentary procedure, now presented in a separate appendix, features revised Robert's Rules of Order.