Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences

Academic Literacy for Commerce (ALC 132)

Week 3: Group dynamics: Part 1-Self esteem & Part
2-Group formation
07– 11 August 2023
Click to edit presentation sub-title

Pre-reading for next week: Critical thinking-De

Bono’s critical thinking hats & tools pp. 71-83
University of the Western Cape
Quote(s) for the week:
 Lecturers’ consultation times
Dr Lutasha Ndesi
Mondays from 12:00 – 14:00
Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 13:00 – 14:00

Prof Venicia McGhie

Tuesdays from13:00 – 14:30 and again from 16:45
– 18:00
Wednesdays from 13:00 – 14:30 and again from
16:45 – 18:00
 Announcements
• All ALC 132 lectures and tutorials will be conducted online in week 3 until
further notice

• The ALC 132 workbook is ready and available from the Printwize Shop in the
student centre, which is next to the FNB ATM. The book costs R150

• Repeating students who have an ALC 131 workbook do not have to buy the
new book. They can fetch the parts that are new from the administrator’s
office, Mrs Rochelle May, in room 2.17, level 2, EMS building

• ALC 132 tutorials started last week and all students need to ensure that they
have been allocated to the correct tutorial group

• Please note that Tutorial assignment No. 1 (Email writing) still needs to be
completed

• This week the instructions for Tutorial assignment No. 2 (Decoding-online

task) will be made available to students
Lecture outcomes for this week:
• Student should know who they are and what they can contribute in a group
• Students should know what their strengths and weakness are
• Students should have a positive/high self-esteem because it is important for
successful learning, and for achieving their goals and dreams
• How groups are formed
• How to work effectively within a group
• What they can contribute to a group
The individual preparing to be part of a group
• What is self-esteem?
• Why is self-esteem important?
• What are some of the outward signs of positive self-esteem?
• What affects self-esteem?
• What is low self-esteem?
• What are some of the signs for a low self-esteem?
• How can you raise/ change low self-esteem to positive/good self-esteem?
• What strategies/habits/techniques can help build and maintain a positive self-esteem?
Group formation process

Group formation stages:

1. Forming
2. Norming
3. Storming
4. Performing
5. Adjourning
How to work effectively in groups
• Participation
• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Leadership
Interpersonal skills
Verbal Communication What we say and how we say it. It includes the words and th
tone that we use
Non-verbal Communication What we communicate without words, e.g. body language
example, eye contact, facial expressions, arms and hands
Listening Skills How we interpret both the verbal and non-verbal messages
by others
Negotiation & compromising Working with others to find a mutually agreeable outcome.
requires us to be willing to take and give
Problem-solving Working with others to identify, define and solve problems.
This will include negotiation and compromising
Decision-making Exploring and analysing options to make sound decisions
based on objectivity and reasoning
Assertiveness Communicating our values, ideas, beliefs, opinions needs an
wants freely.

• What can we learn from the Lima bean story?

Questions & discussions?

University of the Western Cape