Group composition

When a group works together, it can achieve a common goal and purpose. To do this, it needs to have members with the right range of skills and knowledge. Small groups may be less effective because of the limited collective range of skills and knowledge. However, if the group is too large, the more active members can have a strong influence on the group (Table 1.3). For optimal productivity and cooperation, a group of 5-7 team members is usually best.

Table 1.3 Group size - productivity and cooperation

Group size and participation

3-6 people	Everyone speaks
7-10 people	Almost everyone speaks Quieter people say less One or two may not speak at all
11-18 people	5 or 6 people speak a lot 3 or 4 others join in occasionally
19-30 people	3 or 4 people dominate
30+ people	Little participation possible