omen are attracted to each other can have a great affect on the dynamics of the group. The AGE of differences, everyone remembers a lecture that they may have gotten from their grandparents for something they did wrong. It usually started out “In my day we never did things that way.” The older generation and the newer generation do not always see eye to eye. You can see how this factor may have an affect on group communication. “Zenger and Lawrence (1989) found that age similarity of group members had a positive effect on the communication of information within project groups.” (3) Although I find it easier to work with members of my own age, I much prefer to work with people that are older than me. My current lead has twenty years on me and I find this most beneficial. He is much wiser than me in the ways of the world and political work arena. He has been with the company four times longer than me and knows ten times more about the way the work is done. If there is a challenging situation he almost always has the answer, where as someone of my own age and experience, probably would not. Age is an important factor of how we interact with people and there is much to be learned from our elders. America needs to model itself after the Japanese society who holds it elders in the highest of regard. While being in groups made up of people with widely varying ages, based on my own personal experience, I find it a positive factor. “Although health may not be a highly significant factor in the study of small groups, it does play a part. Deficiencies in both physical and mental health would seem to impede group performance.” (4) If a member of the group is always out sick then the others must help carry the load. This can lead to resentment that they are having to work harder. If the members of the group are close, even the health problems of one of a group members family can have a dra...
