Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2005

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Other: (please specify below)

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This article is an unrestricted fair use draft document presented to the public to stimulate dialogue and discussion in as wide an audience as possible. The article may be reproduced in part or in whole for training and educational purposes so long as there is clear attribution to the authors in any such re-issue. Inquires about other uses of this intellectual property may be directed to René Molenkamp at renemolenkamp@gmail.com.

Abstract

In the United States of America, group relations conferences, often termed “Tavistock” conferences, have been held since the mid 1960’s. The method of learning is through experience and reflection upon one’s experience. Theory of this method of learning has been described in many a publication (Bion, Banet & Hayden, Colman & Bexton, Colman & Geller, Cytrynbaum & Noumair). This article provides an introduction to a key system within this tradition of learning, known as the BART system. BART is an acronym for four elements of group analysis:

• Boundary • Authority • Role • Task

The authors wish to be among the first to stipulate that BART, while an exceptionally user-friendly tool, provides only a partial application of the type of learning that comes through the group relations work. The learning from such conferences can be powerfully personal yet has been found to have rich application to human systems analysis, ranging from a family dinner to board meeting to a multinational negotiation. Participants in group relations conferences may learn about aspects of group dynamics, such as the group’s reaction to authority, resistance to the task, and response to leadership. Participants may also learn about internal personal dynamics, particularly their own proclivity to take up a leadership role and other roles that support and/or thwart the task of groups. This article offers BART as an example of readily useful constructs that tend to be consistently present in study and learning from the group relations perspective. The application of these insights is of particular interest to managers and executives, but is likely to have value to anyone who works in an organization, participates in work groups, or is on a professional team.

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