Readying facilitation for the for the 21st century

Welcome to the second issue of Group Facilitation: A Research and Applications Journal, as well as the first issue of the new millennium. As we enter the 21st century, we can look back on an astounding number of changes that have occurred in society and organizations. Over just the last few decades, we've seen substantial movement from companies managed along functional lines, to new organizational forms based on cross-functional cooperation and team-based work. Group effectiveness has become increasing critical, and the need for facilitation skills in these new environments is obvious.

Equally obvious is the growing technological focus of our society. As we move into this increasingly complex environment, an understanding of how teams will use technology to enhance decision making, communication, project tracking, and a variety of other activities will take on growing importance. I believe facilitators, and those who do research on facilitation, are in a unique position to create, and study, methods for enhancing performance in these contexts. Virtual teams, involving members who cross organizational (and even national) boundaries, will provide opportunities for entirely new ways of thinking about group interactions. This will be an exciting time, indeed.

We believe that is in an excellent position to substantially contribute to the advancement of knowledge in these new environments. As always, Group Facilitation is intended to serve two constituencies. The first, and primary, group is the practicing facilitator. Group Facilitation, while academically rigorous, is intended to serve as a knowledge base for facilitators. Articles are accepted which the editorial board believes will form the foundation of prescriptive advice for improving the process of facilitation. Group Facilitation also serves academia, by providing an outlet for research focused on facilitation, as well as complementary perspectives such as organizational learning and development, group and system dynamics, collaborative technology, negotiation, mediation, leadership, decision making, conflict resolution, cross-cultural research, and education.

The issue you are about to read has a fine selection of articles, including a special IAF article written on facilitator competencies. Initially, the editorial board considered devoting issue two entirely to this very important topic. However, given the excellent selection of articles we received as part of our normal submissions, it was decided not to limit the focus of the current issue, but rather to devote a section to competencies in the hope that it would initiate a conversation about the subject. In that spirit, this issue contains an article entitled "Facilitator Competencies" by Virginia Pierce, Dennis Cheesebrow, and Linda Mathews Braun. This article was then circulated to a number of people who the editorial board believed would have unique and interesting perspectives on this topic. This group of prospective authors was then encouraged to write an essay in response to this article. I think you will find this series very informative.

This issue's "Application and Practice" related selections include work on building trust in teams by Stephen King, best practices in virtual teams by Daniel Mittleman, Robert Briggs, and Jay Nunamaker, as well as a classic article on the origins of group dynamics by Dorwin Cartwright and Alvin Zander, and introduced by Sandor Shuman. In addition, one of our own editors, Edward Ruete, has written an excellent essay on process time in the context of project teams. Finally, this issue also offers several fine book reviews, which we hope you will find informative and useful.

I would also like to use this forum to introduce some editorial board transitions. First, James Spee, a professor at the University of Redlands, will be joining us as an Associate Editor. Jim received his Ph.D. in Management, from the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA. His major emphasis while there was in strategic management and management theory. Jim has not only been a solid contributor to Group Facilitation as a reviewer, but you should also find his name very familiar based on his coordination of the proceedings for our annual IAF conference.

Another transition involves the role of Editor-in-Chief. While my tenure in this position has come to an end, this position is left in the capable hands of Sandor Schuman. Sandy is affiliated with the University of Albany/SUNY's Program on Group Effectiveness and Executive Decision Services LLC. Sandy, who holds a Ph.D. in organizational behavior from the University of Albany, has served as an Associate Editor since the journal's inception. I can speak with confidence that Group Facilitation has benefited greatly from his efforts over the past several years, and I'm confident that we could not have made a better choice. In addition to Sandy's efforts relevant to the journal, you may also recognize his name as the moderator for the IAF's discussion list on group facilitation.

I would like to end by saying what a great honor it has been to be associated with Group Facilitation. My special thanks to the editorial board members who have striven to create something from nothing, the research and publications task force who has given valuable input over the course of this project, the IAF for entrusting me with this, and finally to Peggy Runchey, whose humor and perspectives have kept me sane through the entire process. Again, my humblest thanks to all of you for a wonderful experience.

Sincerely,

Mark A. Fuller, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Information Systems

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