Week 2, Question 2

Entropy and equifinality are two different characteristics of small group communication. Entropy is the disorganization, stagnation, and chaos of a small group. When you are working with a small group it is easy to be overwhelmed with all the work that needs to be done. Once group members are overwhelmed things can start to get out of hand and the productiveness of the group goes out the window. Some ways to avoid entropy is to increase inputs of energy and information to the group. There is only a small window where you can add energy and information, because if you add too much you can cause entropy to the group all over again. Equifinality, on the other hand, says that there is more than one way to reach results in a small group. Small groups don’t have to reach the same results the exact same way as another group. Not everyone thinks about things the same way.