A small group is made up of people who get together to solve a problem. Groups can often solve problems better than individuals because they generate more ideas and the work can be divided among the members.

Small groups have norms and rules, and they vary from one culture to another. Small groups are often more characteristic of a democracy than of other forms of government.

For a small group to be effective, it must have a common goal, a workable size (usually from 3 to 13 members), an appropriate meeting place, and suitable seating arrangements. Groups that work effectively are cohesive. However, when group members start to think too much alike, there is the danger of groupthink.

Most groups that meet together to solve problems use a problem-solving sequence to structure their work. A common sequence is that the group chooses a topic, identifies the problem, analyzes the problem, finds and evaluates solutions, and chooses the best solution.