CHAPTER 13
What is a group?
A group is defined as two or more interacting and interdependent individuals who come
together to achieve specific goals. Formal groups are work groups and informal groups are
social groups.
Stages of group development
Groups develop through five stages.
1. Forming has two phases, first occurs
people joining the group and second
defining the group’s purpose,
structure and leadership.
2. The storming stage is about conflict
over who will control the group and
what the group needs to be doing.
3. The norming stage is one in which
close relationships develop and the
groups becomes cohesive.
4. At the performing stage the group structure is in place and accepted by the group
members.
5. The final stage, adjourning, the group prepares to disband. Wrapping up activities
instead of task performance.
Group member resources
A group’s performance potential depends on the resources each individual brings to the
group. Such as knowledge, abilities, skills and personality traits. They can determine what
members what members can do and how effectively they will perform in a group.
Group structure
Work groups have an internal structure that shapes members’ behavior and influences in
the group performance. The structure defines roles, norms, conformity, status systems,
group size, group cohesiveness and leadership.
Group tasks
Tasks can be characterized as either simple or complex. Simple tasks are routine and
standardized. Complex tasks tend to be novel or nonroutine. Evidence indicates that the
more complex the task, the more a group benefits from group discussion about alternative
work methods. Thus, effective communication and controlled conflict are most relevant to
group performance when tasks are complex and interdependent.
, Roles:
A role refers to behavior patterns expected of someone occupying a given position in a
social unit. In a group, individuals are expected to do certain things because of their position
(role) in the group.
Norms:
All groups have norms – standards or expectations that are accepted and shared by a
group’s members. Norms dictate things such as work output levels, absenteeism,
promptness and the amount of socializing on the job.
Conformity:
Because individuals want to be accepted by groups to which they belong, they’re
susceptible to pressures to conform. A group often exerts intense pressure on the individual
to align his or her opinion to conform to others’ opinions, a phenomenon known as
groupthink. Groupthink seems to occur when group members hold a positive group image
they want to protect and when the group perceives a collective threat to this positive image.
Sometimes groupthink can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
Status systems:
Status systems are an important factor in understanding groups. Status is a prestige grading,
position or rank within in a group. Status may be informally conferred by characteristics
such as education, age, skill or experience. Anything can have status value if others in the
group evaluate it that way.
Group size:
Preferred size depends on what the group is attempting to accomplish. Small groups are
often faster at completing tasks. However, for groups engaged in problem solving, large
groups consistently get better results. One important research finding related to group size
concerns social loafing, which is the tendency for an individual to expend less effort when
working collectively than when working alone.
Group cohesiveness:
Cohesiveness is important because it has been found to be related to a group’s productivity.
Groups in which there’s a lot of internal disagreement and lack of cooperation are less
effective in completing their tasks
than groups in which members
generally agree, cooperate and like
each other. Group members: the
degree to which group members are
attracted to one another and share
the group’s goals.
What is a group?
A group is defined as two or more interacting and interdependent individuals who come
together to achieve specific goals. Formal groups are work groups and informal groups are
social groups.
Stages of group development
Groups develop through five stages.
1. Forming has two phases, first occurs
people joining the group and second
defining the group’s purpose,
structure and leadership.
2. The storming stage is about conflict
over who will control the group and
what the group needs to be doing.
3. The norming stage is one in which
close relationships develop and the
groups becomes cohesive.
4. At the performing stage the group structure is in place and accepted by the group
members.
5. The final stage, adjourning, the group prepares to disband. Wrapping up activities
instead of task performance.
Group member resources
A group’s performance potential depends on the resources each individual brings to the
group. Such as knowledge, abilities, skills and personality traits. They can determine what
members what members can do and how effectively they will perform in a group.
Group structure
Work groups have an internal structure that shapes members’ behavior and influences in
the group performance. The structure defines roles, norms, conformity, status systems,
group size, group cohesiveness and leadership.
Group tasks
Tasks can be characterized as either simple or complex. Simple tasks are routine and
standardized. Complex tasks tend to be novel or nonroutine. Evidence indicates that the
more complex the task, the more a group benefits from group discussion about alternative
work methods. Thus, effective communication and controlled conflict are most relevant to
group performance when tasks are complex and interdependent.
, Roles:
A role refers to behavior patterns expected of someone occupying a given position in a
social unit. In a group, individuals are expected to do certain things because of their position
(role) in the group.
Norms:
All groups have norms – standards or expectations that are accepted and shared by a
group’s members. Norms dictate things such as work output levels, absenteeism,
promptness and the amount of socializing on the job.
Conformity:
Because individuals want to be accepted by groups to which they belong, they’re
susceptible to pressures to conform. A group often exerts intense pressure on the individual
to align his or her opinion to conform to others’ opinions, a phenomenon known as
groupthink. Groupthink seems to occur when group members hold a positive group image
they want to protect and when the group perceives a collective threat to this positive image.
Sometimes groupthink can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
Status systems:
Status systems are an important factor in understanding groups. Status is a prestige grading,
position or rank within in a group. Status may be informally conferred by characteristics
such as education, age, skill or experience. Anything can have status value if others in the
group evaluate it that way.
Group size:
Preferred size depends on what the group is attempting to accomplish. Small groups are
often faster at completing tasks. However, for groups engaged in problem solving, large
groups consistently get better results. One important research finding related to group size
concerns social loafing, which is the tendency for an individual to expend less effort when
working collectively than when working alone.
Group cohesiveness:
Cohesiveness is important because it has been found to be related to a group’s productivity.
Groups in which there’s a lot of internal disagreement and lack of cooperation are less
effective in completing their tasks
than groups in which members
generally agree, cooperate and like
each other. Group members: the
degree to which group members are
attracted to one another and share
the group’s goals.
