Groups

• DefinitionTwo or more individuals,

interacting and interdependent, who come together to achieve particular objectives.

Formal and informal groups(1). Formal groups ……..are those defined by

organizational structure with designated work assignments and establishing tasks.

• For example the six members making up an airline flight crew are a formal group.

Formal and informal groups(2). Informal groups …….are those neither formally

structured nor organizationally determined. These groups are natural formations in the work environment that appear in response to the need for social contact.

For example Three employees from different departments who regularly eat their lunch together is an informal group.

Classifying Groups

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(1).(1).Formal group Formal group Command GroupsCommand Groups

Task GroupsTask Groups

Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Friendship GroupsFriendship Groups(2).(2).Informal group Informal group

Four Types of Groups• Command group. – determined by the organization

chart. It is composed of individuals who directly report to a given manager. An elementary school principal and her 18 teachers form a command group. or the area sales manager along with his sales force.

Four Types of Groups• Task group – it is also organizationally determined

represent those working together to complete a job task, however a task group’s boundaries are not limited to its immediate hierarchical superior. For instance the hiring of new employees can be a task which can involve GM, HR manager and a particular functional manager.

Four Types of Groups• Interest group are such groups that affiliate to attain a

specific objective of shared interest. for example employees who come together to have their vacations schedules altered, to support a colleague who has been fired or to seek improvement in working conditions is an interest group.

Four Types of Groups

• Friendship group – members have one or more

common characteristics. for example similar age or holding similar political views

WhatMakesPeopleJoin

Groups?

WhatMakesPeopleJoin

Groups?

StatusStatusSecuritySecurity

PowerPowerGoal

AchievementGoal

Achievement

Self-Esteem

Self-Esteem

AffiliationAffiliation

Why People Join Groups

Stages of Group DevelopmentStages of Group Development

Stage IIStorming

Stage IIINorming

Stage IVPerforming

Stage VAdjourning

Stage IForming

Stages of Group DevelopmentStages of Group DevelopmentGroups generally pass through this sequence, the five stage

model of group. Forming, storming, Norming performing and adjourning.

The first stage forming is characterized by a great deal of

uncertainty about the group purpose, structure and leadership. members are uncertain about what type of behavior is acceptable. This stage is complete when members have begun to think themselves as part of a group.

Stages of Group DevelopmentStages of Group Development

2.The storming stage • is one of the intra group conflict. members accept the

existence of the group, but there is a resistance to the constraints that the group imposes on individuals.

• Furthermore there is conflict over who will control the group. When this stage is complete, there will be a relatively clear hierarchy of leadership within the group.

Stages of Group DevelopmentStages of Group Development3.The Norming stage The Norming stage completes when close relationships have been developed and the

group demonstrates cooperation.• Cooperation further develops common set of

expectations from the group members which defines their behavior.

Stages of Group DevelopmentStages of Group Development• The fourth stage is performing. The group structure becomes fully functional and group

energy moves from getting to know and understand each other to performing a task at hand.

• For permanent work groups performing is the last stage of their development, however for temporary committees, task forces or other similar groups that have a limited task to perform, there is an

adjourning stage.

Stages of Group DevelopmentStages of Group Development5. Adjourning stage. In this stage the group prepares for

its disbandment, where high task performance is no longer the group’s priority, instead attention is directed toward wrapping up activities.

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IdentityIdentity IdentityIdentity

GroupRoles

ExpectationsExpectations ExpectationsExpectations

ConflictConflict ConflictConflict PerceptionPerception PerceptionPerception

Roles

According to Shakespeare all the world is a stage and all the men and women are players. similarly all the group members are actors.

Role is defined as…… to engage in a set of expected behavior that are related to occupying a given positionin a social unit.

Role identity• Role Identity – the ability to recognize attitudes

and behaviors consistent with a role.• When workers are promoted to supervisory positions vital changes are observed in their behavior with other workers.

Role perception and role expectation

• Role Perception – our view of how we’re supposed to

act in a given situation is called role perception.

Role perception and role expectation• Role Expectations – how others believe you should act in a given situation is called role expectation.

Role conflict• Role conflict is that situation when there is much

difference in role perception and role expectation.• That is, people expect an individual to behave in

one way and the individual perceives to behave in another way.

Cohesiveness

• The degree to which members of the group are attracted to each other and motivated to stay in the group Related to the group’s productivity

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Group Decision MakingGroup Decision Making

AdvantagesAdvantages

More Diversity of Views

Increased information

Higher-quality decisions

Improved Commitment

Increased acceptance

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Dominant Individuals

Unclear Responsibility

Time and money costs

Conformity pressures

Group Decision MakingGroup Decision Making

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GroupthinGroupthinkk

Group Group shiftshift

Symptoms of GroupthinkGroup members when making any decision, ask for the

agreement of all group members.• Some individuals in the group, who have a difference of

opinion, remain silent. They keep quiet in order to avoid any conflict among group members.

• Their silence is considered as yes, although their silence is meant as NO.

• In groupthink sometimes minority becomes victim of majority in decision making.

Group shiftWhen a manager makes any decision individually, then he is very

careful and avoids all risks, because in case of failure he will be solely responsible for his decision.

• But when the same manager is the member of some group, then he is making more risky decisions.

• The reason is that in case of failure no single individual could be made responsible in group decision making.

• Thus in group decision making the position of a manager shifts from normal decisions to more risky decisions, called group shift