Chapter 7

Group Dynamics


Learning
Objectives
Describe the various types of groups in
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

organizations.
Summarize the stages of group development and
key roles members occupy within a work group.
Identify the characteristics of an effective work
group.
Implement two different methods of group
problem solving and decision-making.
Pinpoint several potential problems with group
effort and how to prevent them.
2

Groups vs Teams
Team

Group

is a collection of
people who interact
with each other, are
working toward
some common
purpose, and
perceive
themselves to be a
group.

is a special type of
group. Team
members have
complementary skills
and are committed to
a common purpose, a
set of performance
goals, and an
approach to the task.
3

Types of Groups

Formal groups are set up by the organization, whereas informal groups emerge through worker interaction.

Types of formal groups (TEAMS)

Cross-functional teams comprise workers with different specialties.

Virtual teams communicate electronically instead of face-to-face.
Crews assign specific roles to specialists.
Top management teams are executives working together or sharing the work

Cross-functional
Engage in
special
problemsolving efforts
drawing on
input of the
functional
areas
8-5

Virtual

Members
work
together
via
computers
8-6

Crews
Is an
organized
group of
workers
identified by
the technology
it handles
8-7

Top Management
These teams
consist of
employees
who have the
highest
organizational
management
levels
8-8

Types of Groups
Informal groups emerged and coexist as
a shadow to the formal structure and
without any assigned purpose or
endorsement.
Types of informal groups

Friendship groups - consist of

persons with natural affinities for
one another.

Interest groups - consist of persons

who share common interests.

Friendship
they tend to
work together,
sit together,
take breaks
together, and
even do things
together
outside of the
workplace.
10

Interest
these may be
job-related
interests, or
non-work
interests, such
as community
service,
sports, or
religion.
11

Stages of Group
Development
Stage 1
Forming
Stage 5
Adjourning
But
could
continue

Stage 4
Performing

Stage 2
Storming

Stage 3
Norming
12

Stage 1:

Forming

Members are
eager to learn
what tasks they
will be
performing,
and what
constitutes
acceptable
behavior.
13

Stage 2: Storming
During this
shakedown
period,
individual
styles come
into conflict.

14

Stage 3: Norming
Group standards
of conduct are
formed, and
cohesiveness
and
commitment
begin to
develop.
15

Stage 4: Performing
The group is
now ready to
focus on
accomplishing
its key tasks,
and the group
becomes a wellfunctioning unit.
16

Stage 5: Adjourning
After the task is
completed, the
group adjourns,
yet members
depart with
important
relationships and
understandings
they can use
again in the
future.

17

Roles within Group

1.
2.
3.

4.
5.
6.
7.

8.

Knowledge contributor - information

Process observer - function
People supporter emotional
support
Challenger - confronts bad ideas
Listener
Mediator
Gatekeeper - lets other members
into the discussion
Take-charge leader
19

Characteristics of Effective Work

Groups

Job design job enrichment

Empowered feeling potency,
meaningfulness, autonomy, and
impact
Interdependence of tasks and goals
Team efficacy believes that it can
perform tasks
Right mix of people and size 7 to 10
20

Characteristics of Effective Work

Groups

Emotional intelligence build relationships

Support from the organization - training
Effective processes within the group
giving support to each other
Group cohesiveness unified and
cooperative
Familiarity with jobs, coworkers, and the
environment experience is an asset
21

Group Problem Solving

and Decision-Making

Group Decision-Making Styles

1.

2.

3.

consultative (some consultation with

group members)
democratic (group is empowered to
make the decision).
consensus decision making
(manager shares the problems with
group members)
22

Nominal Group
Technique
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Assemble group
Assign subgroups
Present question
Record ideas
Present ideas with
no discussion;
summarize ideas
on
chart or screen

5. Group discusses
and clarifies ideas
6. Silent and
independent
voting to rank
ideas, then
choose best one.
23

The Delphi Technique

Variation of NGT designed to

obtain serial feedback
Participants receive questionnaires
by e-mail
Responses sent to coordinator who
aggregates the opinions and data
Process continues until final
version of report
24

Potential Problems
in Groups

Group polarizationmake decisions that are

more extreme than the initial inclination of
its members
Social loafingis people exerting less effort
to achieve a goal when they work in a group
than when they work alone.
Groupthinkthe practice of thinking or
making decisions as a group in a way that
discourages creativity or individual
responsibility
25

Assignment

Bring
the
following
meeting (for each team)

1.

1 pc. Index Card

2.

1 pc. Paper Plate

3.

5 pcs. Paper Clips

4.

1 roll Masking tape

next

26

Assignment
1.

2.
3.

4.

Describe your experiences with different teams

within the context of stages of group development.
What happened to you at each stage?
How does your experiences compare to the ideas
presented above?
Do you have an experience wherein your group
seemed to get stuck at one particular stage say,
the storming stage? What happened, and what
insights does it provide?

27