FOUNDATIONS

OF GROUP
BEHAVIOUR
BY
Abhijith V A
GROUP PROPERTIES
 GROUP PROPERTIES
Group Properties are:

ROLES

NORMS

STATUS

SIZE

COHESIVENESS
 ROLES
A set of expected behavior patterns
attributed to someone occupying a given
position in a social unit.

Different groups impose different role

requirements on individuals.

1. Role perception
2. Role expectations
3. Psychological contract
4. Role conflict
 Role perception : An individuals view of
how he or she is supposed to act in a given
situation.
Role expectations : The way others
believe you should act in a given context.
Psychological contract : An unwritten
agreement that sets out what management
expects from an employee and vice versa.
Role conflict : When compliance with one
role requirement may make it more difficult
to comply with another, the result is role
conflict.
 Norms
Norms can be defined as acceptable
standards of behaviour that are
shared by the group members.

This is a guideline for members

detailing what they ought and ought
not to do under certain
circumstances.
 1. Performance norms : How hard
members should work, what the level of
output should be, how to get the job done,
what level of tardiness is appropriate.
2. Appearance norms : Dress codes, when
to look busy.
3. Social arrangement norms : Whom to
have lunch with, whether to form
friendships with co workers.
4. Resource allocation norms : Assignment
of difficult jobs, distribution of resources
like pay or equipment.
 Status
Status is a socially defined position
or rank given to groups or group
members by others.

Those members of the group who

enjoy a higher status are able to
break group norms

Interaction among members of

groups is also influenced by status
 SIZE
Smaller groups are faster at completing tasks
than larger ones.
Individuals perform better in smaller groups
than in larger ones.
In problem solving, larger groups consistently
get better marks than their smaller
counterparts.
If the goal is fact finding larger groups more
effective.
Smaller groups are better at doing something
productive with that input.
 COHESIVENESS
The degree to which group members are
attracted to each other and are motivated to
stay in the group.
Cohesiveness is important because it has been
found to be related to the groups productivity
Relationship between cohesiveness and
productivity depends on the groups
performance related norms.
i. If performance-related norms are high, a cohesive
group will be more productive.
ii. If cohesiveness is high and performance norms
are low, productivity will be low.
 Group
decision
making
techniques
 Group decision making
techniques
1. Group Think

2. Group Shift

3. Brainstorming

3. Nominal group technique

4. Delphi Technique

5. Electronic meeting
 Group Think
Group Think is related to norms which are overriding
factors over a realistic approach. It relates to
majority decision, ignoring the view points of
minority and unpopular members

Group think is the final decision of the majority

members of a group where the opinions of some
members are suppressed.

According to Irving Janis (1972), groupthink is "a

deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and
moral judgment resulting from in-group pressures"
 Group Shift
This is a special case of groupthink. As the discussion
proceeds, those who are more conservative, tend to
shift to greater risk. This can happen because:

1. once the members become familiar, they become

bolder

2. The society values more risk and therefore people

want to be seen as more risk taking

3. group decision is not attributable to a single person,

people take greater risk since they do not have to
shoulder accountability for it separately.
 Brainstorming
This technique involves a group of people, usually
between five and ten, sitting around a table, generating
ideas in the form of free association. The primary focus is
on generation of ideas rather them on evaluation of ideas.

If a large number of ideas can be generated, then it is

likely that there will be a unique and creative idea among
them. All these ideas are written on the black board with
a piece of chalk so that everybody can see every idea and
try to improve upon such ideas.

Brainstorming technique is very effective when the

problem is comparatively specific and can be simply
defined. A complex problem can be broken up into parts
and each part can be taken separately at a time.
 Nominal group technique
Nominal Group techniques Provide a systematic approach
for problem solving to group members who are given
sufficient chances to present their views independently.

Every member of the group independently writes his views

and suggestions concerning the problem. They are not
allowed to consult other members.

All the ideas are presented and recorded on the board.

Every group member listens to the ideas carefully and ranks
the idea presented.

The final decision is taken with the highest aggregate

ranking.
 Delphi Technique
This technique is the modification of the nominal group
technique, except that it involves obtaining the opinions of
experts physically separated from each other and unknown to
each other.

it does not allow group members to meet face to face.

The problems are first identified and carefully examined by the

group member.

Questionnaires are framed which are independently filled up

by each member.

The members carefully examine the solution and put forward

their respective views.
 Electronic Meeting
Electronic meeting are similar to nominal group techniques,
whereas sophisticated computer technology is used.

Issues are presented to the participants, who type their

results on the computer screens.

Individual views are presented on the computer screen.

Participants freely take a decision, as they know others
reactions immediately by pressing button.

Electronic meetings have no problem of distances because

of the existence of the latest communication techniques
such as e-mail, internet and so on..
ThAnK YoU