Group Behavior

ueflnlng and Classlfylng Croups

8-1
Group(s)
Two or more individuals interacting and
interdependent, who have come together
to achieve particular objectives.
ormaI Group
A designated work
group defined by the
organization's structure.
InformaI Group
A group that is neither
formally structured now
organizationally determined,
appears in response to the
need for social contact.
ueflnlng and Classlfylng Croups
(conL'd)
8-2
Command Group
A group composed of
the individuals who
report directly to a
given manager.
%ask Group
Those working together
to complete a job or task.
Interest Group
Those working together
to attain a specific
objective with which
each is concerned.
riendship Group
Those brought together
because they share one
or more common
characteristics.
Jy eople !oln Croups
8-3
$ecurity
$tatus
$eIf-esteem
AffiIiation
Power
GoaI Achievement
@e llveSLage Model of Croup
uevelopmenL
8-4
orming $tage
The first stage in group development, characterized
by much uncertainty.
$torming $tage
The second stage in group development,
characterized by intragroup conflict.
Norming $tage
The third stage in group
development, characterized
by close relationships and
cohesiveness.
Croup uevelopmenL (conL'd)
8-5
Performing $tage
The fourth stage in group development, when the
group is fully functional.
Adjourning $tage
The final stage in group
development for temporary
groups, characterized by
concern with wrapping up
activities rather than
performance.
SLages of Croup uevelopmenL
8-6
Croup SLrucLure 8oles (conL'd)
8-7
RoIe(s)
A set of expected behavior patterns attributed to
someone occupying a given position in a social unit.
RoIe Identity
Certain attitudes and behaviors
consistent with a role.
RoIe Perception
An individual's view of how he or she
is supposed to act in a given situation.
Croup SLrucLure 8oles (conL'd)
8-8
RoIe Expectations
ow others believe a person
should act in a given situation.
RoIe ConfIict
A situation in which an individual is confronted by
divergent role expectations.
PsychoIogicaI Contract
An unwritten agreement that sets
out what management expects from
the employee and vice versa.
Croup SLrucLure norms
8-9
CIasses of Norms:
Performance norms
Appearance norms
$ociaI arrangement norms
AIIocation of resources
norms
CIasses of Norms:
Performance norms
Appearance norms
$ociaI arrangement norms
AIIocation of resources
norms
Norms
Acceptable standards of behavior within a group
that are shared by the group's members.
Croup SLrucLure Slze
8-10
Group Size
Performance
ther concIusions:
dd number groups do
better than even.
Groups of 7 or 9 perform
better overaII than Iarger
or smaIIer groups.
ther concIusions:
dd number groups do
better than even.
Groups of 7 or 9 perform
better overaII than Iarger
or smaIIer groups.
$ociaI Loafing
The tendency for individuals to expend less effort when
working collectively than when working individually.
Croup @asks
ueclslonmaklng
Large groups faclllLaLe Le poollng of lnformaLlon
abouL complex Lasks
Smaller groups are beLLer sulLed Lo coordlnaLlng
and faclllLaLlng Le lmplemenLaLlon of complex
Lasks
Slmple rouLlne sLandardlzed Lasks reduce Le
requlremenL LaL group processes be effecLlve ln
order for Le group Lo perform well
8-11
Croup ueclslon Maklng
SLrengLs
More compleLe
lnformaLlon
lncreased dlverslLy of
vlews
Plger quallLy of
declslons (more
accuracy)
lncreased accepLance of
soluLlons
Jeaknesses
More Llme consumlng
(slower)
lncreased pressure Lo
conform
uomlnaLlon by one or a
few members
Amblguous
responslblllLy
8-12
Croup ueclslon Maklng (conL'd)
8-13
Groupthink
#henomenon in which the norm for consensus
overrides the realistic appraisal of alternative course
of action.
Groupshift
A change in decision risk between the group's
decision and the individual decision that member
within the group would make, can be either toward
conservatism or greater risk.
SympLoms Cf @e CroupLlnk
enomenon
Croup members raLlonallze any reslsLance Lo Le
assumpLlons Ley ave made
Members apply dlrecL pressures on Lose wo
express doubLs abouL sared vlews or wo
quesLlon Le alLernaLlve favored by Le ma[orlLy
Members wo ave doubLs or dlfferlng polnLs of
vlew keep sllenL abouL mlsglvlngs
@ere appears Lo be an llluslon of unanlmlLy
8-14
Croup ueclslonMaklng @ecnlques
8-15
Interacting Groups
Typical groups, in which the members interact with
each other facetoface.
NominaI Group %echnique
A group decisionmaking method in which individual
members meet facetoface to pool their judgments
in a systematic but independent fashion.
Croup ueclslonMaklng @ecnlques
8-16
EIectronic Meeting
A meeting in which members
interact on computers, allowing
for anonymity of comments and
aggregation of votes.
Brainstorming
An ideageneration process that specifically
encourages any and all alternatives, while
withholding any criticism of those alternatives.
valuaLlng Croup ffecLlveness
8-17
E X H I B I % 8-8 E X H I B I % 8-8
%PE GR&P
Effectiveness Criteria Interacting Brainstorming NominaI EIectronic
umber and quality of ideas Low Moderate High High
Social pressure High Low Moderate Low
Money costs Low Low Low High
Speed Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate
Task orientation Low High High High
Potential for interpersonal conflict High Low Moderate Low
Commitment to solution High ot applicable Moderate Moderate
Development of High High Moderate Low
group cohesiveness