Powerpoint Presentation by Jenny Brinkies, Swinburne University of Technology© 2004 John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd

Chapter 7

Groups and group dynamics

What is a Group?

• Groups are collections of two or more people who work with one another regularly to achieve one or more common goals.

Formal Groups

• Permanent formal work groups

• Temporary work groups

Informal Groups

• Friendship groups

• Interest groups

Purpose of Groups in Organisations

• Meeting organisational needs

• Meeting individual needs

• Benefiting organisations and individuals

Key Concerns for Managing Groups

• Advantages of groups

• Disadvantages of groups

Groups and Task Performance

• Synergy

• Social loafing

• Disruptive behaviour

Group Norms and Group Roles

• Group norms

• Group position roles

• Group function roles

Characteristics of Group Effectiveness

• Effective groups are groups that achieve high levels of both task performance and human resource maintenance.

Groups as Open Systems

• Open systems interact with the environment to transform resource inputs into outputs.

• The environment of any group consists of other individuals and groups with whom the group interacts.

Foundations of Group Effectiveness

• The better the group inputs, the better the chance of group effectiveness.

Organisational Setting

• Goals, reward systems and technologies

• Cultures and structures

Nature of Group Tasks

• Ego involvement

• Ends agreement

• Means agreement

General Membership Characteristics

• Interpersonal compatibilities

• Membership homogeneity/heterogeneity

Group size

Key Obstacles to Group Effectiveness

• Lack of direction

• Infighting

• Shirking of responsibilities

• Lack of trust

Group Processes and Group Effectiveness

• Required behaviours

• Emergent behaviours

Stages of Group Development

• Forming

• Storming

• Initial integration

• Total integration

• Adjourning

The Forming Stage

• The first stage of group development, in which the primary concern is the initial entry of members to the group.

The Storming Stage

• The second stage of group development which is marked by a period of high emotion and tension among group members.

The Initial Integration Stage

• The third stage of group development, at which the group begins to come together as a coordinated unit.

The Total Integration Stage

• The fourth stage of group development which sees the emergence of a mature, organised and well-functioning group.

The Adjourning Stage

• The last stage, in which members of the group disband when the job is done.

Communication Patterns in Groups

• Interacting groups

• Decentralised communication networks

• Co-acting groups

• Centralised communication networks

• Counteracting groups

Communication Networks

Decision Making in Groups

• Edgar Schein’s methods

• U.S. Center for Rural Studies

Groupthink

• The tendency of members in highly cohesive groups to lose their critical, evaluative capabilities.

Symptoms of Groupthink

• Illusions of group invulnerability

• Rationalising unpleasant data

• Belief in inherent group morality

• Negative stereotyping of outsiders

Symptoms of Groupthink

• Applying pressure to deviants

• Self-censorship of members

• Illusions of unanimity

• Mind guarding

Improving Group Decision Making

• Individual contributions plus group process gains minus group process losses = group decision effectiveness

Group Tasks and Maintenance Needs

• Group task performance

• Group maintenance

Intergroup Dynamics

• Workflow interdependency

• Structural factors

• Dynamics of intergroup competition