Week 9 & 10: Foundation of Group Behavior

Defining and Classifying Groups

Groups

–    two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to achieve particular objectives.

•    Formal groups -- those defined by the organization’s structure, with designated work assignments establishing tasks.

•    Informal group – A group that is neither formally structured nor organizationally determined.  Natural formations in the work environment that appear in response to the need for social contact.

•    Command group – a group composed of the individuals who report directly to a given manager.

•    Task groups -- also organizationally determined, representing those working together to complete a job task.

•    Interest group -- people not necessarily aligned into common command or task groups who affiliate to attain a specific objective.

•    Friendship group – those brought together because they share one or more common characteristics

Stages of Group Development

Model 1: The Five-Stage Model

Forming - Stage 1 - Uncertainty - "test the waters"

Storming - Stage 2 - Intragroup conflict - constraints, who will lead and control?

Norming - Stage 3 - Cohesiveness begins and relationships form

Performing - Stage 4 - The group is fully functional

Adjourning - Stage 5 - For non-permanent teams, it's time to wrap it up

Model 2: The Punctuated-Equilibrium Model (Temporary Groups w/Deadlines)

"Time" is key - from the first meeting to the official deadline…

Phase 1 - Meet for the first time.  Inertia follows

Transition - Half of the time is used up - changes occur - "get moving"

Phase 2 - Execute the plans coming out of the Transition

 Group Properties

Groups are not unorganized mobs.  They have a structure that shapes the behavior of members.

–    Roles (psychological contracts are important in organizations!)

(What did you think about Zimbardo’s prison study? P. 306-308)

–    Norms

–    Status

–    Size (social loafing)

–    Cohesiveness

Group Decision Making

Strengths - Groups generate more complete information, increased diversity of views, higher quality decisions, increased acceptance of a solution

Weaknesses - Time-consuming, conformity pressures, dominating members, ambiguous responsibility

So….should we use groups or individuals to make decisions?

Groupthink - Individuals may feel pressure to suppress, withhold or modify  true feelings

Group shift - Usually shift towards greater risk in decisions made by groups

Group Decision-Making Techniques

Ways to make decisions include interacting groups, brainstorming, nominal group technique, & electronic meetings

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