Stages in Group Development There are four stages through which groups pass: Forming: members testing each others’ reactions and looking for cues about what is expected in the way of contribution and personal conduct Copyright © 2000 by Harcourt, Inc. All rights reserved.

Stages in Group Development (Cont.) Storming: intragroup conflict, wrestling with power and status relationships Norming: develop cohesiveness, adopt new standards and roles Performing: group has established a flexible network of relationships that aids in task accomplishment Copyright © 2000 by Harcourt, Inc. All rights reserved.

Stages in Group Development (Cont.) Not every group goes through these four stages in a fixed sequence. As group experiences change, it may return to an earlier stage. Copyright © 2000 by Harcourt, Inc. All rights reserved.

Individualism vs Collectivism Personal goals Less group attachment Collectivism Group goals Emotional ties to group Concern for group welfare

Roles in Groups Task-oriented Relations-oriented Self-oriented Facilitate & coordinate decision-making Relations-oriented Builds team-centered tasks, sentiments, & viewpoints Self-oriented Focused on individual needs

Do people work harder alone or in a group? Social Facilitation Leads to increased performance evaluation apprehension competition Social Loafing Work less hard in a group (free ride). Lack of identification/monitoring of individual performance Lowered sense of personal involvement & responsibility Group size impacts behavior: larger group more loafing

To Focus on Process, A Leader Should... 1. Listen to understand, rather than appraise or refute 2.Assume responsibility for accurate communication between members 3. Be sensitive to unexpressed feelings 4. Protect minority points of view 5. Keep discussion moving 6. Develop skills in summarizing

Cohesiveness-Productivity Relationship High Low Strong Increase In Productivity Moderate Increase In Productivity High Alignment of group and organizational goals Groups differ in cohesiveness: the degree to which members are motivated to stay in the group. Studies show that the relationship of cohesiveness to productivity depends on the performance-related norms established by the group. The more cohesive the group, the more members will follow its goals. The figure above summarizes the relationship between group cohesiveness, performance norms, and productivity. Managers can use the following techniques to encourage group cohesiveness: 1. Make the group smaller. 2. Encourage agreement with group goals. 3. Increase the time team members spend together. 4. Increase the perceived status of the group and of attaining membership. 5. Stimulate competition with other groups. 6. Give rewards to the group rather than to members. 7. Physically isolate the group. Decrease in Productivity No Significant Effect On Productivity Low Prentice Hall, 2000 Chapter 7