Chapter 10 GROUPS & WORK TEAMS

LEARNING OUTCOMES Define groups and teams Explain the characteristics of a group Discuss the development of groups and teams Identify the characteristics of effective team performance Discuss ways to manage adverse behaviour in a group

INTRODUCTION Much of the activity within organizations occurs within groups – from informal groups of employees to formal autonomous work groups. Group activities can be critical to the success of the organization.

DEFINITION OF GROUPS AND TEAMS A work group is a collection of people working in the same area or placed together to complete a task. A team is defined as a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, a set of performance goals, and an approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable.

REASONS PEOPLE JOIN GROUPS Groups allow members to simply be in the company of other people COMPANIONSHIP From a historic perspective, our ancestors form groups for hunting and defense SURVIVAL AND SECURITY Membership into various groups can provide individuals with certain social status or security AFFILIATION AND STATUS With group membership comes the opportunity for leadership roles POWER AND CONTROL Groups have the capability to achieve more than individuals acting alone ACHIEVEMENT

TYPES OF GROUPS AND TEAMS FORMAL AND INFORMAL GROUPS FORMAL GROUP Designed by top management for achieving organizational goals Concentrates more on the performance of a job People are placed in hierarchy and their status determined accordingly Coordination of members are controlled through processes and procedures

TYPES OF GROUPS AND TEAMS INFORMAL GROUP A natural outcome at the workplace, not designed and planned Organization is coordinated by group norms and not by norms of the formal organization Such group associations are not specified in the blueprint of the formal organization

MANAGER LED AND SELF-MANAGING TEAMS Functional teams  Cross-functional teams  Self-directed work teams Virtual teams Task forces The problem-solving team

CHARACTERISTICS OF GROUPS Size Norms Cohesiveness Roles

STAGES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT Stage 1: Forming Stage 2: Storming Stage 3: Norming Stage 4: Performing Stage 5: Adjourning

ADVERSE GROUP BEHAVIOUR SOCIAL LOAFING Social loafing describes the tendency of individuals to put forth less effort when they are part of a group. DIFFUSION OF RESPONSIBILITY As the number of people in the group increases, people tend to feel deindividuation. This term defines both the dissociation from individual achievement and the decrease of personal accountability, resulting in lower exerted effort for individuals in collaborative environments.

ADVERSE GROUP BEHAVIOUR ESCALATION OF COMMITMENT Escalation of commitment occurs when we invest resources into a course of action that is failing. Resources can be time, money, energy, etc. that we continue to put into an investment because we don’t want to appear to be inconsistent.

ADVERSE GROUP BEHAVIOUR GROUPTHINK Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative ideas or viewpoints, and by isolating themselves from outside influences.

SUMMARY A work group is a collection of people working in the same area or placed together to complete a task.  A well-managed work group or team will lead to organizational success.