1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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