1. Cohesion and Development

2. What is group cohesion?

3. Cohesion = Attraction, Liking
between
members
Cohesion
Attraction
Attraction
to the
group-as-a-whole

4. The group is unified; solidarity is high in the group
Cohesion = Unity: Cohesive groups stick together as members “cohere” to one another and the group
The group is unified; solidarity is high in the group
Members report feeling a sense of belonging to the group
Group Unity
Unity
Cohesion
Belonging (part of the group)

5. Measurement is complex!
Cohesion = Teamwork: Members of cohesive groups coordinate their efforts to achieve goals
Collective efficacy: a high level of confidence about success at the tasks the group accepts
Esprit de corps: positive group affect
Implication:
Measurement is complex!
Collective Efficacy
Task
Teamwork
Cohesion
Group morale, esprit de corps
Moti-
vation

6. Special Issue: Hazing
Hazing, or severe initiations, can increase members’ commitment to the group
Festinger, Schachter’s and Back’s classic study of the “Seekers” suggested initiations create dissonance
Aronson and Mill’s study of severe initiations
Alternative interpretations and the dangers of hazing

7. Does Cohesion Develop Over Time?
Cohesion develops over time in a relatively predictable pattern
Tuckman's five-stage model of group development

8. Performing
Task
Norming
Storming
Adjourning
Forming

9. Does Cohesion Develop Over Time?
Types of group development models
Successive-stage theories: Tuckman
Cyclical models: Bales's equilibrium model
Punctuated equilibrium models: periods of accelerated change

10. What are The Positive and Negative Consequences of Cohesion?
Cohesion tends to lead to:
Increased member satisfaction
Decreased employee turnover and stress
Cohesive groups can intensify emotional and social processes. Such groups can:
Be more emotionally demanding (e.g, the old sergeant syndrome)
Exert more conformity pressure on members
Suffer from groupthink
Respond with more hostility

11. Cohesion and Performance

12. Road crews

13. Cohesion and Performance
.51
Attraction
Unity
(Group Pride)
Task Focus (teamwork)
.23
.18
.03
Cohesion
Performance
.25
Norms are also critically
important

14. The cohesion-performance relationship is weakest if group norms do not encourage high productivity
Groups with norms that stress productivity
P r o d u c t i v i t y
Groups with norms that stress low productivity

15. Should Organizations Rely on Teams to Enhance Productivity?
What is a team?
A specialized, relatively organized, task focused group
Features (same as any group):
Interaction
Interdependence
Structure
Goals
Cohesion
Types of teams

16. Management Project Advisory Service Production Action
Type and Subtypes
Function
Examples
Management
Executive
Plan, direct
Board of directors, city council
Command
Integrate, coordinate
Control tower, combat center
Project
Negotiation
Deal, persuade
Labor-management, international treaty
Commission
Choose, investigate
Search committee, jury
Design
Create, develop
Research and development team, marketing group
Advisory
Diagnose, suggest
Quality circle, steering committee
Service
Provide, repair
Fast food, auto service team
Production
Build, assemble
Home construction, automotive assembly
Action
Medical
Treat, heal
Surgery, ER
Response
Protect, rescue
Fire station, paramedics
Military
Neutralize, protect
Infantry squad, tank crew
Transportation
Convey, haul
Airline cockpit, train crew
Sports
Compete, win
Baseball, soccer
Source: Adapted from Devine, 2002.

17. Should Organizations Rely on Teams to Enhance Productivity?
Team building
Setting and clarifying goals and roles
Designing teams: size, communication features, authority, organization, duration, composition
Practicing (training): orienting, distributing resources, pacing, coordinating responses, and motivating members
Process consultation
Building cohesion by increasing communal perspective, efficacy
Team approaches are reliably associated with increases in effectiveness and satisfaction.