10Chapter

Understanding Groups and Managing Work Teams

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Learning Outcomes

• Define a group and describe the stages of group development

• Describe the major concepts of group behavior

• Discuss how groups are turned into effective teams

• Discuss contemporary issues in managing teams

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What Is a Group?

• Group– Two or more interacting

and interdependent individuals who come together to achieve specific goals

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What Are the Stages of Group Development?• Forming Stage– The first stage of group development in which

people join the group and then define the group’s purpose, structure, and leadership

• Storming Stage– The second stage of group development, which is

characterized by intragroup conflict

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Group Development Stages (cont.)

• Norming Stage– The third stage of group development, which is

characterized by close relationships and cohesiveness

• Performing Stage– The fourth stage of group development, when the

group is fully functional and works on the group task

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Group Development Stages (cont.)

• Adjourning Stage– The final stage of

group development for temporary groups, during which groups prepare to disband

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What Are the Major Concepts of Group Behavior?• Role– Behavior patterns expected of someone who

occupies a given position in a social unit

• Norms– Standards or expectations that are accepted and

shared by a group’s members

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What Is Status and Why Is It Important?• Status– A prestige grading,

position, or rank within a group

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Does Group Size Affect Behavior?

Large Groups – are good for gaining diverse input

Small Groups– Are typically faster at implementation

• Social Loafing– The tendency for individuals to expend less effort

when working collectively than when working individually

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How Are Groups Turned into Effective Teams?• 80 percent of Fortune 500 use teams• Teams typically outperform individuals when the

tasks require multiple skills, judgment, and experience

• Work Teams– Groups whose members work intensely on

specific, common goals using their positive synergy, individual and mutual accountability, and complementary skills

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Types of Work Teams

• Problem-Solving Teams– A team from the same department or functional

area that’s involved in efforts to improve work activities or to solve specific problems

• Self-Managed Work Team– A type of work team that operates without a

manager and is responsible for a complete work process or segment

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Types of Teams (cont.)

• Cross-Functional Team– Teams made up of individuals from various

departments and that cross traditional departmental lines

• Virtual Team– A type of work team that uses technology to link

physically dispersed members in order to achieve a common goal

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WHAT FACTORS MAKE A TEAM EFFECTIVE?• Adequate Resources – the team’s ability is reduced without adequate resources

• Team Leadership and Structure– all members contribute in the work

• Trust– Team members must trust each

• Performance Evaluation and Reward System– Members have to be accountable both individually and

jointly

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