UNIT IVGROUP INFLUENCES

DEFINITIONAccording to Stephen Robbins,” A group may be

defined as two or more individuals interacting and interdependent who have come together to achieve particular objectives’

According to Edgar.H.Schien “ A group may be defined as a social phenomenon in which two or more persons decide to interact with one another ,share common ideology and perceive themselves as a group.

NATURE OF GROUP1)Two or More persons: To form a group there should be at least two persons because a

single individual cannot interact. However there cannot be may any specific limit on the maximum number of persons in a group but the size of the group will be determined by rules and regulation of the organization .

2) Collective identity: Members of the group must be aware about the membership of

the group. Each member of the group must believe that he is a member of , is a participant in, some specific groups. It is the awareness of each other that most clearly differentiates a group from an aggregation of individuals. In the case of aggregation of individuals , they are ordinarily not aware of one another or, if aware, do not interact with each other in a meaningful way

NATURE OF GROUP3)Interaction: Members of the group interact among themselves. Interaction

means that each member shares his ideas with others through communications and this communication can take place face to face in writing, over the telephone, across a computer network, or in any other manner which allows communication among group members. However, it is not necessary for all members of the group to interact simultaneously, but each member must interact at least occasionally with one or more members of the group

4) Shared Goal Interest: Members of the group should subscribe to the attainment of some

common objectives. However, it is not necessary that each member subscribes to or agrees with all the objectives of the group. If a group has a variety of objectives or interests, each member of the group must share at least one of the group’s concerns. The shared goal interest binds the group member together

Types of Groups

Formal Groups

1. Command Groups

2. Task Groups

Informal Groups

1. Friendship Groups

2. Interest Groups

1. Small and Large Groups

2. Primary and Secondary Groups

3. Membership and Reference Groups

4. Temporary and Permanent Groups

5. Nominal and Non-Performing Groups

Defining and Classifying GroupsGroup(s)

Two or more individuals interacting and interdependent, who have come together to achieve particular objectives.

Formal Group

A designated work group defined by the organization’s structure.

Informal Group

A group that is neither formally structured now organizationally determined; appears in response to the need for social contact.

Defining and Classifying Groups (cont’d)Command Group

A group composed of the individuals who report directly to a given manager.

Ex: Production Mgr and his Subordinates

Task Group

Those working together to

complete a job or task.

Interest Group

Interest Groups are composed of individuals who may not be members of the same organisation but they are united

by their interest.Ex: Group of Professors who organise seminar on Law and Order

Friendship Group

Those brought together because they share one or more common characteristics.

Defining and Classifying Groups (cont’d)Small Group

One a few members

Face to Face Communication is possible

Large Group

Members is very high

Personal Interaction is not Possible

Membership Group

Membership groups are ones to which the individual actually belongs

Reference Group

Is the one which an individually identifies or to which he likes to belong, it can be an imaginary group

Defining and Classifying Groups (cont’d)Primary Groups

It is made of members who have similar and loyalties and has a feeling of friendship towards each other

Ex: Peer Group and Family

Secondary Groups:

They share values and beliefs but they do not interact often each other

Ex: Occupational Association

Temporary Groups

Groups are formed for achieving certain objective

Ex: Committees and Meetings

Permanent Groups

They have group activities, group performance and job assignments

Ex: Trade Union and Business Association

Defining and Classifying Groups (cont’d)Nominal Groups

Presented with problems to be solved

Members share their ideas in a structured format

Non-performing Groups

Only on Paper

Difference between Formal Group and Informal GroupBasis of Difference Formal Group Informal Group

Formation Well Planned Unplanned

Objective To achieve predetermined objective

It has no predetermined objective

Structure It has an official hierarchy Its structure is based on human emotions and sentiments

Authority Institutional Informal Influence

Leadership The managers who have authority provide leadership

Informal leadership is not appointed but chosen by the group

Human Relations Do not take care of human sentiments

Reflects human aspect

Flexibility Rigid Structure Loosely Structured

Stability Usually Stable May dissolve due to internal or external changes

Why People Join Groups

• Personal Attraction• Safety & Security• Status & Self esteem• Opportunity for Interaction• Group Goal• Power

Reasons for Joining GroupGroups come into being for a number of reasons, which are as

follows:1)Personal Attraction:

Even in formal group settings when people are required to work together, the strength and cohesion of the group will be determined by the extent that individuals find other members attractive

2) Safety and Security: Groups enable individuals to develop their belonging needs.

Apart from the need to feel “loved, the group meets security needs as individuals feel protected by the group.

3) Status and Self esteem: Groups often develop a sense of worth and status that confers

greater self esteem on members. These feelings are enhanced if membership is perceived to be exclusive or difficult

4) Opportunity for Interaction: Having opportunities to interact with and take part in group

activities is essential if people are to develop the sense of affiliation with others.

Reasons for Joining GroupGroups come into being for a number of reasons, which are as

follows:5) Group Goal: Sharing a set of common objectives is important to building

the sense of common purpose and the norms required for the maintenance of a sense of identity and the way the group differentiates itself

6) Power: Groups can exert more power when dealing with non group

members than the collection of individuals would be able to achieve. For eg: trade union membership provides an opportunity for the employee group to both protect and promote employee interests.

Stages of Group Development

Five stage model of group formation

Members get to know

each other & set ground

rules

Members come to

ResistControl by

group Leaders &

Showhostility

MembersWork

Togetherdeveloping

CloseRelationships& feelings ofCohesiveness

Group members

worktowards Getting

their jobs done

Group may

disband eitherafter

meeting their goals or because members

Leave

Stage IForming

Stage IIStorming

Stage IIINorming

Stage IVPerforming

Stage VAdjourning

The Five-Stage Model of Group Development

Forming StageThe first stage in group development, The forming stage represents a time where the group is just starting to come together and is characterized with anxiety and uncertainty.

Storming StageThe second stage in group development, is where conflict and competition are at its greatest. Issues related to the group's tasks, individual roles and responsibilities or even with the group members themselves are discussed.

Norming StageThe third stage in group development, characterized by close relationships

and cohesiveness. Leadership is shared, and members are willing to adapt to the needs of the group.

…Group Development (cont’d)Performing Stage

The fourth stage in group development, when the group is fully functional. The team has a shared vision and is able to stand on its own feet with no interference or participation from the leader. The team has a high degree of autonomy. Adjourning Stage

The final stage in group development is Adjourning – It is the break-up of the group, hopefully when the task is completed successfully, its purpose fulfilled; everyone can move on to new things, feeling good about what's been achieved.

DEFINITION OF GROUP EFFECTIVENESSTeam effectiveness (also referred to as group

effectiveness) is the capacity a team has to accomplish the goals or objectives administered by an authorized personnel or the organization.

MODEL OF GROUP EFFECTIVENESS Group effectiveness is influenced by multiple factors. A simplified

model of group effectiveness has been conceptualized in terms of input, processes and outcomes.

In input variables, the model included organizational context –environment,structure,layout,technology,incentive system:

Nature of task – task complexity, procedure and group member resources – skills and abilities, work values, number of members.

Similarly, process variables included cohesiveness, norms,roles,decision making,synergy,social facilitation etc.

At outcome level the model includes quality, quantity timeliness of performance, group morale and members satisfaction.

MODEL OF GROUP EFFECTIVENESS Based on various researchers following suggestions are made to improve

group effectiveness1) Groups exist within larger organizational context, Organizational

structure, strategy, authority relationships, selection procedure, motivational structure, organizational layout and workflow etc will influence group productivity. Where organizational climate is supportive, resources are abundant and company follows meritocracy, group is likely to perform well. Managers should therefore look the group performance in context and try to provide supportive context.

2) Keep the groups smaller generally having five or seven members perform better performance due to better adherence to group norms and cohesiveness. Smaller groups also more satisfied members.

3) In order to collaborative norms organization should reward group performance rather than individual performance

4) Complex tasks requires more focused interaction as compare to simple tasks. Thus group will require more frequent an d more intense interaction for solving complex problems.

5) Group members if having requisite skills to tackle the problem, group's effectiveness will be high

6) If group’s goals are aligned with organizational goals and cohesiveness is high,

MODEL OF GROUP EFFECTIVENESS group performance will be high. Thus managers need to encourage groups

to internalize organizational goals.7) Groups must use decisions techniques that minimizes the possibility of

group think.8) Managers need to encourage shared leadership concept where

members can interchange the task and groups building roles. Self oriented behavior should be minimized.

9) To minimize social loafing develop task structure, specialized roles, and some measure to assess individual contribution to group achievement.

10) When the task is interdependent use effective communication and minimize conflict to enhance high productivity.

11) Groups within an organization should not pitted against each other to compete for scarce resources, instead emphasis should be on pooling and sharing of resources and work for super ordinate goals of organization

12) Educate and train group members in group process and group dynamics.

Organizational Context

1) Work environment, Setting , Layout

2) Workflow Arrangement

3) Group Size4) Incentives

Nature of Task1)Task Complexity2) Procedure

Members Resources1) Skills, abilities,

Experience2) Work Values3) Number of

Members

1)Cohesiveness2) Norms3) Rules4) Decision Making5) Synergy and6) Social Facilitation

Group EffectivenessTask Performance1) Quality2) Quantity3) Creativity4) Timeliness5) Group

Morale6) Member

Satisfaction

Inputs

Processes

Outcomes

Model of Group Effectiveness

Group Processes Group process refers to how an organization's members work

together to get things done. Typically, organizations spend a great deal of time and energy setting and striving to reach goals, but give little consideration to what is happening between and to the group's greatest resource - its members.

The Major group processes are as follows: 1) Group Norms: A norm is a rule of conduct that has been established by group

members to maintain consistency in behavior. This tells the individual how to behave in a particular group. When agreed to and accepted by the group, norms act as a means of influencing the behavior of group members with a minimum of external controls. Norms differ among groups, communities and societies but they all have them. They are set of beliefs, feelings and attitudes commonly shard by group members. These are also referred to as rules or standards of behavior that apply to group members. All groups have established norms, that is, acceptable standards of behavior that are shared by the group’s members.

2) Group Cohesiveness: Cohesiveness is a measure of the attraction of the group to its

members (and the resistance to leaving it), the sense of team spirit and the willingness

Group Processes of its members to coordinate their efforts. Compared with

members of a low cohesive group, those in high cohesive group will therefore be keen to attend meetings, be satisfied with the group use, be cooperative and friendly with each other and be more effective in achieving the aims they set for themselves. The low cohesive group will be marked by absenteeism, the growth of cliques and factions and a sense of frustration at the lack of attainment.

3) Decision Making: Decision-making is an act of choice wherein an individual or a

group selects a particular course of action form the available alternatives in a given situation. Decision making is at the core of managerial planning. It involves establishing goals, defining tasks, searching for alternatives and choice of the best alternative. In an organization, decision making may be carried out by both individuals and groups. In modern organization facing the environmental uncertainties, group decision making has become almost indispensable.

Importance of Group1)Performs Complex Task: Groups can be a means of working on a complex and independent

tasks that are too complex for an individual to perform and that cannot be easily broken down into independent tasks

2) Generate New ideas: Groups can be a means of generating new ideas or creative

solutions to solve problems that require inputs from a number of people. The multi various skills required for the performance of a complex and difficult job is available within a group.

3) Serves as a Liaison: Groups can serve as liaison or coordinating functions among

several workgroups whose work is to some extent interdependent.

4) Facilitates Complex Decision Making: Groups can be used to facilitate the implementation of complex

decisions. A group composed of representatives from various working groups can coordinated activities of these interrelated groups. In a large organization there will be number of problems, conflicting views etc for decision making.

Importance of Group One needs a vehicle to air these views after due consideration.

Only a powerful group can provide this as “Union is Strength”5) Serves as Problem Solving Mechanism: Groups can serve as problem solving mechanism when problem

requires the processing of complex information, interaction among members with different information and critical assessment of possible alternative solutions.

6) Serves as Vehicle of Socialization: Groups can be used as a vehicle of socialization and training. By

bringing several people together into training situations, a common message can be imparted a common group perspective is developed.

7) Acts as a Agent: In order to share the common values and beliefs of the

organization to the new employees the group cab be highly useful. The group educates the new employees will be more powerful and effective than by the authority of management.