powerpoint presentation by jenny brinkies, swinburne university of technology © 2004 john wiley...
TRANSCRIPT
Powerpoint Presentation by Jenny Brinkies, Swinburne University of Technology© 2004 John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd
Chapter 7
Groups and group dynamics
What is a Group?
• Groups are collections of two or more people who work with one another regularly to achieve one or more common goals.
Formal Groups
• Permanent formal work groups
• Temporary work groups
Informal Groups
• Friendship groups
• Interest groups
Purpose of Groups in Organisations
• Meeting organisational needs
• Meeting individual needs
• Benefiting organisations and individuals
Key Concerns for Managing Groups
• Advantages of groups
• Disadvantages of groups
Groups and Task Performance
• Synergy
• Social loafing
• Disruptive behaviour
Group Norms and Group Roles
• Group norms
• Group position roles
• Group function roles
Characteristics of Group Effectiveness
• Effective groups are groups that achieve high levels of both task performance and human resource maintenance.
Groups as Open Systems
• Open systems interact with the environment to transform resource inputs into outputs.
• The environment of any group consists of other individuals and groups with whom the group interacts.
Foundations of Group Effectiveness
• The better the group inputs, the better the chance of group effectiveness.
Organisational Setting
• Goals, reward systems and technologies
• Cultures and structures
Nature of Group Tasks
• Ego involvement
• Ends agreement
• Means agreement
General Membership Characteristics
• Interpersonal compatibilities
• Membership homogeneity/heterogeneity
Group size
Key Obstacles to Group Effectiveness
• Lack of direction
• Infighting
• Shirking of responsibilities
• Lack of trust
Group Processes and Group Effectiveness
• Required behaviours
• Emergent behaviours
Stages of Group Development
• Forming
• Storming
• Initial integration
• Total integration
• Adjourning
The Forming Stage
• The first stage of group development, in which the primary concern is the initial entry of members to the group.
The Storming Stage
• The second stage of group development which is marked by a period of high emotion and tension among group members.
The Initial Integration Stage
• The third stage of group development, at which the group begins to come together as a coordinated unit.
The Total Integration Stage
• The fourth stage of group development which sees the emergence of a mature, organised and well-functioning group.
The Adjourning Stage
• The last stage, in which members of the group disband when the job is done.
Communication Patterns in Groups
• Interacting groups
• Decentralised communication networks
• Co-acting groups
• Centralised communication networks
• Counteracting groups
Communication Networks
Decision Making in Groups
• Edgar Schein’s methods
• U.S. Center for Rural Studies
Groupthink
• The tendency of members in highly cohesive groups to lose their critical, evaluative capabilities.
Symptoms of Groupthink
• Illusions of group invulnerability
• Rationalising unpleasant data
• Belief in inherent group morality
• Negative stereotyping of outsiders
Symptoms of Groupthink
• Applying pressure to deviants
• Self-censorship of members
• Illusions of unanimity
• Mind guarding
Improving Group Decision Making
• Individual contributions plus group process gains minus group process losses = group decision effectiveness
Group Tasks and Maintenance Needs
• Group task performance
• Group maintenance
Intergroup Dynamics
• Workflow interdependency
• Structural factors
• Dynamics of intergroup competition