9.1 Work Groups: Basic Considerations

Work groups are essential in organizations, coming in formal and informal varieties. They serve various purposes, from achieving objectives to fulfilling social needs. Understanding group dynamics is crucial for managers to harness their potential and avoid pitfalls.

Groups develop through stages, from forming to adjourning. Along the way, they face challenges like conflict and social loafing. Effective groups overcome these hurdles, establishing norms and leveraging diverse skills to achieve goals and foster personal growth.

Types and Purposes of Work Groups

Formal vs informal work groups

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• Formal work groups intentionally created by an organization to achieve specific objectives have a defined structure, roles, and responsibilities (departments, project teams, committees)
• Informal work groups emerge naturally based on shared interests, values, or social interactions fulfill social and emotional needs of members can influence organizational culture and employee satisfaction (friendship groups, lunch groups, interest-based groups)

Reasons for Group Participation

Reasons for group participation

• Fulfillment of social needs provides a sense of belonging and acceptance offers opportunities for social interaction and support
• Achievement of common goals accomplished by pooling resources, knowledge, and skills leads to increased efficiency and effectiveness in task completion
• Access to information and resources gained through sharing expertise and experiences exposes members to diverse perspectives and ideas
• Influence and power attained through collective bargaining and negotiation enables advocacy for shared interests and concerns
• Personal and professional development facilitated by opportunities for learning and skill acquisition provides mentorship and guidance from experienced members

Stages of Group Development

Stages of group development

1. Forming stage where members become acquainted and establish initial relationships roles and responsibilities are unclear high dependence on leader for guidance and direction
2. Storming stage characterized by conflict and disagreements as members assert their opinions and ideas struggles for power and control emerge subgroups and cliques may form
3. Norming stage in which the group establishes norms, values, and expectations for behavior roles and responsibilities become clearer increased cohesion and cooperation among members (group cohesion)
4. Performing stage where the group focuses on achieving goals and objectives exhibits high levels of productivity and effectiveness members work collaboratively and support each other
5. Adjourning or Transforming stage occurs when the group completes its purpose or disbands members may experience a sense of loss or uncertainty reflection on accomplishments and lessons learned takes place

Group Dynamics and Behavior

Factors influencing group behavior

• Group dynamics: the interactions, processes, and patterns that occur within a group
• Social identity theory: explains how individuals' self-concept is influenced by their group memberships
• Groupthink: a phenomenon where group members prioritize consensus over critical thinking
• Social loafing: the tendency for individuals to exert less effort when working in a group
• Team effectiveness: the ability of a group to achieve its goals and objectives efficiently
• Leadership styles: different approaches to guiding and influencing group behavior
• Group norms and roles: shared expectations and assigned responsibilities within the group