Steiners Taxonomy of Task

Prepared By: Dhruval Patel Krunal Bosamia

Introduction

Steiner's taxonomy of group tasks are often studied when dealing with process losses in groups. Process loss is observed in groups when there is a reduction in their performance effectiveness or efficiency. This could be due to a variety of interpersonal processes, which may be caused by either motivation loss or coordination loss.

The most Inferior Group Member - IGM

On most tasks, a group's performance is the result of a combination of everyone's effort. The group's overall performance depends on the most inferior group member (IGM).

The speed and quality of the work is dependent on the least skilled member of the group.

In this way, this group member is like the rate determining step, It would be to the benefit of the group to assign the easiest subtask to such a member.

Building an Effective Team

Steiners social combination theory predicts productivity depends on Group composition: Who is in the group, how do they fit together? The groups task: What must the group do to reach its goals?

Group Composition
Members knowledge, skills, abilities, or KSAs outperform less skilled groups the best individuals make the best teams Group Diversity may outperform less diverse groups because their wide range of talents & traits enhances their cognitive flexibility i.e., creativity, alternatives, solutions

Men and women in performance groups (solo status)

Tasks & Task Demand

Distinguishes between the types of tasks groups perform based on how members inputs are combined Task Demands the effect that a problem or tasks features, including its divisibility and difficulty, have on the procedures the group can use to complete the task Asks three basic questions... Divisibility, Quantity vs. Quality, Interdependence

Task Demands
Question Task Type
Divisible

Qualities
Subcomponents can be identified and assigned to specific members

Examples
Playing a football game Building a house Preparing a sixcourse meal Pulling on a rope Reading a book Solving a math problem

Can the task be broken down into subtasks?

Unitary

The task does not have subcomponents

Quantity v/s. Quality

Quantity:

Maximizing Is quantity produced more important than quality of performance ?

The more produced the better the performance

Generating many ideas Lifting a great weight Scoring the most goals

Quality:

Optimizing

A correct or optimal solution is needed

Developing the best answer Solving a math problem

Interdependence
Additive Compensatory
Individual inputs are added together Decision is made by averaging together individual decisions

Pulling a rope Shoveling snow

How are individual inputs combined to yield a group product ?

Estimating a pigs weight by asking 3 people to guess & averaging their guesses Averaging ratings of job applicants

Disjunctive

Group selects one solution or product from a pool of members solutions or products

Picking one persons answer to a math problem to be the groups answer Letting one art project represent the entire school

Conjunctive

All group members must contribute to the product for it to be completed

Group decides how individual inputs relate to group product

Climbing a mountain Eating a meal as a group

Discretionary

Deciding to shovel snow together Choosing to vote on the best answer to a problem

Types of Tasks
Additive Task a task or project that a group can complete by cumulative combining of members input Compensatory Task a task or project that a group can complete by averaging together individual members solutions or recommendations Groups outperform individuals on additive tasks and compensatory tasks.

Cont..

.. Cont

Disjunctive Task a task or project that is completed when a single solution, decision, or recommendation is adopted by the group
Groups perform well on disjunctive tasks if the group includes at least one individual who knows the correct solution (truth-wins rule on Eureka problems) Groups rarely perform better than the best member (synergy, or an assembly bonus effect) Cont..

..Cont Conjunctive Task a task that can be completed successfully only if all group members contribute Groups perform poorly on conjunctive tasks unless less skilled members increase their efforts (the Kohler Effect) or the task can be subdivided. Kohler Effect an increase in performance by groups working on conjunctive tasks that require persistence but little coordination of effort and is likely due to the increase effort expended by the less capable members.

Thank you,