Groups and Teams

Social loafing effect: Social facilitation effect: Conflict among the team members: Poor leadership:

Defining and classifying groups

A group is defined as two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to achieve particular objectives. Formal groups are defined by the organizations structure, with designated work assignments establishing tasks. Informal groups are alliances that are neither formally structured nor organizationally determined.

Why do people join groups?

Security: Status: Self-esteem: Affiliation: Power: Goal achievement:

Stages of group formation

The five-stage model: Forming: Storming: Norming: Performing: Adjourning:

Group properties
Roles: A set of expected behavior patterns attributed to someone
occupying a given position in a social unit.

Norms: Acceptable standards of behavior within a group that are

shared by the groups members.

Status: A socially defined position or rank given to groups or group

members by others.

Size: Social loafing effect Cohesiveness: Degree to which group members are attracted to
each other and are motivated to stay in the group.

Roles:
Role experiment by Zimbardo:

Norms
Hawthorne experiment

Status: What determines status?

Status characteristics theory: Status and norms Status and group interaction Status inequality Status and culture

Group decision making

Groups vs individual Strengths of group decision making Strengths of individual decision making Effectiveness and efficiency

 Groupthink is a phenomenon in which the norm for

consensus overrides the realistic appraisal of alternative courses of action.

Groupshift is a change in decision risk between the

groups decision and the individual decision that members within the group would make; can be either toward conservatism or greater risk.

Group decision-making techniques

Interacting groups Brainstorming Nominal group technique Electronic meeting

Difference between groups and teams

A work group is a group that interacts primarily to share
information and to make decisions to help each member perform within his or her area of responsibility.

A work team generates positive synergy through

coordinated effort. Their individual efforts result in a level of performance that is greater than the sum of those individual inputs.

Types of teams

Why Have Teams Become So Popular

Teams typically outperform individuals. Teams use employee talents better. Teams are more flexible and responsive to changes in the environment. Teams facilitate employee involvement. Teams are an effective way to democratize an organization and increase motivation.

Team Versus Groups: Whats the Difference

Beware: Teams Arent Always the Answer

Three tests to see if a team fits the situation:
Is the work complex and is there a need for different perspectives? Does the work create a common purpose or set of goals for the group that is larger than the aggregate of the goals for individuals? Are members of the group involved in interdependent tasks?

Turning Individuals Into Team Players

The Challenges Overcoming individual resistance to team membership. Countering the influence of individualistic cultures. Introducing teams in an organization that has historically valued individual achievement. Shaping Team Players Selecting employees who can fulfill their team roles. Training employees to become team players. Reworking the reward system to encourage cooperative efforts while continuing to recognize individual contributions.

Contemporary Issues in Managing Teams

Team Effectiveness and Quality Management Requires That Teams:
1. 2. 3. 4. Are small enough to be efficient and effective. Are properly trained in required skills. Allocated enough time to work on problems. Are given authority to resolve problems and take corrective action. 5. Have a designated champion to call on when needed.

Creating effective teams

Context: where we are creating the team? Composition: who are going to be included? Work design: What is to be done? Process: How is it to be done?

Turning individuals into team players

Selection Training Rewards

A TeamEffectiveness Model