Groups and Teams in Organizations

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is a key characteristic of a group?

Independent members (correct)

Achieving individual goals

A collective identity

A single leader

What is a key characteristic of a team?

Independent members

Achieving individual goals

A collective identity (correct)

A single leader

How do groups typically make decisions?

Debate, decide, and delegate

Discuss, decide, and do

Debate, decide, and do

Discuss, decide, and delegate (correct)

What is the concept where group members conform to the majority opinion to maintain harmony?

Groupthink Signup and view all the answers

Who typically leads a group?

A single leader Signup and view all the answers

How are team members accountable?

Both individually and mutually Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of a group?

Individual goals Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between a group and a team?

Interdependence of members Signup and view all the answers

What is a group of individuals who share resources and information to complete a task?

A collection of individuals Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for a formal group to be formed?

To complete a job task Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a reason why groups stay together?

Security Signup and view all the answers

What is a type of team that takes on responsibilities of a supervisor?

Self-managed work team Signup and view all the answers

Which type of team is formed by members from the same department?

Problem-solving team Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a virtual team?

Members are tied together by technology Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of group members that can lead to groupthink?

Similar group members Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the tendency of individuals to put forth less effort when they are part of a group?

Social loafing Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of appointing a devil's advocate in a group?

To stimulate critical thinking and alternative ideas Signup and view all the answers

Which stage of group development is characterized by conflict and uncertainty?

Storming Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a group's view of its own ability to achieve its goals?

Collective efficacy Signup and view all the answers

What is the final stage of group development for temporary groups?

Adjourning or Transforming Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the advantages of working in teams?

More ideas and better quality Signup and view all the answers

What is a criterion for effective team performance?

The outcomes must be achieved within budget Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of individual decision making?

Less ideas Signup and view all the answers

What is a way to improve team performance?

Training Signup and view all the answers

What can happen in a group decision making scenario?

Groupthink Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of group decision making?

Greater commitment to the decision Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of working in teams?

Conflict Signup and view all the answers

What is an advantage of individual decision making?

Fast decision making Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Groups and Teams

Groups

A collection of individuals who share resources and information to complete a task.
Types of groups:
- Formal: determined by the organization chart, focused on task completion.
- Informal: formed based on interest or friendship, focused on shared objectives.

Reasons Groups Stay Together

Security
Status
Self-esteem
Affiliation
Power
Goal achievement
Attractiveness

Teams

A group of people with a collective identity joined together to accomplish a goal.
Types of teams:
- Self-managed work
- Problem-solving
- Cross-functional
- Virtual

Groups vs Teams

Groups: collection of individuals working independently to achieve a task, one leader, independent, individual goals, discuss, decide, and delegate.
Teams: group of people with collective identity, shared, participative, interdependent, mutual accountability, accomplish goals collectively, discuss, decide, and do.

Groupthink

A phenomenon where members conform to majority opinion to maintain group harmony rather than stating their own opinions.
Occurs when members are similar, cohesive, and lack diverse perspectives.
Solutions:
- Limit group size
- Diverse group members
- Leaders must not give own ideas, get other input first
- Appoint devil's advocate
- Decision techniques

Group Properties

Conformity: behavior that follows the requirements of a group or society.
Social loafing: tendency of individuals to put forth less effort when part of a group.
Cohesiveness: sticking together.
Collective efficacy: a group's view of its own ability to achieve its goals.

Stages of Group Development

Forming (stage 1): group meets for the first time, uncertainty about leadership, purpose, and structure.
Storming (stage 2): conflict arises as members begin to push against constraints.
Norming (stage 3): group members know what is required of them, members are cohesive, purpose and leadership are clear.
Performing (stage 4): functioning group progressing towards their goals.
Adjourning or Transforming (stage 5): last step in the process for temporary groups, members have mixed feelings.

Team Effectiveness Criteria

Team must work well together to achieve objectives.
Get things done in time according to a reasonable schedule.
The outcomes need to meet minimum quality criteria.
The outcomes must be achieved within budget.
The team must grow in its ability and capacity.

Advantages of Working in Teams

More ideas and better quality.
Increase innovation.
Create an environment of support.
Boost individual confidence.
Good teams make the most of individual talents.
Create better communication and respectful relationships among employees.

Disadvantages of Working in Teams

Agreement is difficult to reach.
Conflict.
Ignore other perspectives.
Uncooperative individuals in the team.
Some members are ignored or feel insignificant.
The more conflict, the less innovation, the farther the team gets from implementation and meeting goals.
Social loafing.
Strong personalities take over the team.
Strained relationships.

Improving Team Performance

Training.
Selection.
Rewards.
Teambuilding.
Team Design.

Individual vs Group Decision Making

Individual:
- Pros: fast, best individual outperforms group, accountability.
- Cons: less ideas, determining best individual not easy, individual may procrastinate.
Group:
- Pros: diverse and creative ideas, greater commitment to decision, better solutions, interaction builds relationships and trust.
- Cons: takes longer, conflict, groupthink, social loafing.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Learn about the different types of groups, including formal and informal groups, and understand the reasons why groups stay together.