26 Questions
What is the primary purpose of social norms in a group?
To influence individual behavior and ensure conformity
What is the result when an individual tries to conform to the norms of a reference group?
They avoid being visibly different from others in the group
What is the term for the tendency of individuals to not work as hard in groups as they would on an individual basis?
Social Loafing
What type of norms define acceptable standards of behavior within a group?
Group Norms
What was the result of Solomon Asch's studies on conformity?
Members with differing opinions feel extensive pressure to align with others
What is the term for the groups that an individual uses to define themselves and conform to its norms?
Reference Groups
What happens to individuals who do not conform to group norms?
They are excluded from the group
What is the result of deviant workplace behavior?
Negative impact on group performance
What type of behavior violates significant organizational norms and threatens the well-being of the organization or its members?
Deviant behavior
When are group norms likely to flourish?
When group members are in groups and supported by group norms
What is the term for the unequal distribution of work among group members?
Dispersion of responsibility
What can set group goals, increase inter-group competition, and engage in peer evaluation to prevent deviant behavior?
Prevention
What is the term for a socially defined position or rank given to groups or group members by others?
Status
According to Status Characteristics theory, what determines a person's status?
All of the above
How do high-status members often behave in groups?
They resist conformity pressures
What is the moderating variable for productivity and cohesiveness in groups?
Performance-related norms
What is a key characteristic of smaller groups in terms of task completion?
They are faster at completing tasks
What technique is used to restrict discussion during the decision-making process to encourage independent thinking?
Nominal Group Technique (NGT)
What is a result of group discussions in group decision-making?
Members tend to assume new, more extreme positions
What is a characteristic of groupthink?
A deterioration of individual's mental efficiency
What is a benefit of smaller groups in terms of problem-solving?
They generate more complete information and knowledge
What is a technique used to generate a list of creative alternatives?
Brainstorming
What is a limitation of group decision-making?
Discussions can be dominated by one or a few members
What is a characteristic of groupshift?
Members tend to assume new, more extreme positions
What is a way to minimize groupthink?
Limit group size
What is a cultural difference that affects group decision-making?
The importance of status
Study Notes
Role Expectations and Conflict
- Role expectations are what others believe one should act in a given situation
- Role conflict occurs when multiple roles are incompatible
Social Norms and Influence
- Social norms are acceptable standards of behavior within a group that are shared by its members
- Norms strongly influence individual output and work behavior
- Reference groups are groups in which a person is aware of other members and defines themselves as a member
- Solomon Asch studies showed that members desire to conform to norms and avoid being visibly different
Deviant Workplace Behavior
- Deviant workplace behavior is voluntary behavior that violates significant organizational norms and threatens the well-being of the organization or its members
- It tends to flourish when supported by group norms and when people are in groups
- Causes include unequal distribution of work and dispersion of responsibility
- Prevention methods include setting group goals, increasing inter-group competition, peer evaluation, and distributing group rewards based on individual contributions
Group Properties
- Group Property 1: Social Norms
- Group Property 2: Status - a socially defined position or rank given to groups or group members by others
- Group Property 3: Size - smaller groups complete tasks faster, while larger groups are better at problem-solving
- Group Property 4: Cohesiveness - the degree to which members are attracted to each other and motivated to stay in the group
- Group Property 5: Conformity - the tendency of members to conform to group norms
Group Decision Making
- Strengths: generate more complete information, increased diversity of views, increased acceptance of a solution
- Weaknesses: takes longer, conformity pressures, discussions can be dominated by a few members, ambiguous responsibility for the final outcome
Effectiveness and Efficiency
- Effectiveness: group accuracy, speed, creativity, and degree of acceptance
- Efficiency: groups are generally less efficient
Decision-Making Techniques
- Brainstorming: generates a list of creative alternatives
- Nominal Group Technique (NGT): restricts discussion during the decision-making process to encourage independent thinking
Groupthink
- Symptoms: deterioration of individual mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgments as a result of group pressures
- Prevention: minimize groupthink by limiting group size, encouraging input from all members, and appointing a devil's advocate
Test your knowledge of organizational behavior concepts, including role expectations, conflict, and social norms. Evaluate your understanding of research conclusions and more.
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