7. Group Dynamics

Question 1

Groups

Answer 1

Two or more people interacting interdependently to achieve a common goal

Question 2

Formal group

Answer 2

group established by organisations to facilitate the achievement of goals

Question 3

Informal Group

Answer 3

group that emerges naturally in response to common interest of members

Question 4

Assumption of groups (3)

Answer 4

1. Synergy – group performance better than assembly of single performance
2. Effectiveness – whether you actually achieve a goal
3. Efficiency – achieving the same goal with fewer resources

Question 5

results of groups

Answer 5

Groups tend to perform better than average individual but often worse than the best individual

Question 6

strengths of groups (4)

Answer 6

1. More complete information and knowledge
2. Increase diversity of views
3. Increased acceptance of better solutions
4. Diffusion of responsibility

Question 7

weaknesses (4)

Answer 7

1. Time consuming
2. Conformity (groupthink)
3. Domination by small numbers
4. Diffusion of responsibility (social loafing)

Question 8

Groupthink

Answer 8

situation where group pressures for conformity deter the group from critically evaluate unusual, unpopular or minority opinions

Question 9

reasons for conforming (agreeing with other people)

Answer 9

1. Don’t want to be trouble makers
2. Cultural influences (individualistic less likely)
3. People rate dominant individuals as more competent when they are not (especially in individualistic cultures), thus dominant members yield most influences

Question 10

solutions to groupthink (4)

Answer 10

devil’s advocacy
dialectic inquiry
bringing in expert or outsiders
anonymous evaluation of ideas

Question 11

devil’s advocacy

Answer 11

taking a position they do not necessarily agree with for further reasoning

Question 12

Dialectic inquiry

Answer 12

discover truth through examining and interrogating competing ideas

Question 13

social loafing

Answer 13

tendency to withhold physical or mental effort when performing a group task

Question 14

cause and solution to social loafing

Answer 14

Cause is due to the diffusion of responsibility. More pronounced in individualistic cultures. To counteract, make individual performances visible.