Chapter 10 - Group Dynamics Flashcards
Define Team
- Small group of people with
- Complementary skils
- Commitment to a common purpose
- Approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable
Define Group
- Collection of people performing as individuals who:
- Share collective norms and goals
- Have a common identity
What is the difference between a Formal Group and an Informal Group?
Formal Group
- Established to do something productive for the organisation
- Headed by a leader
Informal Group
- Formed by people seeking friendship
- Has no officially appointed leader although can spontantenously emerge among the members
List and define the 5 Stages of Group and Team Development
Forming
- Getting oriented and acquainted
Storming
- Emergence of individual personalities, roles and conflicts within the group
Norming
- Conflicts are resolved, close relationships develop, and unity and harmony emerge
- Group coheres, evolving into a team
Performing
- Members concentrate on solving problems and completing the assigned tasks
Adjourning
- The work of the group/team is completed
- Members prepare for disbandment
What should Leaders do in the 1st Stage of Group and Team Development, ‘Forming’?
- Allow time for people to become acquainted and socialise; through icebreakers etc.
What should Leaders do in the 2nd Stage of Group and Team Development, ‘Storming’?
- Leaders should encourage members to suggest ideas, voice disagreements, and work through their conflicts about tasks and goals
What should Leaders do in the 3rd Stage of Group and Team Development, ‘Norming’?
- Leaders should emphasise unity and help identify team goals and values
What should Leaders do in the 4th Stage of Group and Team Development, ‘Performing’?
- Leaders should allow members the empowerment they need to work on tasks
- Empower the capable members, help the less capable ones.
What should Leaders do in the 5th Stage of Group and Team Development, ‘Adjourning’?
- Leaders can help ease the transition by celebrating “the end” and “new beginnings”
What are the Advantages of Teamwork?
- Increased productivity
- Increased speed (production, transport etc.)
- Reduced costs (bulk purchases)
- Improved quality (QA/QC checks)
- Reduced destructive internal competition (working as a one united ogranisation)
- Improved workplace cohesiveeness (through rewards)
List the 9 Factors for Building Effective Teams
- Cooperation
- Trust
- Cohesiveness
- Performance Goals and Feedback
- Motivation through Mutual Accountability
- Size
- Roles
- Norms
- Awareness of Groupthink
Define Cohesiveness
- Is the degree to which members are motivated to stay in their group/team
What are the Characteristics of Members in a Cohesive Group/Team?
- Strong group/team identity
- Strong group/team loyalty
- Strong support for group/team’s goals
- Mutually protective of one another
- Proud of group/team’s achievements
- The more cohesive a group/team, the more closely it will follow its norms
What are 10 Ways to Improve Cohesiveness?
- Keep team small
- Encourage members’ interaction and cooperation
- Emphasize members’ common characteristics
- Strive for a favourable public image to enhance the team’s prestige
- Give each member a stake in the team’s success
- Point out threats from competitors to enhance team togetherness
- Ensure performance standards are clear and regularly update members on team goals
- Frequently remind members they need each other to get things done
- Direct each member’s special talents toward the common goals
- Recognize each member’s potential
Define Norms
- Are general guidelines of behaviour that group members follow
- Examples include dressing norms, performance norms, interaction norms etc.
