Group Theory - Foundation

Question 1

Group

Answer 1

Collection of two or more people who work with one another regularly to achieve common goals or more than two employees who have an ongoing relationship in which they interact and influence one another’s behavior and performance.

Question 2

Importance

Answer 2

• Good for people ( security, confidence )
• Improve creativity
• Make better decisions
• Increase commitments to actions
• Help control their members

Question 3

What makes people join groups?

Answer 3

• Security
• Status
• Affiliation
• Self-esteem
• Power
• Goal Achievement

Question 4

Types of Groups

Answer 4

Formal - Command, Task
Informal - Interest, Friendship, Reference

Question 5

Formal Group

Answer 5

Setup by an organization to carry out work in support of the organization’s goals.

Question 6

Informal Group

Answer 6

Natural formations in the work environment appear in response to the need for social contact

Question 7

Formal Types

Answer 7

Command - Defined in terms of the organization’s hierarchy. eg: Board of Directors

Task - Comprises employees who work together to complete a specific task. eg: Production group, Marketing group, Manufacturing Group

Question 8

Informal Types

Answer 8

Interest - People who share common interests and work together to promote and influence others.

Friendship - Individual members have one or more common characteristics.

Reference - People use groups as a basis for making comparisons and decision making.

Question 9

Group Processes

Answer 9

Refers to the communication patterns used by members for
- Information Exchanges
- Group decision
- Leader Behavior
- Power Dynamics
- Conflicts Interactions

Question 10

Factors influencing Group processes

Answer 10

Internal and External Factors

Question 11

Internal Factors

Answer 11

• Interpersonal Relationships of members
• Coordination of group members
• Group Structure
• Group Norms
• Social Loafing
• Group decision-making ( Majority, Minority )

Question 12

External Factors

Answer 12

• Organization’s overall strategy
• Selection process
• Resource constraints
• Organization’s culture
• Authority Structure
• Performance and evaluation system

Question 13

Role Ambiguity

Answer 13

When people are uncertain about their duties and authority

Question 14

Role Conflict

Answer 14

When an individual’s performance in one role is made difficult by the performance in another role.

Question 15

Group Norms

Answer 15

Rules of the group.
Acceptable standards of behavior within a group that is shared by group members.
Tell the group members how to or not to behave in different situations.

Question 16

Classes of Norms

Answer 16

• Performance Norms
• Appearance Norms
• Social Arrangement Norms
• Allocation of resources Norms

Question 17

Tuckman’s Five-Stage Theory of Group Development

Answer 17

Proposed by Bruce Tuckman in 1965. This theory explains the various stages that a group goes through as it forms, develops, and achieves its goals.
1. Forming
2. Storming
3. Norming
4. Performing
5. Adjourning

Question 18

1. Forming

Answer 18

In this initial stage, group members come together and get acquainted with each other. They focus on understanding the purpose of the group, defining their roles, and establishing ground rules. There is often a sense of uncertainty and politeness during this stage as individuals try to fit in and understand the dynamics of the group.

Question 19

2. Storming

Answer 19

During the storming stage, conflicts and power struggles may arise as group members express their opinions and challenge idea leading to tension and disagreement. It is essential for the group to effectively manage conflicts and establish a framework for resolving them.

Question 20

3. Norming

Answer 20

In this stage, the group begins to resolve conflicts and establish norms, rules, and expectations for behavior. Trust and mutual respect gradually develop, facilitating better communication and cooperation.

Question 21

4. Performing

Answer 21

The performing stage is characterized by high productivity and effective collaboration. The group members are focused on achieving the group’s objectives and can make decisions efficiently. This stage represents the peak performance of the group.

Question 22

5. Adjourning

Answer 22

Also known as mourning, this stage refers to the conclusion of the group’s tasks or the disbandment of the group. Group members may experience a mix of emotions, including satisfaction, sadness, or relief, as they transition out of the group.

Question 23

Characteristics of Group

Answer 23

• Limited Size
• Has to achieve set objectives
• Has specific norms
• Has a structure
• Has a role to perform
• Maybe homogeneous or heterogeneous

Question 24

Group Effectiveness

Answer 24

The group functions in a way that maintains or enhances the ability of members to work together in the future. Group effectiveness refers to the extent to which a group achieves its goals, fulfills its purpose, and performs well. An effective group is one that demonstrates high levels of collaboration, productivity, and satisfaction among its members.

Question 25

Social Loafing

Answer 25

Reduction in individual effort when working on a collective task compared with when one works alone.

Common Manifestations :
1. Free-rider effect: Where some members do not put in their share of work under the assumption that other’s effort will cover their shortfall.

2. Sucker effect: Where the other members lower their efforts in response to the free-riders attitude.

Question 26

Social loafing occurs due to:

Answer 26

• Group members don’t value group goal
• Individual member’s efforts cannot be measured
• Group member’s effort is duplicated
• A group member feels that he/she doesn’t have a unique skill to contribute
• A group member feels that he/she has been given a harder task than others

Question 27

Solutions to Social loafing:

Answer 27

• Make sure each member has different skills
• Everybody has to believe that the task is important
• Assign roles to group members
• The group member has to know exactly what is expected
• Make sure groups break large goals into smaller phases
• Ask everyone to grade themselves

Question 28

Group Cohesion

Answer 28

Cohesion = Attraction. It is a measure of how well the group members work together and support each other to achieve common goals. Cohesion plays a crucial role in the overall effectiveness and functioning of a group.

Question 29

Groupthink

Answer 29

A mode of thinking in highly cohesive groups in which the desire to reach an agreement overrides the motivation to adopt appropriate and rational decision-making. Groups experiencing groupthink do not consider all the alternatives and desire unanimity at the expense of quality decisions.

Question 30

Polarization

Answer 30

The tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclination of its members. After participating in a discussion, members tend to advocate more extreme positions and riskier courses of action.

Question 31

Factors affecting Group Performance

Answer 31

• Cohesiveness
• Group size
• Task vs Maintenance Roles
• Social loafing
• Presence of others

Question 32

Cohesiveness

Answer 32

Strength of group member’s desires to remain part of the group.

Question 33

Task Vs Maintenance Roles

Answer 33

Task roles enable the work group to define, clarify and pursue a common purpose. It keeps the groups on track.

Maintenance roles foster supportive and constructive interpersonal relationships. It keeps the group together

Question 34

Helpful behaviors in Groups

Answer 34

• Seek to make every person feel welcome in the group
• Encourage each to listen to others
• Request that all state their feelings
• Give positive feedback or support
• Involve everyone
• Keep relationships honest and supportive
• Avoid direct arguments with group members
• Maintain a sense of freedom and responsibility

Question 35

Duties of a Leader in group

Answer 35

• Stimulate and promote goal-oriented thinking and behavior
• Build member’s trust in the leader
• Resolve conflicts by mutual confrontation
• Structure cooperative relationships rather than competitive ones.

Question 36

Theories of Group Formation

Answer 36

• Propinquity
• Homans Interaction
• Balance
• Exchange

Question 37

Propinquity Theory

Answer 37

Propinquity means nearness.
States that individuals affiliate with one another because of spatial or geographical proximity.
Individuals working together or employees working in the same area tend to form a group more than those who are not physically located together.

Question 38

Homans Interaction Theory

Answer 38

Based on activities, interactions, and sentiments.
The more activities a person shares, the more numerous will be interactions and stronger will be interactions and sentiments.

Question 39

Balance Theory

Answer 39

Persons are attracted to each other on the basis of similar attitudes towards commonly relevant objects and goals. If an imbalance occurs, attempts are made to restore the balance or if it cannot be restored, the relationship dissolves. It introduces a factor of balance to the propinquity and homans interaction theory.

Question 40

Exchange Theory

Answer 40

People are involved in social exchange on the basis of the perceived reward-cost relationship. Individual joins a group on the basis of outcomes of rewards and cost. If the reward is equal to or more than the cost, the individual joins the group and vice versa.

Question 41

Social Facilation

Answer 41

When someone performs differently, either more effectively or less effectively, in the presence of others than one alone. If the dominant response is appropriate, performance will be enhanced and vice versa.