Groups

Question 1

Bion (1961)

Answer 1

Hidden assumptions that drive a group:

• fight or flight
• dependency on leader
• expectancy/pairing
• basic insecurities unite people

Question 2

Tuckman and Jensen (1977)

Answer 2

Group formation

• forming
• storming
• norming
• performing
• adjourning and mourning

Question 3

Gerwick (1988)

Answer 3

Groups experience stability and then occasional periods of change

Question 4

Gross (1968)

Answer 4

Different characters within a group:

• people/task oriented
• no/yes Sayers
• regulars/deviants/isolates
• newcomers/old timers/climbers
• cosmopolitans/locals

Question 5

Belbin (1993)

Answer 5

9 roles - variety of skills for effective groups:

- plant, resource investigator, implementer, completer, specialist, coordinator, shaper, monitor-evaluator, team worker

Question 6

Asch

Answer 6

Conformity - visual perception test

• people conform to group majority
• distortion of perception & actions

Question 7

Janis (1972)

Answer 7

Group think - illusion of invulnerability, extreme conformity

Question 8

Parker and Slaughter (1988)

Answer 8

Management by stress: illusion of empowerment makes teams feel responsible for organizational performance

Question 9

The Bank Wiring Room experiment

Answer 9

Individual vs group interest
Men working on financial incentive system
- informal groups were formed
Norms - member should not be a:
- rate buster, chiseller, squealer, officious
- stopped being individualistic about their own rewards

Question 10

Sinclair (1992)

Answer 10

Team ideology - seen as best way to work

• desire to be seen as good team member
• forces self-discipline: apparent autonomy of team

Question 11

Collinson (1988)

Answer 11

Engineering humor

• humor as conformity
• humor as resistance
• humor as control and discipline

Question 12

Fletcher (1974)

Answer 12

Wit: accepting status quo
Satire: questions status quo