Groups and Teamwork Flashcards
Define social facilitation
The tendency to perform tasks better or faster in the presence of others
Define social inhibition
The tendency to perform tasks worse or slower in the presence of others
When is social facilitation true?
For easy tasks
When is social facilitation false?
For difficult tasks
When is social inhibition true?
For difficult tasks
When is social inhibition false?
For easy tasks
Define organization
Social inventions for accomplishing goals through group effort
Define group
Consists of two or more people interacting interdependently to achieve a common goal
What are the two types of groups?
- Formal groups
2. Informal groups
How are formal groups formed?
They are assigned by the organization
How are informal groups formed?
They spontaneously emerge
Why do informal groups spontaneously emerge?
- Friendships and support groups
- Common interests
- In response to challenges (eg. unions)
Why do companies assign teams?
- Projects might require a team
2. Just because
Why do companies sometimes assign a group when none is needed?
There’s an idea that teams can sometimes be better, but there are also a lot of problems that come with social and group work that needs to be taken into consideration
What are the three types of interdependence?
- Task interdependence
- Goal interdependence
- Outcome interdependence
What are the problems with task interdependence?
If the person before you didn’t finish their task properly or on time, that person can hold up the entire group
What are the advantages of goal interdependence?
If everyone in a team identifies with a higher order goal, it can increase motivation and cooperation within the group
What are the problems with goal interdependence?
Differences between people and how enthusiastic they are; the people who are not as motivated will be annoyed with their work (the opposite can also happen; if one person has a high level of motivation and tries to lead the group, they can annoy the rest of the group)
What are the four types of tasks?
- Additive
- Disjunctive
- Conjunctive
- Compensatory
Describe additive tasks
When the sum total matters: the group performance depends on the sum of performance of all individual group members
Give an example of an additive task
Fundraising
How does the performance of an additive task change with the size of the group?
Performance increases with size
Describe disjunctive tasks
When the best contributor matters: when the group performance is maximized by the performance of the best skilled member of the team
Give an example of a disjunctive task
Coming up with an innovative design for a new product
How does the performance of a disjunctive task change with the size of the group?
Performance improves with size
Describe conjunctive tasks
When the worst contributor matters: when group performance is limited by the performance of the least skilled group member
Give an example of a conjunctive task
Quality control: you have a group of people doing quality control and one person doesn’t do a very good job and misses some defects, and they have to do an entire product recall
How does the performance of a conjunctive task change with the size of the group?
Performance decreases with size
Describe compensatory tasks
The average of all members: when the group performance is averaged among all the members of the group
Give an example of a compensatory task
Sports teams
How does the performance of a compensatory task change with the size of the group?
Performance aligns with the average
What are the five stages of group development?
- Forming
- Storming
- Norming
- Performing
- Adjourning
Define the forming stage
When the group gets together for the first time
What are the features of the forming stage?
- Trying to orient self to group
- Figuring out other members
- Avoiding conflicts
- Figuring out purpose
Define the storming stage
When the group sorts out roles and responsibilities
What are the features of the storming stage?
- Disagreement and conflict
- Do we accept the goals?
- Do we agree with the plan?
- Do we like our role?
- Diverse groups might take longer on this stage
Define the norming stage
When the initial fun and conflict of the group settles down
What are the features of the norming stage?
- Group becomes cohesive
- Consensus develops
- Rules established (informal)
- How to move forward
- Clarify expectations
Define the performing stage
When the group does the actual work
What are the features of the performing stage?
Most likely to happen in this stage:
- Achievement
- Creativity
- Helping
- Cooperation
Define the adjourning stage
When the task is finished; the group may disband
What are the features of the adjourning stage?
- Celebrating success
2. Consoling failure
What is the Punctuated Equilibrium Model?
A model that looks at how work progresses through the lifespan of the group
What are the three steps of the Punctuated Equilibrium Model?
- Phase 1
- Midpoint
- Phase 2
Describe Phase 1
The first meeting; the agenda is set for the task or project
Describe the Midpoint
Occurs about halfway through the process; signals a change in the group’s approach to the project. This is critical for the group’s progress. It crystallises the agenda for phase 2
What are the cons of member diversity?
- Longer group development process
- More conflict and confusion
- Miscommunication
- Difficulty in reaching agreements
What are the pros of member diversity?
- More creative and more open
- Multiple perspectives
- Increased flexibility
- Better problem-solving skills
What are non-diverse groups called?
Homogeneous groups
When are homogeneous groups well-suited to the task?
- For simple tasks
- For tasks that require cooperation
- For tasks that must be done quickly
When are diverse groups well-suited to the task?
- For complex tasks
- For tasks that require creativity
- For tasks that need not be done quickly
Define process gains
“Synergy:” the positive results on performance as a result of group processes
Define process losses
The negative results on performance as a result of group processes
Explain how group processes can result in process gains
With groups, you have more resources and more ability to perform and make decisions. You can effectively and efficiently coordinate efforts
Explain how group processes can result in process losses
Teamwork can be less productive than expected from a sum of individual members. Group processes can slow production
Define social loafing
When people do less work when they’re in a group
What are the two types of social loafing?
- Free rider effect
2. Sucker effect
Define the free rider effect
When people take advantage of being in a group; they reduce their effort. They trust that someone will do the work even if they don’t
Define the sucker effect
When people put in less effort because they predict that other people will free ride. They don’t want those people to take advantage of all their effort, so to keep things “fair” they will reduce their work
What are the five forms of process losses?
- Social loafing
- Evaluation apprehension
- Production blocking
- Groupthink
- Group polarization
Define production blocking
The idea that people need to wait in order to contribute their ideas; while one person is sharing their ideas, five other people are waiting to share theirs, or multiple people are talking over each other. This is not a good use of time
What are some solutions to social loafing?
- Make contributions identifiable
- Give individual evaluations
- Assign unique tasks
What are some solutions to evaluation apprehension?
- Brainstorm in private
2. Anonymous submissions
What are some solutions to production blocking?
Electronic brainstorming: people work separately and then come together and share their ideas afterwards
Define groupthink
When everyone in the group tends to agree in public but they might not in private; when there is pressure to conform and go along with the group
Define group polarization
When group discussion/process polarizes or exaggerates the initial position of the group
What are some solutions to groupthink and group polarization?
- Hold group members accountable
- Improving communication and information sharing
- Diversity
What are some ways that groups can improve their communication and information sharing?
- Devil’s advocate
- Different perspectives
- Set norms for communication
- Outside observers
