Groups & Teams

Question 1

What is a Group?

Answer 1

A group is a collection of people who interact with each other such that one person’s actions have an impact on the others.

Question 2

Formal Group

Answer 2

An example of a formal group would be a manager and his/her subordinates

Question 3

Informal Group

Answer 3

This is something that is not prescribed by an organization, it can just be a group of friends

Question 4

Dysfunctional Group

Answer 4

These are groups that struggle at getting done compulsory tasks due to their respective lacking in accountability, trust, commitment, and they avoid conflict and are inattentive to other group members.

Question 5

Functional Group

Answer 5

These are groups that actually very good at getting the job done

Question 6

Team

Answer 6

A Team is a small number of people with Complementary Skills who are committed to a Common Purpose, Performance Goals and approach for which they are Mutually Accountable.

Question 7

Difference between a Group and a Team

Answer 7

A Team Has:

• Complimentary Skills
• Collective Performance Goals
• Compensation Based on Collective Outcomes
• Sacrifice for the Common Good

Question 8

Tuckmans Stages of Group Development

Answer 8

The 5 Step Process is;

• Forming
• Storming
• Norming
• Performing
• Adjourning

FSNPA
From sucking normally to performing awesome

Question 9

Forming

Answer 9

• The Group members are relatively guarded to avoid conflict
• They are positive and polite and make an effort to get to know each other
• They establish what the groups task is and they somewhat design the rules of the game

Question 10

Storming

Answer 10

• Here group members push against boundaries, there might be conflicts as people begin being honest with there ideas and beliefs
• Here some members will gain power as leaders and influencers

(Some teams never make it passed this stage)

Question 11

Norming

Answer 11

People start to resolve there differences, build up on one another strengths, define a scope of tasks to complete

-There is clear cohesion among the groups here

Question 12

Performing

Answer 12

• This is the performance, it is where the work gets done

- The group embodies its best practices, it has reflexive and group comptetence

Question 13

Adjourning

Answer 13

Dissolution:

• Finished core project
• Sad/bitter-sweet ending

Question 14

Linear Performance

Answer 14

The idea that work is steady all throughout the group process with the foot set to a constant speed of gas

Question 15

Punctuated Equilibrium Model

Answer 15

The idea that work takes place via periods of stagnancy (textbook says stability) and periods of rapid change. This is more or less how my studying takes place.

Question 16

Building Blocks of Groups & Teams

Answer 16

• Cohesion
• Collective Efficacy
• Task Interdependence

Question 17

Cohesion

Answer 17

The degree of comraderie that exists between members of a group. This influences the chances of

• Social Loafing (Letting other people carry you)
• Group Think

Question 18

Collective Efficacy

Answer 18

Groups perception of there ability to collectively perform the task at hand.

Question 19

Task Interdependence

Answer 19

The degree to which group and team members depend and rely upon each others contributions

Question 20

Determinants of Cohesion

Answer 20

THE 5 S’s

• Stability
• Similarity
• Size
• Satisfaction
• Support

Question 21

Cohesion Fact

Answer 21

Cohesion amongst groups is a great thing but in order to truly work it needs to be paired with TASK FOCUS

Question 22

Types of Task Interdepdence

Answer 22

• Pooled
• Sequential
• Recipricol

Question 23

Pooled Task Interdependence

Answer 23

• Members work Independently and combine there effort in the end

This is similar to how many presentations operate in the commerce program

Question 24

Sequential Task Interdependence

Answer 24

• This is when ones persons output becomes another persons input. In this case, Person B needs the efforts of Person A in order to do his part.

You can think of an Assembly Line relating to this one

Question 25

Reciprocal Task Interdependence

Answer 25

This is where ideas pass back and forth and the inputs and outputs are cyclical. Meaning in order for any work to really get done, the group must do it all together.

You can think of Basketball or Hockey as relating to this concept

Question 26

Types of Teams

Answer 26

• Traditional : Manager / Team Lead
• Self-Managed Teams : No Manager / Team Lead
• Top Management Teams: All the C’s : CEO, CFO etc.
• Virtual Teams: The teams do not meet up but work together through independent performance
• Cross Functional Teams: Particularly in Matrix Structures

Question 27

Designing Teams

Answer 27

• General Rule of Thumb is that teams should be between 2-20 members.
• Most Teams are under 10 people
• There should be a good level of complementary skills
• Hitting multiple demographics is a good idea with your team also

Question 28

Types of Team Conflict

Answer 28

There is Task Conflict and there is also Interpersonal Conflict

Question 29

Task Conflict

Answer 29

This is: Disagreement over how the task is to be performed.

This type of conflict is thought to be healthy for the workplace because it inspires creativity in non routine tasks and creates a sort of healthy tension.

Think: Jacob and Guy

Question 30

Interpersonal Conflict

Answer 30

This is characterized by personal conflicts between members of a group. It is thought to be almost always detrimental and not beneficial to the success of a group.

Think: Group members fighting over personal and non-work related reasons

Question 31

Cohesiveness

Answer 31

This is the degree to which a group is attractive to its members, members are motivated to remain in the group and members influence one another.