Groups & Teams Flashcards
What is a Group?
A group is a collection of people who interact with each other such that one person’s actions have an impact on the others.
Formal Group
An example of a formal group would be a manager and his/her subordinates
Informal Group
This is something that is not prescribed by an organization, it can just be a group of friends
Dysfunctional Group
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.
Functional Group
These are groups that actually very good at getting the job done
Team
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.
Difference between a Group and a Team
A Team Has:
- Complimentary Skills
- Collective Performance Goals
- Compensation Based on Collective Outcomes
- Sacrifice for the Common Good
Tuckmans Stages of Group Development
The 5 Step Process is;
- Forming
- Storming
- Norming
- Performing
- Adjourning
FSNPA
From sucking normally to performing awesome
Forming
- 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
Storming
- 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)
Norming
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
Performing
- This is the performance, it is where the work gets done
- The group embodies its best practices, it has reflexive and group comptetence
Adjourning
Dissolution:
- Finished core project
- Sad/bitter-sweet ending
Linear Performance
The idea that work is steady all throughout the group process with the foot set to a constant speed of gas
Punctuated Equilibrium Model
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.
Building Blocks of Groups & Teams
- Cohesion
- Collective Efficacy
- Task Interdependence
Cohesion
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
Collective Efficacy
Groups perception of there ability to collectively perform the task at hand.
Task Interdependence
The degree to which group and team members depend and rely upon each others contributions
Determinants of Cohesion
THE 5 S’s
- Stability
- Similarity
- Size
- Satisfaction
- Support
Cohesion Fact
Cohesion amongst groups is a great thing but in order to truly work it needs to be paired with TASK FOCUS
Types of Task Interdepdence
- Pooled
- Sequential
- Recipricol
Pooled Task Interdependence
- Members work Independently and combine there effort in the end
This is similar to how many presentations operate in the commerce program
Sequential Task Interdependence
- 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
Reciprocal Task Interdependence
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
Types of Teams
- 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
Designing Teams
- 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
Types of Team Conflict
There is Task Conflict and there is also Interpersonal Conflict
Task Conflict
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
Interpersonal Conflict
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
Cohesiveness
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.
