P2 - Group dynamics Flashcards
What is a ‘group’
A collection of people (2+) who share similar goals and interact with one another
what is social loafing?
what is cohesion?
When some individuals in the group lose motivation and do not contribute fully to the group task
Concerns the motivation which attracts individuals to the group and the resistance of those members to the group breaking up.
what is Group Integration?
what is Individual Attraction?
Group Integration – How the individual members of the group feel about the group as a whole.
Individual Attraction – How attracted the individuals are to the group.
what is the order of group development?
forming, storming, norming, performing
Explain the forming stage of group dynamics
High dependence on the leader for guidance & direction.
Group members start to get to know each other.
Little agreement on aims.
Roles are unclear and leader must give strong direction.
Explain the storming stage of group dynamics
Group decisions are difficult.
Members jostle for position and attempts to establish themselves against each other, and may potentially challenge leaders.
Clearer focus and stronger sense of purpose (some uncertainty)
Cliques and power struggles may form.
The team needs to focus on goals to avoid being drawn into power struggles
Explain the norming stage of group dynamics
More agreement and consensus on opinion of the team.
Roles and responsibilities are clearer and generally accepted.
Decisions increasingly made through agreement.
Less important decisions are delegated.
Stronger sense of commitment, unity and group become more social.
General respect for the leader.
Explain the performing stage of group dynamics
Clear strategies, visions and aims.
No interference or direct participation from the leader (teams don’t need instruction)
Focus on achieving goals and the team makes decisions.
Team members are trusted to get on with the task.
Disagreements are resolved positively.
Team members may ask for assistance from the leader on personal issues.
how is actual productivity assessed?
Actual Productivity =
Potential productivity
– (minus)
Losses due to faulty processes
what are causes of faulty processes?
what is the ringleman effect?
Co-ordination Losses
Team performance affected by inability to work together. Eg. Poor communication
Inadequate leadership
Poor tactics/strategies
Ringelmann effect: Individual performance decreases as group size increases
Motivational Losses Social loafing or lack of motivation Lack of confidence or internal stable attributions for failure. Blaming themselves for failure Injury, illness or fatigue Lack of incentives to work together Too high a level of competition Negative effects of others or criticisms from team-mates Environmental stressors Lack of identifiable roles for the team
