Study Unit 2: Politics And Group Dynamics Flashcards
What is Organizational Politics
Organizational politics (Impression Management) is acting in self-interest given actual or perceived opposition in the workplace
What are considered positive political behaviors
Coalition building
Networking, and
Seeking Mentors
What are considered Negative Political Behaviors
Sabotage
Threats
Taking credit for other’s work or ideas, and
Building revolutionary coalitions
What is the prevailing view on whistle blowing
Whistle blowing is a net social good. Revealing unethical behavior may be the only way to end misconduct that has substantial negative effects on the public interest.
Name six common political tactics
Posturing
Empire Building
Making the supervisor look good
Collecting and using social favors
Creating power and loyalty cliques
Engaging in destructive competition
Definable Formal Groups
Formal groups are work groups (designated as committees, teams, etc) within the organization assembled to perform activity.
What are two elements that affect Group Committment
Attractiveness
Cohesiveness
How is a role defined
A behavior expected of a person in a specific position. Everyone is expected to have different roles.
How are norms defined
General standards of conduct and have a broader effect that roles. Groups are guided by self-set norms of performance and behavior.
Define Conformity
Compliance with roles and norms
What are benefits of conformity
Predictability of behavior, e.g. performance of assigned tasks. The costs may be illegal, unethical, or incompetent conduct.
What is a danger to cohesive groups?
Group think
What are symptoms of group think
Over-optimism
Assumed morality of the preferred action
Intolerance of dissent
An urgent search for unanimity
What are some ways to avoid groupthink
Being aware of its dangers
Encouraging members to think critically
Seeking outside opinions
Expressly assigning a member of the group to advocate contrary positions
Expressly considering the consequences of different actions
Not using a group to approve a decision without discussion or dissent
What is group shift
Difference between an individual’s probably decision when the individual is alone and when the individual is in a group
What are methods used to improve creativity in group decision making
Attribute listing
Brainstorming
Creative leap
Scientific Method
Edisonion Approach
Free Association
Lateral Thinking
What method to improve creativity is applied primarily to improve a tangible object and lists the parts and essential features of the object and systematically analyzes modification.
Attribute Listing
An unstructured, nonjudgmental group approach that relies on spontaneous contribution of ideas is______
Brainstorming
_____formulates an idea solution and then works back to a feasible one.
Creative leap
_____systematically 1)states a problem 20 collects data by observation and experimentation and 3) formulates and tests hypothesis
Scientific Method
What is the Edisonian approach
A trial and error method. Should usually not be applied unless other approaches have been unsuccessful.
Define Lateral Thinking
Explores different approaches to an issue. These alternatives increase the probability of a solution
What method used to improve creativity in group decision making generates ideas by reporting the first thought to come to mind in response to a stimulus
Free Association
