Week 5 - Group Cohesion

Question 1

The difference between Groups and Teams

Answer 1

Group: A collection of interacting individuals who have: A sense of shared purpose/common goals. Mutual influence.

Team: * “We-ness” - Collective sense of identity
* Distinctive individual roles
* Structured modes of communication
* Norms – Social rules that guide members
* Task interdependence…
teamwork

Question 2

4 steps of becoming a team

Answer 2

Forming, storming, norming and performing.

Question 3

Define Group Cohesion

Answer 3

“A dynamic process that is reflected in the tendency for a group to stick together and remain united in pursuit of its instrumental objectives and/or for the satisfaction of member affective needs” Carron, Brawley & Widmeyer (1998, p. 213)

Question 4

What are the characteristics of cohesion?

Answer 4

Multidimensional - Numerous factors cause a group to stick together
Dynamic - Can change over time (particularly w success and failure.
Instrumental - Groups stick together for different reasons.

Question 5

What are the types of cohesion?

Answer 5

Task cohesion - the degree to which members of a group work together to achieve common goals.
Social cohesion - the degree to which members of a group like each other and enjoy one another’s company

Question 6

What is the Ringlemann effect in relation to Group process losses?

Answer 6

The tendency for individual members of a group to become increasingly less productive as the size of the group increases.

Question 6

Conceptual Frameowrk of group effectiveness (Steiner, 1972)

Answer 6

Actual productivity = Potential productivity - Group process losses

Question 7

What are the Causes of social loafing?

Answer 7

‘Free rider’ perception that their effort is (relatively) unimportant for the outcome.
‘Minimising strategy’: motivated to get by doing as little as possible
‘allocation strategy’: save best efforts for when most beneficial to self.
False perception that inc effort wont be recognised.

Question 8

How do you counteract social loafing?

Answer 8

Emphasise the importance of individual contributions (identify + communicate)
Increase accountability

Question 9

Whats is optimal team size? (3,6,9)

Answer 9

6 highest social cohesion
3 Highest ATG task
Worst at 9

Question 10

Read slides 25 -35

Question 11

How can you develop team cohesion?

Answer 11

Increase team distinctiveness/identity
Increase social cohesiveness
Clarify team goals
Improve team communication

Question 12

Read slides 37 onwards.