Chapter 7

Foundations Of Group Behavior

Why Do People Join Groups?

Security

Status
Self-Esteem

Power
Goal

Achievement

Groups as Open Systems

input
Organizational setting Membership characteristics Group size
decision making task activities maintenance activities

throughputs
Group Process
norms cohesiveness communication

outputs

Task performance Human Resource maintenance

Remember...
when

individuals are in groups they act differently than when they are alone

Group Structure
Groups are not unorganized mobs. They have structure that shapes the member behavior

Group Structure
Formal

Leadership

Roles
Norms Status Size Composition

Cohesiveness
Rules

Stages of Group Development

Prestage Stage I: Forming

Stage II: Storming

Stage III: Norming

Stage IV: Performing

Stage V: Adjourning

Forming
Group

members try to get to know each other and establish a common understanding.
Uncertainty about the groups purpose, structure, and leadership

Storming
Group

is in conflict, members resist being controlled by the group, and disagreements arise concerning leadership in the group.
Resistance to constraints that group impose on individuality Conflict

Norming
Group

members develop close ties, feelings of friendship and camaraderie abound, and group members share a common purpose.
Strong sense of group identity Relationship development Cohesion

Performing
Group

members work toward achieving their goals.

Adjourning
The

group disbands once its goals have been achieved.

but, . . .
does

the five stage model actually reflect what happens in REAL GROUPS??

Group Norms
Informal

rules of conduct for behaviors considered important by most group members.

Reason Group Members Conform to Norms

Compliance

- assenting to a norm in order to attain rewards or avoid punishment. Identification - associating oneself with supporters of a norm and conforming to the norm because those individuals do.

Reason Group Members Conform to Norms

Internalization

- believing that the behavior dictated by a norm is truly the right and proper way to behave.

Socialization:
The

process by which newcomers learn the roles, rules, and norms of a group.

Classic Example: How Disney will train its HK employees!!

Effective Work Groups

Process

Gains - Increases in potential performance that result from new ways of motivating and coordinating members. Social Loafing - Tendency of individuals to exert less effort when they work in a group than when they work alone.

To Reduce Social Loafing

Make

Individual Contributions Identifiable Make Individuals Feel That They Are Making Valuable Contributions to a Group Keep Group as Small as Possible

Advice to Managers
Keep

work groups as small as possible while making sure that a group has enough resources (member knowledge, skills, experiences) to achieve its goals.

Factors That Contribute to Group Cohesiveness

Group

Size Similarity/Diversity of Group Members Competition with Other Groups Success Exclusiveness

Relationship Between Group Cohesiveness, Performance Norms, and Productivity

Cohesiveness
Performance Norms High High Low Low

High productivity
Low productivity

Moderate productivity
Moderate to low productivity

Effects of Group Processes

Potential group effectiveness
Process gains Process losses

+ =
Actual group effectiveness

Cohesion and Individuality In the Team

High Group Think Collaborative Team

Cohesion
Low
Collection of people Low

Silos

Individuality

High

Model of Groupthink
Characteristics of GroupThink
2

Initial Conditions

Groupthink Leads to Effective Decision Making

3

Initial Conditions
High

cohesiveness Insulation of the team from outsiders Lack of methodical procedures for search and appraisal Directive leadership High stress with a low degree of hope for finding a better solution than the one favored by the leader or other influential persons Complex/changing environment

Characteristics of Groupthink
Collective

rationalization Belief in inherent morality of the team Stereotypes of other groups Direct pressure on dissenters Self-censorship Illusion of unanimity Self-appointed mind guards

Groupthink Leads to Defective Decision Making in Terms of:

Incomplete

survey of alternatives Failure to examine risks of preferred choice Poor information search Selective bias in processing information at hand Failure to reappraise alternatives Failure to work out contingency plans

Group Decision Techniques: Brainstorming

A

spontaneous, participative decision-making technique that groups use to generate a wide range of alternatives from which to make a decision.

Groups Make Decisions by:

Brainstorming
Separate

idea generation from evaluation Produces many new ideas Stimulates creativity Group meets together Much group interaction

Consensus Decision
A proposal that is acceptable enough that all members are willing to support it.

More Efficient and Effective Meetings

Prepare

an agenda, distribute in advance. Consult with participants before meeting. Get participants to go over agenda. Establish specific time parameters. Maintain focused discussion.

More Efficient and Effective Meetings

Encourage

and support participation of all. Maintain a balanced style. Encourage clash of ideas. Discourage clash of personalities. Be an effective listener. Bring proper closure.