Groups and Teams

Dr. Praveen Srivastava

chapter fifteen
Effective Groups and Teams

Learning Objectives
Explain why groups and teams are key contributors to organizational effectiveness. Identify the different types of groups and teams that help managers and organizations achieve their goals. Explain how different elements of group dynamics influence the functioning and effectiveness of groups and teams.
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Learning Objectives
Explain why it is important for groups and teams to have a balance of conformity and deviance and a moderate level of cohesiveness. Describe how managers can motivate group members to achieve organizational goals and reduce social loafing in groups and teams.
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Groups, Teams and Organizational Effectiveness

Group
Two or more people who interact with each other to accomplish certain goals or meet certain needs.

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Groups, Teams and Organizational Effectiveness

Team
A group whose members work intensely with each other to achieve a specific, common goal or objective. All teams are groups but not all groups are teams. Teams often are difficult to form. It takes time for members to learn how to work together.
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Groups, Teams and Organizational Effectiveness

Two characteristics distinguish teams from groups
Intensity with which team members work together Presence of a specific, overriding team goal or objective

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Groups and Teams as Performance Enhancers

Advantage of synergy
People working in a group are able to produce more outputs than would have been produced if each person had worked separately

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Groups and Teams as Performance Enhancers

Factors that contribute to synergy
Ability of group members to bounce ideas off one another To correct one anothers mistakes To bring a diverse knowledge base to bear on a problem To accomplish work that is too vast for any one individual to achieve

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Groups and Teams as Performance Enhancers

To take advantage of the potential for synergy, managers need to make sure groups are composed of members who have complementary skills and knowledge relevant to the groups work

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Groups and Teams Contributions to Organizational Effectiveness

Figure 15.1

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Groups and Teams and Responsiveness to Customers

Responsiveness to Customers
Difficult to achieve given the many constraints. Safety issues, regulations, costs. Cross-functional teams can provide the wide variety of skills needed to meet customer demands. Teams consist of members of different departments.

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Teams and Innovation

Innovation
The creative development of new products, new technologies, new services, or new organizational structures
Individuals rarely possess the wide variety of skills needed for successful innovation. Team members can uncover each others flaws and balance each others strengths and weaknesses Managers should empower the team and make it accountable for the innovation process.
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Groups and Teams as Motivators

Members of groups, and particularly teams, are often better motivated and satisfied than individuals.
Team members are more motivated and satisfied than if they were working alone. Team members can see the effect of their contribution to achieving team and organizational goals. Teams provide needed social interaction and help employees cope with work-related stressors.
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The Types of Groups and Teams in Organizations

Figure 15.2

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Question?
Which type of group is one that managers establish to achieve organization goals? A. Formal group B. Informal group C. Virtual team D. Interest group

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The Types of Groups and Teams

Formal Group A group that managers establish to achieve organization goals.

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Formal Groups
Cross-functional teams
composed of members from different departments

Cross-cultural teams
composed of members from different cultures or countries

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The Types of Groups and Teams

Informal Group
A group that managers or nonmanagerial employees form to help achieve their own goals or to meet their own needs.

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The Types of Groups and Teams

Type of Team
Top-management team Research and development team Command groups A group composed of the CEO, the president, and the heads of the most important departments A team whose members have the expertise and experience needed to develop new products A group composed of subordinates who report to the same supervisor, also called a department or unit, A committee of managers or nonmanagerial employees from various departments or divisions who meet to solve a specific, mutual problem; also called an ad hoc committee
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Task forces

The Types of Groups and Teams

Type of Team
Self-managed work team Virtual team A group of employees who supervise their own activities and monitor the quality of the goods and services they provide. A team whose members rarely or never meet face to face and interact by using various forms of information technology such as email, computer networks, telephone, fax and video conferences. An informal group composed of employees who enjoy each others company and socialize with each other. An informal group composed of employees seeking to achieve a common goal related to their membership in an organization.
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Friendship group

Interest group

Self-Managed Work Teams

Keys to effective self managed teams:
Give the team enough responsibility and autonomy to be self-managing. The teams task should be complex enough to include many different steps. Select members carefully for their diversity, skills, and enthusiasm. Managers should guide and coach, not supervise. Determine training needs and be sure it is provided.
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Virtual Teams
A team whose members rarely meet face-to-face Interact by using various forms of information technology Email, computer networks, telephone, fax, and videoconferences

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Friendship Groups
An informal group composed of employees who enjoy one anothers company and socialize with one another

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Interest Groups
An informal group of employees seeking to achieve a common goal related to their membership in an organization

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Group Size
Advantage of small groups
Interact more with each other and easier to coordinate their efforts More motivated, satisfied, and committed Easier to share information Better able to see the importance of their personal contributions

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Group Size
Advantages of large groups
More resources at their disposal to achieve group goals Enables managers to obtain division of labor advantages

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Group Size
Disadvantages of large groups
Problem of communication and coordination Lower level of motivation Members might not think their efforts are really needed

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Group Tasks
Group tasks impact how a group interacts.
Task interdependence shows how the work of one member impacts another; as interdependence rises, members must work more closely together.

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Group Dynamics: Interdependence

Pooled
Members make separate, independent contributions to group such that group performance is the sum of each members contributions

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Group Dynamics: Interdependence

Sequential
Members perform tasks in a sequential order making it difficult to determine individual performance since one member depends on another.

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Group Dynamics: Interdependence

Reciprocal
Work performed by one group member is mutually dependent on work done by other members.

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Types of Task Interdependence

Figure 15.3

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Group Roles
Group Roles
The set of behaviors and tasks that a group member is expected to perform because of his or her position in the group.

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Group Roles
In cross-functional teams, members are expected to perform roles in their specialty. Managers should clearly describe expected roles to group members when they are assigned to the group. Role-making occurs as workers take on more responsibility in their roles as group members. Self-managed teams may assign the roles to members themselves.
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Group Leadership
Effective leadership is a key ingredient in high performing groups, teams, and organizations. Formal groups created by an organization have a leader appointed by the organization. Groups that evolve independently in an organization have an informal leader recognized by the group.

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The Stages of Group Development

Figure 15.4

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Stages of Group Development

Forming
Group members get to know each other and reach common goals.

Storming
Group members disagree on direction and leadership. Managers need to be sure the conflict stays focused.

Norming
Close ties and consensus begin to develop between group members.
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Stages of Group Development

Performing
The group begins to do its real work.

Adjourning
Only for task forces that are temporary. Note that these steps take time!

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Discussion Question?
What stage of group development is most important? A. Forming B. Storming C. Norming D. Performing

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Group Norms
Group Norms
Shared guidelines or rules for behavior that most group members follow Managers should encourage members to develop norms that contribute to group performance and the attainment of group goals

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Group Dynamics
Conformity and Deviance
Members conform to norms to obtain rewards, imitate respected members, and because they feel the behavior is right. When a member deviates, other members will try to make them conform, expel the member, or change the group norms to accommodate them. Conformity and deviance must be balanced for high performance from the group. Deviance allows for new ideas in the group.
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Balancing Conformity and Deviance in Groups

Figure 15.5

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Question?
What is the degree to which members are attracted to their group? A. Group consistency B. Group organization C. Group cohesiveness D. Group constancy

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Group Cohesiveness
The degree to which members are attracted to their group Three major consequences
Level of participation Level of conformity to group norms Emphasis on group goal accomplishment

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Sources and Consequences of Group Cohesiveness

Figure 15.6

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Factors Leading to Group Cohesiveness

Factor
Group Size Smaller groups allow for high cohesiveness; Low cohesiveness groups with many members can benefit from splitting into two groups. Diverse groups often come up with better solutions. Encouraging a group to adopt a unique identity and engage in competition with others can increase cohesiveness. Cohesiveness increases with success; finding ways for a group to have some small successes increases cohesiveness.

Managed Diversity Group Identity

Success

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Managing Groups and Teams for High Performance

Motivating group members to achieve organizational goals:
Members should benefit when the group performs wellrewards can be monetary or in other forms such as special recognition. Individual compensation is a combination of both individual and group performance. Make additional resources (beyond compensation) such as choice assignments available to high-performance groups.
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Managing Groups and Teams for High Performance

Social loafing
The human tendency to put forth less effort in a group than individually. Results in possibly lower group performance and failure to attain group goals

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Managing Groups and Teams for High Performance

Reducing social loafing:
Make individual efforts identifiable and accountable. Emphasize the valuable contributions of individual members. Keep group size at an appropriate level.

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Three Ways to Reduce Social Loafing

Figure 15.7

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Movie Example: 13 going on 30

How does the group on the dance floor move through the stages of group development?

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