Work Groups

Reading this resource will introduce you to the factors influencing group behavior and dynamics. Groups can be formal or informal and are not always formed by the organization to accomplish a particular task. It is important to consider group type as a manager because it informs the managerial actions you should take to accomplish a task. For example, volunteer groups (such as civic or social groups) will exhibit different dynamics than work command groups. As you read, pay attention to the four stages of group formation: leadership, communication, decision-making, power and politics, and conflict and negotiation.

Work Groups: Basic Considerations

How do you manage group and intergroup processes effectively?

Available research on group dynamics demonstrates rather conclusively that individual behavior is highly influenced by coworkers in a work group. For instance, we see many examples of individuals who, when working in groups, intentionally set limits on their own incomes so they earn no more than the other group members. We see other situations where individuals choose to remain in an undesirable job because of their friends in the plant, even though preferable jobs are available elsewhere. In summarizing much research on the topic, Hackman and Morris concluded the following:

There is substantial agreement among researchers and observers of small task groups that something important happens in group interaction which can affect performance outcomes. There is little agreement about just what that "something" is - whether it is more likely to enhance or depress group effectiveness, and how it can be monitored, analyzed, and altered.

In order to gain a clearer understanding of this "something," we must first consider in detail what we mean by a group, how groups are formed, and how various groups differ.

Source: OpenStax, https://openstax.org/books/organizational-behavior/pages/9-1-work-groups-basic-considerations
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