Organizational Behavior - Assignment April 2021
Organizational Behavior - Assignment April 2021
2. The employees of Inspiron Pvt Ltd bond quite well with each other.
They have different types of groups within the organisational
framework.
But some of these extend beyond the formal boundaries.
In this context, discuss about the different stages of group formation.
(10 Marks)
Ch.5 - (5.1 , 5.2 - Groups) , 5.3 - Types , 5.4 - Stages
two or more figures forming a complete unit in a composition
groups are private spaces to discuss projects, manage information and securely share
documents with colleagues or clients.
A group is a collection of individuals who have relations to one another that make them
interdependent to some significant degree.
Several people who are connected by some shared activity, interest, or quality.
A set of people who meet or do something together because they share the same
purpose or ideas.
A group can be defined as two or more interacting and interdependent individuals who
come together to achieve particular objectives. A group behavior can be stated as a
course of action a group takes as a family.
Size: To form a group, it must be having at least two members. Practically, the number of group
members ranges from 15 to 20. The more the members in the group, the more complex it is to
manage.
Goals: Every group has certain goals, that are the reasons for its existence.
Norms: A group has certain rules, for interacting with the group members.
Structure: It has a structure, based on the roles and positions held by the members.
Roles: Every member of a group has certain roles and responsibilities, which are assigned, by
the group leader.
Interaction: The interaction between the group members can occur in several ways, i.e. face to
face, telephonic, in writing or in any other manner.
Collective Identity: A group is an aggregation of individuals, which are separately called as
members, and collectively called as a group.
Groups also help improve the communication and problem solving abilities of team members
and create professional relationships that are valuable sources of assistance.
Group helps individual to feel stronger, have fewer self-doubts, and be more contrary to threats.
In general, groups are created out of individual need satisfaction, which can be
personal, social or economical. Meaning that the members need to associate with the
group in order to fulfil their basic needs.
Personal Characteristics: Individuals with similar beliefs, attitudes and values are
more likely to form groups.
Opportunity for interaction: If the employees of an organization, are given an
opportunity to interact with one another, they find that they have many things similar,
which also creates a group.
Interest and goals: When individuals share common interest and goals, it requires
cooperation and coordination for its achievement, which also results in the formation
of groups.
Influence and power: Last but not the least, a group has more influence and power,
as compared to an individual, which also promotes its formation.
http://arts.brainkart.com/article/reasons-for-formation-of-groups---group-dynamics-485/#:~:text=Groups%20help
%20protect%20their%20members,Outlet%20for%20frustration.
Types of Groups
Groups are either formal or informal.
Formal Groups
By formal groups, we mean those groups defined by the organization’s structure, with
designated work assignments and establishing tasks. In formal groups, the behaviours
that one should engage in are stipulated by and directed towards organisational goals.
Formal groups are relatively permanent and usually work under a single
supervisor, although the structure of the formal group may vary.
Formal groups are created to achieve specific organizational objectives. Usually, they are concerned
with the coordination of work activities.
People are brought together based on different roles within the structure of the organization. The nature
of the task to be undertaken is a predominant feature of the formal groups.
Goals are identified by management and short and rules relationships and norms of behavior
established. Formal groups chain to be related to permanent although there may be changes in actual
membership.
However temporary formal groups may also be created by management, for example, the use of project
teams in a matrix organization
A formal group is a designated work group, one that is defined by an organization based
on its hierarchical structure, with designated tasks related to its function.
Informal Groups
Informal groups are alliances that are neither formally structured nor organisationally
determined. These groups are natural formations in the work response to the common interests
of the organisation members such as self defense, work assistance and social interaction.
Within the formal structure of the organization, there will always be an informal structure.
The formal structure of the organization and system of role relationship, rule, and
procedures, will be augmented by interpretation and development at the informal level.
Informal groups are based more on personal relationships and agreement of group’s
members than on defined role relationships. They serve to Satisfy psychological and
social needs not related necessarily to the tasks to be undertaken.
Groups may devise ways of attempting to satisfy members’ affiliations and other social
motivations that are lacing in the work situation, especially in industrial organizations.
An informal group is one that’s not organizationally determined or influenced and usually
formed by the members themselves in response to the need for social contact.
Subtypes
Secondary groups
They are large groups whose relationships are impersonal and goal-oriented.
relationships are impersonal and goal oriented. People in a secondary group interact on a less
personal level than in a primary group, and their relationships are generally temporary rather
than long lasting. Some secondary groups may last for many years, though most are short term.
Such groups also begin and end with very little significance in the lives of the people involved.
Secondary relationships involve weak emotional ties and little personal knowledge of one
another. In contrast to primary groups, secondary groups don’t have the goal of maintaining and
developing the relationships themselves.
Command group
The command group is the most frequent type of formal group. It is relatively permanent and is
specified by the organisation chart. It comprises of managers or supervisors and subordinates,
who meet regularly to discuss general and specific ideas to improve product or service. In
business organisations, most employees work in such command groups.
. This is a formal group, determined by the organization’s hierarchal chart and composed of the
individuals that report to a particular manager. For instance, the manager of training has a
command group of his employees, the training group.
Task group
Task groups are also organisationally determined. But it is a temporary group representing the
employees who are working together to complete a job task or particular project. However, a
task group’s boundaries are not limited to its immediate hierarchical superior. For example, if a
problem involving many departments arises, a task force made up of representatives from each
of the affected departments, might be formed to examine the problem and suggest solutions..
This is also a type of formal group, and the term is used to describe those groups that have
been brought together to complete a task. This does not mean, though, that it’s just a group of
people reporting to a single supervisor. The training group, used in the last example, is not the
same as the task group that provides onboarding training for a new employee. The training
department might provide the outline for how a new employee is brought into the company, but
an onboarding task group would include that employee’s manager, an IT manager who equips
the new employee with a computer and phone, and so on.
Committees
The committees are also set up for some special projects. These can be permanent such as
planning committee or a budget committee and may become an integral part of the
organisational structure. A committee can also be temporary such as a special task force which
is set up for a particular purpose and is disbanded when the purpose is achieved. For example,
the committee constituted to elect the president of the company is temporary and is disbanded
after the election.
Primary Groups
A primary group is a group in which one exchanges implicit items, such as love, caring,
concern, support, etc. Examples of these would be family groups, love relationships, crisis
support groups, and church groups. Relationships formed in primary groups are often long
lasting and goals in themselves. They also are often psychologically comforting to the
individuals involved and provide a source of support and encouragement.
It is typically a small social group whose members share close, personal, enduring
relationships. These groups are marked by concern for one another, shared activities and
culture, and long periods of time spent together.
Interest group
People who may or may not be aligned into common command or task groups may
affiliate to attain a specific objective with which each is concerned. This is called an
interest group. For instance, the employees who group together to pressurize the
management for subsidized transport constitute an interest group.. An interest group is
usually informal, and is a group of people who band together to attain a specific
objective with which each member is concerned. Within an organization, this might be a
group of people who come together to demand better working conditions or a better
employee evaluation process. Outside of an organization, this term is frequently used in
political situations to describe groups that give a point of view a voice.
People who may or may not be aligned into a common command or task groups may affiliate to attain a
specific objective with which each is concerned. This is an interest group.
Employees who band together to have their vacation schedules altered, to support a peer who has been
fired, or to seek improved working conditions represent the formation of a united body to further their
common interest.
Friendship group.
A friendship group includes close friends or relations. These groups arise because
members know each other very well before joining the organisation and in the initial
stages, they recognize each other only. These social alliances, which frequently extend
outside the work situation, can be based on similar age or ethnic heritage or for holding
similar political views or for having the same hobbies etc.
These are groups of people who have come together because they share common ideals,
common interests or other similarities, like age or ethnic background. Groups often develop
because individual members have one or more common characteristics. We call these formations of
friendship groups.Social alliances, which frequently extend outside the work situation, can be based on
similar age or ethnic heritage, support for Kolkata Knight Riders cricket, or the holding of similar political
views, to name just a few such characteristics.
Reference group
A reference group is a collection of people that we use as a standard of comparison for
ourselves regardless of whether we are part of that group. We rely on reference groups
to understand social norms, which then shape our values, ideas, behavior, and
appearance. This means that we also use them to evaluate the relative worth,
desirability, or appropriateness of these things.
Stages of Group Formation
The four stages are a helpful framework for recognizing a team's behavioral
patterns
https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/organization/stages-of-group-formation-with-diagram/45002 4
Forming
This is a beginning stage and lasts only a few days (or weeks). Members begin by
planning their work and their new roles. Moreover, the emotions here are positive.
The groups should begin by learning about team processes in preparation for the
rough times ahead.
However, it is crucial for them to learn the aspects of conflict resolution,
communication, group decision-making and time management
Team Tasks
A good orientation/kick-off process can help to ground the members in terms of the team's
mission and goals, and can establish team expectations about both the team's product and,
more importantly, the team's process.
During the Forming stage, much of the team's energy is on defining the team so task
accomplishment may be relatively low.
Storming Power Struggle
The storming stage is where and competition are at its greatest because now group members
have an understanding of the work and a general feel of belongingness towards the group as
well as the group members.
Such questions need to be answered so that the group can move further on to the next stage.
A redefinition of the team's goals, roles and tasks can help team members past the frustration
or confusion they experience during the Storming stage.
If there is a, it’s
Group leadership is very important, but the facilitator can step back a little and let
group members take the initiative and move forward together.
The team will begin to resolve their interpersonal differences, appreciate others
and form working relationships.
There is a and unity and this allows for the team to work functionally together
towards the end goal.
At this point, performance increase as the team begins to cooperate and focus
on the goals.
They negotiate their differences and arrive at workable approaches, upholding the
interests of the group.
Ultimately they come out with the established norms for the group.
Performing Synergy
Once a group is clear about its needs, it can move forward to the third stage of group
development, the norming stage.
This is the time where the group.
and the group remains focused on the group's purpose and goal.
Members are, and trust each other
Leadership
After reaching a consensus on group norms, members start working together to achieve the
intended goals.
It is interesting to note here that the first three stages take a while, during which, apparently,
there is not much progress made. But it must be recognized that these stages lay the
foundation for performance.
Team Tasks
In the Performing stage, the team makes significant progress towards its goals.
If these changes - and their resulting behaviors - are recognized and addressed directly, teams
may successfully remain in the Performing stage indefinitely.
Termination/Ending/ Closure
While working on a high-performing team may be a truly pleasurable and growthful experience,
it.
This stage of a group can be confusing and is usually reached when the task is completed.
At this stage, the project is coming to an end and the team members are different directions.
This stage looks at the team from the perspective of the well-being of the team instead of the
perspective of handling a team through the original four moving off in stages of team growth.
Some teams do come to an end, when their work is completed or when the
organization’s needs change.
a critical phase in the formation of a group -However, adjourning a group completes
the group formation
It shows that the group has been successful in completing its pre-determined
objective.
Post the performing stage, the group is adjourned.
The adjourning stage ends the process of group formation.
Because the group is adjourned once the task that is assigned to the group is
completed.
When all tasks are completed, it’s important to celebrate the team’s positive achievements
Team Tasks – The team needs to acknowledge the upcoming transition and the variety of ways
that individuals and the team may be feeling about the team’s impending dissolution.
1. Without
https://www.managementnote.com/importance-groups-employees-perspective-
organizational-behavior/
Nowadays, organisations carry out most of their work using the interactions
of teams.
As the formation of a team empowers employees in various ways,
greater importance is being given to team-building and teamwork.
IMPORTANCE OF TEAMS
A team is important for attaining organisational goals.
Once the teams are formed, they are allocated a particular task or project
that has to be completed within a specified timeline.
The benefits of teamwork include increased efficiency, the ability to focus different minds on the
same problem, and mutual support.
Higher efficiency Faster speed: More thoughtful ideas Greater effectiveness: Mutual support:
Greater sense of accomplishment
A group of people working toward a common purpose.
A team is a group of people who work together toward a common goal.
Teams have defined membership (which can be either large or small) and a set of activities to
take part in.
People on a team collaborate on sets of related tasks that are required to achieve an objective.
Each member is responsible for contributing to the team, but the group as a whole is
responsible for the team’s success.
a. What different types of teams Johanna can create in her organisation? Give
examples.
(5 Marks)
6.3 - Types
Teams may be permanent or temporary, and team members may come from the same
department or different ones.
Functional team:
In this work team, all the members belong to the same functional area and respond
to a single manager, responsible for the management of the whole group.
This team comprises members of the same department with varied responsibilities
Such type of team struc-ture can be seen in large organisations that adopt traditional
form of management.
This type of team works well in a stable environ-ment where there are fewer changes in
the business strategy; for example, marketing department, HR department, etc
These and always include members of the same department with different
responsibilities.
Cross-functional team:
This is generally a special-purpose team and gets dissolved after the objective of
forming the team is accom-plished.
Cross-functional teams combine people from different areas, such as marketing and
engineering, to solve a problem or achieve a goal.
Healthcare services are frequently delivered by interdisciplinary teams of nurses, doctors,
These teams tackle specific tasks that require different inputs and expertise.
Cross functional teams are groups consisting of people from different functional areas
of the company – for example, marketing, product, sales, and customer success.
Self-managed team:
When the members of a team do not require any support from their superiors and are
self-sufficient to manage and handle routine problems, the team is referred to as a self-
man-aged team.
Groups of employees who work in an extremely integrated and collaborative way
because they don’t have a formal leader.
Members define the division of labor, responsibilities and the distribution of tasks,
as well as and even control and supervise themselves.
Companies use self-management teams to improve productivity, quality, and cost-
management.
Examples of self management teams are found in many work groups and collaborative
teams.
For example, they set the work schedule and assign tasks. In this way they share both
the managerial and technical tasks.
Supervised team:
supervising a team differ from those required to lead a team.
involve directing the work of subordinates on a daily basis, assigning work,
communicating expectations, ensuring people have the necessary resources, and
improving performance.
When a manager directly controls, manages and supervises a team of members,
the team is referred to as a supervised team
When you supervise a team, you assign tasks, and you monitor and control the
execution closely.
While the employees are responsible for completing the tasks
For example, a middle manager’s supervisor typically would be a top manager. A first-
line manager’s supervisor would be a middle manager. A worker’s supervisor typically
would be a first-line manager.
Project team:
These are work groups an organization creates to implement a specific project until
completion. Afterward, the group dissolves as it achieved its objectives.
Typically, members come from different areas of the company and perform other
tasks related to their home department.
But, as far as the project is concerned, they answer to the project leader
This type of team refers to a group of individuals who have been brought together for a
specific task for achieving the objectives of the business.
Such teams are created on a tempo-rary basis which could be for a week or a few years.
The members of the team are from different functional areas; they could be from within the
organisation or hired from outside specifically for work-ing on the project.
Project teams are created for a defined period of time to achieve a specific goal. Members
of a project team often belong to different functional groups and are chosen to participate
in the team based on specific skills they can contribute to the project.
Project teams are groups of employees who work collectively toward shared goals.
Virtual team:
A virtual team is a type of team that has no physical existence and coordinates through
digital or electronic media, like video conferencing and teleconferencing.
This team has great sig-nificance in situations
Virtual teams have members located in different places, often geographically dispersed,
who come together to achieve a specific purpose.
Academic researchers often work on virtual teams with colleagues at other institutions.
1. General Electric. GE employs more than 90,000 employees throughout the world.
Problem-solving team
These types of teams are usually temporary and
When a few individuals form a team, and the entire team is formed to
interact and discuss certain problems and progress made by the entire
team on weekends, it refers to the formation of a problem-solving team.
Other issues like quality, timelines, work allocation, etc., can also be a part
of weekly discus-sions.
For example, after the 2008, several organizational task force teams and
governmental committees were created to come up with solutions to help
the country climb out of a steep recession.
‰‰
Matrix team:
a temporary product (or project) team, which is made up of specialists from different
functional areas. The idea with the cross-functional nature of the team is to increase
collaboration between different functions to create better products and faster releases.
This team is a combination of functional and pro-jectised structures. Matrix team
members work in their specific departments and also handle the project work,
and, thus, they report both to the project manager and the functional manager.
For example, the company's product-based divisions intersect with functional groups and
geographic divisions, which in turn intersect with other parts of the organization.
2. Apple Inc. has a hierarchical organizational structure, with notable divisional
characteristics and a weak functional matrix.
It is common for an organization to have many teams, including teams of several types.
Effective teamwork depends on choosing the type of team best suited to the work that needs to
be accomplished.
b. Explain the that Johanna might have faced barriers in creating effective teams.
(5 Marks)
6.4 - Barriers
At the start of a project, team members may be at a loss as to how to begin. Also,
they may have reached the end of a task but are unable to move on to the next
step or.
Cultural differences:
.‰‰
Poor Performance of Some Team Members
Research shows that teams deal with poor performers in different ways,
depending on members’ perceptions of the reasons for poor performance
This type of team structure results in interpersonal conflicts as the team member’s
loyalties may be torn between two viewpoints.
decision making takes longer as the team member has to report to multiple parties
and wait for a consensus.
Unclear goals:
A lack of team purpose and tasks.
Objectives for the teams should be laid down clearly and concisely.
Only when the objectives are clearly speci-fied, the success can be easily gauged
and barriers to team-build-ing can be eliminated.‰