MGT 201: Chapter 09: Foundations of Group Behavior
MGT 201: Chapter 09: Foundations of Group Behavior
MGT 201: Chapter 09: Foundations of Group Behavior
• Formal Group:
• Defined by the organization’s structure with designated work,
assignments, establishing tasks to meet goals
• Informal Group:
• Alliances that are neither formally structured nor organizationally
determined
• Appear naturally in response to the need for social contact
• Deeply affect behavior and performance
Why People Join Groups
• Closeness--Being members of the same group builds ties
among people. It gives them a social identity
• The fourth stage is performing : The structure at this point is fully functional and
accepted. Group energy has moved from getting to know and understand each other to
performing the task at hand.
• For permanent work groups, performing is the last stage in development. However, for
temporary committees, teams, task forces, and similar groups that have a limited task
to perform, the adjourning stage (fifth stage) is for wrapping up activities and preparing
to disband.
9-7
• Group Strengths:
• Generate more complete information and knowledge
• Offer increased diversity of views and greater creativity
• Increased acceptance of decisions
• Generally more accurate
• Group Weaknesses:
• Time-consuming activity
• Conformity pressures in the group
• Discussions can be dominated by a few members
• A situation of unclear responsibility
Groupthink
• brainstorming
An idea-generation process that specifically encourages any and all
alternatives while withholding any criticism of those alternatives.
2. After this silent period, each member presents one idea to the
group. No discussion takes place until all ideas have been presented
and recorded.
3. The group discusses the ideas for clarity and evaluates them.
Issues are presented to them, and they type their responses into
their computers