Characteristics of a

Group
The necessary characteristics of a group are:
Two or more people

Who interact with one another, (The members of a group

occasionally meet, talk, and do things together.)

Share some common ideology, and (The member of a

group have something in common like common goals,
common threat, security concern, etc.)

See themselves as a group. (People who interact with

each other and who have a common ideology are attracted
to one another.)
 What is Group???

Two or more people

Shared goals
Group

People see themselves

As members

There is interaction
Among members
Group Dynamics
Group dynamics contains two terms:

Group + Dynamics= GD

Group is basically a collectivity of two or more persons.

Dynamics comes from Greek word meaning FORCE.

Thus, “Group dynamics is concerned with the

interactions of forces among group members in a
social situation.”
Group dynamics refers to the attitudinal and
behavioral characteristics of a group.

Group dynamics concern how groups form,

their structure and process, and how they
function. Group dynamics are relevant in both
formal and informal groups of all types.

In an organizational setting or in Social Group

Work, groups are a very common
organizational entity and the study of groups
and group dynamics is an important area of
study in organizational behavior.
 Group Dynamics Includes
• Group itself • Group Norms
• Type of Groups • Group Unity
• Stages of Group • Group Action
• Group Structure • Group Decision
• Group Sentiments • Group Culture
• Changes within the • Group Cohesiveness
Group • Group Communication
• Group Conflicts
Why Do People Join
Groups?
Security:
Joining groups reduces insecurity of “standing alone”
Status:
Inclusion in a group viewed important by others provides recognition
and status to its members
Self-esteem:
Groups can provide people with feelings of self worth.
Affiliation:
Groups fulfill social needs through regular interaction.
Power:
Group actions enable in achieving what one can’t individually.
Goal Achievement:
Pooling talent, knowledge and power is needed to accomplish
particular tasks.
Stages of Group
Development
The model of group development
was first proposed by Bruce Tuckman
in 1965.
He maintained that these phases are
all necessary in order for:
for growth
to face up to challenges
to tackle problems
to find solutions
to plan work
and to deliver
results.
 STAGES OF GROUP FORMATION
Stage V
Stage IV Adjourning
Performing
Stage III Group
Norming may
Stage II Group
disband
Storming Members members either
Stage I work
Members Work after
Forming
come to Together towards meeting
Members Resist developing Getting their goals
get to know Control by Close their jobs or
each other & group
Relationships done because
set ground Leaders &
Show & feelings of members
rules
hostility Leave
Cohesiveness
 Group structure
Four different aspects of group structure are:
 NORMS

 ROLES

 STATUS

 COHESIVENESS
 Group norms
Set of beliefs, feelings, and attitudes commonly shared by
group members. These are also referred to as rules or standards
of behaviour that apply to group members. Norms serve three
functions namely

Predictive- basis for understanding

the behaviour of others
R
e
l
a
t
i
o
n
 Group Norms Characteristics

• Represents characteristics of group

• Basis for predicting and controlling behaviour of others

• Related to behaviours considered important for their

group
• They are applied to all memebrs.
 Group Role
-various Role played by group members.

There are two elements that define this role identity-

 Role Perception-An individual is expected to

behave
according to his own perception in the group.
 Role Expectation-It is defined as how others believe
one should behave in a given situation.
 Group Status
Status is “ a socially defined position or rank given to groups
or group members by others.” Group members get high status
or low status in the Group based on their authority and
performance.

High status members of the group have more freedom to

deviate from the norms. This facility enables them to have the
discriminatory powers in decision making. Low status
members of the group should not have freedom to deviate
from the norms as it leads to status inequality.
 Group Cohesiveness

COHESION

SOCIAL TASK

the way in which skills and

the bonds of interpersonal
abilities of the group
attraction that link
members mesh to allow
group members
optimal performance
 Results
Who won, and why?

Did your group act like this… … Or like this?

Groups with High Cohesiveness Get Better Results!

Importance of High Cohesiveness

• High Cohesiveness Low

- Unity Cohesiveness
- Negative
- Interactive
- Positive Feelings Feelings
- More
- Ability to Cope with Problems
- More Productive Problems
- Less
Productive
 Theories of Group Formation
Balance Theory:

Propounded by “ Theodore New-Comb” which states that- “

Persons are attracted with one another on the basis of similar
attitudes towards commonly relevant objectives and goals.”
Balance Theory
 Exchange Theory

• Propounded by “ Thaibaunt and Kelly”. This

theory is based on reward-cost outcomes of
interaction between employees.
• The interaction between people is reward.
Types
of
Group
s
 Types of Group

Group

Formal Informal

Command Interes
t
Tas Friendship
k
FORMAL GROUP INFORMAL GROUP

A designated work A group that is neither

group defined by formally structured
the organization’s nor organizationally
structure. determined;
It appears in response
to the need for social
contact.
 FORMAL GROUPS

In formal groups, the behavior that team members should engage in

are stipulated by and directed toward organizational goals.

The major purpose of formal groups is to perform specific tasks and

achieve specific objectives defined by the organization. The most
common type of formal work group consists of individuals
cooperating under the direction of a leader.

Examples of formal groups are departments, divisions, taskforce,

project groups, quality circles, committees, and boards of directors.
 FORMAL GROUPS

Characteristics of Formal Groups:

They are approved from some authority.
There is fixed division of labour
Individuals are assigned specific
responsibilities.
There are personal interactions between the group
members.
Group members are rewarded.
Formal groups can be further classified into:
Command
 Command Groups
A group composed of the individuals who report
directly to a given manager.

It is determined by the organization chart.

Membership in the group arises from each
employee’s position on the organizational chart.

Examples of a command group are: an academic

department chairman and the faculty members in
that department, Manufacturing Unit, Marketing Unit
 Task Groups
Task groups consist of people who work together to achieve a
common task.
Members are brought together to accomplish a narrow range of
goals within a specified time period.
A task group’s boundaries are not limited to its immediate
hierarchical superior, it can cross command relationships.
Task groups are also commonly referred to as task forces. The
organization appoints members and assigns the goals and tasks
to be accomplished.
All command groups are also task groups, but reverse need not
be true.
Examples of assigned tasks are the development of a new
product, the improvement of a production process, or the
proposal of a motivational contest. Other common task groups
are ad hoc committees, project groups, and standing
committees.