What is a group?
A group consists of two or more people interacting interdependently to achieve a common goal.
What are the two key aspects of a group?
- Interaction (basic form)
- interdependence. (group members rely to some degree on each other to accomplish goals.)
Why are groups important in organizations?
Groups can accomplish tasks individuals cannot, and are increasingly necessary in modern workplaces.
When should groups be used?
When problems are complex, require intergroup cooperation, or when acceptance and commitment to a decision are critical for implementation.
What are some key questions to determine if a team fits the situation?
- Can the work be done better by more than one person?
- Does it require creativity or innovation?
- Is it complex or important?
- Does it require multiple skill sets?
What makes a team more than just a collection of individuals?
A common purpose or goal that is greater than individual objectives.
Q: When might individuals be better off working alone?
A: When interdependence is low or when tasks are simple and independent.
Q: How does group size affect satisfaction?
A: Larger groups tend to have lower satisfaction because of reduced participation, less friendship opportunity, and more conflict.
larger groups identify less with group success, fewer chances to contribute verbally.
Q: What determines whether large or small groups perform better?
A: The type of task being done.
Q: What are the three types of group tasks?
A: Additive, Disjunctive, and Conjunctive.
Q: What is an additive task? Give an example.
A: Group performance depends on the sum of all members’ efforts (e.g., building a house). Larger groups perform better.
Q: What is a disjunctive task? Give an example.
A: Group performance depends on the best member’s ability (e.g., research team). Larger groups have higher potential.
Q: What is a conjunctive task? Give an example.
A: Group performance is limited by the weakest member (e.g., assembly line). Larger groups perform worse.
Q: What are advantages of group diversity?
- Multiple perspectives
- Greater openness to ideas
- Multiple interpretations
- More creativity and flexibility
- Better problem-solving skills
Q: What are disadvantages of group diversity?
- Ambiguity and confusion
- Miscommunication
- Complexity
- Difficulty reaching agreement or deciding on actions
Q: When do diverse groups perform better?
A: On tasks requiring creativity and innovation.
Q: What is “surface diversity”?
A: Differences in visible traits like age, gender, or race.
Q: What is “deep diversity”?
A: Differences in work attitudes or approaches, which can harm cohesiveness.
Q: What’s the rule of thumb for group diversity?
A: Include enough diversity to gain new perspectives but not so much that communication and performance suffer.
Q: What is social loafing?
A: The tendency to withhold effort when working in a group.
Q: Why does social loafing happen?
A: It’s a motivation problem—people feel trapped in a social dilemma where slacking benefits them individually.
Q: What are the two forms of social loafing?
A: The Free Rider Effect and the Sucker Effect.
Q: What is the Free Rider Effect?
A: When people lower effort to benefit from others’ work at the expense of their fellow group members..
Q: What is the Sucker Effect?
A: When people reduce effort because others are slacking, to restore fairness.
