HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN ORGANIZATION

TOPIC/S

LESSON : GROUP DYNAMICS

LEARNING
OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lessons the students will be able to:

1. explain the types of groups
2. differentiate the stages of group development

TEACHING
STRATEGY

GROUPS AND TEAMS

A group is a collection of people who interact with each other, are working toward some common
purpose, and perceive themselves to be a group. A team is a special type of group. Team members
have complementary skills and are committed to a common purpose, a set of performance goals, and
an approach to the task.
A major factor in understanding both groups and teams is that they are governed to some extent
by group norms, the guidelines for acceptable and unacceptable behaviors that are informally agreed
upon by group members. Examples of group norms are assisting a coworker who needs your expertise,
and working on weekends to finish a project if necessary.
FORMAL VERSUS INFORMAL GROUPS
A formal group is one deliberately formed by the organization to accomplish specific tasks and achieve
goals. In contrast, informal groups emerge over time through the interaction of workers. Informal
groups satisfy a social or recreational purpose yet at the same time may deal with work problems.
TYPES OF WORK TEAMS
All workplace teams have the common elements of people working together cooperatively and
members possessing a mix of skills.
1. Cross-functional teams. A cross-functional team is a work group composed of work
groups from different specialties, but about the same organizational level, who come
together to accomplish a task. Product development is the most frequent purpose of a
cross-functional team.
2. Virtual team. A virtual team is a small group of people who conduct almost all of their
collaborative work by electronic communication rather than face-to-face meetings.
E-mail is the usual medium for sharing information and conducting meetings. Most hightech companies make some use of virtual teams. Strategic alliances are a natural for
virtual teams. Global virtual teams face some unique opportunities and challenges.
A project can be worked on 24 hours per day without anybody working an extended day.
Yet global virtual teams also face the challenge of differences in perception of time, and
different non-work days.
Mutual trust is a major factor for the success of a virtual team. Trust is established by
repeatedly setting expectations and then delivering results that meet or surpass those
expectations. Exhibit 10-1 provides a variety of useful suggestions for managing a virtual
team and enhancing teamwork.
3. Crews. A crew is a group of specialists each of whom has specific roles, perform brief
events that are synchronized with each other, and repeat these events under different
environmental conditions. A crew is identified by the technology it handles, such as a
deep sea salvage operation.
4. Top management team. Although the group of managers in the executive suite is referred
to as a team, few such groups fit the strict definition of a team. Yet groups of top
managers are teams in the sense that most major decisions are made collaboratively
with all members of the top-management group included. Also, a handful of companies

are actually run by a committee of two or more top executives who claim to share power
equally.
STAGES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT
Understanding the stages of group development can lead to more effective group leadership or
membership.
Stage 1: Forming. Members are eager to learn what tasks they will be performing, and what
constitutes acceptable behavior.
Stage 2: Storming. During this shakedown period, individual styles come into conflict. Hostility,
infighting, tension, and confrontation are typical. Members may argue to clarify
expectations of their contribution. Subgroups may attempt to form their own agenda.
Stage 3: Norming. Group standards of conduct are formed, and cohesiveness and commitment
begin to develop. Norms may stem from the group itself, from the larger organization,
and from professional codes of conduct.
Stage 4: Performing. The group is now ready to focus on accomplishing its key tasks, and the
group becomes a well-functioning unit. Ideally, group members feel they are working
for the cause.
Stage 5: Adjourning. After the task is completed, the group adjourns, yet members depart with
important relationships and understandings they can use again in the future. Many
groups reform when the need arises.
STUDENT
ACTIVITY

Open this link to view the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9j3-ghRjBs

Then write a brief reflection (in not more than 5 sentences) about the importance of teamwork in
groups. Submit your work not later than August 11, 2015.

ASSESSMENT

Directions:
1. Open ASSESSMENT and answer the online quiz. Deadline is August 10, 2015.

I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans to give you a hope and a future. ~ Jeremiah 29:11