National Central

University

Chapter 9: Foundations of Group Behavior

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
STEPHEN P. ROBBINS

Reporter: Debbie Pi
2007/10/04

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Outline

 The Introduction of Group

 Defining & classifying Groups
 Why people join groups
 Stages of Group Development
 The Five-Stage Model
 Punctuated-equilibrium Model: For temporary Groups w/ Deadline
 Group Properties
 Roles, Norms, Status, Size, and Cohesiveness
 Group Decision Making
 Groups versus the individual
 Groupthink and Groupshift
 Groups decision-making techniques

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University
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Introduction
This session is about the concept of groups

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University
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Introduction
This session is about classifying groups

Formal Group Informal Group

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Introduction
why people join groups

 Security: Individuals can reduce the insecurity of “standing alone”

 Status: It provides recognition and status.
 Self-esteem: It provides people the feelings of self-worth.
 Affiliation: It can fulfill individuals social needs.
 Power: It often makes what can not be achieved by individuals possible.
 Goal Achievement: The use of formal group w/ talent, knowledge, or power to
achieve a particular task.

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University
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Outline

 The Introduction of Group

 Defining & classifying Groups
 Why people join groups
 Stages of Group Development
 The Five-Stage Model
 Punctuated-equilibrium Model: For temporary Groups w/ Deadline
 Group Properties
 Roles, Norms, Status, Size, and Cohesiveness
 Group Decision Making
 Groups versus the individual
 Groupthink and Groupshift
 Groups decision-making techniques
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University
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Stages of Group Development
The Five-Stage Model

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Stages of Group Development
Punctuated-equilibrium Model

Sequence of actions:
 Setting group direction
 First phase of inertia
 Half-way point transition
 Major changes
 Second phase of inertia
 Accelerated activity

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University
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Stages of Group Development
Punctuated-equilibrium Model (Cont’d)

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University
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Outline

 The Introduction of Group

 Defining & classifying Groups
 Why people join groups
 Stages of Group Development
 The Five-Stage Model
 Punctuated-equilibrium Model: For temporary Groups w/ Deadline
 Group Properties
 Roles, Norms, Status, Size, and Cohesiveness
 Group Decision Making
 Groups versus the individual
 Groupthink and Groupshift
 Groups decision-making techniques
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University
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Group Properties
Roles

We are required to play a

number of diverse roles.

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Group Properties
Roles (Cont’d)

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Group Properties
Norms

Classes of Norms:
 Performance norms
 Appearance norms
 Social arrangement norms
 Allocation of resources norms

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Group Properties
Norms (Cont’d)

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Group Properties
Norms (Cont’d)

Examples of Cards Used in Asch’s Study

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Group Properties
Norms (Cont’d)

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 Group Properties
Status

 Status and Norms

High status members of groups are given more freedom to deviate from
norms and also are better able to resist conformity pressures than other
group members.
 Status and Group interaction
Interaction among members of groups is influenced by status. Lower-status
members tend to be less active participants in group discussion.
 Status Inequity
When inequity is perceived, it creates disequilibrium, which results in
various types of corrective behavior.
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Group Properties
Status (Cont’d)

Group Norms

Status Equity Group Member

Status

Culture

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Group Properties
Size

• Smaller groups are faster at completing task.

• Large groups are good for gaining diverse input
and problem solving.

Other conclusions:

• Odd number groups do better than even.

• Groups of 5 or 7 perform better overall than
larger or smaller groups.

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Group Properties
Size (Cont’d)

Cyberloafing:
The act of employees use
their organization's internet
access for personal purpose
during work hours.

Reasons: Implications:
• To reduce the efforts to • Means by which individual
reestablish equity efforts can be identified
• The dispersion of • Not consistent w/ collective
responsibility society

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University
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Group Properties
Cohesiveness

Increasing group cohesiveness:

• Make the group smaller.
• Encourage agreement with group goals.
• Increase time members spend together.
• Increase group status and admission difficultly.
• Stimulate competition with other groups.
• Give rewards to the group, not individuals.
• Physically isolate the group.

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Group Properties
Cohesiveness (Cont’d)

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Outline

 The Introduction of Group

 Defining & classifying Groups
 Why people join groups
 Stages of Group Development
 The Five-Stage Model
 Punctuated-equilibrium Model: For temporary Groups w/ Deadline
 Group Properties
 Roles, Norms, Status, Size, and Cohesiveness
 Group Decision Making
 Groups versus the individual
 Groupthink and Groupshift
 Groups decision-making techniques
National Central
University
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Group Decision Making
Groups versus the individual

 Strengths  Weaknesses
 More complete  More time consuming
information  Increased pressure to
 Increased diversity of conform
views  Domination by one or a
 Higher quality of few members
decisions  Ambiguous responsibility
 Increased acceptance of
solutions

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Group Decision Making
Groups versus the individual (Cont’d)

Groups Individuals

Accuracy More Less

Creativity More Less

Speed Slower Faster

Acceptance More Less

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Group Decision Making
Groupthink and Groupshift

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Group Decision Making
Group decision-making techniques

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 Group Decision Making
Group decision-making techniques (Cont’d)

Evaluation Group Effectiveness

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Summary

 The definition of groups

 Two models of group development
 The relationships between Group Properties (Roles, Norms,
Status, Size, and Cohesiveness) and Performance
 Social loafing and its effect on group performance
 The benefits and disadvantage of cohesive groups
 The effectiveness of 4 Group decision-making techniques
(Interacting, Brainstorming, Nominal, and Electronic)

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