Group Behaviour and Group

Dynamics
Defining and Classifying Groups
Examples

1. Formal groups:-
E.g.:- A management team is an example of a
formal group
2. Informal Groups:-
E.g.:- Four employees from different
departments who regularly eat lunch together
are an example of an informal groups
Groups

 Formal Group
Command
Task
 Informal Group

Friendship
Interest
Formal Groups

1.Command Groups:-
 It is most frequent type of formal group.
 It is determined by the organisation chart.
 It is made up of individuals who report
directly to a given manager.
E.g.:- 1. The foreman ( a worker who
supervises other workers) and his team of
workers constitute a command group.
2. An school principal and his 10 teachers from
a command group.
2. Task Groups

 Task groups are also determined by the

organization, represents those working
together to complete a job task.
 E.g.:- when a problem involving many
departments arises, a task force (group)
made-up of representatives from each of the
affected department, might be formed to
study the problem and find out solutions.
 This group is made up of employees who
work together to complete a particular task or
project, but who do not necessarily report to
the same manager/supervisor.
 All command groups are task groups, but all
task groups are not command groups.
Informal Groups

1. Friendship groups:-
 Friendship groups are groups which
develop because the individual members
have common characteristics.
 E.g.:- Social associations, which occur
outside the work situations, can be based
on similar age or ethnic groups, etc.
2. Interest Groups
 At work, people who may or may not be arranged
into command or task groups may join together to
achieve a specific objective with which each is
concerned.
 This is an interest groups
 Hence, interest groups are made up of persons who
share common interests.
 They may be job related interests or non-work
interests, like national politics, religion, etc.
Why do people join groups

1. Security
2. Status
3. Self-esteem
4. Affiliation
5. Power
6. Goal achievement
7. Satisfying needs
8. Common interests and goals
1. Security

 Groups provide security, when people join

groups they can reduce the insecurity of
standing alone.
 People feel strong, have less doubts and are
more resistant to threats when they belong to
a particular group.
2. Status

 When individuals join a group that is viewed

as important by others it provides recognition
and status to them.
 People give them respect and they also
enjoy a good status in the society.
3. Self-esteem

 When people join groups, they develop a

feeling of self-worth.
 Groups provide them with self esteem.
 This helps in maintaining their status outside
the group.
 Membership can also give increased feelings
of worth to the group members themselves.
4. Affiliation

 Groups fulfill social needs, people enjoy the

regular interaction that comes along with
group membership.
5. Power

 Groups provide its members with power,

because what they cannot achieve alone can
be achieved through group action.
6. Goal achievement

 Many times more than one person is required

to achieve a particular task.
 In such tasks there is a need to share talent,
knowledge and power, this is possible in a
group.
 Hence, people are able to achieve goals in
groups which they may not achieve
individually.
7. Satisfying needs

 People join group because they want to

satisfy their needs.
 Groups are formed to accomplish complex
tasks and to fulfill social needs.
E.g.:- 1. A worker who wants increase in his
salary may join the group of his co-workers
for the same.
2. An individual who has a desire to help poor
people may join a social service organisation.
8. Common interests and goals

 People join groups because of common

interests and goals.
 They like same activities so they join groups
or form them to extend their activities.
E.g.:- 1. people who are interested in serving
the poor and old, join service organizations.
2. Trade union is also another example of
workers coming together for achievement of
common goals and having similar interests.