B.

Sc DEGREE COURSE IN
NURSING(BASIC)
Management in Nursing Services and
Education

UNIT:IV - ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR

AND HUMAN RELATIONS.
Group Dynamics

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 OBJECTIVES

After studying this topics students should be able to

• Define group dynamics
• List out the principles of group dynamics
• Understand the importance of group dynamics
• Describe the group development theories
• Recognize the types of group
• Identify the stages of group development
• Analyze the group structure

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 INTRODUCTION
• Dynamic means force. It refers to the forces
operating in the group.
• Group is the deliberate assembly of people for
common goal. Groups develop a personality ,
reflecting group’s unique behaviours.
• Group dynamics is used to describe the
communication process and behaviours occuring
during the life style of the group.

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 DEFINITION

Group
A group can be defined as several individuals who
come together to accomplish a particular task or goal.
Group Dynamics
The social process by which people interact in
a group environment.
The influence of personality ,
power and behaviour on the group
process.

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 PRINCIPLES OF GROUP DYNAMICS
• The members of the group must have a strong
sense of belonging to the group.
• The group arises in functions owing to common
motives.
• Changes in one part of the group may produce
stress in other person.
• The intergroup relations , group organization
and member participation are essential for
effectiveness of a group.

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 IMPORTANCE OF GROUP IN
ORGANIZATION
• Group typically brings out individuals when the
tasks involved require a variety of skills,
experience and decision making.
• Group is often more flexible and can quickly
assemble , achieve goals and move on to
another set of objectives.
• Group has many motivational
aspects .

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 Contd…

• Group members are more likely to participate in

decision-making and problem solving activities
leading to empowerment and increased productivity.
• Group completes most of the work in an
organization.
• Thus, the effectiveness of the organization is limited
by the effectiveness of its group.

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 GROUP DEVELOPMENT
Classic theory
• Developed by George Homans.
• Suggests that group develops based on
activities,interactions and sentiments.
• The theory means that when individuals share
common activities,they will have more
interactions and will develop attitudes(positive or
negative) towards each other.
• The major element in this theory
is the interaction of the individuals
involved.

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 Social Exchange Theory
• Individuals form relationships based on the
implicit expectation of mutually beneficial
exchanges based on trust and felt obligation.
• Perception that exchange relationships will be
positive and if individuals are to be attracted
and affiliate with a group.

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 Social Identity Theory
• This theory suggests that individuals get a sense
of identity and self-esteem in the group.
• The nature of the group may be demographically based,
culturally based or organizationally based.
• Individuals are motivated to contribute to identity
group because of sense belongingness.

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 GROUP TYPES

GROUP

FORMAL GROUP INFORMAL GROUP

• INTEREST
• COMMAND
GROUP
GROUP
•FRIENDSHIP
•TASK GROUP
GROUP
•FUNCTIONAL
•REFERENCE
GROUP.
GROUP.

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 FORMAL GROUP

Command Group
• Specified by the organizational chart and often
consists of a supervisior and the subordinates that
report to that supervisior.
Task Group
• Members are brought together to accomplish
narrow range of goals within a specified time
period.
Functional Group
• Created by the organization to accomplish
specific goals within an unspecified time frame.
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INFORMAL GROUP
• They are created for purposes other than the
accomplishment of organizational goals.
Interest Group
• Members of interest groups may not be part of
the same organizational department but they are
bound together by some other common interest.
Friendship Group
• Are formed by members who enjoy similar social
activities , political beliefs , religious values or
other common bonds.

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 Reference Group

• A type of group that people use to evaluate

themselves.
• According to Cherrington, the main purposes of
reference groups are social validation and social
comparison.

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 GROUP
DEVELOPMENT
By Bruce Tuckman in the 1960s.

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 FIVE STAGES
FORMING
• Group members get to know each other and
reach common goals.
STORMING
• Group members disagree on direction and
leadership.
• Managers need to be sure the conflict stays
focused.
NORMING
• Close ties and consensus begin to develop
between group members.
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PERFORMING
• The group begins to do its real work.
ADJOURNING
• Only for task forces that are temporary.

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PHYSICAL CONDITION THAT INFLUENCE
GROUP DYNAMICS

SEATING

SIZE

MEMBERSHIP
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 GROUP STRUCTURE

• Group structure is a pattern of relationship

among members that hold the group together
and help to achieve assigned goals.
• Structure can be described in terms of ,
- Group size
- Group roles
- Group norms
- Group cohesiveness.
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GROUP SIZE
• Small group of two to ten are thought to be
more effective because each member has
ample opportunity to participate and become
actively involved in the group.
• Large group may waste time by deciding on
processes and trying to decide who should
participate next.

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 GROUP ROLES

• In formal group , roles are usually

predetermined and assigned to members.
• Each role will have specific responsibilities and
duties.
• The main types of roles are
Work Role
Maintenance Role
Blocking Role.

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 WORK ROLE
• Work roles are task oriented activities that
involve accomplishing the group’s goal.
• They involve a variety of specific roles such as,
Initiator
Informer
Clarifier
Summarizer
Reality testers.

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 MAINTANANCE ROLE
• Social-emotional activities that help members
maintain their involvement in the group and raise
their personal commitment to the group.
• The Maintanance roles are
Harmonize
Gatekeepers
Consensus test
Encouragers
Compromisers.

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 BLOCKING ROLES
• Activities that disrupt the group.
• Blockers will stubbornly resist the group’s
ideas.
• The dominator role attempts to control
conversations by patronizing others.
• Comedians often abandon the group even
though they may physically still be a part.
• Avoidance behaviour , involves pursuing
goals not related to the group.

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 GROUP NORMS

• Norms are acceptable standards of behaviour

within a group that are shared by the members
of the group.
• Norms define the boundaries of acceptable and
unacceptable behaviour.
• They are typically created in order to
- facilitate group survival
- make behaviour more predictable
- avoid embarrassing situations
- express the values of the group.

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 GROUP COHESIVENESS

• Group cohesion-interpersonal attraction

binding group members together.
• Cohesiveness refers to the bonding of group
members and their desire to remain part of
the group.

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FACTORS PROMOTING GROUP COHESIVENESS

• Similarity of work
• Physical proximity in the workplace
• The work-flow system
• Structure of tasks
• Size of group(smaller rather than large)
• Threats from outside
• The prospect of rewards
• Leadership style of the manager
• Common social factors(age , race, social status)

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 ADVANTAGES

GROUPS WITH HIGH COHESIVENESS

• Demonstrate lower tension and anxiety
• Demonstrate less variation in productivity
• Demonstrate better member satisfaction ,
commitment and communication
• Worker satisfaction
• Low turnover and absenteeism
• Higher productivity
• Enables groups to exercise effective control over the
members.
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 DISADVANTAGES

• Highly cohesive groups may be deterimental to

organizational performance if their goals are
misaligned with organizational goals .
• Highly cohesive groups may also be more
vulnerable to group think.

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 SUMMARY

• The topic summarizes the following on group

Dynamics. Definition, Principles, Importance,
Group development theories such as Social
Exchange theory, Social Identity theory, type of
group stages of group development, group
structure interms of group size, group roles,
group norms, group cohesivess.

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 REFERENCES
• B. T Basvanthappa, Management of nursing
services and education ,Jaypee Publications -
2011.
• Pramilaa R. Nursing communication and
educational technology .Jaypee Publication
2010.

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