Factors Affecting Group Development
Group Norms
Acceptable standards of behaviour considered appropriate
Vary from group to group Leader:
Strives to understand norms Ensures that group exerts pressure on members
to comply with norms Deviation from norms
Leader interprets and makes recommendations for positive change
Other members punish or correct
Group Size Effect of size varies depending on the
purpose and goals• Smaller groups make decisions quickly
• Less discussion
• Larger groups bring forth more opinions
• Takes longer for decision making
Leadership Dimensions
Low Relationship/Low task
Low Relationship/High task
High Relationship/ High Task
High Relationship/Low task
High Relationship/Low Task
Works Best in forming stage when faced with strict deadline
Leader ensures that group is: Working on the task and Moving quickly through the forming,
storming and norming stages Relationships important to ensure
cohesion and complete task on time
High Relationship/High Task
Almost through the storming stage Leader is working with the group on the
task as well as building relationships within the group
Low Relationship/High Task
Moving out of the storming stage Leader works diligently on the task while
the group works through the norming stage of development
The task has a timeline that must be met Relationship at a point where members
have established their roles and can focus on the tasks
Low Relationship/Low task
In the performing stage Leader now offers advice when needed Group essentially functions on its own Group members work well together and
understand the implications of the task deadline
May need leader to steo
Leader’s Behaviours
Task Behaviours Relationship
Behaviours
Not only exhibited by the leader, but by the group members if the leader relinquishes control
Task Behaviours
Help keep the group on track and moving towards completing the task at hand
Include the following: Initiator- generates new ideas and suggests
solutions Elaborator-expands on existing ideas and may
restate ideas Summarizer-pulls ideas together and ensures
consensus Recorder- records details for current and future
progress Time keeper- makes sure the group observes the
time limits and deadlines
Relationship behaviours
Keep individuals within the group feeling wanted and valuable
Following roles and behaviours: Encourager-makes everyone feel important Gate keeper- ensures everyone’s opportunity to
contribute Mediator – helps keep harmony by suggesting
compromises Custodian – checks to ensure that the group doesn’t
violate values Blocker – opposes others’ ideas and gets off topic Joker – is centre of attention and makes fun of others’
ideas Dominator – imposes his own ideas at the expense of
others Hidden agenda – fulfills her own personal gains Dependent – depends on others for ideas and opinions
Group Cohesiveness
The degree to which individual members are attracted to a group and each other
Varies between groups Linked to the group’s overall productivity Recommendations for developing cohesiveness:
Smaller size More time spent together “Buying into” the group’s goals Physical isolation Highlight valued status Reward the group members equally Encourage competition with other work groups
Group composition
Heterogeneous groups: Composed of dissimilar individuals Promotes group conflict More likely to have diverse information and
abilities Improved decision making and task completion
For team building each personality colour should be represented
Depending on the reason for the group’s existence more or less members of a particular colour can be included
Preselected Groups
Groups existing prior to the appointment of the leader
Leader needs to make this work Determine which group members
possess which strengths and then promote these
Assign tasks to suit each person
Group Decision Making Process
Individual decision making
Advantages: Fast Clearer accountability More consistent decision
When the decision is relatively unimportant and doesn’t require members’ input for success
When all the information required is available
Group decision making
Almost always superior over individual decisions
Advantages: More complete information knowledge Higher quality decisions
Group consensus is the optimum Less efficient because they use up more
time and resources to come to an ultimate decision
Groupthink
Desire for consensus overrides the best possible viewpoint for solving problems
Symptoms include: Rationalizing resistance Pressuring of hesitant members Those who question the group opinion
remain silent Silence is interpreted as “yes”
Leads to poor decision making
Brainstorming
Overcoming pressures to conformity and generating ideas or alternatives
Members “freewheel” as many suggestions and alternatives as possible
No criticism is allowed Every alternative is recorded Each individual in the group silently and
independently ranks different ideas presented The final group decision = solution with the
highest aggregate rating