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