GROUP DEVELOPMENT, GROUP DYNAMICS AND GROUP COHESIVENESS

By– Vibhuti MahanaB.B.A.-II, Sec.-B

P.I.E.T.14069

WHAT IS A GROUP ?A group is a collection of two or more people who work together for achieving a common goal.

Stephen Robbins defines a ‘Group’ , ‘as two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to achieve particular objectives.’

TYPES OF GROUP

Group

Formal

Command Task

Informal

Interest Friendship

Formal Groups Formal Groups are those groups which are

formed by a management in order to achieve the specific goals of the organization.

I. Command - It is a group determine by the connection between individual who are a formal part of the organization e.g. – Marketing Department and other Marketing Staff.

II. Task – Task group consist of people who work together to achieve a common task. Members are brought together to accomplish a narrow range of goals within a specified time period.

Informal Groups These are those groups which are formed

by individuals. These groups are developed on the basis of common interest and friendships.

I. Interest – Interest Group consists of person who share common interests. They may be job related interest, or such as sports, national politics or religion.

II. Friendship – Friendship Group consist of individual who come together because they share one or more common characteristics.

GROUP DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Mutual Acceptance

Communication and Decision Making

Motivation and Productivity

Control and Organisation

Mutual Acceptance – It is a very important stage of group development process. In this stage, the members of the group share information about themselves. They get to know each other. They also discuss those subjects which have no direct connection with their objective. Through these discussions, they came to know each other.

Communication and Decision Making – In this stage, members discuss freely their feelings. They also agree on the group goals and individual roles in the group. Different members are assigned different roles and tasks to achieve the objective.

Motivation and Productivity – In the third process of group development, members cooperate without any prejudice. They help each other. They work sincerely toward achieving the tasks.

Control and Organisation – In this final stage, the group is mature. Members work intimately together. They are flexible. So it can be said self correction, flexibility play a crucial role in making a group extremely productive.

STAGES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT

Stage I •Forming

Stage II •Storming

Stage III •Norming

Stage IV •Performing

Stage V •Adjourning

FormingThis is the first stage in group development process. The group’s purpose, structure and leadership not clear.

Group Members look to the leader for direction.

Members have a desire for acceptance by the group and fitting in.

They are checking out the personalities and talents of other members.

StormingIn this stage, members accept the existence of the group.

The stage is characterized by Tension, Competition and Conflicts among them.

Questions arise about Who is responsible for what and What are the rules ?

Some members may remain silent while others attempt to dominate.

The group leader has to raise the conflict issue and deal with it.

Norming People feel part of the team and

realize that they can achieve work if they accept other view points.

Conflicts have resolved and there is a stronger sense of belonging to the group.

Creativity is high.

People know where they fit in and what is expected of them.

PerformingThe group begins to do its real work.

They work towards getting their jobs done.

Group members can focus on a task and care for other members of the group.

Group Identity is complete, Group Morale is high and Group Loyalty is intense.

AdjourningThis is a final stage in which tasks are completed and there is no longer a need of the group.

This stage includes Recognition for participation(Awards) and an opportunity for group members to say Good Bye(Closure).

With the dissolving of the group, leaders are needed to take on the New Tasks, so a new group forms.

GROUP DYNAMICSAccording to Keith Davis, “The social process by which people interact face to face in small groups is called Group Dynamics.”

According to Bovee, “The interactions and processes that take place in a team are called Group Dynamics.”

GROUP COHESIVENESSCOHESION

Social

Reflects the degree to which members of a team like each other and enjoy each other’s

company.

RESULTS

IMPORTANCE OF COHESIVENESS

FACTORS THAT INCREASE

COHESIVENESSRelatively small size.

Mature development.

Frequent interactions without any prejudice.

Clarity about goals.

Inter-group competition

FACTORS THAT DECREASE

COHESIVENESSLarge group size.

Disagreement on goals.

Domination

Intra-group competition.

Unpleasant experiences.

Lack of loyalty.