Chapter3: Foundations of
Group Behavior
Definition of a Group
A group is defined as two or more
individuals, interacting and interdependent,
who have come together to achieve
particular objectives.
Various Types of Groups
Formal groups
 Command
groups
 Task groups
Informal Groups
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Friendship
groups
Interest groups
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Small groups
Large groups
Primary groups
Secondary groups
Coalitions
Membership groups
Formal Groups
These groups are formed by the organization to
carry out specific tasks.
It includes two types:
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
Command group
Task groups
Informal Groups
Informal groups are formed by the employees
themselves. They are not formally structured.
They are of two types:
 Friendship groups
 Interest groups
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Formal / Informal Group
Other types Include
Small groups:
 Only a few members.
 Face-to-face interaction and better communication
is possible.
Large groups:
 Members is very high.
 Personal interaction is not possible.
Stages of Group Development
The five-Stage Model:
Adjourning/Mourning
Completion, ending or evolution
Performing
Achieving the purpose
Norming
Agreeing purpose and conduct
Storming
Resolving differences
Forming
Initial meeting together
Composition of a Group
Most group activities require a variety of skills and
knowledge. Research studies show that
heterogeneous groups are likely to perform more
effectively.
Cohesion of group
Degree to which group members are attracted
to each other and are motivated to stay in the
group.
Managerial Implication
– To increase cohesion of groups:
• Make the group smaller.
• Encourage agreement with group goals.
• Increase time members spend together.
• Increase group status and admission difficulty.
• Stimulate competition with other groups.
• Give rewards to the group, not individuals.
Factors affecting the group behavior
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Norms
Roles
Size of groups
Management philosophy
Internal environment of the organization
The external environment
Group behavior
The type of leadership approach
Different level of perception and understanding
Norms:
Acceptable standards of behaviour within a group
that are shared by the group’s members.
Roles:
Set of behavior pattern which an individual
occupying a certain position in society.
Size of a Group
The size of a group affects the group’s overall behavior,
but the effect depends on the dependent variables:
Smaller groups are faster at completing tasks than are
larger ones.
Definition of Work Teams
A small number of people with
complementary skills who are committed to
a common purpose, common performance
goals, and an approach for which they hold
themselves mutually accountable”.
-G. Moorhead and R.W. Griffin
Benefits of Work Teams
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Enhanced performance
Employee benefits
Reduced costs
Organizational enhancements
Team groups determinants
Size of work teams
 Abilities of members
 Allocation of work roles
realistic performance goals
Good leadership and effective structure

Teams and Total Quality
Management
TQM means process improvement and
employee involvement is the key to process
improvement.

Teams and Workforce Diversity
Diversified
teams
provide
unique
and
innovative solutions, but at the same time,
they are cohesive.