QUESTION 1
An organization is a complex social system that survives on group collaborative
effort or joint effort. Recently, your company has been experiencing some problems
that bother on inter-group conflict as a manager, bring group cohesion and team
spirit to reign in the organization.
It’s very essential to note that inter-group relationship is an important factor
in an organization. When conflict arises among these groups, it brings disaster and
reduces efficiency in the organization. Therefore, Inter-group conflicts simply refer
to a disagreement or a clash between work groups.
As the manager of the company, it is very important for me to know the causes
arising inter-group conflicts before introducing group cohesion and team spirit in
the organization. I have found out the following to be the reason why inter-group
conflict occurs. They are:
1} Competition among groups
2} Cultural differences
3} Poor communication among groups
4} Reward factor
5} Organizational change.
The causes of inter-group conflict in the organization has been outlined
already. Now introducing GROUP COHESION and TEAM SPIRIT.
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GROUP COHESION
Group Cohesion can be defined as a bond that pulls people towards
membership in groups and resists separation and disagreement in such groups. It
also refers to a strong hold that enhances closeness among groups. As a manager,
the steps I will use to bring in group cohesion are as follows:
1} By establishing communication ground rules:
Proper communication is very essential in an organization. For groups to be
effective, it depends on an open and honest communication. To facilitate ongoing
discussions among members, I will steer them toward regular meetings and ensure
that they agree on a preferred mode of regular communication that will be
consistent either by mail, calls or text messages. I will also try to clearly explain the
team’s instructions and goals to be achieved.
2} Introducing diversity:
For a team to be successful it will require diversity. Diverse teams have access
to many people with varying skills and experiences. A diverse group will be able to
pull from all these experiences in order to achieve the mission.
3} By setting clear goals and objectives:
I personally believe that goals should be challenging but realistic. Groups will
be able to function better when they know exactly what is expected of them and
don’t waste time decoding the boss.
4} Take a Reality Break on Conflict:
This can be done by addressing the potential for conflict now and by deciding
how the team will resolve everything from minor conflicts to major ones then
deciding the best candidate to act as an arbiter. This involves also trying to consider
recommending some lighthearted ways for them to burn off steam.
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TEAM SPIRIT
Team spirit is a unison goal of a group enforced by the spirit energy. It is an
inner feeling that exits among groups. It is an eagerness to sacrifice personal
interests of glory for the welfare of all. This is of almost importance which needs to
be present in a group. Therefore, I will introduce it through the following:
1} By recruiting the right people:
For team spirit to reside, it is important to start with the employment process.
When recruiting new team members, be mindful and ask questions that will focus
on whether or not a candidate is a team player and will give the right energy to the
team.
2} By praising achievements and feedback:
Ensure to give a recommendation to the workers for a job well done. Methods
such as the use of email or messaging tools can be used to share praises for
achievements and also to recognize your colleagues in a public way. This will help
to promote open communication in the team and strengthen bonds and
understanding between each other.
3} Be Inclusive:
An incredibly important way to encourage team spirit is to make sure that
everyone in a workplace feels included. Being actively inclusive in the workplace
can be as simple as making sure the language you use is inclusive to making sure
that group activities are something that can be enjoyed by everyone. By making
everyone feel included, this will encourage team spirit.
4} Be a humble leader:
A leader should always exercise humility when working with people in order
not to reduce team spirit. The group must know that they work with you, not for
you. A leader must award praise to the person who truly deserves it and he should
take the blame if there is any default.
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QUESTION 2
Use the following theories to explain the formation of groups in organization.
1} Propinquity Theory
2} Balance Theory
3} Theory of Social Exchange
There is a need to understand what it means by group formation before
explaining how these groups are actually formed with the theories stated above.
GROUP FORMATION:
This refers to the coming together of persons to create a unit. It also refers to
when individuals from different fields of the society are brought together for the
first time and interact with each other. This explains how groups are to be formed
and how they develop over time. Sometimes we join a group because we want
to. Most times this group formation do occur when individuals sees alike interest
with group members.
There are two main types of groups which are;
PRIMARY: A type of group that a close relationship exits such as a family. Another
name given to this type of group is “face-to-face” group. A group that is informal in
nature.
SECONDARY: This refers to a group that is large in nature. It also refers to a group
that involves formality and occurs in an external environment.
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PROPINQUITY THEORY
Literary propinquity simply means nearness. This propinquity theory explains
that individuals connect with one another because of the closeness among them.
For example, in an academic environment, Funaab to be precise, it is easy for
individuals in Accounting department to form a group as a result of the nearness
and closeness compared with other individuals at a distant place such as Electrical
Engineering department. Therefore, this theory tends to explain the group
formation process based on nearness. However, it does not consider more
important issues in group formation which are much more complex than nearness.
Nearness is only a facilitating factor for group formation and not the reason for it.
This theory was developed by these psychologists: Leon Festinger, Stanley
Schachter and Kurt Back.
BALANCE THEORY
This is a theory that suggests groups form due to the sharing of common ideas
and attitudes by people. This theory as proposed by Theodore Newcomb. His
theory focuses on the similarities among people and how it is relevant in achieving
objectives and goals. He stated that once a relationship is formed among individuals,
it strives to maintain a balance. If an imbalance occurs, attempts are made to restore
the balance. If the balance cannot be restored, the relationship dissolves.
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THEORY OF SOCIAL EXCHANGE
This theory is based on the reward and cost outcomes of interactions. This
theory explains that before an individual joins a group, the individual thinks in
terms of what he stands to gain from belonging to such group. A minimum positive
level (rewards greater than costs) of an outcome must exist in order for attraction
or affiliation to take place. Rewards from interactions gratify needs while costs incur
anxiety, frustrations, embarrassment or fatigue. This is a theory that was developed
by FRITZ HEIDER.
QUESTION 3
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Group emphasizes commonality
A group simply means the meeting of persons. It is also referred to as the
collection of individuals who come together with similar interest, ambition, relating
with one another so as to achieve the objectives and goals of the organization.
Commonality in literary term means common. This is the features,
characteristics, attributes that are similar and common in nature.
In an organizational environment, individuals have different backgrounds.
Cultural differences do exist. The way through which commonality can occur among
such individuals is through groups. As stated above, groups involves assemblage of
people. Groups in an organization are being formed to achieve set goals. This
means that through group, commonality can take place. The common interests of
individuals in a group draw them together and from that the union becomes
stronger and closer relationships are being built.
Individuals in an organization are being divided into different groups for a
purpose, thereby forcing individuals to embrace others before they have the
opportunity to identify areas of common interest. When this is achieved it brings
about commonality. The group is to work together as a team will always do. Group
enhances commonality in a way that individual members of the group can
understand and replicate the learning of others within the group thereby leading to
similar features among them. Group also enhances commonality by creating
oneness and making them undivided despite the fact that the members of the group
are of different personality.
In conclusion, commonality is of utmost importance because this helps to
improve efficiency and productivity in the organization.
References:
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Hauss, Charles (Chip). "Focusing on Commonalities."
Festinger, L., Schachter, S., Back, K., (1950) "The Spatial Ecology of Group Formation"
Tuckman, B.W. & Jensen, M.A.C. (1977) Stages of small group development
revisited. Group and Organizational Studies, 2, 419-427
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