Chapter 5 – Social Groups and Formal
Organization Introduction
Part 2
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Groups – People think of themselves as
belonging together and who interact with
one another are the essence of life in
society
◦ Vital for our well-being
◦ Provide intimate relationships
◦ Provide a sense of belonging
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Aggregate: Consists of people who temporarily
share the same physical space but who do not see
themselves as belonging together.
Category: Simply is simply a statistic – consists of
people who share similar characteristics, such as
all college women who wear glasses or all men over
6 feet tall.
Primary Groups (Cooley): intimate, face to face
interaction giving us an identity or feeling of who
we are
Secondary Groups: larger, more anonymous, more
formal, and more impersonal.
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Inner Circle
Iron Law of Oligarchy
In-Groups / Out-Groups’
Social Network
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BUREAUCRACY
100 years ago _________________analyzed
bureaucracy.
◦ It shifts the relationship concepts to more of a
__________________approach.
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Definition:
 Characteristics
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Clear levels with assignments flowing
______________and assignments flowing
__________________
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of a bureaucracy:
Written
Written
 Weber:
◦ ________________________________________________
_______________________________- bureaucracies
then to take on a life of their own – even after an
organization ________________and
__________________________
 Can
you think of an example of a
bureaucracy in which it’s goal was
met and it changed.
 Three

examples:
March of Dimes
◦ Polio vaccine
◦ Genetics with birth defects
◦ Healthier babies
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Businesses – Oil Companies
NATO and the end of the Cold War
 Dysfunctions
of a bureaucracy:
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So bound by ___________________that rules ___________________
Example: Many of you wrote about the Spanish government and
the case of Maria being declared dead by her brother.
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People feel like an _____________________________________________
Example: Workers on an assembly line – repetitive tasks and not
feeling like a PART of the process (identity loss)
 Dysfunctions
of a bureaucracy:
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Forming primary groups at work or in the bureaucracy
Example: Talk, flirt, converse about work, family, etc. to have a
bond to resist feeling alienated
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___________________________________________: Each employee is
promoted to his or her level of incompetence
Promoted up until you cannot do the job
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Although partially true, the most successful bureaucracies are
based on ____________________________.
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Bureaucracy Video:
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Sociological Theory: Bureaucracy, Authoritarianism and
Zombification
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyTWKKnDw5o
LET’S PRACTICE:
 Get in Groups of 2-3 and you
will need one whole sheet of
paper to turn in.
 Put your names at the top
WRITE DOWN ON THE TOP HALF:

1.

2.
SO…
what did you get?
What is the difference
between _________________
and _________________?
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Corporate Culture and Group Dynamics:
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Ideas about what it takes to get ahead
Fast tracking
“My boss is an idiot” mentality
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Definition:
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Corporate Culture and Group Dynamics:
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Few enough members that each one can interact directly
with all the other members.
Primary or Secondary
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_______________________________(1858-1918)
_____________________– marriage, couples, close friendships,
Rep/Dem (tend to be unstable)
_____________________– the third person fundamentally
changes the relationship (potential for strain – ex. Couple
and a baby)
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Corporate Culture and Group Dynamics:
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Effects of Group Size on Relationships
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___________________________________
General Rule:
Effects of Group Size on Attitudes and
Behavior
How would
________________affect the
corporate culture?
What does
_______________________mean
to you?
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Leaders:
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Task-oriented leader
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Socio-emotional leader – not recognized as a leader but is
one
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Leadership styles :
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◦ People become dependent on their leader
◦ High degree of internal solidarity
◦ Aggressive or apathetic toward their leader
 Think about this in terms of Libya
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◦ People look more for mutual approval
◦ Sometimes it is an hindrance to getting things done
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◦ Ask fewer questions, members are more non-committed
and “lost”; lack of accomplishment
WRITE DOWN ON THE BOTTOM HALF:
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1. Come up with a list of the top 10
characteristics of a good leader
WRITE DOWN ON THE BOTTOM HALF:
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1.
Watch the video and circle which
ones your group had.
◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=silPtekoFqE
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Have you ever been in a group that had
tunnel vision?
Or, one in which you held back your
opinion for the sake of harmony?
This is
◦ ______________________discovered this
◦ Mode of thinking in which the members of the
group are so involved in keeping harmony that
the big picture can get lost.
ASCH VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRh5qy09nNw
SMALL WORLD PHENOMENON:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vezW5c4wiA8