National Central
University
Chapter 9: Foundations of Group Behavior
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
STEPHEN P. ROBBINS
Reporter: Debbie Pi
2007/10/04
/ Slide 1
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Outline

The Introduction of Group



Stages of Group Development



The Five-Stage Model
Punctuated-equilibrium Model: For temporary Groups w/ Deadline
Group Properties


Defining & classifying Groups
Why people join groups
Roles, Norms, Status, Size, and Cohesiveness
Group Decision Making



Groups versus the individual
Groupthink and Groupshift
Groups decision-making techniques
/ Slide 2
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Introduction
This session is about the concept of groups
/ Slide 3
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Introduction
This session is about classifying groups
Informal Group
Formal Group
/ Slide 4
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Introduction
why people join groups

Security: Individuals can reduce the insecurity of “standing alone”

Status: It provides recognition and status.

Self-esteem: It provides people the feelings of self-worth.

Affiliation: It can fulfill individuals social needs.

Power: It often makes what can not be achieved by individuals possible.

Goal Achievement: The use of formal group w/ talent, knowledge, or power to
achieve a particular task.
/ Slide 5
SEMINAR in OB
National Central
University
Outline



The Introduction of Group

Defining & classifying Groups

Why people join groups
Stages of Group Development

The Five-Stage Model

Punctuated-equilibrium Model: For temporary Groups w/ Deadline
Group Properties


Roles, Norms, Status, Size, and Cohesiveness
Group Decision Making

Groups versus the individual

Groupthink and Groupshift

Groups decision-making techniques
/ Slide 6
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Stages of Group Development
The Five-Stage Model
/ Slide 7
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Stages of Group Development
Punctuated-equilibrium Model
Sequence of actions:
/ Slide 8

Setting group direction

First phase of inertia

Half-way point transition

Major changes

Second phase of inertia

Accelerated activity
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Stages of Group Development
Punctuated-equilibrium Model (Cont’d)
/ Slide 9
SEMINAR in OB
National Central
University
Outline



The Introduction of Group

Defining & classifying Groups

Why people join groups
Stages of Group Development

The Five-Stage Model

Punctuated-equilibrium Model: For temporary Groups w/ Deadline
Group Properties


Roles, Norms, Status, Size, and Cohesiveness
Group Decision Making

Groups versus the individual

Groupthink and Groupshift

Groups decision-making techniques
/ Slide 10
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Group Properties
Roles
We are required to play a
number of diverse roles.
/ Slide 11
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Group Properties
Roles (Cont’d)
/ Slide 12
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Group Properties
Norms
Classes of Norms:
/ Slide 13

Performance norms

Appearance norms

Social arrangement norms

Allocation of resources norms
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Group Properties
Norms (Cont’d)
/ Slide 14
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Group Properties
Norms (Cont’d)
Examples of Cards Used in Asch’s Study
/ Slide 15
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Group Properties
Norms (Cont’d)
/ Slide 16
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Group Properties
Status

Status and Norms
High status members of groups are given more freedom to deviate from
norms and also are better able to resist conformity pressures than other
group members.

Status and Group interaction
Interaction among members of groups is influenced by status. Lower-status
members tend to be less active participants in group discussion.

Status Inequity
When inequity is perceived, it creates disequilibrium, which results in
various types of corrective behavior.
/ Slide 17
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Group Properties
Status (Cont’d)
Group Norms
Status Equity
Group Member
Status
Culture
/ Slide 18
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Group Properties
Size
• Smaller groups are faster at completing task.
• Large groups are good for gaining diverse input
and problem solving.
Other conclusions:
•
Odd number groups do better than even.
• Groups of 5 or 7 perform better overall than
larger or smaller groups.
/ Slide 19
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Group Properties
Size (Cont’d)
Cyberloafing:
The act of employees use
their organization's internet
access for personal purpose
during work hours.
Reasons:
• To reduce the efforts to
Implications:
• Means by which individual
reestablish equity
• The dispersion of
responsibility
efforts can be identified
• Not consistent w/ collective
society
/ Slide 20
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Group Properties
Cohesiveness
Increasing group cohesiveness:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Make the group smaller.
Encourage agreement with group goals.
Increase time members spend together.
Increase group status and admission difficultly.
Stimulate competition with other groups.
Give rewards to the group, not individuals.
Physically isolate the group.
/ Slide 21
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Group Properties
Cohesiveness (Cont’d)
/ Slide 22
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Outline



The Introduction of Group

Defining & classifying Groups

Why people join groups
Stages of Group Development

The Five-Stage Model

Punctuated-equilibrium Model: For temporary Groups w/ Deadline
Group Properties


Roles, Norms, Status, Size, and Cohesiveness
Group Decision Making

Groups versus the individual

Groupthink and Groupshift

Groups decision-making techniques
/ Slide 23
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Group Decision Making
Groups versus the individual

Strengths





More complete
information
Weaknesses


Increased diversity of
views
Higher quality of
decisions


More time consuming
Increased pressure to
conform
Domination by one or a
few members
Ambiguous responsibility
Increased acceptance of
solutions
/ Slide 24
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Group Decision Making
Groups versus the individual (Cont’d)
Groups
Individuals
Accuracy
More
Less
Creativity
More
Less
Slower
Faster
More
Less
Speed
Acceptance
/ Slide 25
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Group Decision Making
Groupthink and Groupshift
/ Slide 26
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Group Decision Making
Group decision-making techniques
/ Slide 27
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Group Decision Making
Group decision-making techniques (Cont’d)
Evaluation Group Effectiveness
/ Slide 28
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Summary

The definition of groups

Two models of group development

The relationships between Group Properties (Roles, Norms,
Status, Size, and Cohesiveness) and Performance

Social loafing and its effect on group performance

The benefits and disadvantage of cohesive groups

The effectiveness of 4 Group decision-making techniques
(Interacting, Brainstorming, Nominal, and Electronic)
/ Slide 29
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National Central
University