Group
Two or moreindividuals, interactingand interdependent, whocome together to achieveparticular objectives
Formal Group
Defined by theorganization’s structure.Task force
Informal Group
Neither formallystructured nor organizationallydeterminedBook club
The Five-Stage Modelof Group Development
• Forming:• Uncertainty about purpose, structure, and leadership• Storming:• Intragroup conflict as members resist constraints• Norming:• Group is cohesive with strong group identity• Performing:• Group fully functional and working toward goals• Adjourning:• For temporary groups: breaking up
Role
The set of expected behavior patternsthat are attributed to occupying a givenposition in a social unit
Role identity
alignment of attitudes andbehavior with given role
Role perception
our view of how we’resupposed to act in a given situation
Role expectations
how others believe youshould act in a given situation
Role conflict
conflict experienced whenmultiple roles are incompatible
Norms
Acceptable standards of behavior within agroup that are shared by the group’s members
Conformity
Members wanted to avoid being visiblydifferent (especially in unfamiliar situations)• Desire to fit inMembers with differing opinions feelextensive pressure to align with others• Tension, dissonance
Deviant Workplace Behavior
Voluntary behavior that violates significantorganizational norms and, in doing so, threatens the well-being of the organization or its members
Likely to flourish when.People are in groups. Supported by group norms
Status
A socially defined position or rankgiven to groups or group members by others.Determined by. The power a person wields over others. A person’s ability to contribute to a group’s goals. An individual’s personal characteristics
Impact of Status
High-status members... divas
Interaction among members of groups isinfluenced by status
Social Loafing
Causes:
Dispersion ofresponsibility – cloudsthe relationship betweenindividual inputs andgroup output.Sucker effect. Free riding
Preventions:
Set group goals. Increase inter-groupcompetition. Engage in peer evaluation.Select members who havehigh motivation and like towork in groups.Distribute group rewardsbased on members’individual contributions. Individual accountability
Cohesiveness
The degree to which membersof the group are attracted to each other andmotivated to stay in the group.Performance-related norms and cohesivenessinfluence productivity
Encouraging Cohesiveness
Make the group smaller2. Encourage agreement with group goals3. Increase the time spent together4. Increase the status and perceived difficultyof group membership5. Competition with other groups6. Give rewards to the grouprather than to individualmembers7. Physically isolate the group
Diversity
the degree to which members ofthe group are similar to, or different from,one another.Cultural. Demographic.Racial.Gender
Effectiveness
Accuracy – group is better than average individualbut worse than most accurate group member.Creativity – groups are better. Speed – individuals are faster
Efficiency
Groups are generally less efficient
Groupthink
A deterioration of individual’smental efficiency and moral judgments as aresult of group pressures
Occurs when members:
.Rationalize away resistanceto assumptions.Pressure doubters to supportthe majority. Doubters keep silent/minimizetheir misgivings. Interprets silence as a “yes” vote
Minimizing Groupthink
.Limit group size (≤10).Encourage group leadersto actively seek input fromall members and avoidexpressing their ownopinions.Appoint a “devil’sadvocate”
Groupshift
Groupdiscussions leadmembers to assumemore extreme positions.Groups often takepositions of greater risk. May be due to diffusedresponsibility
Brainstorming
Generates a list of creative alternatives whilewithholding criticism.Advantage: springboarding. Disadvantage: production blocking
Work group
Interacts primarilyto share information and to makedecisions to help one anotherperform within each member’sarea of responsibility
Work team
Generates positivesynergy through coordinatedeffort; individual efforts result in alevel of performance that is greaterthan the sum of those individualinputs
Problem-Solving Teams
Members often from thesame department.Share ideas or suggestimprovements. Rarely given authority tounilaterally implement anyof their suggested actions. Often just makerecommendations
Self-Managed Work Teams
Team takes on supervisory responsibilities:.Work planning and scheduling. Assigning tasks. Operating decisions/actions. Working with customers
Cross-Functional Teams
Team compromised of people from different departments
Members from same level, but diverse areaswithin and between organizations.Exchange information. Develop new ideas and solve problems. Coordinate complex projects
Virtual Teams
Teams connected through technology
enables andrestricts collaboration. Special challenges. Less social rapport. Diff to est. trust. More task-oriented. Members may be lesssatisfied
Leadership
The ability to influence a grouptoward the achievement of a vision or a set ofgoals
Trait theory
focuses on personal qualities andcharacteristics
.Big Five Personality Framework
. Focuses on emergence instead ofeffectiveness
Initiating structure
Attempts to organizework, assign roles, andgoals (productivity)
Consideration
Concern for followers’comfort, well-being,status, and satisfaction
Production oriented
Emphasize the technicalor task aspects of thejob: people are meansto an end
Employee Oriented
Emphasizeinterpersonal relationsand accept individualdifferences
Contingency Theories
attempt to match leadershipstyle with work contextbecause one leadership styledoes not work in everysituation.Fiedler Model.LMX
Fiedler Leadership Model
Identifying Leadership Style: Least-Preferred Co-worker (LPC) survey determines leadership style(fixed trait).Relationship- vs Task-oriented.Effective group performance depends on theproper match between the leader’s style and thedegree to which the situation gives the leadercontrol.Match leader’s style with degree of situationalcontrol.Leader-member relations.Task structure.Position power
Leader-Member Exchange(LMX) Theory
Leaders treat followers differently.In-group members (clique).Close to leader in attitude or personality.Have more of the leader’s attention.Get special privileges.Have higher performance ratings.Lower turnover.Greater satisfaction.The Office!.While the leader does the (implicit) choosing,it is the followers’ characteristics that drive thecategorizing decision
Charismatic Leadership
Gain followers throughpersonality traits insteadof power or authority.Key Characteristics:.Vision (compelling future).Personal risk-taking.Sensitivity toward followers.Help followers “catch” theemotions.Extraordinary behaviors
Charismatic Leaders:Born or Made?
Charisma is attributed partially to geneticsand partially to training and experience
Charisma can be created by.Developing an aura of charisma.Be optimistic.Be passionately enthusiastic.Communicate with body, not just words.Drawing others in – inspire others.Tap into emotions, be empathetic – bring out thepotential in others
Charisma andSituational Dependency
Best used when:.Environment is uncertain or stressful.Ideology is involved.People are most receptive to charisma whenthere is a crisis.Most closely associated with upper levelexecutives
The Potential Dark Sideof Charismatic Leadership
Use organizationalresources for personalbenefit.Remake companies intheir own image.Allow self-interest andpersonal goals tooverride organization’sgoals
Transactional leaders
Motivate their followers in the direction ofestablished goals by clarifying role and taskrequirements.Do X, receive Y
Transformational leaders
Inspire followers to transcend their own self-interests for the good of the organization.Good leadership incorporates BOTH
How TransformationalLeadership Works
CreativityFollowers are encouraged to be more innovativeand creative
.take risks, be in control.GoalsFollowers pursue more ambitious goals andhave more personal commitment to them.VisionEngenders commitment from followers andgreater sense of trust
Power
The capacity that A has to influence the behaviorof B so that B acts in accordance with A’s wishes
Dependency
Based on the available alternatives(control) and their desirability (significance)
Coercive Power
Complies from fear of the negative results
Reward Power
Complies due to desire for positive benefits
Legitimate Power
From the formal authority to control and useorganizational resources
Expert
Influence wieldedas a result of expertise,special skill, or knowledge
Referent
Based onidentification with a personwho has desirable resourcesor personal traits.Charisma
Power tactics
Used to translatepower bases intospecific actions thatinfluence others
Most effective tactics
Rational persuasionInspirational appealsConsultation
Politics arise in organizations because of
Conflicting interests, high demand.Limited resources.Ambiguity in decision making (“fairness”) -competition
Politicking
Twisting facts to support one’sown goals and interests
Traits that encourage political action
High machsHigh self-monitorsHigh need for power
Impression Management
The process by which individualsattempt to control the impression othersform of them.
the Effectiveness ofImpression Management
Self-promotion,ingratiation (flattering), andconformity work well
Conflict
Process that begins when oneparty perceives that another party hasnegatively affected, or is about to negativelyaffect, something that the first party caresabout
Traditional View
All conflict is harmful and mustbe avoided
Interactionist View
Conflict is encouraged to preventgroup from becoming stale
Managed Conflict View
Conflict is inevitable but weshould focus on productiveconflict resolution
Stage I: Potential Opposition
Communication.Barriers exist.Too much or too little.Structure.Group size, age, diversity.Organizational rewards,goals, group dependency.Personal Variables.Personality types.Emotional
Stage II: Cognition andPersonalization
Potential for conflict is actualized, comes tofruition.Parties “make sense” of conflict by defining itand its potential solutions
Stage III: Intentions
The decision to act in a given way.Inferred (often erroneous) intentions may causegreater conflict
Stage 5: outcomes
Functional (Constructive)
.Improves decision quality.Stimulates creativity andinnovation.Encourages interest and curiosity
Stage 5: outcomes
Dysfunctional (Destructive)
.Group is less effective (in-fighting).Cohesiveness and communicationsare reduced.Leads to the destruction of thegroup
Negotiation
Process in which two or moreparties exchange goods or services and attemptto agree on the exchange rate for them
Necessary Conditions forIntegrative Bargaining
.Parties must be open with information and theirconcerns.Both parties must be sensitive regarding theother’s needs.Parties must be able to trust each other.Both parties must be willing to be flexible.Hard to do when only driven by profit (money)
Forming
Uncertainty about purpose, structure, and leadership
Storming
Intragroup conflict as members resist constraints
Norming
Group is cohesive with strong group identity
Performing
Group fully functional and working toward goals
Adjourning
For temporary groups: breaking up