Groups

2. Groups Group: “Two or more freely interacting individuals who share collective norms and goals and have a common identity.” Four Sociological Criteria of a Group: • Two or more freely interacting individuals • Collective norms • Collective goals • Common identity • The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1998 Irwin/McGraw-Hill

3. Tuckman’s Five-Stage Theoryof Group Development • Forming: “Ice breaking” stage; low trust; holding back; need for leadership (Orientation) • Storming: Power structure is tested; subgroups form (Redefinition) • Norming: Questions about power and authority resolved (Coordination) • Performing: Attention devoted to solving task problems (Formalization) • Adjourning: Work is done; return to independence; a sense of loss (Termination) Irwin/McGraw-Hill • The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1998

4. Exercise

6. Functional Roles Performedby Group Members Task Roles DescriptionInitiator Suggests new goals or ideasInformation seeker/giver Clarifies key issuesOpinion seeker/giver Clarifies pertinent valuesElaborator Promotes greater understandingCoordinator Pulls together ideas and suggestionsOrienter Keeps group headed toward its stated goal(s)Evaluator Tests group’s accomplishmentsEnergizer Prods group to move along or to accomplish moreProcedural technician Performs routine dutiesRecorder Performs a “group memory” function • The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1998 Irwin/McGraw-Hill

7. Functional Roles Performedby Group Members(Continued) Maintenance Roles DescriptionEncourager Fosters group solidarityHarmonizer Mediates conflict through reconciliation or humorCompromiser Helps resolve conflict by meeting others “half way”Gatekeeper Encourages all group members to participateStandard setter Evaluates the quality of group processesCommentator Records comments on group processes/dynamicsFollower Serves as a passive audience • The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1998 Irwin/McGraw-Hill

8. Dysfunctional Roles Performedby Group Members Individual Roles DescriptionAvoider Remains apart from others; resists passivelyBlocker Resists stubbornly; negative; returns to rejected issues Clown Continuously jokes and attempts to distract group from purpose Dominator Manipulates group; interrupts others; gains attention Recognition seeker Calls attention to self by boasting, bragging, acting superior • The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1998 Irwin/McGraw-Hill

9. Work Group Size • Group interaction • Group cohesiveness • Job satisfaction • Absenteeism • Turnover • Social loafing • Productivity

10. Group Norms Norms are shared attitudes, opinions, feelings, or actions that guide social behavior

11. Development of Group Norms • Explicit statements by supervisors or co-workers • Critical events in the group’s history • Primacy • Carryover behaviors from past situations

12. Symptoms of Groupthink • Invulnerability • Inherent morality • Rationalization • Stereotyped views of opposition • Self-censorship • Illusion of unanimity • Peer pressure • Mindguards • The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1998 Irwin/McGraw-Hill

13. Preventing Groupthink • Every group member a critical evaluator • Avoid rubber-stamp decisions • Different groups explore same problems • Rely on subgroup debates and outside experts • Assign role of devil’s advocate • Rethink a consensus Irwin/McGraw-Hill • The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1998