COMM501 Final Exam Quotes (Group Dynamics)

Within an organisation, groups or teams are formed for the achievement of organisational goals, for self-interest or for social reasons. A group in an organisation consists of two or more people who work together to fulfil a particular task or to achieve a goal.

A formal group in an organisation is established by management. It may consist of a section, a department, a committee or some other identified and recognised unit. In formal groups, relationships are usually regulated through formal or contractual processes.

An informal group is one that is not formally established within the structure of the organisation but which meets regularly or irregularly about work. They are known as 'interest' or 'friendship' groups. Meetings over morning coffee can take on the status of an informal work group.

While a team can always be loosely classified as a group, a group may not conform to the more specific criteria for a team, The key identifiers of a team are that members are operating within a charter; they see themselves as having specialised roles; and they see the team as accountable for achieving specified organisational goals.

Members of a group that is genuinely managing itself show three basic characteristics in the way they approach their work:

1. They take personal responsibility for the outcomes of their team's work.
2. They monitor their own work performance, actively seeking data about how well they are performing.
3. They alter their performance strategies as needed, creating suitable solutions to work problems.

Leaders have an important role to play but that the role differs over various stages of the team's life. At the beginning the leader has a designer role - sets the direction,provides the resources, designs the task but after the team is launched, the leader has a midwife role, and finally a coaching role.

A hot group shares an attitude that is dedicated to the task. As well as sharing this attitude, the hot group is goal focused with impassioned managers and employees who can create and get great things done fast.

While the organisation provides the setting, the work group or team provides the forum withinwhich people interact, relationships develop and a common approach and goals emerge. Within the group, the tasks necessary to achieve the group's intended results are completed.

Each group or team in an organisation is constantly changing and has a clearly defined life cycle. As a group evolves and works towards completing its tasks and achieving its goals, it moves through different stages of development in its life cycle.

The forming stage occurs when a group is established and people begin to interact within it. At this stage. members of the group may be uncertain about the group's membership. leadership and goals.Great importance can therefore be attached to the group's leader as members look for support, guidance and direction.

When conflict emerges. the group has reached the storming stage: the period in the development of a group when there is considerable conflict and upheaval.

Personal agendas or a lack of commitment to the group's goals also arise in the storming stage.

The Norming stage, the time required for members of a group to start to feel part ofthe group and for a common approach and shared goals to emerge.

Not only do relationships develop. The group must also develop a common approach to tasks. In this stage, the goals and the necessary actions and activities needed to achieve the goals are identified. In a sense, group norms or acceptable behaviour, attitudes, work patterns and related behaviour emerge in this stage. The group becomes cohesive and even tolerant of one another's differences. The accomplishment of work goals begins.

The performing stage occurs when a grouphas formed its identity and structure