Chapter 6 Key Terms: Groups & Organizations

Directions:
1. Define each key term.
2. I recommend you use the online textbook for all key terms. (Textbook is linked on
our home page in Canvas.
3.These key terms are an excellent resource for preparing for quizzes and tests.
4. You must number each key term; you must also include the key term
with its definition.

1. Aggregate - aggregate is a collection of people who exist in the same place at the
same time, but who don’t interact or share a sense of identity
2. authoritarian leader - authoritarian leader is``````
3. Bureaucracies - bureaucracies are formal organizations characterized by a
hierarchy of authority, a clear division of labor, explicit rules, and impersonality.
4. Category - categories are people who share similar characteristics but who are
not connected in any way
5. clear division of labor - clear division of labor is the fact that each individual in a
bureaucracy has a specialized task to perform
6. coercive organizations - coercive organizations are organizations that people do
not voluntarily join, such as prison or a mental hospital
7. Conformity - conformity is the extent to which an individual complies with group
or societal norms
8. democratic leader - democratics leader is a leader who encourages group
participation and consensus-building before moving into action
9. Dyad - dyad is a two-member group
10. explicit rules - explicit rules are the types of rules in a bureaucracy; rules that
are outlined, recorded, and standardized
11. expressive function - expressive functions is a group function that serves an
emotional need
12. expressive leader - expressive leaders is a leader who is concerned with
process and with ensuring everyone’s emotional wellbeing
13. formal organizations - formal organizations are large, impersonal organizations
14. Group - groups are any collection of at least two people who interact with some
frequency and who share some sense of aligned identity
15. hierarchy of authority - hierarchy of authority is a clear chain of command
found in a bureaucracy
16. Impersonality - impersonality is the removal of personal feelings from a
professional situation
 Chapter 6 Key Terms: Groups & Organizations

17. In-group - in-group is a group a person belongs to and feels is an integral part
of his identity
18. instrumental function - instrumental functions is being oriented toward a task
or goal
19. instrumental leader - instrumental leaders is a leader who is goal oriented with
a primary focus on accomplishing tasks
20. Iron Rule of Oligarchy - Iron Rule of Oligarchy are the theory that an
organization is ruled by a few elites rather than through collaboration
21. laissez-faire leader - laissez-faire leader is a hands-off leader who allows
members of the group to make their own decisions
22. leadership function - leadership function is the main focus or goal of a leader
23. leadership style - leadership style is the style a leader uses to achieve goals or
elicit action from group members
24. McDonaldization of Society - McDonaldization of Society is the increasing
presence of the fast food business model in common social institutions
25. Meritocracy - Meritocracy is a bureaucracy where membership and
advancement is based on merit—proven and documented skills
26. Out-group - Out-group is a group that an individual is not a member of, and may
even compete with
27. normative or voluntary organizations - normative or voluntary organizations is a
organizations that people join to pursue shared interests or because they provide
some intangible rewards
28. primary groups - primary groups are small, informal groups of people who are
closest to us
29. reference groups - reference groups are groups to which an individual
compares herself
30. secondary groups - secondary groups are larger and more impersonal groups
that are task-focused and time limited
31. Total institutions - total institutions are an organization in which participants
live a controlled lifestyle and in which total resocialization occurs
32. Triad - triad is a three-member group
33. utilitarian organizations - utilitarian organizations are organizations that are
joined to fill a specific material need
Chapter 6 Key Terms: Groups & Organizations