Group, Nature,

Structure & Group

Dynamics
 What is Group?
A group is a collection of individuals who interact with each other such that one person’s actions have
an impact on the others.

Group is defined as two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together
to achieve particular objectives.

A group is a social unit which consists of a number of individuals who stand in role and status
relationship to one another stabilized in some degree at the time and who possess a set of value or
norms of their own regulating their behavior at least in matter of consequence to the group.

The association of people becomes a group if:

 Interaction among Group Members
 Perception of Group Membership
 Shared Goals and Norms
 Fate Interdependence
 Nature of Group
2 or more persons (if it is one person, it is not a group)
Formal social structure (the roles of the members are defined)
Common fate (they will swim together)
Common goals (the destiny is the same and emotionally connected)
Face-to-face interaction (they will talk with each other)
Interdependence (each one is complimentary to the other)
Recognition by others 
People oriented
Action Oriented
 Group Structure
A group’s structure defines the formation, arrangement, and articulation of the members of that group.
The structure is the underlying pattern of stable relationships among the group members.
The structural variables are as:
 Formal leadership
 Roles
 Norms
 Group size
 Composition of the group
 The degree of group cohesiveness
 Group Structure Variables
Formal Leadership: Almost every work group has a formal leader. He or she is typically identified by
titles such as unit or committee chair. This leader can play an important part in the group’s success.

Roles: Roles are always predetermined and assigned to members. Each role shall have specific
responsibilities and duties. These emergent roles will often substitute the assigned roles as individuals
begin to express themselves and become more assertive.

Norms: Norms define the acceptable standard or boundaries of acceptable and unacceptable
behavior, shared by group members. They are typically created in order to facilitate group survival,
make behavior more predictable, avoid embarrassing situations, and express the values of the
group.
 Group Structure Variables
Group size: Group size can vary from 2 people to a very large number of people. Small groups of two
to ten are thought to be more effective because each member has ample opportunity to take part and
engage actively in the group. Large groups may waste time by deciding on processes and trying to
decide who should participate next.

Composition: Most group activities require a variety of skills and knowledge. , it would be reasonable
to conclude that heterogeneous groups – those , composed of dissimilar individuals – would be more
likely to have diverse abilities and information and should be more effective. When a group is diverse in
terms of personality, gender, age, education, functional specialization, and experience, there is an
increased probability that the group will possess the needed characteristics to complete its tasks
effectively.

Cohesiveness: Groups differ in their cohesiveness, that is, the degree to which members are attracted
to each other and are motivated to stay in the group.
 Group Dynamics
 Group dynamics refers to the attitudinal and behavioral characteristics of a group. Group
dynamics concern how groups form, their structure and process, and how they function.
 Stages of Group Development
Forming refers to the stage in which the individual is discovering how they fit into the
group, discovering other peoples attitudes, and establishing ground rules. Members are
dependent on a leader to provide them with ground rules and an action plan, and on tasks
seek orientation on what they have to achieve.

Storming refers to the stage in which conflict occurs and members bargain with each
other to find out what they and the group want out of each other. Group members reveal
their own goals, likely provoking hostility if differences in goals exist. Early relationships
formed in the Forming stage may be destroyed or disrupted. The key matter arising in this
stage of group formation is how should the group organize itself to tackle its tasks.
 Stages of Group Development
Norming refers to the stage in which the group develops ways to work more closely and develop a
sense of comradeship. This is when it is settled on who does what and how it will be done. Norms of
behavior are established, roles are allocated, a framework is created in which members can relate to
one another, and a way of tackling expectations and individual failure is created. It is in this stage that a
real sense of group identity and togetherness is created.

Performing refers to the stage in which the group has an effective structure and is primarily focused
on accomplishing its objectives. Not all groups arrive at this stage, many getting stuck in an earlier, less
effective stage. By now interdependence has become a norm, with members happy to work alone, in
sub-groups or as part of the whole group. Collaboration and friendly competition may even occur.

Adjourning refers to the stage in which the group disbands, and individuals may reflect on how
well or badly the group functioned.
 Stages of Group Development
Norming refers to the stage in which the group develops ways to work more closely and develop a
sense of comradeship. This is when it is settled on who does what and how it will be done. Norms of
behavior are established, roles are allocated, a framework is created in which members can relate to
one another, and a way of tackling expectations and individual failure is created. It is in this stage that a
real sense of group identity and togetherness is created.

Performing refers to the stage in which the group has an effective structure and is primarily focused
on accomplishing its objectives. Not all groups arrive at this stage, many getting stuck in an earlier, less
effective stage. By now interdependence has become a norm, with members happy to work alone, in
sub-groups or as part of the whole group. Collaboration and friendly competition may even occur.

Adjourning refers to the stage in which the group disbands, and individuals may reflect on how
well or badly the group functioned.
Types of Group
 Formal Group
  Command Group: As a result of hierarchical arrangement in an organization, a command group
is made of the superiors and their subordinates representing the flow of command or orders from
top to bottom level.

 Task Group: A group which includes individuals with different skills and knowledge, to successfully
carry out the assigned responsibilities to the group, is called as a task group.

 Project Group: Likewise, project groups are formed to complete a specific project. The life of the
project group normally coincides with the length of the project.

 Committees: For the special assignments or projects, a group is formed by appointing the
specialists or people with superior knowledge; which is termed as a committee. After the project
responsibilities are executed successfully, the members can disassociate from the committee.
 Informal Group
 Interest group. An interest group is usually informal, and is a group of people who band together
to attain a specific objective with which each member is concerned. Within an organization, this
might be a group of people who come together to demand better working conditions or a better
employee evaluation process.

 Reference Group : A reference group is a special type of informal group that people use to
evaluate themselves. A reference group may not be an actual one that meets together, it can be
an imaginary group. It might be within same organization or other organizations.

 Friendship Groups : Friendship groups are associations of people who like each other and who
like to be together. Such groups are formed because members have one or more common
characteristics, such as age or ethnic heritage, political beliefs, religious values and other bonds
of attraction.
Differences between Formal &
Informal Group
 Group Decision Making
Group decision making is a type of participatory process in which multiple individuals acting
collectively, analyze problems or situations, consider and evaluate alternative courses of action,
and select from among the alternatives a solution or solutions.

Group decision making method

Group decision making methods generally fall into these major approaches:
 Consultation with a single decision maker - The decision group is consulted for
information and advice but one person consolidates and makes the final choice.
 Voting - A selection is made based on achieving an agreed portion of votes from the
group. 
 Consensus - A majority agrees and no one objects.
 Unanimous - All must agree.
 Psychometric Tests
Psychometric tests are a standard and scientific method used to measure individuals' mental capabilities
and behavioral style. Psychometric tests are designed to measure candidates' suitability for a role based on
the required personality characteristics and aptitude.
 Team Creativity
 Team creativity is a collective phenomenon where its members behaviorally, cognitively and
emotionally attempt new things, take novel approaches to their work, or generate products,
processes or procedures that are both novel and useful.
 Team creativity involves the sharing of ideas that stimulate associations and results in identifying
problems, constructively dialoguing possible solutions to problems, and engaging in the act of
trying novel approaches to a task.
 Process of Team Creativity
Team creativity can emerge with the idea or suggestion of a single individual or multiple that is then
developed, worked on, and elaborated upon the team or it can emerge from the collective when an
idea emanates from the unit and then the team works to refine and develop this idea
 Knowledge Sharing
Knowledge sharing is the process by which individuals share explicit and tacit knowledge, work
together to create new knowledge. This process is essential in transforming individual knowledge into
organizational knowledge.

Knowledge sharing is a critical behavior in knowledge-based organizations and, therefore, a crucial

element of knowledge management. The organization is reliant on effective utilization of its collective
knowledge pool, particularly its knowledgeable employees, which is why Knowledge sharing is
a highly desirable behavior from an organizational perspective