Group and Work Teams

Organizational Behavior
Session 8
Stages of Group Development
The Five-Stage Model of Group Development

Forming Stage
The first stage in group development, characterized
by much uncertainty.

Storming Stage
The second stage in group development,
characterized by intragroup conflict.

Norming Stage
The third stage in group
development, characterized
by close relationships and
cohesiveness.
…Group Development (cont’d)

Performing Stage
The fourth stage in group development, when the
group is fully functional.

Adjourning Stage
The final stage in group
development for temporary
groups, characterized by
concern with wrapping up
activities rather than
performance.
The Punctuated-Equilibrium Model
Group Properties

Roles

Diversity Norms

Group
Properties

Cohesiveness Status

Size
Social Loafing

Social Loafing
The tendency for individuals to expend less effort when
working collectively than when working individually.
Performance
Minimize Social
Loafing:
Set group goals
Increase intergroup
competition
g)
ed

fi n Peer evaluation
ct

a
lo
pe

to Choose member
Ex

e
(du with High motivation
a l and prefer work
ctu with group
A

Group Size
Cohesiveness

Cohesiveness
Degree to which group members are attracted to
each other and are motivated to stay in the group.

Increasing
Increasinggroup
groupcohesiveness:
cohesiveness:
1.1. Make
Makethe
thegroup
groupsmaller.
smaller.
2.2. Encourage
Encourageagreement
agreementwith
withgroup
groupgoals.
goals.
3.3. Increase
Increasetime
timemembers
membersspend
spendtogether.
together.
4.4. Increase
Increasegroup
groupstatus
statusand
andadmission
admissiondifficultly.
difficultly.
5.5. Stimulate
Stimulatecompetition
competitionwith
withother
othergroups.
groups.
6.6. Give
Giverewards
rewardstotothe
thegroup,
group,not
notindividuals.
individuals.
7.7. Physically
Physicallyisolate
isolatethe
thegroup.
group.
Comparing Work Groups and Work Teams
Characteristics of Effective Teams

Effective Have adequate resources

Team
Effective leadership

Climate of trust

Performance evaluation reflects team contribution

Reward system reflects team contribution

 A Team-
Effectiveness
Model
Key Roles of
Teams