Chapter Six

Group and Group Dynamic

Course: Organisational Behaviour

Course Code: BAHR2100
Specialization: Human Resource Management
Department of Business Studies
 GROUP - meaning

 A group is defined as two or more interacting and interdependent

individuals who come together to achieve particular objectives in an
organization.
 Two or more freely interacting individuals who share a common identity
and purpose.
 Groups have interdependence, interaction, or common goal in an
organization.
 Thus, group is the combination of two or more people with a purpose of
achieving, their common and shared goals through their integrated effort.

Team Building and Group Dynamics (Hiriyappa)- https://ebookcentral.proquest.comlibmompreader.actiondocID=414236&ppg=177

Rao, P. Subba. Organisational Behaviour, Himalaya Publishing House, 2010. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/momp/detail.action?docID=618259.
Created from momp on 2020-03-08 03:09:32.
 FEATURES OF A GROUP
1. Group is considered as a social unit.
2. A form of interaction exists between the people.
3. The group members shall interact to share a common identity.
4. Interacting members with common identity should also have common
purpose.

Appannaiah, H.R., et al. Organisational Behaviour, Global Media, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central,
http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/momp/detail.action?docID=3011144. Created from momp on 2020-03-08 03:34:06.
 IMPORTANT GROUP CONCEPTS
■ Group Dynamics: It is the study of social forces operating within a group. It also
implies how they are formed, their structures as well as processes, how they work
and interact and impact each individual members, other groups and the
organization have on each other.

■ Group Cohesiveness: It means the extent to which the members are attached
towards each other, focusing upon the strengthening of the group members. It
responds to the amount of motivation to remain in the group.

■ Group Norm: A norm is a set of acceptable form of behaviors that define how a
group member is expected to think or act. Norms are common ways to deal with
sharing the rewards or costs of group membership, preventing conflicts among
group members, regulating contacts with outsiders.
Appannaiah, H.R., et al. Organisational Behaviour, Global Media, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/momp/detail.action?docID=3011144. Created from momp on 2020-03-09 00:57:11.
Nair, Suja R.. Organisational Behaviour, Global Media, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/momp/detail.action?docID=3011339.
Created from momp on 2020-03-09 01:00:42.
 NEED FOR FORMATION OF A GROUP
Security : Groups provide security to its members from others in the society, from the threats posed by other
groups, insecurity caused by the environmental, climatic & other factors.

Empowerment through sharing of resources: Groups provide opportunities to the members to exchange their
skills, knowledge, talents, values etc. This process enables the individuals to gain more knowledge and acquire
expertise.

Affiliation need: People join groups in that they enjoy the regular company of other people, particularly those
who possess common interests. Individuals may seek out others at work who share common hobbies or common
backgrounds.

Synergy: The outcome of the group effort is greater than the sum of the individual contributions of the group
members. Better generation of ideas, more creative solutions, and increased opportunity for the expression of
diverse opinions among the group members are few of the ways.

Rao, P. Subba. Organisational Behaviour, Himalaya Publishing House, 2010. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/momp/detail.action?docID=618259. Created from momp on 2020-03-08 04:26:52.
Aswathappa, K.. Organisational Behaviour, Global Media, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/momp/detail.action?docID=3011153. Created from momp on 2020-03-09 01:24:25.
https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Str-Ti/Synergy.html#ixzz6GB9ynJkw
GROUP DEVELOPMENT/ STAGES OF GROUP FORMATION
There are five stages of Group Development
Stage -1 Forming

Stage -2 Storming

Stage -3 Norming

Stage -4 Performing

Stage -5 Adjourning

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 STAGES OF GROUP FORMATION
1.Forming: This first stage is characterized by a sense of uncertainty and
awkwardness and anxiety.
Members are unsure of what to do and how to do it. The "rules of the
road”, group norms and standards are yet to be defined.

2. Storming: It is characterized by individual assertive behavior, which may

result in some power struggle to determine who should assume the informal
leadership role in the group.
Each person wants to feel a sense of individual importance and
influence on the group .

Appannaiah, H.R., et al. Organisational Behaviour, Global Media, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central,
http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/momp/detail.action?docID=3011144. Created from momp on 2020-03-08 03:52:16.
 STAGES OF GROUP FORMATION
3.Norming: This phase is otherwise called as "becoming personal". Growth of affection and
establishment of personal relationships characterize this phase.
It is the stage where the group is formed and structured completely. Members start
resolving conflicts and strengthening friendships. Group cohesiveness starts to develop.

4.Performing - This phase is termed as "working together". This phase is characterized by

harmony among group members.
The functional activities of the group are stated and members hold high co-
ordination. The members try to bring out their potential and give high productivity. Decision-
making and problem solving are shared within the group.

5. Adjourning : Group formed for temporary purposes disperses after the group activity is
completed. It is characterized by wrapping up the activities rather than increasing
performance.

Appannaiah, H.R., et al. Organisational Behaviour, Global Media, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central,
http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/momp/detail.action?docID=3011144. Created from momp on 2020-03-08 04:03:41
 TYPES OF GROUP
■ Formal Group: When two or more individuals join together as a group due to
the official job structure and relationship in an organisation. Examples are
group of production manager, materials manager and quality control manager
of a company.
■ Command Group: It is a group of individual employees and their manager to
whom they report. Finance Manager and Assistant Finance Managers of a
company form a command group.
■ Task Group: People working together in order to accomplish a particular task
form a group. Task group boundaries are not limited to the particular
department, but they may spread throughout the organization. For example,
human resources manager, finance manager and production manager form a
group in order to settle a salary dispute of factory workers.

Rao, P. Subba. Organisational Behaviour, Himalaya Publishing House, 2010. ProQuest Ebook Central,
http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/momp/detail.action?docID=618259. Created from momp on 2020-03-08 04:34:36
 TYPES OF GROUP
■ Informal Group: When two or more individuals join together as a group in
order to satisfy their social needs but not due to official job structure.
Informal groups are formed out of the common interests, values, opinions,
ideas of the people.
■ Interest Group: People with common interests like maintaining and
developing working conditions, recreational facilities, providing employee
services etc., form a group
■ Friendship Groups: People with common nature & characteristics such as
hard working, work avoiding, smart working, status seeking, family
orientation, risk taking etc. form groups.

Rao, P. Subba. Organisational Behaviour, Himalaya Publishing House, 2010. ProQuest Ebook Central,
http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/momp/detail.action?docID=618259. Created from momp on 2020-03-08 04:34:36
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A MATURE GROUP

■ Group members are aware of each other’s assets and liabilities.

■ Individual differences are accepted among the group members.
■ The group’s authority and interpersonal relationships are recognized in
the group.
■ Group decisions are made through rational discussion in an
organization
■ Conflict is over group issues, not emotional issues in the team.
■ Members are aware of the group’s processes and their own roles in an
organization and its project.

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 Essential Reading

1. Team Building and Group Dynamics (Hiriyappa)-

https://ebookcentral.proquest.comlibmompreader.actiondocID=414236&ppg=177
2. Rao, P. Subba. Organisational Behaviour, Himalaya Publishing House, 2010. ProQuest Ebook Central,
http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/momp/detail.action?docID=618259. Created from momp on 2020-03-08 04:34:36
3. Appannaiah, H.R., et al. Organisational Behaviour, Global Media, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central,
http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/momp/detail.action?docID=3011144. Created from momp on 2020-03-08
04:03:41

Open Educational Resource

1. http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/organization/organizational-behaviour/organizational-behaviour-issues-
faced-by-todays-manager/63755

12
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