BA 320 Operations Management

Group Dynamics

BA 320 Operations Management

Overview

• Define “groups”• Distinguish between formal and informal

groups• Reasons people join groups• Four stages of group development• Specify group tasks and maintenance

functions

BA 320 Operations Management

Formation of groups

A group is more than two persons who interact with

each other in such a manner that the behavior or

performance of one is influenced by the behavior of

the others.

BA 320 Operations Management

Two group types

• Formal groups (task oriented) • Informal groups (social oriented)

BA 320 Operations Management

Reasons for group formation

• SECURITY• SOCIAL• ESTEEM• PROXIMITY• ATTRACTION• ORDERED TO

BA 320 Operations Management

Four stages of group development• Form stage• Storm stage• Norm stage• Perform stage

BA 320 Operations Management

Form stage

• First stage – behavior of group members can be described as :

• DEPENDENT ON DIRECTION• MEMBERS ARE POLITE• INTRODUCTION AND SHARING OF

INFORMATION• STEROTYPING INDIVIDUALS BASED ON FIRST

IMPRESSIONS• CONVERSATIONS ARE ABOUT SAFE

ACCEPTABLE TOPICS• AVOID DISCLOSURE, FEEDBACK, AND

INTERPRETING NON-VERBALS

BA 320 Operations Management

Storm stage

• Second stage – behavior of the group can be characterized as:

• COUNTER-DEPENDENT: EACH GROUP MEMBER STRONGLY FEELS THE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF/HERSELF DURING THIS STAGE

• BID FOR POWER• COMPETITIVE• RATIONALIZATION• CLOSE-MINDED• CONFLICT/HOSTILITY• CLIQUES ARE FORMED

BA 320 Operations Management

Storm stage - continued

• UNEXPRESSED INDIVIDUAL NEEDS• CREATIVITY SUPPRESSED• TRY TO REACH RESOLUTION BY VOTE,

COMPROMISE, OR ARBITRATION

BA 320 Operations Management

Norm stage

• Third stage – behavior of the group can be characterized as:

• INDEPENDENT AND CONSTRUCTIVE• REAL LISTENING TAKES PLACE• ATTEMPTS TO GAIN AND MAINTAIN CONTROL

LESSEN• PROGRESS TOWARD OBJECTIVES• CREATIVITY BEGINS• ROLES IDENTIFIED• THE LEADER MAY BECOME SOMEWHAT LESS

IDENTIFIABLE OR NECESSARY TO THE GROUP

BA 320 Operations Management

Perform stage

• Fourth stage – behavior of the group can be characterized as:

• INDEPENDENT• HIGH GROUP MORALE AND ESPRIT• INTENSE GROUP LOYALTY• INDIVIDUAL CREATIVITY IS ENCOURAGED• DISAGREEMENT IS OK• NO CLIQUES• GROUP ADOPTS AN IDENTIFICATION SYMBOL

BA 320 Operations Management

Adjourn stage

• Fifth stage – behavior of the group can be characterized as:

• LESS TASK ABILITY• REGRESSION TO LESS PRODUCTIVE

BEHAVIOR• SEPARATION, GRIEVING BEHAVIORS• RE-DEFINITION• TERMINATION OR MINI-DEATH

BA 320 Operations Management

Relationship of team maturity and performance

FORM STORM NORM PERFORM ADJOURN

ImmatureInefficientIneffective

MatureEfficientEffective

PossibleFailure

PossibleFailure

PossibleFailure

PE

RF

OR

MA

NC

E

BA 320 Operations Management

Stages of team development and associated management challenges

FORMING(Orientation)

STORMING(Internal problem

solving)

NORMING(Growth andproductivity)

PERFORMING(Evaluationand control)

1. Establish structure, rules, communication networks2. Clarify relations and interdependencies among members3. Identify leader roles, clarify responsibility and authority4. Develop plans for goals accomplishment.

1. Identify and resolve interpersonal conflict.2. Further clarify rules, goals, and structural relationships3. Develop participate climate among group members

1. Direct group activity toward goal accomplishment.2. Develop data-flow & feedback systems for task performance.3. Promote more cohesion among group members

1. Leader role emphasis on facilitation, feedback, and evaluation.2. Renewal, revision, and strengthening of roles and group

interdependencies.3. Show of strong motivation toward goal accomplishment

BA 320 Operations Management

Summary

• IDENTIFY THE WORKING DEFINITION OF A GROUP

• IDENTIFY FORMAL AND INFORMAL GROUPS

• IDENTIFY THE REASONS PEOPLE JOIN GROUPS

• DESCRIBE THE FOUR STAGES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT