FORMAL

VS.

INFORMAL

Types of Groups

Formal

• Those Defined by organizations structure with designated work assignments and established tasks
• Behavior mems. should engage in are stipulated by and directed towards ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS
• Ex. Airflight Crew
• COMMAND and TASK groups

Informal

• neither formally structured nor organizationally determined
• NATURAL formations in need for SOCIAL CONTACT
• Ex. Employees who eat together
• INTEREST and FRIENDSHIP reliances

COMMAND

• Determined by ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
• Report to Give Mgmr. and THE Mgmr.
• ex. Principal and 18 teachers

TASK

• ORGANIZATIONALLY DETERMINED
• Indivs. working together to complete a JOB TASK
• Boundaries are NOT LIMITED to immediate hierarchial superior

all command grps are task grps, BUT not all task grps are command grps

INTEREST

• Employees who band together for SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE

FRIENDSHIP

• Mems. have COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

1.  FORMING

• Characterized by UNCERTAINTY about groups purpose, structure, leadership
• Mems. "Test Waters" to see Acceptable Behaviors
• Ends: When think of themselves as Part of Group

2.  STORMING

• INTRAGROUP Conflict
• Ends: Clear hierarchy of leadership

3.  NORMING

• Close relationships and cohesiveness develops (grp identity and comaderie
• Ends: set of expectations that def. correct mem. behavior

4.  PERFORMING

• Structure fully functionable and acceptable
• Ends: Complete the Task

For Temporary Groups

5.  Prepares for disbandment

*Not always follow precisely, 4. may not be most desirable.

-Expected behavior patterns attributed to person occupying position in social unit

Role Identity:  Certain attitudes and behaviors CONSISTENT W/ GIVEN ROLE

Ex. Zimbardo's Prison Experiment

Perception:  OUR VIEW of how supposed to act in given sit.

Expectations:  The way OTHERS BELIEVE you should act "

Conflict:  When indiv. CONFRONTED BY DIVERGENT ROLE EXPECTATIONS

-Acceptable STANDARDS of BEHAVIOR shared by grp. mems.

-PERFORMANCE norm most common

HAWTORNE STUDIES (Illumination Intensity)

Conformity:  Conform b/c of desired acceptance.  Conform to improve group

SOLOMAN ASH (3 Line Card)

     Reference Groups:  Person aware of mems, defines himherself as mem. or desires it, mems. significant to him/her

Deviant Workplace Behavior

-VOLUNTARY BEHAVIOR that violates sig. org. norms and threatens well-being of org. or mems.

*Grps provide SHIELD OF ANONYMITY:  Someone who normally would not steal, might feel others have same opportunity to get caught so does it.

-Socially defines position or rank given to grps or mems. by others

Characteristics

• POWER person wields over others
• ABILITY to contribute to grp goals
• PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

*High-status ppl given more freedom to DEVIATE FROM NORMS b/c able to resist conformity.  more ASSERTIVE

*Status inhibits DIVERSITY and CREATIVE IDEAS

Smaller - FASTER, indivs perform BETTER

Larger - good when PROBLEM SOLVING

Social Loafing

Individuals spend less effort when in grp vs. alone

MAX RINGELMANN (Rope Pulling Task)

To Prevent ^

1. Set goals
2. ^ Intergrp Competition
3. Peer Eval.
4. Grp. Rewards

-Degree to which mems. are attributed to each other and motivated to STAY in grp.

*not as important as perf. norms with productivity

To Encourage

1.   Smaller
2. goals
3. ^ Time
4. ^ Status
5. ^ Competition
6. Rewards
7. Physically isolate grp.

Group Decision Making

STRENTHS

• generate more complete INFO. and knowledge
• More INPUT
• HETEROGENITY (diversity of views)
• ^ Acceptance of SOLNS

Group Decision Making

WEAKNESSES

• TIME Consuiming
• COFORMITY pressure
• DISCUSSION DOMIATED
• Ambiguous RESPONSIBILITY

=> Not always better

• grp decision, more ACCURATE
• Grps better CREATIVITY and ACCEPTANCE
• Take Longer

*Groups not as EFFICIENT as Indiv (^ hrs)

>>>>Groups not as efficient, but more effective

GroupThink

&

Group Shift

GROUP THINK

-Related to Norms

-Grp. conformity pressures deter grp from critically appraising unusual, minority, UNPOPULAR VIEWS

GROUP SHIFT

In discovering set of alternatives and arriving at solns., mems. exaggerate position they hold

Abstention viewed as "yes" vote

Group Think

SYMPTOMS

• Mems. rationalize any resistance to assumptions they've made
• Mems. apply direct pressures to those who express doubt
• Those w/ diff. opinions by keeping silent
• ILLUSION OF UNANIMITY

To Minimize

• Smaller
• Ecourage Leaders to play imp. role
• Devil's Advocate

>>>>Group shift is a CASE OF group think

Interacting Groups

Face-to-Face meetings

Verbal/non communication

Brainstorming

To Overcome CONFORMITY

-Idea generating process that encourages any/all alternatives W/O CRITICISM

^ ideas

Nominal Group Technique

Restricts disc or interpersonal communication during decision making process

1. Mems meet and indep. write down ideas
2. Each mem. presents 1 idea
3. Group discusses
4. Mems. Rank ideas

Exhibit 1-8

Why ppl join grps