Organizational Behavior
The relevance of understanding group behavior as well as group properties cannot be overstated. This is more so the case for those keen on becoming effective managers and/or members of various groups. Managers who happen to be familiar with group behavior within organizations are more likely to fast track the accomplishment of the various goals and objectives of their respective organizations by amongst other things using groups more effectively.
Nature of Groups and Group Behavior within Organizations
Key Definitions
A group according to Griffin and Moorhead (2011, p.240) "is two or more people who interact with one another such that each person influences and is influenced by each other person." It is however important to note that apart from this definition, several other definitions of a group have been proposed by various authors.
Types of Groups
In basic terms, groups can be divided into two. On one hand are formal groups and on the other, informal groups. Formal groups according to Griffin and Moorhead (2011) are established by an entity for the performance of the said entity's duties or work. On the other hand, informal groups in the opinion of the authors "are formed by their members and consist of friendship groups, which are relatively permanent and interest groups, which may be shorter lived" (Griffin and Moorhead 2011, p.243). The key distinguishing factor between informal and formal groups is that while formal groups are established by the organization in question, informal groups are rather spontaneous. In that regard, the various roles members of formal groups perform are largely predetermined. Roles in informal groups are dependent on members' interactions.
2.3 Stages of Group Development
Group development takes time and in most cases, groups pass through a number of phases before addressing the purpose of their formation and consequently adjourning. In this section, I will address the various stages of group development identified by Tucker. According to Martin (2005), Tucker originally came up with...
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now