Principles of management, Ch.15, Groups and Teams

Group

Any number of people who (1) interact with one another, (2) are psychologically aware of one another, and (3) perceive themselves to be a group.

Task Group

Is a formal group of organization members who interact with one another to accomplish most of the organization's nonroutine tasks.

Command Group

Is a formal group that is outlined in the chain of command on an organization chart. Typically handles routine organizational activities.

Committee

Is a group of individuals charged with performing a type of specific activity and is usually classified as a task group.

Formal Group

Is a group that exists within an organization by virtue of management decree to perform tasks that enhance the attainment of organizational objectives.

Team

Is a group whose members influence one another toward the accomplishment of an organizational objective(s).

Problem-Solving Team

Is a team set up to help eliminate a specified problem within the organization.

Cross-Functional Team

Is a work team composed of people from different functional areas of the organization- marketing, finance, human resources, and operations, for example-who are all focused on a specified objective.

Sociometry

Is an analytical tool managers can use to make these determinations.

Friendship Group

Is an informal group that forms in organizations because of the personal affiliation members have with one another.

Interest Group

Is an informal group that gains and maintains membership primarily because of a common concern members have about a specific issue.

Work Team

Is another example of a task group used in organizations.

Sociogram

Is constructed to summarize the informal relationships among group members.

Informal Group

Is defined as a collection of individuals whose common work experiences result in the development of a system of interpersonal relations that extend beyond those established by management.

Forming

Is the first stage of the team development process. During this stage members of the newly formed team become oriented to the team and acquainted with one another. This stage is usually characterized by uncertainty and stress.

Groupthink

Is the mode of thinking that group members engage in when the desire for agreement so dominates the group that it overrides the need to realistically appraise alternative solutions.

Self-Managed Team

Sometimes called a *self-managed work group* or *self-directed team*, is a team that plans, organizes, influences, and controls its own work situation with only minimal intervention and direction from management.

Adjourning

The fifth, and last stage of the team development process, and the team is finishing its job and preparing to disband. During this stage, team members are generally disappointed that the team is being broken up because disbandment means the loss of personally satisfying relationships and/or an enjoyable work situation.

Performing

The fourth stage of the team development process, and the team fully focuses on solving organizational problems and on meeting assigned challenges. During this stage, managers should regularly acknowledge the team's accomplishments because productive team behavior must be reinforced in order to enhance the probability that it will continue in the future.

Storming

The second stage of the team development process, is characterized by conflict and disagreement as team members become more assertive in clarifying their individual roles. During this stage, the team seems to lack unity because members are continually challenging the way the team functions.

Norming

The third stage of the team development process, is characterized by agreement among team members on roles, rules, and acceptable behavior while working on the team. Conflicts generated during the storming stage are resolved in this stage.