Group Dynamics

Definition and Nature of Group:

When two or more people communicate with each other a group is formed.

Groups are formed because of the intercommunication between people. When

different people communicate with one another, they share some common goals and

motives. This intercommunication between two or three people makes them form a

group, even if it is a temporary one.

Definitions:

1. Group consists of two or more interacting people, who share common goals,

and have a stable but somewhat interdependent relationship. (Paulus 1989)

2. According to Bogardus “a group may be thought of as two or more number

of persons, who have some common objects of attention, who stimulate each

other and have common loyalties and participate in similar activities.”

In simple language it means that a mere collection of individuals who happen to be

at one place at the same time but have no common goals or motives cannot fit into

the concept of a group, e.g. people walking on the road, not knowing each other and

without a common goal cannot be considered as a group.

The group membership can be sometimes formal and sometimes informal.

Many times an individual becomes a member of a group because he feels that his

joining a group will directly or indirectly satisfy at least some of his needs.

Groups have some common features as follows:

1. Members of group have something in common i.e. habit, culture, hobby,

language etc.

2. There should be interaction among group members.

3. Some exchange of emotions takes place between group members. They are

generally emotionally attached. e.g. peer group, family group etc.

4. Each individual has a different status and plays a specific role. Failure to play

this role can create problems.

5. The members should have common interests and ideals and should come

together to achieve these ideals.

6. A group is dynamic in nature. It evolves changes, develops and disintegrates

over an extended period of time.

7. Some groups are short lived whereas others survive for a very long period of

time.

Group possess four common characteristics

1. Common interests or goals

2. People see themselves as members

3. Two or more people are needed to form group.

4. Interaction among members

Reasons for Emergence of Social Group :

Some groups, like a family, are naturally formed but most other groups are formed

due to various other reasons :

1. Sometimes they are formed because a person likes the activities which

group membership allows him to take part in.

2 OR MORE PEOPLE

2. We may form a group to enjoy the company of other members, e.g.

friendship group.

3. A person may become member of a group because of its prestige in the

eyes of others, e.g. a person becoming member of a social organization,

thinking about the prospective business contacts he may get through it.

The greater the perceived probability that group membership will satisfy

his motives, the greater the probability that membership will become a

goal for him.

4. Social groups are psychologically satisfying. They help an individual to

fulfill many of his / her psychological needs, such as the need for

affiliation, need for power etc.

Some of the important functions of a group are as follows :

1. Satisfies psychological needs : First, groups help us to satisfy important

psychological or social needs such as those for belonging or for receiving

attention or affection.

2. Help us to achieve certain goals that cannot be achieved on our own :

Groups help us to achieve various goals that we could not attain as

individuals. Belonging to various groups helps us perform tasks we could not

perform alone. In addition, group membership often provides us with

knowledge and information that would not otherwise be available to us.

3. Help establish positive social identity : Group membership also contributes

to the establishment of a positive social identity – it becomes part of the self

concept.

4. Helps bring about desired organizational changes : Groups also play an

important role in bringing about desired organizational changes.

5. Helps to attain peace and maintain cordial relations : Many social groups

such as the Ekta Committee, the Mohalla committee, Associated Locality

Management group, etc, help to maintain peace and stability in the

community between people of different communities and religious groups.

Stages of Group Development :

A group does not arise suddenly. They develop gradually through several stages of development. According to Tuckman and Jensen (1977) following are the important stages in the process of group development. Many groups follow these stages of development. However, specific groups may skip or combine one or more stages.

Following are some important stages of group development. 1.FORMING : During the forming stage, members discover what behaviors are acceptable to the group. For newly established groups, this stage is the transition from individual to member status . At the forming stage ground rules are established. Members become acquainted with each other. A group can be spontaneously formed or it can be an intentional and deliberate attempt to achieve some desired objectives. Formation of a group can be, a collective effort, where few individuals meet together and decide together or it can be a single individual’s effort who decides to bring different like-minded individuals together in the form of a group.

Group begins to experience:• Feelings of excitement, anticipation, and optimism; also feelings of suspicion, fear, and anxiety about the job ahead• Identification of its reason for existence• Self-orientation• Identification of the task to be accomplished• Exploration and discovery of how to interact with one another as a group

This stage is also characterized by the following:• Attempts to identify tasks in terms of relevancy and decide how the group will accomplish the tasks• Decisions on the type of information needed and how it will be used• Hesitant participation• Initial feelings about the group• Complaints about the organizational environment• Suspicion, fear and anxiety about the new situation• Little work is accomplished

2. STORMING :

This is the second stage in the formation or development of group. At this stage members compete for attractive roles and positions within the group. This competition can generate conflict. At this stage individuals compete for leadership position. Leadership in a group emerges at this stage.

During the storming stage, members become hostile or overzealous as a way of expressing their individuality and resisting group formation. Members recognize the extent of the task needed and may respond with animosity or apathy.

“Hey! I’ve got something to say here!”

Some group behaviors and attitudes:• Negativity• Dissatisfaction• Hostility• Crisis mode• Adjustment anxiety

Differences and suppressed tension begin to surface. Members further define the energy level they dedicate to the task or project at hand; questions arise during this period:- Do I feel passionate about the purpose of this program?- Do I like how they are planning to meet the needs?- What am I going to do or say that will get my opinion heard?

Other characteristics of this stage include:• Infighting, defensiveness and competition• Disunity, increased tension and jealousy• Polarization of group members• Sharp fluctuations in relationships and reversals of feelings• Concern over excessive work• Establishing a pecking order

• Little work is accomplished

The leader can help the group move through this stage by encouraging and supporting members and emphasizing areas of agreement.

3. NORMING :It refers to the development of a common shared perspective, a feeling of ‘we ness’ within the group. Rules concerning how the group will operate are more fully established, and a sense of shared responsibility for dealing with the group’s problems develops. During this stage feelings of attachment to the group intensify. During the norming stage, members accept the group norms, their own roles, and personality traits of fellow members.

Characteristics:“We’re all in this Together!”

Some group behaviors:• Cohesion around shared goals• Resolution of conflict• More acceptance of diversity in the group• Reconciliation; show of affection• Re-evaluation

Members have seen the coming together (forming), the semi-separation (storming), and now they have reconciled themselves to working together(norming) despite their differences with a new definition of purpose.

Other characteristics of this stage include:• An attempt to achieve maximum harmony by avoiding conflict• A new ability to express emotions constructively• A sense of cohesiveness with a common spirit and goals• Establishing and maintaining group boundaries• Developing effective decision making techniques• A moderate amount of work is accomplished• A sense of connection characterized by confiding in each other, expressing opinions and discussing team dynamics

As the group assumes increased responsibility, the leader continues to encourage and support participation by all.

4. PERFORMING :This is the fourth stage of group development. During this stage group members concentrate on carrying out its major tasks and moving towards shared goals. Here, energies are focused on specific goals, tasks and jobs and progress towards these

goals is often made. As long as a group is relatively successful in achieving their goals, they may remain in existence. Now that the group has established its own norms, it becomes capable of diagnosing and solving problems and making decisions.

Characteristics:• Interdependency• Have a sense of ownership• A great deal of work is accomplished

“Getting Things Done!”• Cohesiveness• Teamwork• Leadership• Performance

The group is starting to utilize its newly found “norms of trust,” and can begin focusing on the service to be done; there should be enough drive, creativity, and cohesiveness to take on most tasks.

The leader provides minimal input to the group.

5. ADJOURNING :When all the goals of a group are met or when group does not function efficiently, the stage is called as adjourning. Adjourning is especially likely to occur in groups that has been formed for a specific purpose (eg. Fund raising groups, special task force, etc.) Groups may also disintegrate if key members leave, if irresolvable conflicts develop or, if disagreement over long-term goals emerges.

Characteristics:“Now What?”Possible group feelings or reactions:• Negativity• Dissatisfaction• Hostility• Purging• Crisis

The group is realizing the end of service is near; it has been a year of sharing and growing with each other and now members are going to separate. For many, the group has been a safety net and truly has become their community.

Characteristics of Social Group :

Group dynamics is the study of groups, and also a general term for group processes. Relevant to the fields of psychology, sociology, and communication studies, a group is two or more individuals who are connected to each other by social relationships. Because they interact and influence each other, groups develop a number of dynamic processes that separate them from a random collection of individuals. These processes include norms, roles, relations, development, need to belong, social influence, and effects on behavior. The field of group dynamics is primarily concerned with small group behavior. Groups may be classified as aggregate, primary, secondary and category groups.

In organizational development (OD), or group dynamics, the phrase "group process" refers to the understanding of the behaviour of people in groups, such as task groups, that are trying to solve a problem or make a decision. An individual with expertise in 'group process, such as a trained facilitator, can assist a group in accomplishing its objective by diagnosing how well the group is functioning as a problem-solving or decision-making entity and intervening to alter the group's operating behaviour.

Because people gather in groups for reasons other than task accomplishment, group process occurs in other types of groups such as personal growth groups (e.g. encounter groups, study groups, prayer groups). In such cases, an individual with expertise in group process can be helpful in the role of facilitator

Social groups have certain characteristics with respect to its structure and functions.

Some important characteristics of Social group are as follows:

1. Cohesiveness: It refers to various forces acting on group members to remain

a part of a group. It refers to the attraction we have towards a particular

group. It is a feeling of emotional unity that binds the different members of

the group together. Cohesiveness is defined as the extent to which members

find the group attractive. It represents the sum of all the factors that induce

members to remain in the group. There are four important factors that

influence cohesiveness among group members.

a) The more difficult to get into a group, the more the members are

attracted to it.

b) Groups that are facing an external threat or severe competition are

generally higher in cohesiveness that ones not confronted with such

conditions.

c) Groups that have a past history of success are generally more cohesive

that ones that do not.

d) Smaller groups tend to be higher in cohesiveness as compared to larger

group.

2. Morale: The term moral is used to refer to group’s satisfaction. Group

morale considerably influences an individual’s satisfaction level because

individuals very often take cues from their work associates and adapt their

own attitudes to conform to the group norms. A member who is satisfied in a

group can raise the morale of his group members. Individuals, who belong to

cohesive groups, generally have high morale. High morale is a motivating

force and helps an individual to become an active and productive member of

a given group. Group members under authoritarian leader have low morale as

they do not get feedback on their performance. Democratic leaders boost

group morale.

3. Identification : In order for an individual to get integrated in a group, he/she

must be able to identify with the group. Group must make attempts to provide

atmosphere so that an individual is able to identify with the group as a whole

and group members in particular. An important process in increasing an

individual’s identification with the group is that he/she should feel accepted,

has positive attitudes and must be able to relate to members both as a group,

as well as on an individual basis. The group should also provide

opportunities for an individual to expand his identity by associating with the

group.

4. Norms : Norms refers to rules established by various groups to regulate the

behaviour of members. Norms tell group members how to behave or how not

to behave in various situations. Most of the groups require that their members

must behave in accordance with group norms. Behaviour that deviates from

group norm is considered to be abnormal. In short, norms help to regulate and

control our behaviour and thus preserve social order. Norms provide for

uniformity and predictability of behaviour. Norms also provide ready-made

solutions to variety of day to day problems we are faced with.

5. Structure : Group structure basically deals with how the group is composed

and organized with respect to hierarchy, authority, roles and status. The

structure of a group influences its activities, productivity, group morale and

general functioning of the group. Decision making groups in an organization

have a participative and democratic structure. The personality characteristics

of the individual members as well as their collective goals determine as to

what structure a given group will adopt.

6. Group Size : Group size has a considerable influence on the working and the

functioning of the group. An effective work group should generally consist of

5 to 6 members only. If the group size increases then there is a tendency that

the members will divide themselves into subgroups and this can influence the

functioning of the group. Large groups tend to be less cohesive, display

competition within groups and disruptive tendencies among members

become evident. According to the concept ‘Social Loafing’, when

individuals work in a group, their contribution becomes less as the group size

increases.

7. Communication Patterns : Communication patterns refer to the nature and

type of communication that takes place between two or more members or

group. Groups have definite communication patterns and these patterns of

communication helps us to understand the characteristics and the working of

the internal group dynamics. The term ‘communication networks’ is

frequently used to refer to recurring patterns of who talks to whom in a

group.

Types of Groups :

1. Primary and Secondary Groups :

Primary groups are those in which interpersonal relationships take place

on a face to face basis, with great frequency. Such relationships are at a

more intimate level than relationships in groups in which there is less

personal contact. Some important examples of primary groups are :

Family, Peer groups

Few example of peer groups

Computer users seek out others for help in solving problems Police officers help other officers deal with trauma Elementary school students mediate conflicts between other students Experienced employees show new employees "the ropes" A friend listens while another friend describes a problem Students tutor other students Co-workers help colleagues manage work challenges Seniors help each other with loneliness and grief Executives orient other managers to steps for success Experienced parents support new parents Hockey players coach other hockey players

Secondary groups are likely to be more impersonal and there is more formal

and contractual relationship among members, e.g. political parties,

national groups, etc. Emotional expression by the members of

secondary groups is more restrained and sometimes even suppressed

altogether. Different emotions like love, disappointment, depression, anger,

etc., are more likely to be expressed in primary group membership.

2. Formal and Informal Groups :

Formal groups are one that is deliberately created to perform a specific

task. Members are usually appointed by the organization, but it may not

always be the case. Example a group is committee and other example are

work units, such as a small department, a research and development

authority.

A distinctive feature of formal groups is that a hierarchy of authority exists,

with specified member rules and regulation

Variation of member Group:

1) Standing task group

2) Task group

Standing task group: Also known as command group, is

permanently specifies in the organizational structure and consists of a

supervisor who exercises formal authority over subordinates.

Eg: The foremen and his group of subordinates constitute a command group.

Task Group: Also known as project group is a temporary formal group

that is created to solve specific problem. The employee belong to different

departments. They stay together till the task is completed and once the work

is completed, the task group disbands and members return to their respective

task groups.

Informal groups also called clique, is an alliance that is neither formally

structures, nor organizationally determined. Informal groups are natural

formations in the work environment which appear in response to the need for

social contact.

Variation of member group

1) Interest group

2) Friendship group

3) Reference group

Interest Group: is made up of individual who affiliate to achieve an

objective of mutual interest that may have nothing to do with their formal

task group memberships.

Example: Working mothers who lobby together to get their

organization to facilitate their multiple roles by providing day care

facilities on the premises, flexi time and shared job assignments is an eg.

A friendship group: It develops on common characteristics such as

marital status, political views, college affiliations and sports. Enlightened

managers maintain good relations with friendship groups because these

groups have tremendous influence on their member s that managers would

prefer to have directed towards organizational goals.

A reference group is any group with which an individual identifies for the

purpose of forming opinions or making decisions. Reference groups are the

bases for many interest and friendship groups, but they may also exist outside

of the organization and still influence a person behavior at work. Reference

groups are based on such factors as race, gender, politics, religion, education

level etc.

Distinguish between formal group and informal group

Sr .

No

Formal Group Informal group

1 Origin: It is deliberately structured to serve organizational goals

It emerges voluntarily and spontaneously

2 Activities: The manager decides about the

Members themselves develop their activities , interactions

3 Purpose: Purpose is to serve the organization and it is delegated from top to the bottom

Purpose is to provide social satisfaction and stability to work groups

4 Authority: Authority is given by

the organization and it is delegated

from top to bottom

Authority is earned from members. Members are elected on the basis of performance.

5 Communication: All messages

pass through the chain of command

There is no chain of command people remain in mutual contact with each other

6 Nature: These groups are stable

and continue for longer period

These groups are unstable and continue for short period

7 Controlled of behavior:

Behavior is controlled by

predetermined rules and regulation

Behavior is controlled through common

norms, values and beliefs of the group

8 Sanction to members:

Members are rewarded and

punished for the work done

Members are recognized through non- financial rewards and punishments in terms of feelings status and prestige

3. In-group and Out-group :

The group to which we belong are in groups and to which we do not

belong are out groups. The in group versus out group concept is applicable

to friendly rivalries between schools, clubs, and associations. In groups

are known as ‘we groups’ and out groups known as ‘they groups’

Members of In groups posses a high degree of loyalty, sympathy and

devotion for each other. Citizens of countries in which there is a strong

sense of nationality think about their relationship with each other as ‘we

group’ and people in other countries as ‘they group’. Members of the in-

group share a common fate belong to a common culture and resemble

each other in many ways. Out group is group or a category towards which

one has no feeling of identity or of belongingness. These groups are ‘other

groups’ to which we do not belong. For example other families,

occupations, religions etc.

6. Open group and closed group: In open groups true to their nature, members

keep changing – news members joining and existing ones leaving. And in

closed group maintains relatively stable membership, with few addition and

losses in member’s overtime.

7. Membership Group: Membership group are formed informally and

formally through membership cards certificates. The institute of engineers

is a membership group and is secondary group.