The Nature of The Nature of GroupsGroupsCh. 8Ch. 8

What is a group?What is a group?

““a small collection of people who a small collection of people who interact with each other, usually interact with each other, usually face to face, over time in order to face to face, over time in order to reach goals.” reach goals.”

In order to be considered In order to be considered a group, members must:a group, members must:

InteractInteract Be interdependentBe interdependent -members -members

rely on one anotherrely on one another Interact for a length of Interact for a length of timetime Be a particular Be a particular sizesize (at the very (at the very

least three members)least three members) Have hopes of achieving one or Have hopes of achieving one or

more more goalsgoals

Types of GoalsTypes of Goals

Individual GoalsIndividual Goals - the motives of - the motives of each individual group membereach individual group member

Group goalsGroup goals – the ultimate – the ultimate outcome the group hopes to outcome the group hopes to accomplishaccomplish

4 Types of Groups4 Types of Groups

Learning groupsLearning groups Growth groupsGrowth groups Problem-solving groupsProblem-solving groups Social groupsSocial groups

Learning groupsLearning groups

where the purpose is to increase where the purpose is to increase the knowledge and skill of each the knowledge and skill of each member member

Growth groupsGrowth groups

focus on teaching members more focus on teaching members more about themselves about themselves

Problem-solving groupsProblem-solving groups

when members form in order to when members form in order to solve a problem that affects all of solve a problem that affects all of them them

Social GroupsSocial Groups

Groups that meet for the sole Groups that meet for the sole purpose of satisfying the social purpose of satisfying the social needs of their membersneeds of their members

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHARACTERISTICS OF GROUPSGROUPS

All groups have certain All groups have certain characteristics in common.characteristics in common.

• Rules and normsRules and norms• Member have individual RolesMember have individual Roles• Patterns of interactionPatterns of interaction• Decision-making methodsDecision-making methods

Rules and NormsRules and Norms

RulesRules- clearly defined guidelines - clearly defined guidelines governing the ways in which governing the ways in which members are expected to behavemembers are expected to behave

NormsNorms- are rules that are not - are rules that are not stated or discussed, but members stated or discussed, but members know they are supposed to be know they are supposed to be followedfollowed

3 types of norms3 types of norms

Social norms Social norms – effect the – effect the relationships that occur between relationships that occur between membersmembers

Procedural normsProcedural norms – outline the – outline the ways in which the group is to ways in which the group is to operateoperate

Task norms Task norms – how the job at – how the job at hand will be carried outhand will be carried out

RolesRoles

The behavior that is expected from The behavior that is expected from each group membereach group member

Types of rolesTypes of roles

Formal rolesFormal roles – assigned by an – assigned by an organization organization

or group often to establish orderor group often to establish order

Informal rolesInformal roles – roles that work to – roles that work to satisfy a particular functionsatisfy a particular function

Two types of informal Two types of informal rolesroles::

• Task rolesTask roles – help the group – help the group accomplish its goalsaccomplish its goals

• Maintenance rolesMaintenance roles- help the - help the relationships among members run relationships among members run smoothly.smoothly.

Dysfunctional rolesDysfunctional roles

behaviors that prevent the group behaviors that prevent the group from working effectivelyfrom working effectively

Patterns of interactionPatterns of interaction

Interactions that take place within Interactions that take place within a group tend to follow a particular a group tend to follow a particular pattern. pattern.

Types of patterns of interactionTypes of patterns of interaction::• All-channel networkAll-channel network• Chain networkChain network• Wheel networkWheel network

All- channel networkAll- channel network

Takes place if group members stay Takes place if group members stay together and shared every piece of together and shared every piece of information with one another.information with one another.

Group members must be face-to-Group members must be face-to-faceface

A chain networkA chain network

When interaction and When interaction and communication moves sequentially communication moves sequentially from one member to another from one member to another

Good for simple messagesGood for simple messages Tend to break down with more Tend to break down with more

complex messagescomplex messages

Wheel networkWheel network

All communication within the All communication within the group goes through one person group goes through one person who is at the center of the groups who is at the center of the groups operation.operation.

Decision-Making Decision-Making MethodsMethods

5 ways in which groups make 5 ways in which groups make decisions:decisions:

1.1. ConsensusConsensus

2.2. Majority controlMajority control

3.3. Expert opinionExpert opinion

4.4. Minority ruleMinority rule

5.5. Authority ruleAuthority rule

CONSENSUSCONSENSUS

Takes place when every member Takes place when every member of the group supports the decisionof the group supports the decision

MAJORITY CONTROLMAJORITY CONTROL

Decisions are based on what the Decisions are based on what the majority of members desiremajority of members desire

EXPERT OPINIONEXPERT OPINION

When decisions are left to one When decisions are left to one member who is believed to be an member who is believed to be an expert on the decision to be madeexpert on the decision to be made

Works if the person is truly an Works if the person is truly an expertexpert

MINORITY CONTROLMINORITY CONTROL

Takes place when a few members Takes place when a few members of a group decide on a matterof a group decide on a matter

AUTHORITY RULEAUTHORITY RULE

When the leader or the person with When the leader or the person with the most power makes the the most power makes the decisions for the groupdecisions for the group

THE INFLUENCE OF THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURE ON GROUPSCULTURE ON GROUPS

Cultural influences on Cultural influences on group communicationgroup communication

Groups are effected greatly by Groups are effected greatly by cultureculture

Culture provides the rules and Culture provides the rules and norms that determine how members norms that determine how members will interact with one anotherwill interact with one another

Culture also determines how Culture also determines how members will achieve the goals of members will achieve the goals of the groupthe group

Geert Hofstede’s (4) cultural Geert Hofstede’s (4) cultural forces that shape the attitudes forces that shape the attitudes and behaviors of groups and and behaviors of groups and individualsindividuals

Individualism vs. CollectivismIndividualism vs. Collectivism Power distancePower distance Uncertainty avoidanceUncertainty avoidance Task versus social orientationTask versus social orientation

(1) Individualism vs. (1) Individualism vs. collectivismcollectivism

Describes the way that some Describes the way that some cultures place value on the cultures place value on the individual, while cultures place individual, while cultures place value on the groupvalue on the group

IndividualismIndividualism

Individualistic values stress the Individualistic values stress the importance of pursuing personal importance of pursuing personal goals and independencegoals and independence

Individualistic cultures are focused Individualistic cultures are focused on individual goalson individual goals

Those with individualistic Those with individualistic orientation are concerned with orientation are concerned with standing out in the crowd standing out in the crowd

Collectivism Collectivism

Collectivistic values focus on the Collectivistic values focus on the importance of group harmony, importance of group harmony, fitting in, and relational fitting in, and relational dependencedependence

Collectivistic cultures are focused Collectivistic cultures are focused on the goals in the groupon the goals in the group

Those with collectivistic orientation Those with collectivistic orientation are concerned with fitting in with are concerned with fitting in with the rest of the group the rest of the group

Individualistic vs. Individualistic vs. Collectivistic countriesCollectivistic countries

The United States, Canada, The United States, Canada, Australia, and Britain.Australia, and Britain.

Latin American and Asian societies Latin American and Asian societies tend to be more collectivistictend to be more collectivistic

Cultural influence on view Cultural influence on view of conflict of conflict

IndividualisticIndividualistic cultures view conflict as cultures view conflict as a positive, and tend confront it head ona positive, and tend confront it head on

-use more direct language (low-context) -use more direct language (low-context) CollectivisticCollectivistic cultures tend to view cultures tend to view

conflict negatively, and avoid itconflict negatively, and avoid it

-use less direct language (high-context)-use less direct language (high-context)

(4) Power distance (4) Power distance

The accepted distance of power The accepted distance of power between to people of status and between to people of status and power within a culturepower within a culture

Low Power DistanceLow Power Distance

If people are relatively equal there If people are relatively equal there will be will be low power distancelow power distance

Cultures Cultures low in power distancelow in power distance tend to push toward equality tend to push toward equality among membersamong members

High Power Distance High Power Distance

If people differ greatly in level of If people differ greatly in level of power there will be a power there will be a high power high power distancedistance

Cultures Cultures high in power distancehigh in power distance accept differences in power and accept differences in power and status as a way of lifestatus as a way of life

Countries with Low Power Countries with Low Power DistanceDistance

IsraelIsrael

New ZealandNew Zealand

GermanyGermany

U.S.AU.S.A

Countries with High Power Countries with High Power DistanceDistance

PhilippinesPhilippines MexicoMexico IndiaIndia FranceFrance

(3) Uncertainty Avoidance(3) Uncertainty Avoidance

Takes place when people try to Takes place when people try to avoid that which is uncertainavoid that which is uncertain

Different cultures react differently Different cultures react differently to uncertainty:to uncertainty:

-some cultures avoid uncertainty as -some cultures avoid uncertainty as much as possible much as possible

-other cultures welcome uncertainty-other cultures welcome uncertainty

Countries with low Countries with low uncertainty avoidanceuncertainty avoidance

Singapore Singapore IndiaIndia PhilippinesPhilippines U.S.AU.S.A

Countries with high Countries with high uncertainty avoidanceuncertainty avoidance

GreeceGreece JapanJapan PeruPeru Mexico Mexico

(4)Task vs. Social (4)Task vs. Social OrientationOrientation

Some cultures are focused more Some cultures are focused more on getting the job done, while on getting the job done, while other cultures are focused more on other cultures are focused more on the social orientation of the groupthe social orientation of the group

Task Oriented SocietiesTask Oriented Societies

Focus is on getting the job doneFocus is on getting the job done Focus on making the team more Focus on making the team more

competentcompetent Highly concerned with individual Highly concerned with individual

successsuccess

Socially Oriented SocietiesSocially Oriented Societies

Focus more on collective concerns Focus more on collective concerns of the groupof the group

Cooperative problem solvingCooperative problem solving A friendly environmentA friendly environment Good working conditionsGood working conditions

Countries High in Task Countries High in Task Orientation:Orientation:

JapanJapan AustriaAustria ItalyItaly MexicoMexico

Counties High in Social Counties High in Social OrientationOrientation

SwedenSweden NorwayNorway ChileChile PortugalPortugal

In conclusion…In conclusion…

An awareness of the ways in which An awareness of the ways in which different cultures deal with conflict different cultures deal with conflict and problem solving helps to and problem solving helps to eliminate miscommunication and eliminate miscommunication and misconceptions that may take misconceptions that may take place within groups.place within groups.