group criteria & group dynamics

8/6/2019 Group Criteria & Group Dynamics

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Sociological Criteria of a group

Two or more freely interacting people

(Interdependent -interact and influence each

other);Mutually accountable for achieving common

goals;

Common Identity;

Collective Norms.


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What

Makes

People

Join

Groups?

StatusSecurity

PowerGoal

Achievement

Self-Esteem

Affiliation


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How Good Groups Work(outlined by Douglas McGregor, drawn from his observations of the management of large companies)

Informal atmosphere

Discussion where everyone

participates Clearly defined objective

Active listening by all members

Disagreement exists

Decisions reached by consensus


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How Good Groups Work(outlined by Douglas McGregor, drawn from his observations of the management of large companies)

Criticism is frequent and relatively

comfortable - no personal attack

Free expression in feeling and/or ideas onthe problem

Clear assignments are made and accepted

The leader of the group does not dominate The group is conscious of its own

operation.


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Group behavior and Roles

Behavior in the group can be of 3 types:

1. that which helps the group accomplish its task;

2. that which helps group members get alongbetter (relationships); and

3. self oriented behavior which contributes to

neither group task nor group relationships.

Examples of these types of behavior, called

roles: Task, Relationship, Self oriented Roles


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Task Roles (cont.)

4. Clarifying and elaborating: interpretingideas or suggestions; clearing up confusion;defining terms; indicating alternatives and

issues before the group.5. Summarizing: pulling together relatedideas; restating suggestions after the grouphas discussed them; offering a decision or

conclusion for the group to accept or reject.6. Consensus testing: asking if the group isnearing a decision; taking a straw vote."


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Relationship Roles

1. Harmonizing: attempting to reconcile

disagreements; reducing tension; getting

people to explore differences.

2. Gate keeping: helping to keep

communication channels open; facilitating

the participation of others; suggesting

procedures that permit sharing remarks.


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Relationship Roles (cont.)

3. Encouraging: being friendly, warm, andresponsive to others; indicating by facialexpression or remarks the acceptance of

others' contributions.

4. Compromising: when one's own idea or

status is involved in a conflict, offering acompromise which yields status; admittingerror; modifying one's position in the interestof group cohesion or growth.


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Self-Oriented Roles

1. Dominator: interrupts others; launches on

long monologues; is over-positive and over-

dogmatic; tries to lead group and assert

authority; is generally autocratic.

2. Negativist: rejects ideas suggested by

others; takes a negative attitude on issues;

argues frequently and unnecessarily; is

pessimistic, refuses to cooperate; pouts.


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Self-Oriented Roles (cont.)

3. Aggressor: tries to achieve importance ingroup; boasts; criticizes or blames others;tries to get attention; shows anger or

irritation against group or individuals;deflates importance or position of others ingroup.

4. Playboy: is not interested in the groupexcept as it can help him or her to have agood time.


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Self-Oriented Roles (cont.)

5. Storyteller: likes to tell long "fishing

stories" which are not relevant to the group;

gets off on long tangents.

6. Interrupter: talks over others; engages in

side conversations; whispers to neighbor.

7. Poor me: tries to get the group's attention

to deal with own personal concerns,

discomfort, bad luck, etc.


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Feelings

During any group discussion, feelings are

frequently generated by the interactions

between members. These feelings, however,

are seldom talked about. Observers may have

to make guesses based on tone of voice,

facial expressions, gestures and many other

forms of nonverbal cues.


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Feelings (cont.)

1.What signs of feelings do you observe in

group members? Anger, irritation,

frustration, warmth, affection, excitement,

boredom, defensiveness, competitiveness, etc.

2. Do you see any attempts by group

members to block the expression of feelings,

particularly negative feelings? How is thisdone? Does anyone do this consistently?


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Group Atmosphere

Something about the way a group works

creates an atmosphere which in turn is

revealed in a general impression. Insight can

be gained into the atmosphere characteristic

of a group by finding words which describe

the general impression held by group

members.


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Group Atmosphere

1. Is the atmosphere one of work, play,

satisfaction, taking flight, sluggish, tense, etc.?

2. Who seems to prefer a friendly congenial

atmosphere? Is there any attempt to

suppress conflict or unpleasant feelings?

3. Who seems to prefer an atmosphere of

conflict and disagreement? Do any membersprovoke or annoy others?


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Characteristics of a Mature Group

1. An increasing ability to be self-directed (not dependent on the leader).

2. An increased tolerance in acceptingthat progress takes time.

3. An increasing sensitivity to their ownfeelings and those of others.

4. Improvement in the ability towithstand tension, frustration anddisagreement.


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Characteristics of a Mature Group-Continue

5. A perception of the common denominators whichbind the group as well as areas of individualdifference.

6. A better ability to anticipate realistic results of

behavior and to channel emotions into moresocially acceptable ways of expressing theseemotions.

7. An increased ability to change plans and methods

as new situations develop. 8. A decrease in time needed to recover from

threatening group situations. Peaks and valleysof emotional group crises become less personal.


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Characteristics of a Mature Group-Continue

9. Increased efficiency in locatingproblems, engaging in problem solving

and providing help to individuals as

needed. 10. A willingness to face one's own

responsibilities and to assist others

when help is needed. 11. An acceptance of the right of the

other person to be different.


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Assessing Group Maturity

Assessing group maturity is especiallyimportant for a group leader. An immaturegroup needs direction. Directive

leadership is usually best. If a group is verymature, nondirective leadership is usuallybest. In between the extremes of verymature and very immature, democraticleadership will be the best bet dependingon the situation


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Member Observation Sheet

1 2 3 4 5

1. Asks for information/opinion2. Gives information/opinion

3. Makes suggestion

4. Explains ideas

5. Rejects another's idea

6. Ridicules another person

7. Agrees with another

8. Attentive but quite9. Side conversation

10.Disrupts


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Attributes ofAttributes of

highhigh--performanceperformance

TeamsTeams

ParticipativeParticipative

LLeadershipeadership AlAligned onigned on

PurposePurpose

HighHigh

CommunicationCommunication

CreativeCreative

TalentsTalents

FutureFuture

FocusedFocused

SharedShared

ResponsibilityResponsibility

High-performance Teams

RapidRapid

ResponseResponse

FFocused onocused on

TaskTask


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