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Working with Groups & Community2012

Adjustment anxietyDifferences and suppressed tension begin to surface Membersfurther define the energy levelthey dedicate to the task or project at hand.Tasks fora group worker:Identifying power and control issuesGaining skills in communicationIdentifying resourcesStage 3 Norming"We're all in this together!"Some group behaviors:Cohesion around shared goals

Resolution of conflictMore acceptance of diversity in the groupReconciliation; show of affection

Re-evaluationMembers have seen the coming together (forming), the semi-separation (storming), and nowthey have reconciled themselves to workingtogether (norming) despite their differences witha new definition of purpose.Tasksfor a group worker: Members agree about roles and processes for problem solving.Stage 4 Performing"Getting Things Done"Some group behaviors:CohesivenessTeamwork

Leadership1 5 M r s . J i n u A b r a h a m , A s s t . P r o f e s s o r ,S o c i a l W o r k D e p t . , L I S S A H

Working with Groups & Community2012PerformanceThe group is starting to utilize its newly found "norms of

trust," and can begin focusing onthe service to be done; there should


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be enough drive, creativity, and cohesiveness to take onmost tasks.Tasksfor a group worker:

Achieve effective and satisfying resultsMembers find solutions to problems using appropriate controlsStage 5 Adjourning"Now What?"Possible group feelings or reactions:NegativityDissatisfactionHostility

Purging

CrisisThe group is realizing the end of service is near; it has been a year ofsharing and growingwith each other and now members are going toseparate. For many, the group has been asafety net and truly has becometheir community.1 6 M r s . J i n u A b r a h a m , A s s t . P r o f e s s o r ,S o c i a l W o r k D e p t . , L I S S A H

Working with Groups & Community2012Group Dynamics1 7 M r s . J i n u A b r a h a m , A s s t . P r o f e s s o r ,S o c i a l W o r k D e p t . , L I S S A H


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Working with Groups & Community2012The forces that result from the interactions of group members are often referred to as

groupdynamics. Because group dynamics influence the behaviour of both individual group membersand

the group as a whole, they have been of considerable interest to group workers for

manyyears (Coyle, 1930, 1937; Elliott, 1928).It was at the Massachusetts Institute of

Technology that the Research Centre for the groupdynamics was founded in 1945

and later in 1948 was moved to the University of Michigan. Itwas founded by Kurt Lewin to

study group decision, group productivity, group interaction,group cohesiveness and group

communication. The underlying assumption was that the laws of the group behavior can be established

independently of the goals or specific activities of groupirrespective of the structure of the group. A variety of

experiments later on by Herbert Spenser,Allport , Georg Simmel , put forward the concept of group

dynamics as a technique of fosteringthe conciliation between individuals and groups with an idea

to formulate principles whichunderlie group behavior , and devise principles of group decisions and

actions

Features of Group Dynamics:

Group dynamics is concerned with group .Wherever a group exists the

individualsinteract and members are continuously changing and adjusting relationship with respectto each

other. The members of the group may interact , may be in state of tension , may be attracted or repelled

to each other , may seek the resolution of these tensions andreturn to equilibrium after the

resolution.

Changes go on occurring like introduction of the new members, changes in

leadership, presence of old and new members and the rate of change fast or slow.

The groupsmay dissolve if the members are not enthusiastic about the goals; they have no

faith inthe ideology and do not identify themselves with t he

group. This means that thecohesiveness in the group has decreased.

There may be rigidity or flexibility (cohesiveness or conflict) that influence a groupdynamics.

If the members get along well there is smooth sailing for the group and

if the re i s con f l i c t i t l e ads to p rob lems . A r ig id g roup may no t change a

nd l a cksadap tab i l i ty to change . Bu t the members i f a re ab le to so lve s th

e p robl em s , theequilibrium can be maintained. The conflict and tension if increases

within the group,

Working with Groups & Community2012minded peop le o r o rgan i s a t ion ha s to e l i c i t so tha t a p re s su re i s bu i l t

aga i ns t t heoppressive force. This helps to create pressure and increase the bargaining

power for which networking

with other people and organisations is done by the communityorganiser.

Training


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Capacity building of the people and the personnel of an organisation is important

while working with the community. In the process of capacity building thecommunity

organiser has to be a good trainer. The community organiser has to use histraining ability and

skills in this regard.Community Development

According to United Nations, community development deals with total development of adeveloping country that is their economic, physical, and social aspects. For

achieving totaldevelopment community organisation is used.Some Important Aspects:1.Democratic Procedures - Democratic procedures deal with allowing all the

communitymembers to participate in decision-making. It is possible to achieve this by

communityorganisation. The selected or elected members or representatives are helped to

takedecisions. Democratic procedures help people to t ake part in achieving

communitydevelopment goals. Community organisation method permits democratic procedures

for peoples participation.

2.Voluntary CooperationVoluntary cooperation means that the people volunteer for their

participation. For this they are convinced. They should feel that they

shouldinvolve themselves in the process of development without hesitation. This attitude

issupported by communit y organisation method. Peoples emotional involvement

isnecessary to make success of the community organisation method. If

discontentmentabou t the ir cond it i ons is cre ated , the n p eopl e w il l vol unt eer

fo r pa rt ic ip at io n. Community organisation emphasizes the discontentment

aspect only to make them initiate peoples participation.3.Self-Help - Self-help is the basis for community development. Self-help deals with

thecapacity of mobilizing internal resources. Self-help is the basis for self-sufficiency

andsus ta inable deve lopment . In communi ty organisa t ion se l f -

he lp i s emphas ized .Communi ty o rgan i s a t ion i s r e levan t to communi ty d

eve lopmen t because bo t hemphasizes the self-help concepts.4.Development of Leadership - Development of leadership is an important aspect

incommunity development. Leadership deals with influencing and enabling people toachieve

the goals. Community organisation also emphasizes leadership. With the helpof leaders

the people are motivated to participate in action. Community organisation isa relevant

method to develop and use leadership. This is applicable for

communitydevelopment also.5 4 M r s . J i n u A b r a h a m , A s s t . P r o f e s s o r , S o c i a lW o r k D e p t . , L I S S A H

Working with Groups & Community20125.Educational Aspects - Educational aspects in community development means

helping people to know, learn, and accept concepts of democracy, cooperation, unity, skillde

velopment, effective functioning etc. In community organisation also the abovem

en t ioned a spec t s a re cons ide red ve ry impor tan t . The p roces s o f commun

i t yorganisation emphasizes education of the community. Thus both are emphasizing


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theeducational aspects for the progress of the

community.Thus community or ganisa tion and community development are inte rrela

ted and mutuallysupportive. Community organisation and community development both emphasize

democraticmethod and self-help principles. Thus they are relevant. So in all community

development programmes community organisation method is used as implementing method.

Difference between Community Organisation and Community DevelopmentThere are many similarities between community organisation and community

development.But for theoretical purpose i t is poss ible to differentia te com

m uni t y o r gan i s at i on and community development.1.Community organis ation is a

method of social work but community development is a programme for a planned

change.2 .Comm uni t y o rganis a t ion emphas i zes the process es , bu t commun

i t y deve lopm en t emphasizes the end or goals.3 .Comm uni t y

organi se rs a re m os t l y soc ia l wo rkers an d soc ia l change agen ts , But comm

unity development personnel can be from other professions including agriculturalexperts, veterinary experts,

and other technical experts.4.Community organisation is not time bound. It is achieved step

by step according to the pace of the people. But community development is time bound and

time is specified for achieving the developmentobjectives.5. In co mm un it y or ga ni s at i on pe op l e s pa r t i c ipa t ion i s impor tan t .

Bu t in communi tydevelopment peoples development is

important.6.In community organisation governments and external agencies

as si st an ce s ar e no timportant or needed. But in community development extern

al assistance from thegovernment or other agencies is considered important.7.Community

organisation i s a method of social work and this method is used i n manyfields. But

unlike community organisation community development is considered as process, method,

programme, and movement for planned change.8.Community organisation is used in

all the fields but community development is usedmostly in economic development

and for the development of living standards of the people.5 5 M r s . J i n u A b r a h a m , A s s t . P r o f e s s o r , S o c i a lW o r k D e p t . , L I S S A H

Working with Groups & Community20129 . I n c o m m u n i t y o r g a n i s a t i o n p l a n n i n g i s i n i t i a t e d b y t h e

p e o p l e t h r o u g h t h e i r participation. But in community development planning is c

arried out by an externalagency mostly by the government.10.

In communi ty o rgan i s a t ion peop le a re o rgan i s ed to so lve the i r p rob lem.Bu t i ncommunity development goals have to be achieved and for that people are organised.

11.Community organisation is universal to all communities. But community

development programmes differ from people to people depending upon whether the area is rura

l,urban or tribal, and other characteristics of the area.Even though there are differences, both are

interrelated. The relationship is so close, so thatcommunity organisation process and

principles are accepted fully. Both are like two sides of the same coin. The ideal community

development takes places where community organisationmethod and its various steps and principles are

effectively put into practice


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Working with Groups & Community2012minded peop le o r o rgan i s a t ion ha s to e l i c i t so tha t a p re s su re i s bu i l t

aga i ns t t heoppressive force. This helps to create pressure and increase the bargaining

power for which networking

with other people and organisations is done by the communityorganiser.

Training

Capacity building of the people and the personnel of an organisation is important

while working with the community. In the process of capacity building thecommunity

organiser has to be a good trainer. The community organiser has to use histraining ability and

skills in this regard.Community DevelopmentAccording to United Nations, community development deals with total developm

ent of adeveloping country that is their economic, physical, and social aspects. For

achieving totaldevelopment community organisation is used.Some Important Aspects:1.Democratic Procedures - Democratic procedures deal with allowing all the

communitymembers to participate in decision-making. It is possible to achieve this by

communityorganisation. The selected or elected members or representatives are helped to

takedecisions. Democrati c procedures help people to take part in a chieving

communitydevelopment goals. Community organisation method permits democratic procedures

for peoples participation.2.Voluntary CooperationVoluntary cooperation means that the people volunteer for their

participation. For this they are convinced. They should feel that theyshouldinvolve themselves in the process of development without hesitation. This attitude

issupported by communit y organisation method. Peoples emotional involvement

isnecessary to make success of the community organisation method. If

discontentmentabou t the ir cond it i ons is cre ated , the n p eopl e w il l vol unt eer

fo r pa rt ic ip at io n. Community organisation emphasizes the discontentment

aspect only to make them initiate peoples participation.3.Self-Help - Self-help is the basis for community development. Self-help deals with

thecapacity of mobilizing internal resources. Self-help is the basis for self-sufficiency

andsus ta inable deve lopment . In communi ty organisa t ion se l f -

he lp i s emphas ized .Communi ty o rgan i s a t ion i s r e levan t to communi ty deve lopmen t because bo t hemphasizes the self-help concepts.4.Development of Leadership - Development of leadership is an important aspect

incommunity development. Leadership deals with influencing and enabling people toachieve

the goals. Community organisation also emphasizes leadership. With the helpof leaders

the people are motivated to participate in action. Community organisation isa relevant

method to develop and use leadership. This is applicable for

communitydevelopment also.5 4 M r s . J i n u A b r a h a m , A s s t . P r o f e s s o r , S o c i a lW o r k D e p t . , L I S S A H


10/11

Working with Groups & Community20125.Educational Aspects - Educational aspects in community development means

helping people to know, learn, and accept concepts of democracy, cooperation, unity, skillde

velopment, effective functioning etc. In community organisation also the abovem

en t ioned a spec t s a re cons ide red ve ry impor tan t . The p roces s o f commun

i t yorganisation emphasizes education of the community. Thus both are emphasizing

theeducational aspects for the progress of the

community.Thus community or ganisa tion and community development are inte rrelated and mutuallysupportive. Community organisation and community development both emphasize

democraticmethod and self-help principles. Thus they are relevant. So in all community

development programmes community organisation method is used as implementing method.Difference between Community Organisation and Community DevelopmentThere are many similarities between community organisation and community

development.But for theoretical purpose i t is poss ible to differentia te com

m uni t y o r gan i s at i on and community development.1.Community organis ation is a

method of social work but community development is a programme for a planned

change.2 .Comm uni t y o rganis a t ion emphas i zes the process es , bu t commun

i t y deve lopm en t emphasizes the end or goals.3 .Comm uni t y

organi se rs a re m os t l y soc ia l wo rkers an d soc ia l change agen ts , But community development personnel can be from other professions including agriculturalexperts, veterinary experts,

and other technical experts.4.Community organisation is not time bound. It is achieved step

by step according to the pace of the people. But community development is time bound and

time is specified for achieving the development

objectives.5. In co mm un it y or ga ni s at i on pe op l e s pa r t i c ipa t ion i s impor tan t .

Bu t in communi tydevelopment peoples development is

important.6.In community organisation governments and external agencies

as si st an ce s ar e no timportant or needed. But in community development extern

al assistance from thegovernment or other agencies is considered important.7.Community

organisation i s a method of social work and this method is used in manyfields. But

unlike community organisation community development is considered as process, method,programme, and movement for planned change.8.Community organisation is used in


11/11

all the fields but community development is usedmostly in economic development

and for the development of living standards of the people.5 5 M r s . J i n u A b r a h a m , A s s t . P r o f e s s o r , S o c i a lW o r k D e p t . , L I S S A H

Working with Groups & Community20129 . I n c o m m u n i t y o r g a n i s a t i o n p l a n n i n g i s i n i t i a t e d b y t h e

p e o p l e t h r o u g h t h e i r participation. But in community development planning is c

arried out by an externalagency mostly by the government.

10.In communi ty o rgan i s a t ion peop le a re o rgan i s ed to so lve the i r p rob lem.Bu t i ncommunity development goals have to be achieved and for that people are organised.

11.Community organisation is universal to all communities. But community

development programmes differ from people to people depending upon whether the area is rura

l,urban or tribal, and other characteristics of the area.Even though there are differences, both are

interrelated. The relationship is so close, so thatcommunity organisation process and

principles are accepted fully. Both are like two sides of the same coin. The ideal community

development takes places where community organisationmethod and its various steps and principles are

effectively put into practice

social work groups

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