04-0_Teams

Question 1

How does communication fundamentally change when moving from a pair to a group of 3+ people?

Answer 1

> a simple back-&-forth between 2 people: interactions more complex & can involve multiple individuals simultaneously

Question 2

Based on Canetti’s work, what are some key characteristics of a crowd vs. individual personalities?

Answer 2

• individuals dissolve into a unitary body with shared feelings
• strives for growth & unlimited power
• possesses a direction, body& feelings distinct from its individual members

Question 3

Who is credited with inventing the term ‘group dynamics’ & what was his significant contribution to social psychology?

Answer 3

Kurt Lewin: concept of the group as a supra-individual, holistic system accessible in psychology (“Research Center for Group Dynamics”)

Question 4

Name 3 essential terms associated with the Tavistock Institute’s work in group dynamics.

Answer 4

dependence
counterdependence
interdependence

Question 5

What are some of the key characteristics that define a group?

Answer 5

interaction
norms
roles
purpose
a visible limit/boundary
collective identity
continuity over time

Question 6

What is the difference between a random gathering of people vs. a group?

Answer 6

not clear from an outside view alone!
group: interaction, shared purpose, a sense of belonging

Question 7

When did the concept of ‘team’ emerge as increasingly relevant in organizations & why?

Answer 7

in the 80: increasing hierarchy => superiors less capable of knowing all factual details => need for more collaborative structures

Question 8

How do individual contributions relate to the overall task or goal of a team?

Answer 8

necessary to achieve the team task or goal => mutual dependencies among team members in their processes & provision of their services

Question 9

What does the concept of ‘authority in groups’ refer to?

Answer 9

fulfills the most important group functions at a particular moment (necessary functions change over time)

Question 10

Describe

‘Goal orientation’ vs. ‘Preserving’ functions within a group

Answer 10

1. ‘Goal orientation’ = defining and discussing problems, targets, tasks
   looking for solutions
   taking initiatives
   managing the path to achievement
2. ‘Preserving’:
   maintaining the group’s well-being
   helping members understand issues
   expressing emotions
   solving conflicts
   managing tensions