Chapter 16

Question 1

Groups and Group Development?

Answer 1

Group: Two or more interacting and interdependent individuals who come together to achieve particular goals.

Formal groups: Work groups that have designated work assignments and tasks directed toward organizational goals.

Informal groups: Groups that are independently formed to meet the social needs of their members.

Question 2

Bruce Tuckman 4 Steps + 5th Step on today’s world?

Answer 2

Forming: Members who join and begin the process of defining the group’s purpose, structure, and leadership.

Storming: Intragroup conflict occurs as individuals resist control by the group and disagree over leadership.

Norming: Close relationships develop as the group becomes cohesive and establishes its norms for acceptable behavior.

Performing: A fully functional group structure allows the group to focus on performing the task at hand.

Adjourning: The group prepares to disband and is no longer concerned with high levels of performance.

Question 3

Why are some groups more successful than others?

Answer 3

The abilities of the group’s members
The size of the group, the level of conflict
The internal pressures on members to conform to the group’s norms

Question 4

What is Social Conformity?

Answer 4

This is a form of social learning, following someone’s footsteps to feel included and comfortable even if you are unaware of why you are doing it

Question 5

What can you do to avoid too much conformity in your teams?

Answer 5

Critical Thinking
Allow people to express their opinions
Bring your identity to the group
Devil advocate
Avoid groupthink
Clarify

Question 6

Conflict Management and Views?

Answer 6

Conflict Management
Perceived incompatible differences that result in interference or opposition.

Traditional view: conflict must it avoided

Human relations view: conflict is a natural and inevitable outcome in any group

Interactionist view: conflict can be a positive force and is absolutely necessary for effective group performance

Question 7

Types of Conflict?

Answer 7

Functional Conflicts:
Conflicts that support a group’s goals and improve its performance.

Dysfunctional Conflicts:
Conflicts that prevent a group from achieving its goals

Question 8

Types of Conflict Pt. 2

Answer 8

Task conflict over content and goals of the work
Relationship conflict based on interpersonal relationships
Process conflict: conflict over how the work gets done

Question 9

Conflict Management Techniques?

Answer 9

Dual concern theory?
We have the extent in which you are being assertive (y-axis)
The extent in which you are being cooperative (x-axis)

Avoidance (bottom left) is the lack of both it is a lose-lose situation and the conflict will never be resolved

Accommodating (bottom right) – accounting to the other persons needs and interest at the cost of your own

Forcing (top left) – My way or the highway, full assertiveness and no cooperation

Compromise (middle of the chart) – Middle ground

Collaboration (top right) – Resolving conflict by looking at good points for both parties involved, this is a win – win situation

Question 10

What is the best conflict resolution technique?

Answer 10

Base on the above knowledge it is difficult to say what is the best as there are many factors and it can become very subjective