Group dynamics

1
Group dynamics

• a process in which a group is constantly
  developing and changing when interaction takes
  place

2
Candidates should be able to

• Define a group or team
• Understand Steiners model of group performance
• Explain the Ringlemann effect and social loafing
• Explain the factors that affect group cohesion

3
What makes a team

• What is it that makes a team different from a
  group of people
• Discuss this and try to identify common factors
  of teams

4

• A group is
• Honeybourne (1996)
• A number of people who need to communicate
• with each other and who work to some common
• objective or goal.

5

• Carron 1982 believes that all groups have
• Collective identity they all know the name of
  their team mutual awareness of each other
• A sense of shared purpose a common goal
• A clear structure for communication interaction
  between members

6
What are the stages ofgroup development?

• A group or team passes through four lifecycle
  stages (Tuckman 1965)
• Forming.
• Storming.
• Norming.
• Performing.

7
What are the stages ofgroup development?

• Forming stage.
• Initial entry of members to a group.
• Getting to know each other.
• Assessing whether they will fit in depending on
  the other group members strengths and weaknesses
• Determining the groups real task.
• Defining group rules.

8
What are the stages ofgroup development?

• Storming stage.
• A period of high emotionality and tension among
  group members. Conflict
• Conflict created due to members trying to
  establish position, status and role within the
  group
• May involve conflict with the leader until
  different roles are established

9
What are the stages ofgroup development?

• Norming stage.
• The point at which the group really begins to
  come together as a coordinated unit.
• Creating stability
• An established structure is in place
• Cohesion
• All working towards common goal
• Accepting the agreed norms of the group

10
What are the stages ofgroup development?

• Performing stage.
• Marks the emergence of a mature, organized, and
  well-functioning group.
• Each member accepts his or her role and supports
  other group members
• Primary challenge is to continue to improve
  relationships and performance.

11
Cohesion

• The strength / bonding of the group co-operation
• All members of the group wanting to remain in
  the group
• Davies et al 1996.
• Social Cohesion
• Personal relationships within the group
• The group need clear opportunities for social
  development
• Eg. Hockey tour
• Task cohesion
• Bonded together by the task
• Overall team goals
• Eg. Win the World Cup

12

• Factors which contribute to cohesiveness
• Carron 1982
• Environmental/situation factors e.g. size of
  group, time available, training faculties
• Member characteristics e.g. ability,
  motivation, affiliation to group, similarities in
  opinion and status, satisfaction of other team
  members
• Leadership style e.g. involvement in
  decisions and setting expectations
• team elements e.g. desire of whole team to
  succeed, nature of shared expereinces e.g.
  success/loss

13

• Other factors
• nature of the sport team/individual
• stability of the group longer the group has
  been together, with least changes
• External threats internal sub-groups. Media
  both may help or hinder

14
What comes first? Cohesion then group success
Or Success then group cohesion
15

• How to improve group cohesion
• practice and training drills
• an explanation of roles and expectations within
  the group
• creating a group identity e.g. team kit
• avoiding social cliques
• minimising the difference in status between
  players
• Identify social loafers

16
Steiners model of group productivity
Actual Productivity Potential Productivity
losses due to faulty process

• Losses due to faulty process
• Co-ordination
• Lack of teamwork
• poor execution of tactics
• ineffective communication
• misunderstanding of positional role
• Motivation
• Loss of concentration
• Under or over arousal
• Feeling of being undervalued
• Avoidance behaviour
• Social loafing
• Low self confidence

17
Ringleman effect - The performance of an
individual may decrease as the group
size increases

• Social loafing Woods 1998
• Social loafing is the reduced effort that an
  individual exerts when working with others.
• Reasons for social loafing.
• Individual contributions are less noticeable in
  the group context.
• Some individuals prefer to see others carry the
  workload.

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• Social loafing cont
• Ways of preventing social loafing.
• Define member roles and responsibilities to
  maximize individual interests.
• Link individual rewards to performance
  contributions to the group.
• Raise accountability by identifying or
  highlighting individuals performance
  contributions to the group.
• Vary practice to maintain motivation

19
Answer the revision question in the book, P.146