Group dynamics and teamwork

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Group dynamics and teamwork

• Ian Grigor

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Aim

• To apply the theories concerning group dynamics
  and team roles to the practical environment

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Objectives

• To review how successful management impacts on
  group dynamics and the converse situation
• To tease out the prime issues around team roles,
  including interpersonal
• relationships, and how they impact on managing
  change, in particular

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Group dynamics

• What are we referring to when we talk about
  "Group dynamics"?

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Group dynamics

• How do we define "Roles within groups/teams"?

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Group dynamics

• What are the major factors that impact on the
  decision-making process and how does the effect
  of individuals or teams, in turn, impact on the
  way in which decisions are implemented?

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Group dynamics

• How, for example, do we react if a former
  competitor joins our team?

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Group dynamics

• What are the key elements that enhance group
  dynamics?

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Rosemary Stewart (1976, 1982)

• What demands are placed on the team? what must
  the team achieve and what can the team not avoid
  achieving without being penalised?
• What constraints are placed on the team? what
  factors limit what the group can do e.g.
  political decisions, legislation, rules and
  formal procedures, resources etc?
• What opportunities for choice arise, in terms of
  how roles can be organised, performed (how, what,
  when, where etc)?

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Group formation

• There are, generally speaking, two main types of
  groups-
• Formal groups
• Informal groups

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Group formation

• How do formal groups form? (Tuckman's Integrative
  Model)
• Forming
• Storming
• Norming
• Performing
• Mourning

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Group formation

• Why do we choose to work in groups, as opposed to
  as individuals?
• When selecting a group, what members are
  desirable?
• Why might groups lack credibility under certain
  circumstances?

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Group formation

• Required and emergent behaviour
• Task, maintenance and personal behaviour

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Roles in groups

• What is your preferred role in a group?
• What is your secondary role?
• What roles do work colleagues adopt, by
  preference?
• Do you recognise their secondary roles?
• What impact does their role-playing in groups
  have on your personal regard for them as work
  colleagues as friends?

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Negative aspects of groups

• Conformity
• Lack of information or ownership
• Satisfaction
• Group thinking
• Political manipulation
• Group survival