Intergroup Team Building Interventions

Introduction to Intergroup Team Building Interventions

The focus of this team building group of OD is on improving intergroup relations. The goal of these activities are;
to increase communication and interactions between work- related groups. To reduce the amount of dysfunctional competition and to replace a narrow-minded independent point of view with an awareness of the necessity for interdependence of action calling on the best efforts of both the groups.

Contd..
OD methods provide ways of increasing intergroup co- operation and communication. Blake, Shepherd and Mouton has developed activities that are applicable to situations where relations between groups are stressed.

The Steps are:

Step 1:
The leader of the two groups are met with a consultant and are asked if they want a better mechanism to improve the inter-group relations.

Step 2:
If yes, the groups meet in separate rooms and build two lists.

Contd
Step 3:
The two groups come together to share each other the information on the list.

Step 4:
Now the groups return to their separate meeting places and discuss the areas of disagreement and friction. Then they makes a list of priority issues which is usually much smaller than the previous one.

Contd..
Step 5:
The two groups come back together and share their list. After comparing it, they together list the issues which should be resolved. They set priorities and together they take action for resolving the problem.

Step 6:
The groups or the leaders assess how the group are doing there action plan. They follow up the intergroup team-building activity to monitor it.

New Version
A modified version of this procedure is prepared by Fordyce and Weil from TRW Systems. Here, two groups will meet to work on improving their inter group relations through inter group team building meeting. They are separated in two rooms and they were assigned to build three list. Based on the information in those lists action steps would be taken for the improving the relationships.

The Lists are:

1. A Positive Feedback list the values and likes about the other group. 2. A Bug list things that doesnt like about the group. 3. An Empathy list a prediction of what other group will say in its list.