The Nature and significance of

Groups in Organizations

Grace Abban - Ampiah

Learning Outcomes.
At the end of this lecture, students will be able to :
o Understand the nature and characteristics of effective teams
o Develop effective teams to ensure organizational
effectiveness
Lesson Structure
What is a group
Characteristics of group
Types of groups
Formal Group
Informal Group
Stages of group development (Tuckman)
Functions of Groups
Team roles and its effectiveness (Belbins eight team roles)
Characteristics of effective and ineffective teams
How to ensure team effectiveness for organizational
effectiveness
What is a group
A group is made up of two or more
individuals who are aware of each other,
interact with one another as well as share
similar goals and values.
 Characteristics of a Group
They engage in regular interaction.
They are aware of themselves (i.e. they
define themselves as a group).
They share common goals regarding
matters of mutual interest.
They are defined by others as a group.
They feel a shared sense of collective
responsibility.
 Exercise
Divide yourselves into groups, write down
the various groups to which you belong.
Consider what you get out of the group and
how they influence you.
Functions of Work Groups in
the Organization
Analyzing and solving of Problems: The
organization use workgroups to solve
complex problems and make policy in order
to ensure organizational effectiveness.

Dissemination of Information: Workgroups

are used by the organization to send
information to people in the organization. If
few members in a group know the
information, they quickly pass it on to the
rest of the group members.
Functions of Work Groups in
the Organization
Uniting the organization in order to
achieve organizational goals: Most
Organizations uses workgroup as a way
of gaining support of employees for
achieving organizational goals.
Delegation of work: In order for
organizations to carry out several task,
authority needs to be given to leaders of
workgroups.
Functions of Work Groups in
the Organization
Conflict Resolution: Conflicts does not exist
at the individual level but on the group level.
Conflicts arises most in organizations with
large number of groups, so they resolve
issues to ensure a serene atmosphere in the
work place.
They satisfy individual needs for friendship
and social interaction.
Group protects and support individuals
against the interruptions by employers and .
Types of Groups
There are two main classification of groups
namely:
Formal groups
Informal Groups
 Formal Groups
They are set up by the organization to
accomplish assigned tasks.
 Characteristics of formal
Groups
They have official status bestowed
on them either by the organization
or society that created them.
They are led by a leader who is
appointed by management to
control members to achieve
assigned duties.
They are mostly tend to be
permanent groups.
Examples of Formal Groups
Project teams
Departmental workgroups
Committes
Parent-Teacher Association
Football supporters Club
 Informal Groups
These are groups developed out of
relationships at work in order to satisfy
individual needs rather than an
organizations needs.
Characteristics of Informal Groups
Informal groups are often created by
individuals within the formal groups.
They are less structured. They do not
have any formal rules binding them.
They may or not be permanent depending
on whether they continually share a
common interest or needs for their
members.
 The Stages of Group
Development
According Tuckman (1965), there are
four main stages of group
development namely:

Forming
Storming
Norming
Performing
Forming
This is the first stage of group development. It
is the stage members in the group gets to
know each other.

Groups set rules for accomplishing assigned

task.
Members analyze the attitudes and
behaviours to enable them get on well with
others.
Theres mistrust among members in the
group.
 Storming
This is a stage of conflict and disagreement
among group members as a result of
different opinions, resistance to demands of
meeting task requirement or challenges of
leadership as well as competition for
authority.
Norming
Resistance and conflicts are
overcome by group.
They establish norms of attitudes
and behaviour which are mutually
accepted by all members in the
group.
There is cooperation, mutual
support and individuals recognise
the value and different contributions
of people in the group.
Performing
Group is very effective in accomplishing its
assigned task.
Behaviours and attitudes of members in the
group are positive.
Members are united and supportive to each
other.
 Team Roles and effectiveness
Belbins Eight team roles
According to Belbin, an effective group
should take into consideration personalities
are well mixed.

Do not have more than one personality in a

group.

He classified eight team roles pertaining in

the organization.
Belbins Eight Team Roles
Team Roles Functions
Co-ordinator Controls activities and
objectives
Monitors and organizes
resources for accomplishing
task.
Identifies strengths and
weaknesses of members to
help achieve roles
Implementer Ensures that goals and plans
are adhered to or achieved
Shaper Influence the direction of
group by providing advise on
application of team effort to
achieve goals
Belbins Eight Team Roles
Team roles Functions
Plant They generate new strategies
or ideas in the group.
Resource Investigator Finds out and update the
group on new developments
and ideas that may improve
on group work. E.g. Making
external contacts and
negotiations for the group
Monitor/Evaluator They facilitate the decision-
making process by analyzing
problems, evaluating
generated ideas and controls
suggested solutions.
Belbins Eight Team Roles
Team Roles Functions
Team Worker He/she maintains group
morale through listening,
building strong
relationships and handling
difficult people in the team.
Completer- Ensures attention to details
Finisher and the completion of tasks
assigned by work
group/team.
Specialist Role Specialist provide expert
(New Role) (professional ) advice to
work groups when the need
arises.
 Factors that influence the
nature of Team Spirit
The size of the group: The size of the
group will affect how the group works
together and tasks are completed.
Leadership Style (E.g. Authoritative or
democratic leader).
Incentives offered for accomplishing of
task or schedule.
Common features of individuals in the
team (e.g. gender, qualifications and
experience.
Exercise
Discuss among yourselves the characteristics
of effective and ineffective teams.
 Characteristics of effective
and ineffective Teams
Effective Teams Ineffective Teams

Objectives of the team It is difficult for

is well understood and members in the team to
accepted by the understand their
members. objectives or task
outlined for them.
Participation: Almost all Few people participate
members participate in in discussion and make
lot of discussions in the contributions towards
team to achieve goals. achieving goals and
targets in the team.
 Characteristics of effective and
ineffective Teams
Effective Team Ineffective Team
Listening: Members listen and Listening: Members ignore
embrace each others views or each others views or issues in
issues in the team the team.
Conflict Resolution: There is Disagreement are not normally
disagreement the group is dealt with effectively in the
comfortable with it because the group.
resolve it amicably.
Decision-making: most Decision-making: Decisions
decisions are reached by are taken before issues are
consensus and all members are analyzed or resolved.
in agreement with outcomes of
discussions.
Division of Labour: clear Division of Labour: Standards
standards are assigned and are normally unclear and
accepted by each individual. members are ignorant about
Conclusion

Groups or teams are needed in the

organization to help accomplish laid
goals and objectives to ensure
organizational effectiveness
Questions