Page 324 - Fundamentals of Management Myths Debunked (2017)_Flat

CHAPTER 10 • Understanding Groups and Managing Work Teams 323
What Is a Group and What Stages of Development
Do Groups Go Through?

Each person in this group had his or her assigned role:
10-1 Define group the Spotter, the Back Spotter, the Gorilla, and the Big group
Two or more interacting and interdependent
and describe the Player. For over 10 years, this group—former MIT stu- individuals who come together to achieve
stages of group dents who were members of a secret Black Jack Club— specific goals
used their extraordinary mathematical abilities, expert
development. training, teamwork, and interpersonal skills to take mil- forming stage
The first stage of group development in which
lions of dollars from some of the major casinos in the people join the group and then define the group’s
1
United States. Although most groups aren’t formed for purpose, structure, and leadership
such dishonest purposes, the success of this group at its task was impressive. Managers would
like their work groups to be successful at their tasks also. The first step is understanding what
a group is and how groups develop.

What Is a Group?

A group is defined as two or more interacting and interdependent individuals who come
together to achieve specific goals. Formal groups are work groups that are defined by the
organization’s structure and have designated work assignments and specific tasks directed at
accomplishing organizational goals. Exhibit 10–1 provides some examples. Informal groups
are social groups. These groups occur naturally in the workplace and tend to form around
friendships and common interests. For example, five employees from different departments
who regularly eat lunch together are an informal group.

What Are the Stages of Group Development?

Five Stages of Group Development

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Research shows that groups develop through five stages. As shown in Exhibit 10–2, these
five stages are: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.
The forming stage has two phases. The first occurs as people join the group. In a formal
group, people join because of some work assignment. Once they’ve joined, the second phase
begins: defining the group’s purpose, structure, and leadership. This phase involves a great deal

Exhibit 10–1 Examples of Formal Work Groups

• Command groups—Groups that are determined by the organization chart and
composed of individuals who report directly to a given manager.
• Task groups—Groups composed of individuals brought together to complete a
specific job task; their existence is often temporary because when the task is
completed, the group disbands.
• Cross-functional teams—Groups that bring together the knowledge and skills of
individuals from various work areas or groups whose members have been trained to
do each other’s jobs.
• Self-managed teams—Groups that are essentially independent and that, in addition
to their own tasks, take on traditional managerial responsibilities, such as hiring,
planning and scheduling, and evaluating performance.