Page 137 - E2 Integrated Workbook STUDENT 2018

Building, leading and managing teams

Group and teams

Note that throughout this chapter, the terms groups and teams are used
interchangeably.

1.1 What is a group?

There are many different definitions available to explain what
constitutes a group. Schein suggests that a group is any number of
people who:

 interact with one another

 are psychologically aware of one another and

 perceive themselves to be a group.

A team is a formal group. It has a leader and a distinctive culture and
is geared towards a final result.

1.2 Types of groups

 Self-directed and autonomous groups – Based on the theory that the
interaction of the task with the individual is best served by groups.

 Reference groups – is a group the individual does not currently belong to but
wants to join. (e.g. shop steward group).

 Formal groups – Membership is normally formal, often determined or
constrained by the organisation into departments or divisions.

 Informal groups – Membership is normally voluntary and informal. Individual
members are dependent on each other, influence each other's behaviour and
contribute to each other's needs.

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