1. 11 DEVELOPING GROUPS Supervision Today! 7th Edition
Motivating, leading, communicating, and developing
DEVELOPING GROUPS 11
Supervision Today!
7th Edition
Stephen Robbins
David DeCenzo
Robert Wolter

2. Chapter outcomes Contrast a group and a team. Define norms.
Explain the relationship between cohesiveness and group productivity.
Describe who is likely to become an emergent leader in an informal group.
Explain what a supervisor can do when group norms are hindering department performance.
Identify three categories of teams.
List the characteristics of real teams.
List actions a supervisor can take to improve team performance.
Describe the role of teams in continuous-improvement programs.
Supervision Today!, 7/e
Robbins, DeCenzo, Wolter
© 2013 Pearson Education
Uppers Saddle River, NJ 07458, All Rights Reserved

3. What is a group?
Two or more interacting and interdependent individuals who come together to achieve particular objectives.
Formal group – established by the organization
Informal group – formed naturally due to need for social contact
Team – committed to a common purpose, specific goals, mutually accountable
Supervision Today!, 7/e
Robbins, DeCenzo, Wolter
© 2013 Pearson Education
Uppers Saddle River, NJ 07458, All Rights Reserved

4. EXHIBIT 11–1 Reasons people join groups.
Supervision Today!, 7/e
Robbins, DeCenzo, Wolter
© 2013 Pearson Education
Uppers Saddle River, NJ 07458, All Rights Reserved

5. Norms Acceptable standards that are shared by the group’s members.
Norms dictate things such as:
Output levels
Absenteeism rates
Promptness or tardiness
Amount of socializing allowed on the job
Dress
Effort and performance
Loyalty
Supervision Today!, 7/e
Robbins, DeCenzo, Wolter
© 2013 Pearson Education
Uppers Saddle River, NJ 07458, All Rights Reserved

6. Cohesiveness
Degree to which members are attracted to each other and are motivated to stay in the group.
Contingency factors:
Time spent together
Group size
Level of interaction
Number of external threats
History of previous success
Supervision Today!, 7/e
Robbins, DeCenzo, Wolter
© 2013 Pearson Education
Uppers Saddle River, NJ 07458, All Rights Reserved

7. EXHIBIT 11–3
Relationship among group cohesiveness, performance norms, and productivity.
Supervision Today!, 7/e
Robbins, DeCenzo, Wolter
© 2013 Pearson Education
Uppers Saddle River, NJ 07458, All Rights Reserved

8. Influencing the informal workgroup
Group norms
Department goals
Emergent leaders

9. Categories of teams Providing advice Management Production
Supervision Today!, 7/e
Robbins, DeCenzo, Wolter
© 2013 Pearson Education
Uppers Saddle River, NJ 07458, All Rights Reserved

10. Comparing groups and teams.
Exhibit 11-4
Comparing groups and teams.
Supervision Today!, 7/e
Robbins, DeCenzo, Wolter
© 2013 Pearson Education
Uppers Saddle River, NJ 07458, All Rights Reserved

11. Five-stage model of group development
Stage 1: Forming Stage 2: Storming Stage 3: Norming Stage 4: Performing Stage 5: Adjourning
Supervision Today!, 7/e
Robbins, DeCenzo, Wolter
© 2013 Pearson Education
Uppers Saddle River, NJ 07458, All Rights Reserved

12. Development of Deadline Driven Ad Hoc Groups
Punctuated-equilibrium model
Phase 1 – Initial meeting
Determines direction, establishes norms, locks process
Phase 2 – Halfway point in existence
Personality conflict, dissatisfaction with progress, results in wake-up call
Group becomes highly effective
Last minute burst of effort
Supervision Today!, 7/e
Robbins, DeCenzo, Wolter
© 2013 Pearson Education
Uppers Saddle River, NJ 07458, All Rights Reserved

13. Building effective teams
Small size
Complementary skills
Common purpose
Specific goals
Common approach
Mutual accountability
Supervision Today!, 7/e
Robbins, DeCenzo, Wolter
© 2013 Pearson Education
Uppers Saddle River, NJ 07458, All Rights Reserved

14. Obstacles in creating effective teams
A weak sense of direction
Infighting
Shirking of responsibilities
Lack of trust
Critical skill gaps
Lack of external support
Supervision Today!, 7/e
Robbins, DeCenzo, Wolter
© 2013 Pearson Education
Uppers Saddle River, NJ 07458, All Rights Reserved

15. Overcoming Team Obstacles
Create a clear purpose and goals
Encourage small wins
Build mutual trust
Appraise both group and individual performance
Provide necessary external support
Offer team-building training
Change the team’s membership
Supervision Today!, 7/e
Robbins, DeCenzo, Wolter
© 2013 Pearson Education
Uppers Saddle River, NJ 07458, All Rights Reserved

16. Creating effective teams.
Exhibit 11-5
Creating effective teams.
Supervision Today!, 7/e
Robbins, DeCenzo, Wolter
© 2013 Pearson Education
Uppers Saddle River, NJ 07458, All Rights Reserved