1. Groups: Part 1

2. Overview A. Four key points -- take aways -- about groups:
1. There are multiple, often inconsistent criteria for group
effectiveness.
2. Groups are useful to organizations, but are not a panacea
3. All human groups have certain basic elements: Hierarchy,
communication patterns, norms, and roles.
4. There is a lot more being done in most groups than just
accomplishing the stated work. Example: the status game.

3. 1. There Are Multiple, Often Inconsistent Criteria for Group Effectiveness
Hackman’ s Effectiveness Criteria:
1. Does the team’ s output meet the standards of
those who use (and review) it?
2. Does the team experience contribute to the
personal well-being and development of the
members?
3. Does the team experience enhance the capability
of the members to work and learn together in the
future?
What do you think of these criteria?

4. 2. Groups are useful to organizations, but are not a panacea
Group vs. Individual Decision-making:
Advantages
More information
More perspectives
More decision acceptance
Greater understanding during implementation

5. Group vs. Individual Decision-making: Disadvantages
A dominant leader may cause group to have none of
the advantages of groups and all the disadvantages
of individuals
Social loafing (free-riders)
Groups are slower
Social pressure, especially when concurrence
seeking becomes so dominant in a cohesive group
that agreeing becomes more important than careful
evaluation of alternatives (i.e., groupthink).

6. Other Differences Between Groups and Individuals
1. Groups are more extreme than individuals.
2. "Interdependence means that things don't
come out quite the way that you want them
to.”
Other important differences?