WA12

Why are groups and teams important to managers?

Groups are important because they encourage productivity, discipline, and effectiveness of each
individual while having fun with those he/she is working with. This generates higher levels of efficiency
and allows them to do things they may not be able to alone.
Which can be done better by groups and individuals but not the others?
Individuals excel in quick decisive work that does not stretch out wide in terms of impact and is within
the confines of their job (ex-paperwork) Groups on the other hand are where the bigger complicated
specific tasks are necessary so that each member can maximize their strengths in order to complete these
tasks. ( ex a band where the drummer may not know how to sing but the main vocalist does and together
they can perform well.)
Group- a collection of individuals who interact with each other such that one person’s actions have an
impact on the others
Informal Work Groups- Groups made up of two or more individuals who are associated with one another
in ways not prescribed by the formal organization.
Formal Work Groups- A group made up of managers, subordinates, or both—with close associations
among group members that influence the behavior of individuals in the group
Forming- The forming of a group faced with a specific task/a mutual goal
Storming- Getting to know one another storming is the phase where conflicts occur where team members
are trying to figure out their role in their performance of the team.
Norming- When members began to work together and realize their commonalities
Performing- When the team is performing to the level expected of them
Adjourning- The last phase added after the original four, Adjoining is the phase of departure and farewell.
Looking back on highs and lows achievement and awards and all that has been achieved.
Is it important to understand how groups develop?
Yes because it is important to see how the group changes and become more efficient and comfortable as
time goes on and to see how each individual has been changed by this process.
Punctuated Equilibrium- Stability followed by random change that forces the group back to storming .
Cohesion- The degree of camaraderie within a group.
Similarity-The more similar group members are the more likely the group will bond.
Stability- The longer a group stays together, the more cohesive it becomes
Size-. Smaller groups tend to have higher levels of cohesion.
Support-When group members receive coaching and are encouraged to support their fellow team
members, group identity strengthens.
Satisfaction-. Cohesion is correlated with how pleased group members are with one another’s
performance, behavior, and conformity to group norms.
Groupthink- a group pressure phenomenon that creates a tendency to avoid a critical evaluation of ideas
the group favors
Social Loafing-The tendency of individuals to put in less effort when working in a group context.
Collective Efficacy- a group’s perception of its ability to successfully perform well.
Team-. a team a cohesive coalition of people working together to achieve mutual goals. is a particular
type of group—a cohesive coalition of people working together to achieve mutual goals.
A team is a particular group
Process Loss- any aspect of group interaction that inhibits group functioning.
Collaborative Action- where teams have cooperative tasks
CBSO- compensation of individuals based on a shared outcome.
SFCG- individuals give up scarce resources for the common good
When does an organization need a team?
When there is need of a specific goal action that is needed to be caried out .
Production Tasks- making something
Idea Generation- creative tasks, such as brainstorming a new direction or creating a new process.
Problem Solving- coming up with plans for actions and making decisions,
One aspect of teamwork is interdependence. What is it and why is it important?
Interdependence is how much team members depend on each other, and this is important in order to
ensure collaboration and maximize resources.
Task Interdependence- The degree that team members depend on one another to get information, support,
or materials from other team members to be effective.
Ex: hey can I get your help with analyzing these reports?
Pooled Interdependence- When team members may work independently and simply combine their efforts
to create the team’s output.
Ex: hey the report is due today has everyone finished their parts?

Sequential Interdependence- If one person’s output becomes another person’s input.

Ex: teaching a person on my team to sing
Reciprocal Interdependence- working together
Ex: so well start our presentation like this
Outcome Interdependence- he rewards that an individual receives depend on the performance of others.
Ex: I would like to thank my friends who helped me record this album

Contractor-organizes actions
Creator-creates new structures
Contributor- provides information
Completer-completes individual Tasks.
Critic- Evaluates decisions made by the team.
Calibrator-Creates new social norms
Communicator- creates supportive environment
Cooperator- conforms to others expectations
Coordinator-managers outside interactions
Consul- represents the team to outsiders
Task Force- addresses a specific issue
Product Development- temporary or ongoing
Cross Functional Teams- individuals from different parts of the organization staff make the team.
Virtual Teams- teams in which members are not located in the same physical place.
Trust- The belief that people will be fair and morally correct
TMT- reflects the skills and areas that the CEO considers vital for the company.
Succession Planning- the process of identifying future members of the top management team.
Manager Led Teams- teams in which the manager serves as the team leader.
Self-Managed Teams- ese teams manage themselves and do not report directly to a supervisor.
Empowered Teams- Responsibility and authority to achieve their goals
Self-Directed Teams- Responsible for a business operation

Who are the best individuals for the team?

The best individuals for the team are those who are collaborative and work well with other people.
What type of information do I need to make this decision?
You need to discern this from their prior work experience job performance and personality/attitude.
How large should my team be?
Teams should be of adequate size not too big, but not too small. There needs to be a balance and you also
need to consider how many people you might need for your operation.
How would you make this decision?
Check the team specifics and purpose before thoughtfully choosing specific members that fit this niche.
How diverse should it be?
In my opinion you don’t pick people just because they represent diversity. While you want to encourage
diversity you can’t pick team members solely with that in mind. You have to pick people who fit the team
and can do their job well. Of course, you may consider an applicant for the reason that it may improve the
diverse pool of your company but that cannot be the sole reason
Team Norms- shared expectations concerning behaviors within a group or team.
Ex: no smoking during work
Team Contracts- established ground rules, goals, and roles
TVAG- values that are important to the team
Leadership- Who does what? Who leads?
Decision Making-How to you make decisions?
Communication- How do you communicate amongst yourself to create a more effective team
experience?
Performance- Is everyone doing what they are supposed to? Are we meeting our goals?

What is phycological safety and how can you ensure its prominence in your team?
You won’t be punished for speaking out. To ensure that this is evident I would make it clear that
speaking out is encouraged and encourage people to speak out and share.
KWB-At the start of a project, team members may be at a loss as to how to begin
DTM- Some team members may have a dominating personality that encroaches on the participation or
airtime of others.
Poor Performance- depends on whether the person doesn’t know the skills needed or is lazy
LOC- no communication
Conflict- disagreements arise owing to personality issues or feuds that predate a team’s formation.
How can we fix these problems?
By keeping everyone in check but encouraging communication and sharing and setting a set of common
goals.
What was your best /worst team experience?
Working together with my club to spread awareness and volunteering about food insecurity. My worst
was presentation about a set company and on the presentation day the slide was not finished.
1. There are different types of groups
2. A group is not a type of team but a team is a group
3. There are many teams that have failed due to lack of communication.