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Group Structure

Group structure refers to the organization of roles, norms, conformity, reference groups and other social factors within a group. There are three main types of roles - task roles like coordinator and information giver, relationship roles like encourager and compromiser, and self-centered roles like aggressor and blocker. Norms are the group's standards for behavior, including performance, appearance, social interaction, and resource allocation. Conformity occurs through normative, informational or ingratiational pressures. Reference groups and status hierarchies also influence group dynamics, as do factors like social loafing, cohorts, demography and cohesiveness.

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Sharon Repiedad Gungon
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86 views

Group Structure

Group structure refers to the organization of roles, norms, conformity, reference groups and other social factors within a group. There are three main types of roles - task roles like coordinator and information giver, relationship roles like encourager and compromiser, and self-centered roles like aggressor and blocker. Norms are the group's standards for behavior, including performance, appearance, social interaction, and resource allocation. Conformity occurs through normative, informational or ingratiational pressures. Reference groups and status hierarchies also influence group dynamics, as do factors like social loafing, cohorts, demography and cohesiveness.

Uploaded by

Sharon Repiedad Gungon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GROUP STRUCTURE

Group structure
» is defined as the layout of a group.
Group roles
Cohesiveness Norms

Group
Conformity
demography

Group
structure
Reference Workplace
groups behavior

Cohorts Status
Social
Loafing
ROLES
» Roles are a set of expected behavior patterns associated to
someone occupying a given position in a social unit. There are
three broad types of roles people play in small groups −

Task roles
Building and maintenance roles
Self-centered roles
Task Roles
» Coordinator − Links statements made by one group member to another.
» Energizer − Provokes group to take action.
» Elaborator − Extends upon another’s ideas.
» Evaluator-critic − Evaluates the group’s work against higher standards.
» Information-giver − Gives helpful information.
» Information-seeker − Questions for clarification.
» Recorder − Keeps notes regarding the meeting.
» Procedural Technician − Takes accountability for tasks.
Group-Building/Maintenance Roles
» Encourager − Gives positive feedback.
» Follower − Obtains ideas of others in the group.
» Compromiser − Attempts to reach a solution acceptable by everyone.
» Gatekeeper − Assists participation from everyone in the group.
» Harmonizer − Limits conflict and tension.
» Observer − Examines group progress.
Self-centered Roles
» Aggressor − Acts aggressively towards other group members and their
ideas.
» Dominator − Dominates group speaking time.
» Blocker − Refuses to collaborate with other’s ideas.
» Help-Seeker − Acts helpless to neglect work.
» Loafer − Refrains from work.
» Special Interest Advocate − Presents own viewpoint and requirements.
» Self-confessor − Talks about the topics important to self and not the group.
NORMS
» Norms are the acceptable standards of behavior within a group
that are shared by the group members. Every group develops its
own customs, values, habits and expectations for how things
need to be done.
Types of Norms
 Performance norms
 Appearance Norms
 Social arrangement norms
 Resource allocation norms
Performance Norms
» These are centered on how hard a person should work in a given group.
They are informal clues that help a person understand how hard they
should work and what type of output they should give.
Appearance Norms
» Appearance norms updates or guides us as to how we should look or what
our physical appearance should be, like what fashion we should wear or
how we should style our hair or any number of areas related to how we
should look.
Social Arrangement Norms
» This norm is basically centered on how we should behave in social settings.
Again here, there are clues we need to pick up on when we are out with
friends or at social events that help us fit in and get a closer connection to
the group.
Resource Allocation Norms
» This norm focusses on the allocation of resources in a business/
organization surrounding. This may include raw materials as well as
working overtime or any other resource found or needed within an
organization.
CONFORMITY
» Conformity can be stated as “accommodating to group
pressures”. It is also called as the majority influence or we can
say the group pressure.

» Types of Social Conformity


Three types of conformity can be identified −
Normative Conformity
Informational Conformity
Ingratiational Conformity
Normative Conformity
» Yielding to group pressure because an individual wants to fit in with the
group. Conforming usually takes place because the individual is scared of
being rejected or neglected by the group.
Informational Conformity
» This usually happens when a person lacks knowledge and looks to the
group for guidance. Or when a person is not clear about a situation and
socially compares one’s behavior with the group.
Ingratiational Conformity
» Where a person conforms to gain a favor or acceptance from other people.
It is relative to normative influence but is encouraged by the need for social
rewards rather than the threat of being rejected.
Harvard psychologist, Herbert Kelman, identified three different types of
conformity −
» Compliance − Socially changing behavior in order to fit in with the
group while disagreeing privately. In simple words, conforming to the
mass, in spite of not really agreeing with them.
» Internalization − Socially changing behavior to fit in with the group
and also agreeing with them privately.
» Identification − Agreeing to the expectations of a social role. It is
similar to compliance, but there is no change in private opinion.
REFERENCE GROUP
» It is a group to which a person or another group is compared.
Reference groups are used in order to examine and determine
the nature of a person or other group's features and sociological
attributes.
STATUS
» Status is a socially defined position or rank given to groups or
group members by others. A group structure status includes
group norms, culture, status equity. All these factors when
combined presents the status of members of the group.
SOCIAL LOAFING
» It is the phenomenon of people exerting less effort to achieve a
goal when they work as a group than when they work alone.
COHORTS & GROUP DEMOGRAPHY

» Individuals who, as a part of a group, share a common attribute


are known as cohorts. Group demography is the level to which a
member of a group can share a common demographic attribute
with his fellow team members. Group demography is a successful
ploy in increasing the efficiency of a team in the long run.
COHESIVENESS
» Extent to which group members are attracted towards each
other, and are encouraged to stay in the group. Group cohesion is
the aggregate of all the factors causing members of a group to
stay in the group or be attracted to the group. Group cohesion
acts as the social glue that binds a group together. Some people
think that work teams illustrating strong group cohesion will
function and perform better in achieving work goals.
What can you do to encourage group cohesiveness?
You might try one or more of the following suggestions:
» Make the group smaller.
» Encourage agreement with group goals.
» Increase the time members spend together.
» Increase the status of the group arid the perceived difficulty of attaining membership
in the group.
» Stimulate competition with other groups.
» Give rewards to the group rather man to the individual than to individual members.
» Physically isolate the group.
 

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