PS38B – Applied Group Dynamics

Lecturer: Sophia Morgan

GROUPS VS TEAMS

Topic Areas/Learning Expectations•Definition of teams•Birth and development of teams•Various types of teams (what are the

implications for group performance & productivity)

• Value of Teams•Group Vs Teams – Differences•Elements of Effective Teams (Johnson &

Johnson)

FROM GROUPS TO TEAMS

“A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of himself and his contribution to praise the skill of the others.”Norman SHidle

DefinitionsDefinitionsWhat is a team?What is a team?

A set of interpersonal interactions structured to A set of interpersonal interactions structured to achieve established goals (Johnson & Johnson)achieve established goals (Johnson & Johnson)

A small number of persons with complementary A small number of persons with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, skills who are committed to a common purpose, set of performance goals, and approach for set of performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually which they hold themselves mutually accountable. (Katzenbach & Smith -1993)accountable. (Katzenbach & Smith -1993)

DefinitionsDefinitionsWhat is a team?What is a team?A group working cooperatively to A group working cooperatively to accomplish a mutually satisfying accomplish a mutually satisfying goal or goals in a manner that goal or goals in a manner that maximises the resources of the maximises the resources of the group and results in an outcome that group and results in an outcome that could not be accomplished without could not be accomplished without such participation and support such participation and support 2 + 2 = 5

“Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”

Birth and Development Birth and Development of Teamsof Teams

Some Significant Catalysts Some Significant Catalysts • 1920-1930s (Human Relations Movement & 1920-1930s (Human Relations Movement &

Hawthorne Studies)Hawthorne Studies)• World War II (1939-1945)World War II (1939-1945)• Kurt Lewin (1945) – Focus on Problem Kurt Lewin (1945) – Focus on Problem

SolvingSolving• Douglas McGregor – Focus on MotivationDouglas McGregor – Focus on Motivation• Eric Trist - Study of Leaderless GroupsEric Trist - Study of Leaderless Groups• Total Quality Management (TQM) MovementTotal Quality Management (TQM) Movement

Types of TeamsTypes of TeamsWe can classify teams by:We can classify teams by:a.a. The settings/contexts in which they The settings/contexts in which they

are used - work, sports, and are used - work, sports, and learning contextslearning contexts

b.b. How they may be used in How they may be used in organisations – problem-solving; organisations – problem-solving; special-purpose; self-managing;special-purpose; self-managing;

Types of TeamsTypes of TeamsTeams in the Workplace Setting:Teams in the Workplace Setting:• Work TeamsWork Teams• Parallel TeamsParallel Teams• Project TeamsProject Teams• Management TeamsManagement Teams

Value of TeamsValue of Teams..

Increase innovation& creativity

Increase productivity

Increase efficienciesReduce amount ofsupervision

Maximise members’Proficiency &

success

Coordinate & integrateeach member’s efforts with

those of others

From Groups to TeamsFrom Groups to TeamsIN MANY CASES THE CONCEPTS IN MANY CASES THE CONCEPTS OF “TEAM” AND “SMALL GROUP” OF “TEAM” AND “SMALL GROUP” ARE USED INTERCHANGEABLY IN ARE USED INTERCHANGEABLY IN GROUP DYNAMICS LITERATURE… GROUP DYNAMICS LITERATURE…

But are they one and the same?But are they one and the same?

Groups vs TeamsGroups vs TeamsWORK GROUPSWORK GROUPS TEAMSTEAMSA strong clearly focused A strong clearly focused leader is appointedleader is appointed

Shared leadership Shared leadership responsibilities exist responsibilities exist among membersamong members

The general The general organizational mission is organizational mission is the group’s purposethe group’s purpose

A specific, well defined A specific, well defined purpose that is unique to purpose that is unique to the teamthe team

Effectiveness is Effectiveness is measured indirectly by measured indirectly by group’s influence on group’s influence on others (others (eg. Financial eg. Financial performance of business, performance of business, student scores on student scores on standardized examination)standardized examination)

Effectiveness is Effectiveness is measured by assessing measured by assessing team work productsteam work products

Source: Johnson & Johnson

Groups vs TeamsGroups vs TeamsWORK GROUPSWORK GROUPS TEAMSTEAMSIndividual accountability Individual accountability is only evident is only evident

Both team and individual Both team and individual accountability are accountability are evidentevident

Individual Individual accomplishments are accomplishments are recognized and rewardedrecognized and rewarded

Team celebration. Team celebration. Individual efforts that Individual efforts that contribute to the team’s contribute to the team’s success are also success are also recognized and recognized and celebrated.celebrated.

Meetings are efficiently Meetings are efficiently run and lasts for short run and lasts for short periods of timeperiods of time

Meetings with open-Meetings with open-ended discussions and ended discussions and include active problem include active problem solvingsolving

Source: Johnson & Johnson

ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE TEAMTEAM

• Positive interdependencePositive interdependence• Individual accountability/personal Individual accountability/personal

responsibilityresponsibility• Promotive interactionPromotive interaction• Group ProcessingGroup Processing• Social SkillsSocial Skills(Johnson & Johnson)(Johnson & Johnson)

Positive InterdependencePositive Interdependence

1.1. (We…instead of …ME)(We…instead of …ME)Positive interdependence exists when Positive interdependence exists when individuals in a group collectively individuals in a group collectively perceives that each is linked with the perceives that each is linked with the other in such a way so that one other in such a way so that one member cannot succeed unless the member cannot succeed unless the others succeed as well. Each group others succeed as well. Each group member therefore must coordinate member therefore must coordinate his/her efforts with the efforts of his/her efforts with the efforts of others to ensure the group’s success. others to ensure the group’s success.

Individual Individual accountability/personal accountability/personal

responsibilityresponsibility2. Individual accountability exists 2. Individual accountability exists

when the performance of each when the performance of each individual member is assessed and individual member is assessed and the results are given back to the the results are given back to the group and the individual.group and the individual.

Promotive Promotive interactioninteraction

3. 3. Promotive interaction involves Promotive interaction involves individuals encouraging and individuals encouraging and facilitating each other’s efforts to facilitating each other’s efforts to complete tasks and achieve in order complete tasks and achieve in order to reach the group’s goals.to reach the group’s goals.

4.4. Group processing is a regular part of Group processing is a regular part of the team’s activities/meeting which the team’s activities/meeting which involves reflecting on a session in involves reflecting on a session in order to:order to:

a.a. Discuss what member actions were helpful and Discuss what member actions were helpful and those not helpful in relation to achieving the those not helpful in relation to achieving the group’s goals;group’s goals;

b.b. Discussion what member actions were helpful in Discussion what member actions were helpful in maintaining effective working relationships;maintaining effective working relationships;

c.c. Making decisions about what actions to continue or Making decisions about what actions to continue or changechange

Group ProcessingGroup Processing

Social SkillsSocial Skills5. 5. Persons must master small group Persons must master small group

and interpersonal skills and be and interpersonal skills and be motivated to use themmotivated to use them

• Contributing to the success of a Contributing to the success of a cooperative effort requires cooperative effort requires interpersonal and small group skills.interpersonal and small group skills.

• Group dynamics issuesGroup dynamics issues-- Difficult relationships, tension, Difficult relationships, tension, conflict, conflict,

• Group motivation issuesGroup motivation issues-- individual vs team rewardsindividual vs team rewards-- competition vs cooperationcompetition vs cooperation

Challenges of TeamworkChallenges of Teamwork

Challenges of TeamworkChallenges of Teamwork• Group productivity issuesGroup productivity issues

-- Social loafing, free riding Social loafing, free riding

• Coordination issuesCoordination issues-- Scheduling, time and Scheduling, time and commitment commitment conflictconflict

Challenges of TeamworkChallenges of TeamworkResistancesResistances• Cultural Cultural – lack of trust in authority – lack of trust in authority

figuresfigures• SocialSocial – inter and intra group conflict / – inter and intra group conflict /

power distancespower distances• Psychological Psychological – defensiveness, – defensiveness,

aggression, poor attitudesaggression, poor attitudes• SituationalSituational – stress, uncertainty, lack of – stress, uncertainty, lack of

clearly defined goals and guidelinesclearly defined goals and guidelines

Final Note:Final Note:

MERELY CALLING A GROUP A TEAM MERELY CALLING A GROUP A TEAM DOESN’T AUTOMATICALLY INCREASE DOESN’T AUTOMATICALLY INCREASE IT’S PERFORMANCE!IT’S PERFORMANCE!

From Groups to TeamsFrom Groups to Teams

“Wearing the same shirts doesn’t make a team.”- Buchholz and Roth

End of Presentation