CHAP# 5 Groups & OrganizationsCHAP# 5 Groups & Organizations

• Group: A group is any number of people with similar norms, values and expectations who interact with one another on a regular basis.

• Examples: Families, Companies, Business associations and Rock band are all considered groups.

Why study GroupsWhy study Groups

• The study of groups has become an important part of sociological investigation because they play such a key role in the transmission of culture. As we interact with others, we pass on our ways of thinking and acting- from language and values and free time activities.

Types of GroupsTypes of Groups

• 1. Primary Groups

• 2. Secondary Groups

• 3. In-Groups

• 4. Out-Groups

• 5. Reference Groups

• Now let’s study these groups in detail.

1. Primary Groups1. Primary Groups

• Primary Group is a small group consists of intimacy, face-to-face association and co-operation. When we find ourselves identify closely with a group, it is a primary group.

• Examples: The members of a street gang makes a primary group.

• Members of a family living in the same household make a primary group.

Role of Primary GroupsRole of Primary Groups

• Primary Groups play an important role both in the socialization process and in the development of roles and statuses. Indeed, primary groups can be instrumental in a person’s day-today existence.

2. Secondary Groups2. Secondary Groups

• Secondary Group is a group which is formal, impersonal group in which there is little social intimacy or mutual understanding.

• Examples: large college classes and business associations.

Comparison of Primary & Comparison of Primary & Secondary GroupsSecondary Groups

Primary Group Secondary Group

1 Generally small 1 usually large

2 Relatively long period 2 relatively short duration

Of interaction Often temporary

3 Intimate, face-to face 3 little social intimacy or

Interaction mutual understanding

4 Some emotional depth 4 relationships generally

To relationships superficial

5 Co-operative, friendly 5 more formal and impersonal

3. In-Groups3. In-Groups

• An in-group is any group to which people feel they belong.

• The in-group may be as narrow as a teenage group or as broad as an entire society.

4. Out-Groups 4. Out-Groups

• An out-group is a group to which people feel they do not belong.

• Example: Suppose I belong to group A And you belong to group B. For me group A is in-group & B is Out-group. For you A is out-group & B is in-group.

In-Group Versus Out-GroupIn-Group Versus Out-Group

• In-group members typically feel distinct and superior, seeing themselves as better than people in the out-group. Proper behavior for the in-group is viewed as unacceptable behavior for the out-group. This double standard enhances the sense of superiority.

5. Reference Groups5. Reference Groups

• Reference Group is a group which individuals use as a standard for evaluating themselves & their own behavior.

• Both in-groups & primary groups can easily influence the way an individual thinks & behave. In-groups Or Primary groups are used as reference groups.

Reference GroupsReference Groups

• Example: A high school student who seeks to join a social circle of helping the poor & needy people, devotees will pattern his or her behavior after that of the group.

Purposes Of Reference GroupsPurposes Of Reference Groups

• Reference Groups have two basic purposes:

• 1 NORMATIVE FUNCTION: They serve a normative function by setting & enforcing standards of conduct & belief.

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• 2. COMPARISON FUNCTION: They perform comparison function by serving as a standard against which people can measure themselves & others.

• Example: An actor will evaluate himself against a reference group composed of others in the acting profession.

Why… Reference groupWhy… Reference group

• Reference groups may help the process of anticipatory socialization.

• Example: A college student majoring in finance may read The Economics (Magazine), study the annual reports of organizations and listen to midday stock market news. Such a student is using Financial Expert as a reference group.

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• Often two or more reference groups influence us at the same time. Our family members, neighbor and co-workers all shape different aspects of our self evaluation. In addition, reference groups attachments change during the life cycle. For example a person quits the position of an executive in business organization at age 45 to become a social worker.

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• he will find new reference group to use as standard for evaluation. We shift reference groups as we take on different statuses during our lives.

Coalition Coalition

• A coalition is a temporary or permanent alliance towards a common goal. As a group grows, coalition begins to develop.

• Due to coalition, most of the problems of the society can be easily solved.

Dyad GroupDyad Group

• The simplest of all social groups or relationships is the dyad. Dyad is a group consisting of two members.

• For example, a wife and a husband make a dyad, as does a business partnership.

Characteristics of dyadCharacteristics of dyad

• 1. it offers a special level of intimacy that cannot be duplicated in larger groups.

• 2. a dyad can be destroyed by the loss of a single member.

• 3. the threat of termination hangs over a dyadic relationship more than any other group.

Triad GroupTriad Group

• When a third person enters into the dyad group, the group becomes triad.

• Effect of The Third Person: the third person has many ways of interacting with and influencing the activities of the group. The new person may play a unifying role in the triad. When a married couple has their first child, the baby may serve to bind the group closer together. A new comer

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• Also may play a mediating role in a three-person group. If two roommates are perpetually sniping at each other, the third roommate may attempt to remain on good terms with both and to arrange compromise solutions to problems. Finally, a member of a triad can choose to employ a divide-and-rule strategy. For example a coach tries to gain greater control over two assistants by making them rivals.

Formal OrganizationsFormal Organizations

• A formal organization is a group designed for a special purpose to have maximum efficiency.

• Examples: Afghanistan Postal Service, Maiwand Institute of Higher Education Kabul.

Function of Formal OrganizationFunction of Formal Organization

• All organizations are structured to facilitate the management of large-scale operations.

• In our society, formal organizations fulfill an enormous variety of personal and societal needs and shape the lives of every one of us.

• Organizations are created to supervise other organizations.

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• For example Securities And Exchange Commission (SEC) regulates brokerage companies.

• Ministry of higher education regulates private universities.

Formal Organization & statusFormal Organization & status

• Ascribed statuses such as gender, race, and ethnicity influence how we see ourselves within formal organizations. For example, a study of women lawyers in the nation’s largest law firms found significant differences in the women’s self-images, depending on the relative presence or absence of women in positions of power.

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• Achieved statuses are also effected by formal organizations. When in an organization there is no favoritism, the talented people have opportunities to progress in their relative fields.

Bureaucracy & Organization Bureaucracy & Organization

• A bureaucracy is a component of formal organization that uses rules & hierarchical ranking to achieve efficiency. Rows of desks staffed by apparently faceless people, endless lines and forms, impossibly complex language, and frustrating encounters with red tape, all these unpleasant images have combined to make bureaucracy.

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According to Max Weber, bureaucracy is a form of organization quite different from the family-run business. Weber developed an ideal type of bureaucracy that would reflect the most characteristic aspects of all human organization. By ideal type Weber meant a model for evaluating specific cases. But in real perfect bureaucracies do not exist.

Characteristics of bureaucracy Characteristics of bureaucracy

• Written Rights & Responsibility : In a bureaucratic organization, rules & guidelines are all written down on paper, and employees are expected to work within the confines of this rules & guidelines. Job & departmental responsibilities are also stated clearly, and employees are to work within their specified areas.

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. A formal hierarchical structure: Each level controls the level below and is controlled by the level above. A formal hierarchy is the basis of central planning and centralized decision making.

. Management by rules: Controlling by rules allows decisions made at high levels to be executed consistently by all lower levels.

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• Organization by functional specialty: Work is to be done by specialists, and people are organized into units based on the type of work they do or skills they have.

• Separation of Office and Person: All dealings within the bureaucracy and with clients should be conducted on the basis of equal treatment according to procedural routine. The objective conduct of business should be free from any personal feelings.

Iron Law of OligarchyIron Law of Oligarchy

• Oligarchy means rule by a few.

• Iron Law of Oligarchy describes how organizations eventually develop into a bureaucracy. It says that even a democratic organization develops into bureaucracy.

Why do oligarchies emerge?Why do oligarchies emerge?

• Following are the causes of oligarchies’ emergence:

• 1. People who achieve leadership roles, usually have the skills, knowledge, or charismatic appeal to direct, if not control others.

• 2. A movement or an organization looks to leaders for direction & therefore reinforce oligarchy.

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• 3. Members of an oligarchy are strongly motivated to maintain their leadership roles, privileges, & power.