Principles of Social Behaviour and Group Dynamics (HRMG1CO)

30 Q&A flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on social behaviour, levels, and organisational design.

What is social psychology?

The scientific study of human social interaction by understanding the influence of behaviour, beliefs and feelings amongst people.

According to the notes, social psychology entails the scientific study of what?

The social context of human behaviour, or how individuals' thoughts, feelings, actions or behaviour in dyads and groups are influenced by the real, implied or imagined presence of other people.

Name two components of the definition of social psychology.

Scientific study; and understanding how individuals feel, think, are affected by, and act towards others in social situations.

What are the levels of social behaviour?

Individual behaviour, interpersonal behaviour, and group behaviour.

How is individual behaviour defined in the notes?

A psychologist can study the individual alone—what they perceive, think, and feel.

What does interpersonal behaviour refer to?

Contact between two people.

How is group behaviour defined?

Two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to achieve particular objectives.

What is the organisation as a system?

A general framework through which an organisation and groups can be diagnosed and studied, viewed as a living, open system.

What is the ripple effect in an organisational system?

Change in any part of the system spills over into other parts, affecting the rest.

Do individuals or groups operate in isolation within an organisation?

No; various systems should function harmoniously toward attaining organisational goals.

What is organisational design?

How an organisation is structured—the way people are grouped to execute tasks.

What is an organigram?

A graphical diagram of the organisation’s structure.

Name two characteristics of modern organisational design.

Self-managed teams and decentralized decision-making (also flexible/boundaryless, project-focused, enabling rapid innovation).

Name two characteristics of traditional organisational design.

Bureaucratic, centralized decision-making, rigid and structured; work activities based on functions and divisions.

What are the four fundamental characteristics of organisational structure?

Work specialization; Departmentalism; Chain and span of control; Centralization and decentralization.

What is work specialization?

The extent to which production processes are split into tasks or jobs that people can specialise in.

What are the advantages of work specialization?

Efficient, saves time, lowers training costs for the organisation.

What are the disadvantages of work specialization?

Can lead to boredom, lack of innovation, and limited growth for the employee.

What does departmentalism refer to?

Grouping of jobs into logical groups or departments based on function, product, geography, process, or customer type.

What is grouping by function?

Jobs are grouped by similar tasks (e.g., HR department handling recruitment, training, etc.).

What is grouping by product?

Grouping of jobs that produce the same types of products; e.g., Woolworths departments by product categories.

What is grouping by geography?

Grouping activities into independent units based on territory (e.g., Unilever plants in PMB, CPT, DBN).

What is grouping by process?

Grouping by the role performed in the production process (e.g., cutting, stitching, fixing soles, trimming).

What is grouping by customer type?

Structuring operations around different markets or customer groups to tailor the service.

What is the chain of command?

Lines of authority in the organisation—the hierarchy of reporting relationships; defines responsibility and accountability.

What is span of control?

How many employees report to one supervisor.

What is a narrow span of control?

One supervisor oversees a small number of employees.

What are the advantages of a narrow span of control?

Close relationships and greater supervisory attention; more upward growth due to higher managerial levels.

What are the disadvantages of a narrow span of control?

Higher operational costs due to more management levels; poorer upward and downward communication; less independence.

What is centralisation and decentralisation?

Centralisation is decision-making at the top of the hierarchy; decentralisation is delegation to lower levels; centralisation supports standardization and control, decentralisation boosts participation and flexibility.