Foundations of Group Behavior and Leadership

This set of flashcards covers key terms and concepts related to group behavior, leadership, and organizational culture.

Group

A collection of two or more individuals who interact and are interdependent, working towards specific objectives.

Formal Groups

Groups that are defined by the organization’s structure.

Informal Groups

Alliances that are neither formally structured nor organizationally determined.

Social Identity Theory

A theory that explains how individuals identify with groups and how group membership affects emotions and self-esteem.

Ingroup Favoritism

The tendency to view members of one's own group as superior to those in outgroups.

Stages of Group Development

The four phases proposed by Tuckman—forming, storming, norming, performing—critical to group growth and development.

Roles

Set of expected behavior patterns associated with a person occupying a position within a group.

Norms

Acceptable standards of behavior shared by group members, maintaining order and cohesion.

Groupthink

A phenomenon where group pressures for conformity discourage critical appraisal of minority or unpopular views.

Social Loafing

The tendency for individuals to exert less effort when working in a group compared to working alone.

Team Synergy

An effect where the collective efforts of a group lead to a greater outcome than the sum of individual efforts.

Work Team

A group whose individual efforts combine to produce performance greater than the sum of individual inputs.

Organizational Culture

A system of shared meaning within an organization that distinguishes it from others, including values and beliefs.

Leadership

The ability to influence a group toward the achievement of a vision or set of goals.

Transformational Leadership

A leadership approach that seeks to inspire and motivate followers to exceed expectations.

Transactional Leadership

A leadership style focused on exchanges between the leader and followers; based on rewards and constraints.

Chain of Command

The formal line of authority within an organization, clarifying who reports to whom.

Span of Control

The number of individuals who report directly to a manager.

Psychological Contract

An unwritten agreement between employees and employers that outlines mutual expectations.

Communication Barriers

Factors that impede effective communication, such as information overload and communication apprehension.

HRM Functions

Key responsibilities of human resource management including staffing, retention, and employee development.

Performance Management

A systematic process to improve organizational performance by developing the performance of individuals and teams.