GOVT 0402 - Topic #1 (Lecture 1)

Groups and Teams - Lectures 1

What is a Group?

people + interaction + common purpose + identity + individual accountability

What is a Team?

A group + complementary skills + performance goals + unified approach + commitment & trust + individual & mutual accountability

All teams are groups but not all _______

groups are teams

Teams often are _______

difficult to form

In teams takes time for members to _______

learn how to work together

Two characteristics distinguish teams from groups.

–Intensity with which team members work together

–Presence of a specific, overriding team goal or objective

Some characteristics that define GROUPS are;

* Interact with one another
* Are working toward some common purpose 
* Perceive themselves to be a group
* Have a strong, focused leader
* Have individual accountability
* Strive to run efficient meetings

Some characteristics that define TEAMS are;

* Are a special type of group
* Have complementary skills
* Full commitment to a common purpose
* Have a set of performance goals
* A defined approach to a task
* The team leader shares leadership roles
* Have individual & mutual accountability
* Encourage discussion and participation

Types of Groups

* Formal Groups
* Informal Groups

Formal Groups:

Are deliberately formed by the organization to accomplish specific tasks and achieve goals

Informal Groups:

Emerge over time through the interaction of workers. \n Are not sanctioned but may be tolerated/encouraged by the organization.

Focus on work teams as a special type of group:

* Top-Management Team
* Cross-Functional Team

Top-Management Team

i\] Is the group of managers at the top of organizations who collaborates in making most major decisions.

\
ii\] Occasionally, can be a committee of two or more top executives who claim to share power.

\
iii\] executives/leadership: ultimately accountable + collaborative + strategic focus + mandate of a governing board + aim for a unified voice/decision.

Cross-Functional Team

i\] Is a group of workers with different specialties often drawn from the ***same level*** in the organization to blend their talents to accomplish a task.

\
ii\] Have individual members who think in terms of what is good for the organization and not their specialty.

\
iii\] diverse expertise + about the same level + performance goals + unified approach + commitment + individual & mutual accountability.

Types of Work Teams

* Crews
* Virtual Teams

Crews

–A group of specialists each of whom has ***specific roles***, perform ***brief events*** that are closely synchronized with the work of other specialists and ***repeats*** them under different environmental conditions

\
–Identified by the technology/***specialisation***

Virtual Teams

–teams that use ***primarily*** electronic platforms for communication.

–NO physical constraints bar effective communication

–Members can be located ***anywhere*** in the world

–Advanced “***cyber-collaboration***” techniques:

* e-mail for sharing information and “cyber-meetings”
* groupware for simultaneous document editing
* desktop video conferencing to facilitate the virtual team

What are the five stages of group development?

1\] Forming

2\] Storming

3\] Norming

5\] Performing

6\] Adjourning

What is the “FORMING” stage of group development?

\-Uncertainty

\-A time of confusion, caution, communality for   members

\-Group members learn:

* what tasks are expected to be performed
* what the benefits are of group membership
* what rules must be followed and expected behaviors

What is the “STORMING” stage of group development?

* Conflict
* A time of hostility, infighting, tension, and confrontation
* Members argue to clarify expectations
* Coalitions, cliques, and subgroups form within the group

What is the “NORMING” stage of group development?

* Conflict resolution
* A period of quiet; resistance is overcome and team standards (norms) are established
* Generation of team spirit
* Cohesiveness and commitment begin to emerge

What is the “PERFORMING” stage of group development?

* Collaboration
* Goal achievement
* In this stage, the team is ready to focus on accomplishing its key tasks
* Intrinsic motivation and creativity emerge as the team performs (“working for the cause”)
* Team is now considered mature

What is the “ADJOURNING” stage of group development?

* End of team
* Transition
* Teams are dissolved after their tasks are accomplished
* Can you think of examples of this?

What is this image

Stages of Group Development

What are Positive behaviors you observe in Groups

1. **Clarifying** the purpose
2. **Defining** meeting process
3. **Listening** to others
4. **Consoling** others
5. **Supporting** others
6. **Sharing** information
7. **Criticizing** constructively
8. **Challenging** others
9. **Tracking** progress
10. **Driving** the meeting
11. **Leading** the meeting
12. **Stepping in** for the leader
13. **Mediating** disagreements
14. **Including** everyone

What are the Roles within Groups?

1. Knowledge Contributor
2. Process Observer
3. People Supporter
4. Challenger
5. Listener
6. Mediator
7. Gatekeeper
8. Take-charge Leader

**What differentiates Teams from Groups?**


1. Members in Teams have complementary skills
2. Accountability in Teams is also mutual
3. Team Members OFTEN work intensely together
4. All of the above
5. There are no differences

All of the Above

**What are the similarities between Groups and Teams?**

\
A. They both work towards a common goal

B. They both have mutual accountability

C. They both have defined performance goals

\

1. *All of the above*
2. *A. and C. only*
3. *B. and C. only*
4. *C. only*
5. *A. and B. only*

*A. and C. only*

1. It is much easier to form a Group than it is to form a Team

\
2. Informal groups are never encouraged by the organization

\
3. Formal groups are always encouraged by the organization

\
4. The Top Management Team is a Team not a Group

1. TRUE
2. FALSE
3. TRUE
4. FALSE

**Cross-functional Teams have the following characteristics:**

\
A. Diverse expertise or specializations

B. Performance goals

C. Tend to be from the same level in the organization

D. Think in terms of their own specialty

\

1. *All of the above*
2. *A. C. D. only*
3. *B. C. D. only*
4. *A. B. C. only*
5. *A. and B. only*

*A. B. C. only*

**Crews are characterized by:**

\
A. The performance of very long events

B. Each member having specific roles

C. The performance of repeatable tasks

D. Work closely with other specialists

\
\

1. *1/ All of the above*
2. *A. C. D. only*
3. *B. C. D. only*
4. *A. B. C. only*
5. *A. and B. only*

*B. C. D. only*

1. TEAMS are always GROUPS but GROUPS are not always TEAMS

\
2. CREWS are always GROUPS and TEAMS

\
3. A CROSS FUNCTIONAL TEAM maybe a CREW

\
4. VIRTUAL TEAMS are GROUPS not TEAMS

1. TRUE
2. TRUE
3. TRUE
4. FALSE

**VIRTUAL TEAMS have the following characteristics:**

\
A. They have physical CONSTRAINTS

B. They need ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION platforms to work

C. They use "cyber-collaboration" techniques to communicate

D. Members must be physically close to be effective




1. *All of the above*
2. *A. C. D. only*
3. *B. C. D. only*
4. *B. and C. only*
5. *A. and B. only*

*B. and C. only*

**What are all the stages of group development?**

\
A. Storming

B. Norming

C. Forming

D. Performing

\

1. *A. B. C. and D.*
2. *A. C. D. only*
3. *B. C. D. only*
4. *A. B. C. only*
5. *One is missing*

*One is missing*

**What is the correct order of group development?**

\
A. Storming

B. Norming

C. Forming

D. Adjourning

E. Performing

\

1. *A. C. B. D. E*
2. *C. B. A. D. E.*
3. *C. A. B. E. D.*
4. *C. B. A. E. D.*
5. *C. A. B. D. E.*

*C. A. B. D. E.*

1. Group FORMING is followed by NORMING

\
2. Group ADJOURNING is followed by NORMING

3. Group NORMING results in agreements

4. The FORMING stage is characterized by agreement

1. FALSE
2. FALSE
3. TRUE
4. FALSE

**What are some OBSERVED ROLES in GROUPS?**

\
A. KNOWLEDGE PERSON and CHALLENGER

B. SOCIAL LOAFER and CRITICIZER

C. MEDIATOR and PEOPLE SUPPORTER

D. TAKE-CHARGE/LEADER and PROCESS PERSON E/ GATEKEEPER and LISTENER

\

1. *All of the above*
2. *C. B. D. and E.*
3. *C. B. A. and D.*
4. *D. E. A. and C.*
5. *A. B. C. and E.*

*D. E. A. and C.*

Positive behaviours that are noted when a “KNOWLEDGE PERSON” in a group is observed are:

* Sharing information

Positive behaviours that are noted when a “PROCESS PERSON” in a group is observed are:

* Clarifying the purpose
* Defining meeting process
* Tracking Progress

Positive behaviours that are noted when a “PEOPLE SUPPORTER” in a group is observed are:

* Listening to others
* Supporting others

Positive behaviours that are noted when a “CHALLENGER” in a group is observed are:

* Criticizing constructively
* Challenging others

Positive behaviours that are noted when a “LISTENER” in a group is observed are:

* Playback points / decisions

Positive behaviours that are noted when a “MEDIATOR” in a group is observed are:

* Mediating Disagreements

Positive behaviours that are noted when a “GATEKEEPER” in a group is observed are:

* Tracking Progress
* Including everyone

Positive behaviours that are noted when a “TAKE-CHARGE LEADER” in a group is observed are:

* Leading the meetings
* Stepping in for the leader