Chapter 7: Organizational Behavior

Group

D. Two or more people interacting interdependently to achieve a common goal

What is the most basic aspect of a group?

C. Interaction

What are the components of interaction?

A. It suggests who is in the group and who isn’t and the interactions don’t have to be face-to-face or even verbal

What is an example of an interaction?

B. Employees who telecommute can be part of their work group at the office even though they live kilometers away and communicate via email or text

Interdependence

B. All group members rely to some degree on each other to accomplish goals

Formal work groups

A. Groups that are established by organizations to facilitate the achievement of organizational goals

What are other types of formal work groups?

Task forces, project teams, committees

Task forces and project teams

Temporary groups that meet to achieve particular goals or to solve particular problems, such as suggesting productivity improvements.

Committees

Are usually permanent groups that handle recurrent assignments outside the usual work group structures. 

Informal groups

Groups that emerge naturally in response to the common interests of organizational members

What are the 5 stages of group development?

Forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning

Forming

Group members often have small disagreements and are aware of their dependency on each other

Storming

There is a lot of confrontation and criticism that occurs because members are determining whether they will go along with the way the group is developing