Ch. 6 Groups and Organization

aggregate - a collection of people who exist in the same place at the same time, but who don’t interact or share a sense of identity

authoritarian leader - a leader who issues orders and assigns tasks

bureaucracies - formal organizations characterized by a hierarchy of authority, a clear division of labor, explicit rules, and impersonality.

category - people who share similar characteristics but who are not connected in any way

clear division of labor - the fact that each individual in a bureaucracy has a specialized task to perform

coercive organizations - organizations that people do not voluntarily join, such as prison or a mental hospital

conformity - the extent to which an individual complies with group or societal norms

democratic leader - a leader who encourages group participation and consensus-building before moving into action

dyad - a two-member group

explicit rules - the types of rules in a bureaucracy; rules that are outlined, recorded, and standardized

expressive function - a group function that serves an emotional need

expressive leader - a leader who is concerned with process and with ensuring everyone’s emotional wellbeing

formal organizations - large, impersonal organizations

group - any collection of at least two people who interact with some frequency and who share some sense of aligned identity

hierarchy of authority - a clear chain of command found in a bureaucracy

impersonality - the removal of personal feelings from a professional situation

in-group - a group a person belongs to and feels is an integral part of his identity

instrumental function being oriented toward a task or goal

instrumental leader - a leader who is goal oriented with a primary focus on accomplishing tasks

Iron Rule of Oligarchy - the theory that an organization is ruled by a few elites rather than through collaboration

laissez-faire leader - a hands-off leader who allows members of the group to make their own decisions

leadership function - the main focus or goal of a leader

leadership style - the style a leader uses to achieve goals or elicit action from group members

McDonaldization of Society - the increasing presence of the fast food business model in common social institutions

meritocracy - a bureaucracy where membership and advancement is based on merit—proven and documented skills

normative or voluntary organizations - organizations that people join to pursue shared interests or because they provide some intangible rewards

out-group - a group that an individual is not a member of, and may even compete with

primary groups - small, informal groups of people who are closest to us

reference groups - groups to which an individual compares herself

secondary groups - larger and more impersonal groups that are task-focused and time limited

total institution - an organization in which participants live a controlled lifestyle and in which total resocialization occurs

triad - a three-member group

utilitarian organizations - organizations that are joined to fill a specific material need