GROUP
DYNAMICS
Dr Seema Bashier
GROUP DYNAMICS
AND TEAMS
Group vs Team
■ A group is a collection of individuals who coordinate their efforts, while a team is a
group of people who share a common goal.
■ The two are different when it comes to decision making and teamwork.
■ In a work group, group members are independent from one another and have
individual accountability
■ On the other hand, in a team, team members share a mutual accountability and work
closely together to solve problems
Group
▪ Group
Two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who
have come together to achieve particular objectives.
▪ Formal Groups
A designated work group defined by an organisation structure.
▪ Informal group
A group that is neither formally structured nor organisationally
determined; such a group appears in response to the need for
social contact
THEORIES OF
GROUP FORMATION
1. Propinquity Theory:
■ The most basic theory explaining affiliation is propinquity.
■ It means that individuals affiliate with one another because of spatial
or geographical proximity.
■ In an organisation employees who work in the same area of the plant
or office or managers with offices close to one another would more
probably form into groups than would those who are not physically
located together.
■ There is some research evidence to support the propinquity theory
and, on the surface,
■ It has a great deal of merit for explaining group formation.
■ The drawback of this theory is that it is not analytical and does not
begin to explain some of the complexities of group formation.
■ Some more theoretical and practical reasons need to be explored.
2. Homan’s Theory:
■ According to George C. Homans,
■ “The more activities persons share, the more numerous will be their
interactions and the stronger will be their shared activities and
sentiments, and the more sentiments people have for one another,
the more will be their shared activities and interactions.”
■ It is a very comprehensive theory and based on activities, interactions
and sentiments.
■ These three elements are directly related to each other.
■ The key element is interaction because of which they
develop common sentiments for one another.
■ These sentiments gradually get expressed through the
formation of informal groups.
■ If any disturbance is caused to any of the three-activities,
interactions and sentiments, it is likely to disturb all the
others.
3. Balance Theory:
■ This theory as proposed by Theodore Newcomb
■ He states that “Persons are attracted to one another based
on similar attitudes towards commonly relevant objects and
goals. Once a relationship is formed, it strives to maintain a
symmetrical balance between the attraction and the
common attitudes. If an imbalance occurs, attempts are
made to restore the balance. If the balance cannot be
restored, the relationship dissolves.”
■ Thus, the balance theory is additive in nature in the sense, that it introduces the
factor of balance to the propinquity and interaction factors.
■ There must be a balance in the relationship between the group members for the
group to be formed and for its survival.
4. Exchange Theory:
■ This theory is based on reward-cost outcomes of interactions.
■ To be attracted towards a group, a person thinks in terms of what he
will get in exchange of interaction with group members.
■ A minimum positive level (rewards greater than costs) of an outcome
must exist for attraction or affiliation to take place.
■ Rewards from interactions gratify needs while costs incur anxiety,
frustrations, embarrassment or fatigue.
■ Propinquity, interaction and common attitudes all have roles in the
exchange theory
TEAM
DEVELOPMENT
■ Team development can be understood as a framework or series of
actions designed to improve the way a group works together.
■ All groups are composed of individuals with different needs,
communication styles, and working practices.
■ When bringing those individuals together and engaging in team
development, leaders will need to find ways to help everyone work
together effectively and grow as individuals and as a group.
■ Helping a set of people progress from being strangers to becoming a
cohesive, well-oiled team can be a tricky process.
■ There are team development frameworks, activities, and exercises
that can help.
■ Bruce Tuckman’s theory of team development offered practical
advice, actions, and team building activities to help groups grow and
work together.
THANK YOU