GROUPS IN MANAGEMENT
Two or
more persons interacting and interdependent who have come together to achieve a
common goal. ‘A group is a collection of two
or more people who interact with each other, are interdependent on each other
for a common purpose and perceive themselves to be a group’.
Expansion
of definition
•
Two
or more persons : for a group to exist, it must have at least two members. The
members are all dependent on one another. In work situation, each individual is
aware that the overall job cannot be achieved without assistance from others.
•
Interaction
: each member must interact with one more member of the group at least
occasionally. Some form of communication must take place, either face-to-face,
over a telephone, or through a computer network
•
Reasonable
size : groups could grow to any size. However from an organizational point of
view, we are concerned with groups of reasonable size. It is difficult for
group members to interact with each other closely, when the size grows beyond a
manageable number
•
Shared
goal interest : members of a group must have some common goals or shared
interests. They need not agree to all the purposes of a group. If a group has a
variety of goals or interests, each member of the group must share at least one
of the group’s interests
•
Collective
identity : each member of the group must believe that he is a member of and is
a participant in some specific group. It is the awareness of each other that
clearly differentiates a group from a mere collection of persons
Reasons
for group formation
•
Warmth
and support
•
Power
•
Security
•
Recognition
•
Proximity
•
Goal
accomplishment
Functions
of Groups
•
Socialization
of employees
•
Getting
the job done
•
Decision
making
Types
of Groups
•
Formal
groups : a group
created by formal authority to accomplish specific tasks
–
Command
groups
–
Task
group
–
Project
group
–
Committees
•
Informal
Groups: a group
established by employees, rather than by the organization, in order to serve
group members’ interests or social needs
–
Friendship
groups
–
Interest
groups
–
Reference
groups
Command
groups
A
command group consists of subordinates who report to a common superior. These
command groups are permanent part of the organization structure. Even if a
particular superior or subordinate leaves the group, the group remains itself
intact
Task
group
A task
group consists of employees who work together to complete a particular task or
project, but who do not necessarily report to the same supervisor. Being a
member of a task group is not a full time assignment; it is a work assignment
that temporarily takes individuals away from their command groups to work on a
common problem
Project
group
Consists
of individual from many different areas or backgrounds. The group’s purpose is
to attain its objective within pre determined time, cost, and quality limits,
after which the group is disbanded and everyone goes back to his or her regular
department.
Committees
A
committee is a group of people working together to solve a certain problem. It
investigates, analyses, and debates that problem and, then makes a
recommendation. Committees usually have only advisory authority.
Recommendations are sent to managers who are responsible for implementing them
Friendship
groups
Associations
of people who like each other and like to be together. They are formed because,
members have something in common, such as social activities, political beliefs,
religious values, or other bonds of attraction.
Interest
groups
Individuals
who may not be members of same command or task group may affiliate to achieve
some mutual objective. Also the objectives of such groups are not related to
those of the organization but are specfic to each group
Reference
groups
It is a
group to which an individual would like to belong-those he identified with.
People generally use it to evaluate themselves, where they stand when compared
to others.
0 comments:
Post a Comment