Chapter 8
Foundations of Group Behavior
Defining and Classifying Groups
Defining and Classifying Groups (cont’d)
Why People Join Groups
The Five-Stage Model of Group Development
…Group Development (cont’d)
An Alternative Model: Temporary Groups with Deadlines
Group Structure - Roles (cont’d)
Group Structure - Roles (cont’d)
Group Structure - Norms
The Hawthorne Studies
A series of studies undertaken by Elton Mayo at Western Electric Company’s Hawthorne Works in Chicago between 1924 and 1932.
Research Conclusions:
Worker behavior and sentiments were closely related.
Group influences (norms) were significant in affecting individual behavior.
Group standards (norms) were highly effective in establishing individual worker output.
Money was less a factor in determining worker output than were group standards, sentiments, and security.
Group Structure - Norms (cont’d)
Group Structure - Norms (cont’d)
Group Structure - Status
Group Structure - Size
Group Structure - Composition
Group Structure - Cohesiveness
Group Tasks
Decision-making
Large groups facilitate the pooling of information about complex tasks.
Smaller groups are better suited to coordinating and facilitating the implementation of complex tasks.
Simple, routine standardized tasks reduce the requirement that group processes be effective in order for the group to perform well.
Group Decision Making
Strengths
More complete information
Increased diversity of views
Higher quality of decisions (more accuracy)
Increased acceptance of solutions
Weaknesses
More time consuming (slower)
Increased pressure to conform
Domination by one or a few members
Ambiguous responsibility
Group Decision Making (cont’d)
Symptoms Of The Groupthink Phenomenon
Group members rationalize any resistance to the assumptions they have made.
Members apply direct pressures on those who express doubts about shared views or who question the alternative favored by the majority.
Members who have doubts or differing points of view keep silent about misgivings.
There appears to be an illusion of unanimity.
Group Decision-Making Techniques
Group Decision-Making Techniques
Organizational Behavior 11e

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