Groups or Teams What Is the Difference?
Groups or Teams
What is the Difference?
LaNise L. Heath
Group Behavior in Organizations MGT 415
Prof Vera L. Davis, MPA, MATD
December 20, 2010
Groups or Teams
What is the Difference? Groups are a part of every aspect of our lives. Your family is an example of a group that people are a member of. You may be a member of a social group, a work group, or a small group in your church. According to Johnson and Johnson (2009) the definition of a group is “two or more individuals in face-to-face interaction, each aware of his or her membership in the group, each aware of the others who belong to the group, and each aware of positive interdependence as they strive to achieve mutual goals” (577). We will look at group dynamics in business and whether groups or individuals are more effective in a work environment. We will also look at group cohesiveness and how does social influence and social interaction affect decision-making. And we will take a look at leaders and if they are an important aspect of groups and finally if teams are more effective than work groups in some situations. Group dynamics is the field of study within the social sciences that focuses on the nature of groups. People have a need to belong and understanding how people act and react to attitudes and influences of a group will help businesses as they strive to achieve the goals of the company and the individual goals of those that work for them. Today many businesses have turned to small groups to reach the goals of the company. The technologies that have been developed over the past years have made it easy for groups to work together and not be located in the same town or the same state or country for that matter. Since groups engage in critical activities such as problem solving, determination of core competencies, decision making, and the like, understanding how they form, interact, and perform is critical in getting maximum commitment and performance from groups.
What is the Difference?
LaNise L. Heath
Group Behavior in Organizations MGT 415
Prof Vera L. Davis, MPA, MATD
December 20, 2010
Groups or Teams
What is the Difference? Groups are a part of every aspect of our lives. Your family is an example of a group that people are a member of. You may be a member of a social group, a work group, or a small group in your church. According to Johnson and Johnson (2009) the definition of a group is “two or more individuals in face-to-face interaction, each aware of his or her membership in the group, each aware of the others who belong to the group, and each aware of positive interdependence as they strive to achieve mutual goals” (577). We will look at group dynamics in business and whether groups or individuals are more effective in a work environment. We will also look at group cohesiveness and how does social influence and social interaction affect decision-making. And we will take a look at leaders and if they are an important aspect of groups and finally if teams are more effective than work groups in some situations. Group dynamics is the field of study within the social sciences that focuses on the nature of groups. People have a need to belong and understanding how people act and react to attitudes and influences of a group will help businesses as they strive to achieve the goals of the company and the individual goals of those that work for them. Today many businesses have turned to small groups to reach the goals of the company. The technologies that have been developed over the past years have made it easy for groups to work together and not be located in the same town or the same state or country for that matter. Since groups engage in critical activities such as problem solving, determination of core competencies, decision making, and the like, understanding how they form, interact, and perform is critical in getting maximum commitment and performance from groups.