BY MARIA REHEB, BELLA CUNNINGHAM, SAMIR HAYMOUR, SCOTT LEWIS AND DAAD KASSEM THEORIES OF GROUP DYNAMICS.

B Y M A R I A R E H E B , B E L L A C U N N I N G H A M , S A M I R H A Y M O U R , S C O T T L E W I S A N D D A A D K A S S E M

THEORIES OF GROUP DYNAMICS

* C L I C K O N T H E P I C T U R E T O W AT C H A V I D E O !* I F T H E V I D E O D O E S N ' T ’ T W O R K , I T C A N B E F O U N D I N T H E V I D E O S E C T I O N

O N T H E W E B S I T E

WHAT IS GROUP DYNAMICS?

DISCUSSION QUESTION

W R I T E A B O U T YO U R E X P E R I E N C E I N A T E A M A SS I G N M E N T. E X P L A I N T H E K E Y I N F LU E N C E S O N A

T E A M ’ S S U C C E SS ?

* Please post your response in the discussion area.

HISTORY

Kurt Lewin is believed to be the founder of Group Dynamics. He created the term ‘Group Dynamics’ to explain the positive and negative qualities in a group.- Kurt spent his career researching how group dynamics can be applied to real-life issues.

GROUP DYNAMICS

• Group Definition: Two more or more individuals who interact with each other.

• Group dynamics focuses on how groups are formed, the function of the group and the process taken.

TOP THREE THEORIES

Over the years, many theories have been developed about Group Dynamics. The following people will be discussed in the PowerPoint:

• William Schutz

• Richard Hackman

• Bruce Tuckman

GROUP DYNAMICS IMPORTANCE

Most of the world’s accomplishments was achieved through group work. The study of groups has made a huge impact on businesses, social workers, and educators. Social workers work with different types on groups on a daily basis such as social clubs, gangs and family clusters. Educators were inspired by group research specifically in the medical field who worked with patients daily.

Examples of Areas that Group dynamics had a impact on:

Business and Industry- Work Motivation; team building; leadership and management.Education- Team group and interacting learning.Engineering- The design of human systems in areas such as problem-solving teams. Social Work- Community groups, family counseling and it helps teams approach treatment.

TYPES OF GROUPS

Types of Groups Characteristics Examples

Primary Group SmallLong lastingHigh levels of CohesivenessSolidarity

Families Close friends Gangs Elite military squads

Secondary Group LargeLess intimateGoal focused

Work groupsUnionsProfessional associations

Planned Groups Created by the members themselves or by an external authority for a purpose

Concocted Created by individuals or authorities that are not part of the group.

TYPES OF GROUPS

Types of Groups Characteristics Examples

Founded Created by either one or more individuals that are part of the group

Study GroupsSmall businessesClubs

Emergent Groups Created by individuals who find themselves interacting with others that have a lots in common

Circumstantial Emergent and unplanned groups that from external situations that join individuals together..

CrowdsAudiencesBystanders

TYPES OF GROUPS

Types of Groups Characteristics Examples

Command Groups The organizational chart chooses the members who in particular report information to the manager

Department chairman and the faculty members.

Task Groups All the members work together to achieve a similar task. They accomplish a number of goals in only a specified time.

The development of a new product

Functional Groups The organization creates specific groups, that have to complete tasks within a unspecified time.

A customer service department or a marketing department environment forces

The following groups are formal groups:*Formal groups are formed by an organization with a goal to accomplish.

APPLYING THE THEORIES OF GROUP

DYNAMICS TO FAMILIES

WILLIAM SCHUTZ

During the Korean War, he was part of the U.S. Navy and during that time Schutz researched to understand how a random group of men would work together just like that. Afterwards, he created a book and within the book was the theory Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation (FIRO). He had three different perspectives in this theory: inclusion, control and affection.- This theory helps groups resolve conflicts in the stage they are at and depending on the issue, they move on to the next stage or go back a stage.

FIRO IMPACT ON FAMILIES

Individuals express or want to be part of the family (team) just like everybody else.

Example: some members might express calling a relative on the phone or want someone to invite them to a family gathering.

Inclusion

Individuals express that they’re controlling or want to be controlled.

Example: they want to be in charge and make the decisions on everything or they might say “you decide” for me or give me your opinion on this.

Control

Individual expresses affection or wants affection expressed to them.

Example- they might spoil people, give compliments or make plans to go together as a one family.

Affection

APPLYING THE THEORIES OF

GROUP DYNAMICS TO CLASSROOMS

BRUCE TUCKMAN’S THEORY

o Bruce Tuckman published the stages; Forming Storming Norming

Performing in his 1965 article, the Developmental Sequence in Small

Groups.

o The fifth stage, Adjourning, which is also referred to as Deforming an

Mourning wasn’t added till the 1970s.

o The model is to help teams become more effective and quick. The stages

describe the process that teams go through to achieve success. For

example, teams will develop maturity, strong relationships and the leader

will change their leadership style to suit everyone.

FORMING

During this stage, individuals are gathered together to complete a specified task. Questions like "What will I be doing?", "Who else is here?" and "Who am I comfortable working with?" are going to be considered. This means it is important to establish fair leadership and clear communication. The next stage can't be reached until the group is a secure entity

ex. peer tutors post in the discussion what topic they are working on and with whom so others can ask the questions ^ in advance

STORMING

Once members feel comfortable working with each other, individuals will feel free to voice their own ideas. It is crucial during this stage that any and all problems be dealt with since ignoring them will demolish the foundations established in the first step. Collaboration is the key for this step to be successful and everyone in the group must feel included, significant and well represented for the group to reach the next step

ex. peer tutors may delegate parts of the assignment amongst themselves and compare what information they've found

NORMING

After a period of turbulence in terms of ideas, the group should eventually reach a stage where every member's job is clear and everyone can come to an agreement on how the task at hand will be completed and when it should be done. The leader of the group plays an especially significant role during this step to keep the structure of the group stable and on task

ex. peer tutors may decide that making a PowerPoint is the best way to do their group lesson, there will be 10 slides in total

PERFORMING

During this stage the group leader should take a more laissez-faire style of leading, since the group now has experience working together and is highly motivated to complete the project. The individuals should become even more included in decision making, and the task should be well under way

ex. everyone's slides are almost ready, "Josh", the group leader is mainly just making sure that everyone is going to be ready on time

ADJOURNING

It is important to acknowledge the completion of the task or an important milestone in the group. This assures that the group will stay motivated and significant. By celebrating everyone's accomplishments the group has foundation to continue on future tasks.

ex. the peer tutors went out for ice cream after the PowerPoint was finished to celebrate what each individual did

HOW GROUP SIZE AFFECTS FUNCTION

•Some ideas get criticized

•Large share of roles and responsibility

•Hard to keep focused

•Staying on track becomes very difficult

•Subgroups have to be created when announcing new information

•Lacks leadership

•Involves co-operative working

• Strong communication skills

•Develops self-confidence from involvement

• Positive start• Group leads with a

sense of ownership

Individuals

Pairs/threes

Fours/tensMore than ten

GROUP DYNAMICS WITHIN THE CLASSROOM

The study of group dynamics helps a teacher in a classroom by

1. Providing support to students for their new adjustment.

For some it’s not as easy and they start to face problems. The teacher has to approach the problem with best guidance using their study of group dynamics

2. Helping improve the emotional and social climate of the class.

Some students can have negative attitude towards each other and not accept the difference in other students. Through the theory of group dynamics, the teacher can adjust the students to change and start forming strong relationships that will improve the environment within the classroom.

CONTINUED…

5. Having a through Knowledge of the interaction process:

A class can’t be 100% perfect, students will have different qualities, learning style and interests. So, the teacher should enforce positive interaction between classmates.

6. Removing conflicts and stress in the group:

The learning climate within a class can get disrupted in many ways however the two main types is conflicts and stress in groups. The teacher has to try to remove them from the classroom environment by guiding the students to be positive, kind and respectful students.

APPLYING THE THEORIES OF

GROUP DYNAMICS TO BUSINESS

THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK

For years it has been proven that when individuals work together, everyone accomplishes more. Many organizations at first had many levels of management. However, nowadays they have replaced by self-directed work teams. Business leaders have come to the realization that the team and mentoring approach is the key for greater performance.

Example:

The Great Pyramid of Egypt, it was the largest building in the world till the 20th century. It’s known today as a historical remembrance to teamwork. According to a theory, pharaohs enslaved 100,000 men who worked in turns. They were divided into small teams to try to achieve their goal and were finished in such a short time. They success was all do to TEAMWORK.

WORKPLACE

Group dynamics is very important in a workplace since most of the work is performed with the help of others. It brings co-workers together, strengthening their relationships and it allows for individuals to work outside their comfort zone. For example, they might have to work a different position then what they have been used to.  - A team will support change in the environment by creating new ideas, new knowledge by working and learning with each other.

RICHARD HACKMAN’S FIVE FACTOR MODEL

Richard Hackman created this model to help design and manage work group. His research discovered how companies success and the process that helped them achieve it. There are 3 attributes

1. They delight internal and external clients2. Look ahead to the future and develop the necessary requirements. 3. Within the group, members were able to find meaning and enjoyment

FIVE FACTORS

1. Being a Real Team• Members share tasks between each other• The boundaries are clearly known• The membership is stableThe manager has to be in control of the first two however for the third point, it’s the most difficult one to control. 2. Compelling Direction• The manager has to bring to the team a clear goal and always be in

control of it. • The SMART goals is used to motivate and show how each member is

contributing to the team

3. Enabling Structure• The manager at this stage will have some control, however others will

be given instructions depending on the workplace. During this stage the manager has to improve the teams productivity.

SMART GOAL

FIVE FACTORS

4. Supportive Context• There are 3 elements: reward, development and information-For the reward it must be based on the work ethic of the team.-The development of the team members skills would have to be through a educational system.-For the third element, the manager has to guarantee members easy access to information. Nowadays, managers don’t have a problem, technology is making it easier to reach anything needed.

5. Expert Coaching-Over a period of time, the manager will be able to identify the people who need some assistance in the assignment or in certain skills. They will need to coach them so that they can overcome the challenge and improve the skills they lack in.

Overall, the manager from day 1 has to identity the stage the team is at and which of the five factors they are at. By doing this, the team as a great opportunity to succeed.

WORKPLACE EXAMPLE USING BRUCE THEORY

1. Forming- The manager has to give clear instructions and be ‘hands on’ to ensure that team forms a strong relationship

2. Storming- At this stage, conflicts rise between co-workers. The manager has to step in and coach them how to solve their problems. Some people might:

• Find this stage to be painful because they are against the conflict• Feel annoyed and frustrated with their assignment or co-workers

3. Norming-The manager starts to see teamwork, increased productivity, less conflicts as decisions are taken a group. Their job becomes like a mentor by providing individuals with opportunities to provide on their skills.

4. Performing-By this point, the team is working to the best of their ability and the manger role becomes a overseer and isn’t involved in the activities and the teams relationship anymore. Another assignment the manager has to do is ensure that the group dynamics stays positive and productive.

CASE STUDY

A TD branch has 20 staff members who get treated equally (same hours per week and hourly wage). The branch is being relocated to another building within the next week or so. The new building is structured differently than the current one. All the offices are designed as cubicles expect for one that is completely closed. There is one staff member that come forward and wants to have the closed room for their self.

In the Discussion box, explain how you being the manger would handle this situation?