Group Dynamics and Types of Groups in Organizational Behavior

A group is a combination of two or more interdependent persons who interact with each other to achieve specific goals.

Types of Group:

The group is broadly classified into the following two types which are:

1. Formal Group

2. Informal Group

Formal Group:

A formal group is considered to be a group that is formed by specific authorities within organizations, and they specifically design tasks & work assignments. The behavior executed by the members of such groups is directed toward the achievement of the identified objectives of the business organization.

Informal Group:

An informal group is the opposite of a formal group, which is formed automatically in a natural social way. The behavior shown by the members of an informal group circulates around common interests and friendship.

Why People Join Groups

There is no single reason that can be valid for explaining the fact of why people join groups. So there are a number of reasons which are as follows.

1. Security:
   Because strength in numbers provides security, people join together as a group to feel stronger & resistant to threats.

2. Status:
   Another big reason for joining a group is the acquisition of status and recognition. People join a particular group that has a prestigious status, which becomes a symbolic part of the members of that group.

3. Self-Esteem:
   The feeling of self-worth is satisfied by joining a group & therefore people satisfy their self-esteem, which is accepted by the other members of that group.

4. Affiliation:
   The social needs of people are fulfilled by forming a group; that is why people love to join any group to satisfy their need for social relations & friendship.

5. Power:
   Another significant reason for joining a group is the reflection & representation of power that can be helpful for members to save themselves from illogical demands & to create favorable opportunities through group actions.

Goal Achievement:

The final reason for joining a group by people is to achieve certain goals that cannot be accomplished individually because they require diversified knowledge & skills.

Roles of Group:

Roles are linked with particular status & within organizations employees are obliged to play certain roles according to their assigned designations. Employees are expected to show certain patterns of behavior that are directly related to the accomplishment of the objectives of the organization. Each employee plays more than one role & sometimes it also creates role conflict.

Moreover, there are certain roles that are specified for groups & these roles are as follows:

1. Task-Oriented Roles

2. Relationship-Oriented Roles

3. Group Roles

Task-Oriented Roles:

Task-oriented roles are those roles that are executed for the accomplishment of a particular task. This is further divided into the following two types:

a) Initiator & Contributor Roles
b) Information Seeker & Provider Roles

Relationship-Oriented Roles:

Roles that are directed towards strengthening certain social relationships are called relationship-oriented roles. These roles are categorized into the following two types:

a) Encourager Roles
b) Harmonizer Roles

Individual Roles:

Individual roles are represented by the actions & behavior of single individuals. These roles are also classified as follows:

a) Blocker Roles
b) Joker Roles

Features of an Effective Group:

A group is said to be effective when it shows the following characteristics:

• The atmosphere of the group is relaxed, informal & comfortable.
• The tasks assigned to the members are well understood & accepted.
• The members of the group listen to each other & participate in the assigned tasks.
• The members of the group know the functions & operations of the whole group.
• The ideas & feelings are properly expressed by the members.
• Decisions are made through consensus.
• The disagreements & conflicts are based on methods or ideas, not personalities.