Group Dynamics

Group dynamics refers to the energy and interaction created through the interdependency of grouping two or more individuals together to achieve a goal or objective. The proper grouping of individuals aids the achievement of tasks, activities, and goals within an organization. Groups exhibit both external and internal dynamics. External dynamics focus on performance objectives, while internal dynamics are concerned with internal relationships and interactions of team members. In an organization, there are formal groups and informal groups. A formal group is one that is defined by management and the work situation; individuals become interdependent through the formal work that they perform. An informal work group is one that develops because of the interpersonal relationships and relationship building that develops among members; an informal group extends beyond the workrelated boundaries mandated by management or the tasks to be performed. These groups develop norms and have social and technical needs. Because of the diversity of individuals that make up groups (according to age, culture, gender, race, ethnicity, background, experience), groups are utilized for creativity, problem solving, and decision making. Group members may function efficiently if they are cohesive, limited in size (two to six members), concentrate on goals and performance, and communicate openly.

There is a wide body of research regarding groups and teams. Very often the word team is interchanged with the word group. However, team theorists contend that there is a difference between a group and a team. Teams are groups, but groups are not teams. Teams are considered formal work groups, and in the last 20 years, there has been widespread expansion of their use at the workplace. Groups become teams through disciplined action that concentrates on performance goals, high levels of skills, and mutual accountability. In addition, groups and teams seem to be utilized differently in a business organization compared to an educational organization. Within the educational organization, there seems to be an emphasis placed upon the ability of members to work cooperatively and engage in teamwork, whereas in the business corporation, the emphasis is primarily on task performance.

Groups or teams need to have goal clarity, role clarity, and high efficacy in order to function successfully. There are certain individual member characteristics that have been researched through factor analysis and replicated with different populations, evaluations, and assessments that enable groups or teams to function more effectively. These are agreeableness, conscientiousness, extroversion, emotional adjustment, and openness to experience. Teams can function more effectively if team members exhibit team player characteristics and are more cooperative in their interactions with other members.

Although most group research specifies that there should be a group leader, there is a body of research that is developing currently that is investigating the concepts of shared leadership. Shared leadership focuses on leadership from a group perspective rather than from the perspective of the individual leader working within the group.