Please complete 2 Discussion Post Responses on Groups and Teams:
In response to your classmates’ posts, using the examples of teamwork and group work that they have provided, ask questions designed to explore ways to improve the team environment or encourage a more positive influence by teams on the organization.
Support your initial post and response posts with scholarly sources cited in APA style.
Post 1:B. Towle-
As a manager in an organization, it is important to have an understanding of groups and teams and their innate role in functionality. Groups and teams are similar in that they foster collaboration, social networks, and skill diversity. There are different kinds of groups that make up broader teams, but teams are also part of the formal organization – like nesting dolls. Though the collaborative nature of groups and teams convey similarities, there are “organic” differences that distinguish the two.
Groups can either be formal or informal, “A key difference exists between formal groups, which are established by the organization, and which have a public identity and goal to achieve, and informal groups, which emerge on the basis of common interests, proximity, and friendships” (Newstrom, pp. 333). Teams are a type of formal group and maintain regular contact and coordination, whereas informal groups work more singularly and focus on individual tasks and are often criticized for ineffective communication as a team. The output of work products differs as well in that groups produce individual work and teams work collectively towards one goal. Leadership of groups is by a singular person while teams may have several leaders working in coordination. The focus of activities in groups is usually on individual task performance while teams focus on problem solving collectively.
Advantages of Groups:
- Skill advancement/sharing
- Social networking
- Information exchange
Disadvantages of Groups:
- Discoordination
- Unclear views of goals
- Subject to rumor and internal conflict
Advantages of Teams:
- Clear goals
- Combines diverse skill sets
- High engagement and regular communication
Disadvantages of Teams:
- High turnover
- Social loafing (slacking off because the team will pick it up)
Example: Group vs. Team
Multiple people riding in an elevator together are a group. The elevator stops for an unknown reason, and now the group becomes a team working together to figure out how to solve the problem. When the collective is focused on their singular tasks or goals, they are a group. However, when the group combines skills to work towards one collective goal, they are exhibiting teamworking, or working as a team.
Post 2:K. Wildridge-
There are several differences between a team and a group. The core differences between a group and team are that individuals in an organization who perform tasks work in small groups that their efforts fit together like a puzzle, whereas a team is a cooperative small group which is in regular contact that is working together (Newstrom 2015). I played basketball in high school and basketball to be is one of the ultimate team sports because you need all five players on that court to succeed. The point guard is just as important as the center. On defense all five players are needed! A sports team and an organizational team can be compared because they are a group of individuals coming together for a common purpose. For a team in the organizational setting, the frequency that the team members interact and the ongoing existence of a task, that are different from a short-term decision-making group or a project team differ whether it be a group or team. (Newstrom 2015). There are some advantages and disadvantages to having a group over a team or vice versa. Many times, most groups have a leader, while a team is a group of people coming together. Also, in a group setting the members are working together on the same task or issue. together on the same task or problem. When multiple people come together there can be greater ideas or outcomes as there are more voices on one task, this can be viewed as very helpful. Other important reasons for teams and working in teams in an organization is the different backgrounds and ethnicities of people working for the organization. This can help the members see things from different angles.
We all can relate to working in a group whether it be in a classroom setting (like group assignments) or on the job. I remember being assigned to a group during my undergrad to complete a project. Like a normal group project, everyone had their own question to answer, then we had to put everyone’s part together and submit it in. It was total chaos. I tried to collaborate with the other group members to make sure their part was correct or developed but I either received no response or very vague ones. We had to submit it by 11:59pm, and many of the group did not submit their answers until after the due date. My group members behaviors impacted the assignments because some of the group members did not understand the full concept and just turned something in (whether it was related to the assignment or not), and the group had to turn in incomplete work. I am very thankful that my professor graded each individual on their particular part of the assignment and not as a group grade! If we would have been graded by the group I would have been very upset because we would have received a very low grade! We then had to grade each other on the group effort/experience. I was very honest in my review and some of the members were not happy but if we would have worked together (like the assignment intended for us to) our assignment would have been great.
Reference:
Newstrom, J. W. (2015). Organizational Behavior: Human Behavior at Work (14th ed). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
