Groups
What Is a Group?
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In other words, a group is defined as two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to achieve particular objectives.
People form groups for many reasons. Most fundamental among these reasons is that groups routinely outperform the average of their individual members.
Types of Groups
Within most organizationsOpens in new window different groups are formed at different levels.
There are two types of groups: formal and informal. Groups may be classified according to many dimensions, including
- function,
- the degree of personal involvement, and
- degree of organization.
Formal and Informal Groups
- A formal group is assigned by organizations to accomplish specific goals. Such groups often have labels: work group, team, committee, or task force.
- An informal group exists when the members’ overriding purpose of getting together is friendship or a common interest.
Formal and informal groups often overlap, such as when a team of accountants heads for the bowling alley after work. Friendships forged on the job can be so strong as to outlive the job itself in an ear of job hopping, reorganizations, and mass layoffs.
The desirability of overlapping formal and informal groups is debatable.
Some managers firmly believe personal friendship fosters productive teamwork on the job, while others view such relationships as a serious threat to productivity. Both situations are common, and it is the leader’s job to strike a workable balance based on the maturity and goals of the people involved.
Differences Between Formal and Informal Groups
- Functions of Formal Groups
Formal groups fulfill two basic functions. Organizational and individual.
| Organizational functions include: |
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| Individual functions include: |
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- Formation of Formal and Informal Groups
One of the main differences between formal and informal groups is the process through which some groups are formed.
In their quest to achieve specific tasks, the leadership of an organization deliberately forms formal groups.
This means that some rules and regulations guide the formation of a formal group. One cannot leave the group without the authority of the management and leadership. On the other hand, an informal group is voluntarily formed by members coming together to satisfy their personal and psychological needs. One can join and leave the group when he or she decides.
- Structure of Formal and Informal Groups
Structures of a formal group are defined where the hierarchy and flows of information from one member of the group to the other member is communicated.
This means that there is a chain of command through which instructions are administered.
Most of the time an informal group does not have structures, but when it does exist it is mostly not defined. This means that there is no chain of command and the flow of information from one member to the other.
Additionally, communicationOpens in new window in a formal group flows from top to bottom while conversation in an informal group moves sideways without a defined path.
- Relationship of Formal and Informal Groups
In a formal group, the relationship between members is professional because the group is created to achieve a specific task or goal that is controlled by the management and leadership of the organization. Moreover, the professional relationship between members is brought about by the fact that some members are senior in the organization.
In an informal group, the relationship between members is personal. Members of an informal group know each other by personal aspects. Additionally, there is no seniority in the group, which means that any member can assume a leadership position.
- Size of Formal and Informal Groups
Formal groups are usually large because they are formed with the purpose of ensuring they can achieve goals that measure the success of the organization. Members of a formal group have skills and competencies to handle official activities on behalf of the organization.
Informal groups are comparatively small because close friends or people who know one another on a personal level form them. This makes it challenging to assemble many members since not all persons in the organization know one another at a personal level.
- Nature/Level of Formal and Informal Groups
Formal groups are usually stable and are likely to exist for a lengthy period. Additionally, the task allocated to a formal group may last for a long duration hence making the formal group exist until the task allocated is completed.
Informal groups are not stable because they are governed by the feelings between the members. In case the sentiments between members become volatile, the group is likely to be dissolved.
Unlike formal groups, whose existence is determined by the nature of the activity, the length of life of an informal group is dependent on the members.
- Behavior and Leadership of Formal and Informal Groups
The practice of members of a formal group is governed by specific rules and regulations, which are usually formulated at the inception of the group.
All members of the group are supposed to adhere to the rules and guidelines that define the group. Moreover, formal groups have a defined leadership structure where there is an official leader who ensures that the group is in line to achieve its goals while at the same time enforcing rule among members.
The behavior of an informal group is governed by the expression of members, norms, beliefs, and the values that members hold dear. There is no official leader of the group to enforce nonexistence rules and regulations as members do what is necessary to them instead of what is imposed.
In summary, the basic distinguishing feature between formal and informal groups is that formal groups are always formed with an objective, but when an informal group is created, there is no such kind of attention at all.
Table X-1 offers a summary view of the differences between formal and informal groups.
| Table X-1 Differences Between Formal Group and Informal Group | ||
|---|---|---|
| Basis for Comparison | Formal Group | Informal Group |
| Meaning | Groups created by the organization, to accomplish a specific task, are known as formal groups. | Groups created by the employees themselves, for their own sake are known as informal groups. |
| Formation | Deliberately | Voluntarily |
| Size | Large | Comparatively small |
| Nature/Life | It depends on the type of group | It depends on the members |
| Structure | Well defined | Not well defined |
| The Importance is Given To | Position | Person |
| Relationship | Professional | Personal |
The Benefits of Informal and Formal Organizations
It is important for leaders to recognize that there are benefits to formal and informal organizations. Formal organizations are useful for reaching defined goals. The structure of a formal organization makes it effective for realizing profit or conducting business. The components and structure of a formal organization are necessary in order to efficiently meet stated objectives.
Informal organizations can be more responsive to change due to the lack of rigid structure. They are inherently more oriented around people rather than outcomes. An example would be a company softball team that allows employees to interact socially away from the formal hierarchies in order to build morale.
Both formal and informal organizations serve human needs and meet goals ranging from financial to value-based. They allow people to build communities and achieve goals that would not be possible alone.
A summary of formal versus informal groups are as follows:
- Formal groups are formulated when two or more members of an organization are assembled by the management with the purpose of achieving a specific goal.
- Informal groups are formed by two or more members with the purpose of satisfying their personal and psychological needs.
- There exist rules and regulations within a formal group with an official leader who is supposed to enforce the laws and regulations while at the same time offering direction and guidance to the group.
- An informal group does not follow a defined pattern, rules, or guidelines and no official leader controls the group. Any person can assume leadership at any given time.
- Other differences between formal and informal groups include some members, behavior, relationship between members, and structure among others.
Skills for a Healthy Group Climate
To work together successfully, group members must demonstrate a sense of cohesion. Cohesion emerges as group members exhibit the following skills:
- Openness
Group members are willing to get to know one another, particularly those with different interests and backgrounds. They are open to new ideas, diverse viewpoints, and the variety of individuals present within the group. They listen to others and elicit their ideas. They know how to balance the need for cohesion within a group with the need for individual expression.
- Trust and Self-Disclosure
Group members trust one another enough to share their ideas and feelings. A sense of mutual trust develops only to the extent that everyone is willing to self-disclose and be honest yet respectful. Trust also grows in a group when the members demonstrate personal accountability for the tasks they have been assigned.
- Supprot
Group members demonstrate support for one another as they accomplish their goals. They exemplify a sense of team loyalty and both cheer on the group as a whole and help members who are experiencing difficulties. They view one another not as competitors (which is common within a typically individualistic educational system) but as collaborators.
- Respect
Group members communicate their opinions in a way that respects others focusing on “What can we learn?” rather than “Who is to blame?”
- Individual responsibility and accountability
All group members agree on what needs to be done and by whom. Each member determines what he or she needs to do and takes responsibility to complete the task(s). They can be held accountable for their tasks, and they hold others accountable for theirs.
- Constructive feedback
Group members cab give and receive feedback about group ideas. Giving constructive feedbackOpens in new window requires focusing on ideas and behaviors, instead of individuals, being as positive as possible and offering suggestions for improvement. Receiving feedback requires listening well, asking for clarification if the comment is unclear, and being open to change and other ideas.
