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Groups and Teams

In: Business and Management

Submitted By kelly2314
Words 1055
Pages 5
Groups and Teams
MGT 307
October 3, 2011

Groups and Teams Many may think of groups and teams to be one in the same when in fact they are virtual opposites. They each hold a function different from the other and are affected by different factors. The effect of workplace diversity is among one of the biggest differences in performance as discussed below.
Groups
Groups are defined as “two or more individuals interacting and interdependent, who have come together to achieve particular objectives” (Robbins & Judge, 2990 p 323). A group’s purpose in the work setting is to share information and make decisions to aid in the success of their co-workers. Groups do not do collaborative work; their performance is the summation of each individual’s personal contribution. For example, in an organization that operates several programs operating under one larger program there may be several people in the building who come together in a group to make decisions but none of them collaborate because they all work on different programs. Therefore, the successes of the organization for any given month will be a summation of individual successes (Robbins & Judge, 2009) There are several different classifications of groups: Formal groups, informal groups, command groups, task groups, interest groups, and friendship groups. Formal groups are defined organizational structure and defined work assignments. Informal groups are referred to as alliances that are not formally structured. In the workplace, this might look like the social groups that are gathered after work to socialize or a group that eats lunch together, etc. (Robbibs & Judge, 2009). A command group is made up of all of the individuals who directly report to a specific manager. At the Henry County Extension office there are three agents who report directly to the district manager. They are a command group.

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