It is often said that to make immense progress, one should work alone. However, if one hopes to sustain the progress, they need to join forces with others. Today, organizations are beginning to recognize that teamwork holds the key to sustainable success. Through teamwork, these organizations are able to leverage the skills, competencies, backgrounds and expertise of different individuals for growth. If they are to enter the future from a position of strength, firms need to establish strong teams and groups.
One of the factors that enhance the effectiveness of a manager is a clear understanding of group behavior. It is through an understanding of group behavior that managers can create effective teams (Griffin & Moorhead, 2014). For example, suppose that a manager needs to create a team to work on a particular project. Through an understanding of group behavior, the manager is able to ensure that the members of this team possess the traits, qualifications and competencies needed to work seamlessly together. Conflict resolution is another issue that necessitates manager understanding of group behavior (Olaniran, 2010). As they understand how groups function, managers are able to effectively resolve conflicts as and when they arise. The fact that it facilitates clear and effective communication is yet another reason why managers should understand group behavior (Olaniran, 2010). Managers are able to adopt communication approaches that are in line with the dynamics of the groups.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
There are those who feel that there is no need for firms to understand organizational decision making. These people are clearly out of touch with the realities that organizations face. Whereas it is true that individuals are the ones who make decisions, it is worth remembering that these individuals are part of a larger system. By understanding organizational decision making, one is able to recognize how individual decisions affect organizational operations (Brunsson & Brunsson, 2017). Furthermore, individuals are also able to understand the role that organizational dynamics play in defining the decisions that individuals make. For example, a manager who wishes to hire a new employee would need to consider such issues as the financial performance of the organization. This example shows that the decisions that individuals make do not occur in a vacuum. There are organization-level dynamics that influence these decisions. Therefore, an understanding of organizational decision making is critical.
The terms groups and teams are often used interchangeably. However, there are significant differences that distinguish them. One of the key differences concerns the identities and the purpose of teams and groups (Sisson, 2013). On the one hand, groups are simply a collection of people who work together. On the other hand, teams bring together people with a shared objective and who strive to accomplish a common mission (Sisson, 2013). Essentially, the ties between the members of a team are far stronger than those that bind members of groups. It is important to understand the difference so as to determine the tasks to assign teams and those to allocate groups. For example, complex tasks that demand close collaboration are best handled by teams. The behaviors that they exhibit are another difference that sets groups and teams apart. Reciprocal communication, interdependence and close collaboration are some of the behaviors that teams exhibit (Griffin & Moorhead, 2014). On the other hand, groups are defined by such behaviors as informality and lower levels of collaboration.
In conclusion, there is no doubt that teams play a critical role in driving organizational success. Given this fact, it is important for managers to understand group dynamics. As they understand how groups functions, the managers are able to resolve conflicts, assign tasks and communicate effectively. Managers also need to understand organizational decision making. This allows them to recognize the impact that organizations have on how individuals make decisions and the effects of these decisions on organizational dynamics. Most importantly, managers should not spare any resource or effort in their quest to create well-functioning teams and groups.
References
Brunsson, K., & Brunsson, N. (2017). Decisions: the complexities of individual and organizational decision-making. Cheltenham: Edward Edgar Publishing.
Griffin, R. W., & Moorhead, G. (2014). Organizational behavior: managing people and organizations. Nashville, TN: South-Western.
Olaniran, B. A. (2010). Group communication and conflict management in an electronic medium. International Journal of Conflict Management, 21 (1), 44-69.
Sisson, J. (2013). The difference between a group and a team. The Business Journals. Retrieved September 19, 2018 from https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/growth-strategies/2013/06/the-difference-between-a-group-and-a.html
