Organisational Behaviour - 1st edition 2011
Home | Definition trainer > Chapter 3
Choose method
Show terms
Show definitions
Begin
group
two or more people who associate regularly and without the intervention of others, who have common goals, are dependent on each other for achieving these goals and feel they are a group
management group
group in which it is determined how an organisation must function by discussion and decision-making
work group
group in which executive activities are performed
self-managing team
group with executive, planning and supervisory tasks
formal group
group that is a permanent part of the organisation
informal group
group that is not a permanent part of the organisation
evolutionary explanation
people form groups because it provides protection in unsafe situations
psychological explanation
people form groups because they need contact with other people and wish to belong
cognitive explanation
people form groups because they can achieve more together
social identity
the part of a person’s identity they derive from their social environment
conforming
adapting to the behaviour and ideas of others
deviance
departing from the ideas and behaviour of others
double interaction
smallest unit of interaction with which people manage their collaboration
group structure
stable pattern of relationships and behaviour within a group
role
specific contribution expected of someone
role ambiguity
lack of clarity about the role a person must fulfil
role conflict
contradictory requirements or expectations of the role to be filled
task-oriented role
contributions focused on the task that has been assigned to the group
group-oriented role
contributions aimed at maintaining a pleasant atmosphere in the group
self-oriented role
contributions oriented on self-interest and frustrating the group interest
sociometric method
method of establishing who likes to associate with whom
sociogram
graphic representation of the affective relationships in a group
cohesion
extent to which group members feel drawn to each other and would like to remain in the group
group norms
informal rules that govern the behaviour of group members
in-/out-group differentiation
process in which people assess members of their own group more positively than members of other groups, through which prejudice and stereotyping arise
social identity theory
concept that people derive part of their identity from the groups they are members of
negative spiral
process through which conflicts are reinforced
contact hypothesis
the presumption that conflicts between groups can be reduced under certain circumstances by increasing contact
out of