Determinants of Group Behavior

ndividuals form groups. They live in groups. They move in groups. They work in groups. Groups are important. They influence work and work behavior. They cannot be ignored. They exert significant influence on the organization. They are inseparable from organization. They are useful for the organization. They form foundation of human resources. The study of group behavior is important. Individual and group behavior differs from each other. Group behavior affects productivity.
The importance of group behaviour has been realized from time to time. Elton Mayo and his associates way back in 1920 conducted the famous Hawthorne experiments and came to know that the group behaviour have major impact on productivity.An individual’s work, job satisfaction and effective performance is influenced by the group in which he moves. At lower level of the organisation it is the small groups of employees work as a team. They have the responsibility to finish a task assigned to them within a stipulated period of time.

If they come across a problem they tackle it by themselves. They get guidance from senior fellow workers in solving the problem and accomplishing it. It is needless to say that groups are important in employee’s life. They spend increasing proportion of time with the group at workplace.

1. Determinants of Group Behaviour External Conditions Resources of Group members Group structure GOPALA KRISHNA.N 211074 SDM COLLEGE, UJIRE CONTACT@ [email protected]

2. Organization Strategy An organization has a strategy that defines what business it is in or wants to be in and the kind of organization it is or wants to be. Strategy outlines the organization’s goals and the means for attaining these goals. Example: Direct the organization towards reducing costs, improving quality, expanding market share etc. 1.External Conditions

3. Authority Structures Organizations have authority structures that defines who reports to whom, who makes decisions individuals or groups are empowered to make.

4. Formal Regulations Organizations create rules, procedures, policies, and other form of regulations to standardise employee behaviour .

5. Organizational Resources Organizational Resources important to the work group include such things as tools, equipment, facilities, and work methods and procedures. To achieve true potential resources are essential.

6. Procurement of Personnel Members of any group are first members of organization to which it belongs. The method adopted by the organization to hire employees will determine the type of people who constitute the group.

7. Performance Appraisal and Reward System Groups are influenced by the reward system. Well designed reward systems help establish and maintain proper levels and direction for group efforts.

8. Organizational Culture Every organization has an written culture that defines standards of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour for employees. After few months, most employees understand their organization’s culture.

9. Physical Work Setting Physical or spatial arrangements of the work setting can also influence what goes in a group. Physical setting, is to a large extent, decided by technology. Either facilitates or impedes interaction among group members.

10. 2.Resources of Group members Abilities Personality Characteristics Part of group’s performance can be predicted by assessing the task relevant and intellectual abilities of its individual members. There has been a great deal of debate on the relationship between personality traits and group attitudes and behaviour .

11. 3.Group structure Leadership Leadership role in group is one of the most important of all group structural characteristics Role By “Role” – a word borrowed from theatre – is meant the part that an individual plays as a result of occupying some position or status in life.

12. GOPALA KRISHNA.N 211074 SDM COLLEGE, UJIRE CONTACT@ [email protected]