Development and Socialization

 

Stages of group

 

1. Orientation: Forming

Getting acquainted

 

polite conversation

 

members share ideas, values cautiously

 

Establish a base to work from later

 

members want to be liked by others

 

anticipating others actions

 

Some stereotyping/categorizing others

 

Fears and hidden agendas kept inside

 

Cliques begin forming for later strength

 

Strong need for group approval

 

Participation active but uneven

 

Conflict usually absent

 

Intrinsic Guidelines to relate from;

        keep ideas simple

        say acceptable things

        avoid controversy

        avoid serious topics

        if sharing feelings keep to a   minimum

        Avoid disclosure

 

 

 

Storming: The conflict stage

 

Conflict

 

Misinterprets; false conflicts

 

Contingent conflicts

 

More issues brought out

 

Escalation of conflict and disruption

 

Group is vulnerable

 

Primary and secondary tension

 

Arousal states

 

 

 

Norming: The cohesion stage

 

Unity, camaraderie

 

Stabilization

 

Unity

 

Satisfaction

 

Decreased anxiety

 

Increased pressure to conform

 

greater participation of members

 

Performing; The Task-Performance Phase

 

Time spent on problem increases

 

Time on Task vs Tasks

 

Cohesion stable or increases

 

Synergy

 

Goals clear

 

Conflict is recognized and resolved

 

Use resources

 

Group Socialization:

 

Adjourning: the Dissolution Phase

 

Planned  dissolution takes place when the group  accomplishes its goals

 

Spontaneous dissolution, results when unanticipated problems arise.  The rewards and costs are brought in to play

 

Can be stressful,  increased conflict may result

 

With over 100 stage models of group development  Tuckman's model accepted but cannot be applied without qualification to all groups  his successive stage theory;  is not always the case    some groups avoid particular stages, other move through the stages in an unique order.

 

Many theorists also prefer Cyclical model  Others tend to prefer Bale's ideal of the equilibrium  That groups strive to maintain a balance between accomplishing  the task and enhancing the quality of relationships.  Bales's argues that mature groups tend to shift back and forth between what Tuckman calls the norming and performing stages.

 

GROUP SOCIALIZATION

 

This refers to the relationship to the group and to other members is defined and redefined.

 

Richard Moreland and John Levine formulated three dynamics related to Socialization; Reciprocal processes: evaluation, commitment, and role transition

Social exchange theory of the rewards and costs being evaluated and taken into account.

 

Moreland found that students who belonged to groups in HS where more  apt to work harder and finding groups in College. 

 

Commitment the enduring adherence to the group and the group to the individual.  What alternates does the person have to the group and group toward the individual.  the investment is inversely proportional the investment or energy put toward the group.  The more investment the more commitment

Festingers cognitive dissonance theory.  how members will rationalize to make sense out of membership.  Refer to the Mills experiment of initiations to group membership where members would have a high, moderate and non  thing to do to get into group and them were presented with a boring and banal group recording.  Discuss groups the class have been involved in that different types of initiations and there fore the investment being high.

 

The third socialization process is roles transition, or changes in the behaviors of the individual in group.  Note the changes need to be okay with both the individual and the group.

 

Non members, Quasi-members and full members.  the idea of influence of the individual on the group and the group on the individual....

 

Just as group development generally is orderly or goes through stages so does socialization;  investigation, socialization, maintenance, resocialization, and remembrance.

 

Investigation: investigation, reconnaissance & recruitment

 

Socialization: initiation, assimilation and accommodation [adaption]

 

Maintenance: role negotiation;

 

Resocialization: changes after role changes and either convergence occurs and is okay with the member/group or divergence which the change is not okay and an exiting occurs.

 

Remembrance: reminiscence and tradition[s]  'In the last group we did this.....

 

Organizational development

The management at the Harwood Manufacturing Corp had problems with employee discord each time they modified  production etc.  this resulted in high turn over and decreased productivity.  Two group dynamicists, Lester Coch and John French were called in and they approached this problem from a developmental point. They set up 3 training programs [groups]

1. no participation they were not involved in the planning but were given an explanation for the innovations

2. participation-through-representation; they attended group meetings where the need for change was discussed openly and informal decision[s] were reached.  They chose a sub group "special" operators

3. Total participation followed  much the same procedures  as group two but did not have the "special" group.  all were involved.

 

Productivity went  up for groups 2-3  and as expected group 1 continued to have problems and turn over continued.

A number of large businesses us consults and Organizational development to aid in their productivity.

 

3 basic methods  of OD are

1. survey feedback

2.Process consultation

3. Team building

Survey feedback developed in the 50's by the survey research center of the Instituted for Social Research at the University of Michigan;  Consultants gather information  through observation, interviews and surveys and then synthesized it into a form the gives an overall picture of the "organization"  then make recommendations on what and how to change.

The next method; Process Consultation which is advocated by Edger Schein .  Consultants begin by observing the work unit[s] and taking notes of patterns of communication

 

Group Formation Power Point

 

Cohesion and Development Power Point

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