Human Relations in Organizations: Applications and Skill Building 8th Edition by Robert Lussier

Exercise 24

Note: This exercise is designed for class groups that have worked together for some time. (Five or more hours are recommended.)
Answer the following questions as they apply to your class group.
1. Based on attendance, preparation, and class involvement, identify each group member's level of commitment to the group, including yourself. (Write each member's name on the appropriate line.)
High commitment _______________________________
Medium commitment _______________________________
Low commitment _______________________________
2. Our group size is:
_______ too large __________ too small ________ OK
Explain why.
3. List at least five norms your group has developed. Identify each as positive or negative.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What positive norms could the group develop to help it function?
4. Based on the group's commitment, size, homogeneity, equality of participation, intragroup competition, and success, identify its cohesiveness level as:
__________ high ________ medium _______ low
How does cohesiveness affect performance? What can be done to increase cohesiveness?
5. Identify each group member's status, including your own. (Write each group member's name on the appropriate line.)
High __________________________________________
Medium __________________________________________
Low __________________________________________
Does the group have status congruence? How can the group improve it?
6. Identify the roles members play. Write the name of each group member who plays each role on the appropriate line. You will most likely use each name several times and have more than one name on each role line, but rank them by dominance.
Task roles
Objective clarifier _______________________________________
Planner __________________________________________
Organizer __________________________________________
Leader __________________________________________
Controller __________________________________________
Maintenance roles
Former __________________________________________
Consensus seeker _______________________________________
Harmonizer __________________________________________
Gatekeeper __________________________________________
Encourager __________________________________________
Compromiser __________________________________________
Self-interest roles (if appropriate)
Aggressor __________________________________________
Blocker __________________________________________
Recognition seeker _______________________________________
Withdrawer __________________________________________
Which roles should be played more, and which less, to increase effectiveness? Who should and should not play them?
7. Our group is in stage ________ of group development.
1. Orientation
2. Dissatisfaction
3. Resolution
4. Production
What can be done to increase the group's level of development?
8. Identify problem people, if any, by placing their names on the appropriate line(s).
Silent member _____________________________________
Talker _____________________________________
Wanderer _____________________________________
Bored member _____________________________________
Arguer _____________________________________
What should be done to help eliminate the problems caused by these people? Specifically, who should do what?
9. Review the answers to questions 1 through 8. In order of priority, what will the group do to improve its group structure? Specify what each group member will do to help the group's structure.
Note: This exercise is designed for groups that have met for some time. (Five or more hours are recommended.)
Objectives: To gain a better understanding of the group structure components and how they affect group performance, and to improve group structure.
AACSB: The primary AACSB learning standard skills developed through this exercise are teamwork and leadership; in addition, communication, reflective thinking, self-management, and analytic skills are developed.
Preparation: You should have answered the preparation questions.
Experience: You will discuss your group's structure and develop plans to improve it.
Groups get together to discuss their answers to the nine preparation questions. Be sure to fully explain and discuss your answers. Try to come up with some specific ideas on how to improve your group's process and dynamics.
Conclusion: The instructor leads a class discussion and/or makes concluding remarks.
Application (2-4 minutes): What did I learn from this experience? How will I use this knowledge in the future?
Sharing: Volunteers give their answers to the application section.