TEAM – II:Team Cohesiveness, Four ways to Cohesiveness, Communication

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Introduction To Public AdministrationMGT111

LESSON 36

TEAM II

At the end of lecture the students will be able to understand:

- What are team norms;

- Understand team cohesiveness;

- Methods to increase team cohesiveness

Meaning and concept of communication

Team Norms

When group members work together they form expectations about how they and the other

members will behave. Some of these norms are carried over from society in general, such as dressing

"properly'" for work or showing up on time. Others are particular to the group and its special goals, such as

questioning "conventional ideas".

When an individual breaks with team norms, the other members will probably pressure that

individual to conform. Team norms are therefore important to adhere to by the team/group members.

Without the understanding of norms and adherence to norms groups cannot function.

Team Cohesiveness

The solidarity, or cohesiveness, or togetherness of team member is an important indicator of how

much influence the group has over its individual members. The more cohesive the group-the more strongly

members feel about belonging to it and the greater its influence. If the members of a group feel strongly

attached to it, they are not likely to violate its norms.

Team cohesiveness plays a role in small as well as large organization in better performance. Team

cohesiveness is critical in helping the individual feel good about his or her contribution to the effort as well.

Highly cohesive teams often have less tension and hostility and fewer misunderstanding than less cohesive

groups.

Four ways to Cohesiveness

Cohesiveness or solidarity in teams can be achieved by adopting certain measures. Some of the

methods are:

Introduce competition;

Increase interpersonal attraction;

Increase interaction; and

Create common goals and common fates for employees

1. Introduce Competition: When the competition with outside individuals or other teams is

increased, the group becomes cohesiveness. When the group feels outside threat or competition

from outside the rational response of members is to develop cohesiveness.

2. Increase Interpersonal Attraction: Sometimes people join teams whose members they identify

with or admire. Thus, an organization may want to begin by trying to attract employees who share

certain key values or who have common goals.

3. Increase Interaction: In work situation it is not often possible for people to like everyone they

work with. However, it has been observed that when people interact frequently with each other,

there is gradual likeness that people develop. Increased interaction and communication can

improve camaraderie.

4. Create Common Goals And Common Fates: A group's effectiveness is a function of three

variables:

i. Task interdependence,

ii. Potency, and

iii. Outcome interdependence.

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Introduction To Public AdministrationMGT111

i. Task interdependence relates to the dependence of workers on one group

member on the work of another member. E.g. one group member's task is to

straighten wire while the other group member has to cut the wire, so once the wire

is cut the first worker has to round the head of wire. This is task interdependence.

ii. Group's sense of potency means, shared belief of a group that it can be effective.

The group potency also keeps the group together.

ii. Outcome interdependence is the degree to which the consequences of the

group's work are felt by all the group's members. In other words the group

members have a feeling that the outcome of group efforts is not possible without

each one contributing. And that the success of group is every member's success.

All the three factors that create common goals and fate are shown in Figure 1.

Determinants of Work-Group Effectiveness

Figure 1

Outcome

Task

Potency

Interdependence

(Effectiveness)

Identifying factors

Include organizational

Include technology,

Strategic plan,

Reward, recognition,

Work rules, proximity of

History, culture

members

Group Task

Effectiveness

= Effect

Identifying factors include

= Feedback

Organizational criteria

For effectiveness

Making Teams Effective

Many managers' joke or complaint about committees and meetings of teams being big time-

wasters. In reality, a committee or task force or a group is often the best way to pool the expertise

of different members of the organization and channel their efforts towards effective problem

solving and decision making. This is done by coordinating the efforts of group in effective manner.

Guidelines for Making Committees and Meeting Effective

Committees differ greatly in their functions and activities, therefore set of broad guidelines will

appropriate for all cases are recommended. The following suggestions apply to committees, and group

meetings, if the skills of members are to be used most effectively:

The agenda and all supporting material for the meeting should be distributed to members

before the meeting to give them time to prepare in advance.

Meetings should start and end on time. The time when they will end should be announced

at the outset.

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Introduction To Public AdministrationMGT111

The committee's authority should be known i.e., Is the committee to advise, recommend

or implement

Chairperson should be selected on his/her ability to run meetings efficiently

Optimum size of committee should be determined. If the members are too few members

i.e. fewer than five the advantage of committee may be diminished. Similarly if the size is

too large even then best of the group may not be utilized. However, size may vary

according to the task assigned to group.

Communication

Another important area of organization and for manager's effectiveness is Communication.

Communication is the back bone of organization's survival and growth. Organizations must be able to pass

on their mission goals and Objectives effectively to all members of organization. The communication is

also important because all managerial activities and functions like motivation, leadership, teamwork etc., are

dependent on communication. Without communication it is not possible to run the organization effectively

and efficiently

What is communication

Communication is defined as the transmission of information/ message (written or verbal) from

one person to another or from one place to other.

The Importance of Effective Communication

Effective communication is important for following reasons:

1. Communication provides a common thread for the management processes of planning, organizing,

leading, and controlling, team work, etc.

2. Effective communications skills can enable managers to draw on the vast array of talents available

in organization.

3. Managers do spend a great deal of time communicating. Rarely are managers alone at their desks

thinking, planning, or contemplating alternatives. In fact, managerial time is spent largely in face-to-

face, electronic, or telephonic communication with employees, supervisors, suppliers or customers

etc.

Interpersonal Communication

Communication is defined as the process by which people seek to share meaning via the

transmission of symbolic messages. The definition of communication has three essential points. These are:

(1)

Communication involves people, and communication involves trying to understand how

people relate to each other;

(2)

Communication involves shared meaning, which suggests that in order for people to

communicate, they must agree on the definitions of the terms they are using; and

(3)

Communication involves symbols, gestures, sounds, letters, numbers, words etc. And

language can only represent or approximate the ideas that they are meant to communicate.

Concepts

Team cohesiveness:

Solidarity, together of members of group.

Task interdependence:

The tasks assigned to members in group are interdependence.

Outcome interdependence:

The outcome or result of group activity is the result of effort of

all members and all members share the reward or take pride in

the result.

Potency effectiveness:

Every member in a group contributes effectively to achieve

results.

Communication:

Transmission of information/message (written and verbal)

from one person to other.

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