Working in a Group

Working in a group:

In today's organizational context, people work more in group than in isolation. When two or more interacting and inter-reliant individuals collaborate to achieve particular goals, they constitute a group. As defined by Schermerhorn, Hunt & Osborn (2005), a group is a collection of two or more people who work with one another regularly to achieve common goals. In a true group, members (1) are mutually dependent on one another to achieve common goals and (2) interact regularly with one another to pursue those goals over a sustained period of time.

The importance of groups can be clearly understood by the words of Johnson and Johnson:

"Humans are small group beings. We always have been and we always will be. The ubiquitousness of groups and the inevitability of being in them makes groups one of the most important factors in our lives. As the effectiveness of our groups goes, so goes the quality of our lives." (Johnson and Johnson 2003: 579)

In any organization, Groups and not the individuals, acts as the building blocks. A group is an inevitable part of an organization. With today's rapidly changing and demanding business environment, Groups have evolved to be the fundamental unit of organizational structure. The groups have been awarded with more autonomy and flexibility.

Individuals associate themselves with a group for different reasons. Whatever be the reason, working in a group has its own advantages and disadvantages. Just as a group is greatly defined by the contribution of an individual, a group has a great effect on an individual. The group work can be both psychologically demanding and potentially rewarding for an individual.

Psychologically rewarding:

Groups support an individual in many ways. Groups are the important sources of performance, creativity and enthusiasm for the individuals and in turn for the organizations. Groups are imperative settings where the group members learn and share their skills, knowledge and the experiences.

Not all the groups are formed for the purpose of endorsing some influential needs. Being social animals, every individual has the need to interact with others. Groups address this basic need of the individuals. It acts as a support system for an individual and help in satisfying the affiliation needs. Groups give the individuals the opportunities for developing good friendships.

With more individuals working together, Groups are a resource of experience to each and every member. It provides a learning environment in which individuals can learn from each other and share their knowledge, job skills and experiences. When working in a group, there is a spur to the imagination of the individuals. The exchange of ideas among the group members induce the imagination of the individuals and make them to explore ideas in areas they have not even considered before. There is a mutual help among the group members in acquiring the core competencies. The group I was part of in my project helped me in gaining more insights into the areas we were working upon. And also, during a cultural project, I was part of the group which had people from parts of the world from different countries. This helped me in understanding the cultures, values and customs followed by the various members of the group. Also, people have a basic yearning for fulfilling their self-esteem needs and achieving a self-identity for themselves. Attaching to a group is a very effectual way of nursing self-esteem. The personal involvement in demanding needs of the group improves the self-respect of an individual. When I joined in a group which is fighting against global warming, it gave me a sense of pride that I am attached to a group that is fighting for a global cause. The active participation in the group activities also gave me an identity as a socially responsible person.

The individuals experience a sense of security when working in a group. This sense of security can be attributed to the work assistance, the technical advice and above all the support from the fellow group members during the times of crisis or pressures. Being in a group reduces the individual's doubts about himself and his potentials and makes him feel stronger. It also makes the individuals more resistant and more willing to face threats. This is one of the most rewarding facts I experienced working in a team. I always had doubts in my convincing skills. I was hesitant taking up the responsibility of acquiring sponsorships for the college cultural event. It was my group members who made me aware that I have good convincing skills and with their support I pursued the role and I was so successful in making my group the highest grosser in the sponsorships.

Groups play a major role in