Group Dynamics

Group dynamics is an important theory that has enabled me to understand my own approach to interacting with others. People work in-groups quite frequently and in many different areas of their life e.g. at work, school/college, sport, hobbies. A group can be defined as 'two or more people acting interdependently in a unified manner towards the achievement of goals' (pg.258, 'management', Koontz and Weihrich). There are different types of groups; they can be primary or secondary. A primary group 'consists of members who come into direct contact' (pg. 292, 'management', Roger Bennett), e.g. project teams, small department teams, sports teams. A secondary group 'are larger, less personal, and lack immediate direct contact between members' (pg. 292, 'management', Roger Bennett) e.g. long assembly line. This is where there is little interpersonal communication. Groups can also be formal or informal. Formal groups tend be created by management deliberately. Management will pick the members and the methods of doing work. However informal groups are usually established by people who have things in common and they will decide members, methods etc.…