MBA 530 Groups and Teams By: Chris Olliff

What is a Group?
Group: A working group is an ad hoc group of subject-matter experts working together to achieve specified goal -Wikipedia Groups are usually people of the same discipline in an organization who are organized below a manager. Each member has individual goals and responsibilities regardless of those of his / her group. The group usually is organized around a larger function in the organization, and functions within the overall framework of the organization. Groups can be in place for the long term, and are not generally called to solve specific business needs. Examples of groups could be functions like marketing and product development

How is a Team Different?

A team is a group of people from different departments brought together for a specialized task or effort. They work independently of the organization as a whole, comprising their own internal dynamic. They usually have a leader, but leadership can be shared . Also, each person has a specific role they play on a team and these roles can be shared and rotated.

The team is focused on getting results that are outlined at the inset. Each team member is responsible to each other and they share goals and performance measures. Teams are often formed around a business problem or need and then disbanded once the set goals have been achieved.

Group vs- Team

Individual Accountability Focus in Individual goals Produce individual work results Individual and team accountability Focus on team goals Produce team results

Work under a single leader/ boss

Work in one department or area Purpose/ goals shaped by boss

Have shared leadership/ accountability

Represent many departments Purpose / goals shaped by team leader and team members Autonomous work and operation

Work under manager supervision

Norms
Norm- a group-held belief about how members should behave in a given context Wikipedia Norms help teams and groups function socially. When we are in a team, we need to know what is socially acceptable in order for the team to function well. Examples: Showing up on time, doing all of the work asked, not talking out of turn.. As leaders, we should be able to take control of this process and set the norms up in the formation of our teams. All norms should be understood. There should be a system of enforcement. The could be a side bar chat with a team member, or established written rules that all are aware. Good team norm understanding and usage will help the flow of the team and build trust and respect amongst team members. Everyone will be on the same page