The Importance of Working with Others
Wherever people work together, groups will be formed. People will belong to one or more group, with each group having a different goal and purpose. These groups may be formal or informal. Formal groups are created to complete defined tasks, whilst informal groups are created voluntarily and are made up of individuals with common interests or roles. Informal groups are not usually recognised by the organisation but they can have significant impact upon the work of others and can therefore, be a useful resource when considering learning opportunities for a student.
A group is defines as "two or more people working together and satisfying needs through interaction (Millar et al. 1996). The work-based supervisor and the student therefore, constitute a group and the interaction can reflect the advantages and problems often associated with group interaction.
Four aspects of groups are important to how they function, namely group size, roles of members, group norms and group cohesion.
Group Size: The number of people in a group can affect the dynamic of the group and its effectiveness. Group members are usually more satisfied in small groups but group performance will depend on the task to be performed.
Members Roles: Three important group roles have been identified
- Task Roles; help a group to reach its goals.
- Maintenance roles support and nurture other group members
- Self centred roles provide self gratification to individual members even at the expense of the group (Millar et al. 1996).
Group Norms: The standard of conduct the group members accept, the rules for what must or must not be done
Group Cohesion: The member's attraction and loyalty to the group.
ACTIVITY:
Working in groups is an important part of work-based learning. The following activities are designed to help you reflect upon your experiences and how you can help groups work effectively.
As a supervisor how can you help the student recognise the different groups functioning in the workplace and their roles and responsibilities?
Can you think of a positive experience of working in a group?
What contributed to this being a positive experience?
Can you think of a negative experience of working in a group?
What contributed to this being a negative experience?
How would you summarise your thoughts on how to ensure groups work effectively?
