Groups and Teams

Question 1

What are the common factors that differentiate a team from a collection of people?

Answer 1

1. Mutual awareness of each other
2. Interaction and communication between members
3. A common goal / aim / purpose

Question 2

What is the formula in STEINER’S model of group performance?

Answer 2

AP = PP - LDTFP

Actual productivity
=
Potential productivity minus losses due to faulty processess

Question 3

What are the two types of ‘losses’ that can occur in Steiner’s model? Can you think of examples of each?

Answer 3

1. Motivational losses
Social loafing (people not investing their best)
No incentive to perform
Arguments
Social factors (friendships etc)
Lack of encouragement etc

2. Co-ordination losses
   Poor tactics
   High group numbers (Ringlemann effect suggests as group numbers increase, individual effort might decrease)
   No personal identification of role and responsibility
   Poor communication and interaction
   Sub group can be both beneficial and detrimental

Question 4

What is cohesion?

Answer 4

The extent to which a team ‘sticks’ together. Cohesion can refer to bringing a team together, keeping a team together and explaining the ‘closeness’ with which the team works.

Question 5

What are the two types of cohesion?

Answer 5

Task cohesion - sticking together in order to complete a task such as winning a football league
Social Cohesion - sticking together due to social reasons such as friendship and belonging

Question 6

How could a team influence performance or participation in a balanced, active and healthy lifestyle?

Answer 6

Socialisation - adopting the norms and culture of the team eg. if a team goes to the pub after a game, new members are likely to do the same
Role models - their will be ‘senior’ players in most team who will be copied by younger players
Friendships - social bonds develop in teams and this can be both beneficial and detrimental.
Previous success - a previously successful team attracts new players and might have an aura of ‘invincibility’
A team offers support and guidance
A team might promote competition within the team (playing for places etc)