Introduction to Groups and Teams
Groups vs Teams: Both are collections of people, but they differ in purpose, interaction,
and the level of collaboration required.
Objective: To understand the difference between groups and teams, and how leadership
and team management principles apply to each.
What is a Group?
Definition: A group is a collection of individuals who come together to share
information, resources, or work toward a common goal, but with less interdependence.
Characteristics of Groups:
o Individuals: Members work primarily as individuals.
o Goal Orientation: They may have a common goal, but the tasks are often
divided, and there's less collective responsibility.
o Interaction: Minimal collaboration; members might not rely on one another.
o Leadership: Leadership is often more centralized or informal, and the group's
productivity is not necessarily dependent on team cohesion.
Examples:
o A group of employees in an office discussing ideas for a project.
o A study group where individuals are still responsible for their own work.
Types of Groups
Formal Groups: Established by an organization to fulfill specific objectives (e.g.,
department teams, committees).
Informal Groups: Form naturally based on social connections, shared interests, or
values (e.g., lunch groups, hobby clubs).
What is a Team?
Definition: A team is a type of group where members are interdependent and work
together towards a shared goal. Collaboration and mutual responsibility are key.
Characteristics of Teams:
o Interdependence: Team members rely on each other to accomplish the task.
o Shared Goals: Teams focus on achieving a common goal that requires
collaboration and collective effort.
o Collaboration: High levels of interaction and communication. Success is
measured by the team’s performance, not just individual contributions.
o Leadership: Leadership can be shared or distributed among team members,
fostering empowerment, or it can be more collaborative and supportive.
Examples:
o A project team working on a product launch where each person’s role is
interdependent on the others.
o A sports team where every member contributes to the success of the game, and
failure or success impacts the whole team.
Types of Teams
1. Work Teams: Groups of employees who perform a specific task and are responsible for
its outcome (e.g., software development team).
2. Project Teams: Teams formed for a specific project, often with a set deadline (e.g.,
construction team).
3. Self-Managed Teams: Teams with autonomy in decision-making and problem-solving,
where members share leadership responsibilities (e.g., a cross-functional team in a
company).
4. Virtual Teams: Teams that work remotely and rely on digital communication to
collaborate (e.g., remote working teams).
5. Cross-functional Teams: Teams made up of individuals from different departments or
areas of expertise (e.g., product development teams that include marketing, design, and
engineering).
The Role of Leadership in Groups and Teams
In Groups:
o Leadership is often directive, and decision-making is centralized.
o Group leaders typically manage tasks and ensure the group is organized, but don’t
always require high levels of interaction.
In Teams:
o Leaders facilitate collaboration and ensure members are working toward a
common goal.
o Leadership might be shared, or the leader might focus on creating a cohesive
environment and building trust.
o Empowerment and mutual respect are key for effective team leadership.
Stages of Team Development (Tuckman’s Model)
Forming: Team members get to know each other. Roles and expectations are unclear.
Storming: Conflicts arise as members assert their ideas. Tension can occur as roles and
goals become clearer.
Norming: The team begins to work more effectively together, establishing norms and
relationships.
Performing: The team is functioning at a high level, efficiently working toward the goal.
Adjourning: The team disbands after achieving the goal or project completion.
