Amber Gilman
The University of Phoenix
Mr. Chris Mendoza PhD
Introduction We encounter various types of groups and teams every day. What exactly is the difference between a group and a team? In this paper, I will explore differences between a group and teams, examine the definitions, and discuss why both are important in an organization.
What Is A Group?
A group is defined as two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to achieve particular objectives (Robbins, Judge, 2009). The members in a group are typically responsible for their own contributions. Not all groups are the same. There are many different types of groups. Some types of groups are task, interest, command, or friendship oriented (Robbins, Judge, 2009).
What some reasons a person would join a group? Some of the reasons why people join a group are: security, status, self-esteem, affiliation, power, and goal achievement (Robbins, Judge, 2009).
I find myself part a variety of different groups. I can be labeled part of the political conservative group, Christian group, fitness group, mommy group, and many different groups. When talking about my organization, I would be considered part of the administrative group. In this group, we are required to communicate and share knowledge that will save the company money, create a more efficient work environment, and make our boss’s lives a bit smoother. We share this knowledge with each other and it helps our group work better. However, I feel that I am truly part of a team in my organization.
What is a Team? Teamwork has become a vital part of the working culture and becoming a learning organization is necessary to maintain a competitive advantage in today’s global economy. The need for developing the strategies and tools to be able to transform groups on individuals into collaborative teams is
References: Brown, Donald R., (2011). An Experiential Approach to Organizational Development, 8th ed. Pearson Education Inc., Prentice Hall, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 Parker, (2007). Parker High Performance Teams (HPT). Parker Hannifin Corporation Robbins, Stephen, and Judge, Timothy (2009). Organizational Behavior, Thirteenth Edition Chapter 9: Foundations of Group Behavior. Prentice Hall ----------------------- Parker Training Material