The Forgotten Group Member
GM591 Leadership and Organizational Behavior
Sunday, March 18, 2012
The case study of The Forgotten Group Member demonstrations in what manner teams separate due to an absence of communication. The case verifies that knowing how to lead a team is just as significant as being a part of the team. It is imperative to understand that not only does a leader have the responsibility to lead the team but the members have a responsibility to partake in order for the team effectively complete an assignment.
Part I: Group Development
Teams pass through numerous stages for example the forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning stages. This particular case places the team within the storming stage. When group participants get to know each other better, the storming stage begins. This stage is considered as a bid for power. Each group member is wondering whether or not he or she will be respected and this may play out in competition, tension and maybe disagreement. Relationships become strained and differences become uncomfortable. Christine is challenged for control by Mike. The hostility Mike feels developed when he came upon his teammates during an unofficial group meeting. Left unaddressed, as in this case, I can only assume that Mike become angry, hostile, and now unproductive.
As the leader, Christine’s main task at this stage is to coach group members, in particular Mike, to get them on board. She needs to emphasis that teams come together because they share a common interest, and that members are treated equally. Once Christine re-evaluates the work and re-introduces the forming stages she can help re-integrate Mike back into the group. The forming stage occurs when the leader directs the team and establishes objectives clearly. Once Mike is reintroduced to the team goals and realizes his role on the team hopefully he would have made positive contributions in an effort to produce a high-quality group