1. Introduction
In the following investigation we will provide information on groups and needs, covering the theories of different exponents such as Henry Taifel and Leon Festinger, analyzing their theories, in a way that makes it easy to understand and make the clear objectives of these theories known. It also draws on other themes, such as the theory of social influence and conformity, as well as the theory of social exchange, in which the former talks about the fact that people who work in the presence of others were unconsciously affected by the patterns of group as a whole, and the second speaks of the fact that it is roughly stated that human beings interact with others in full recognition that their actions will be rewarded. We will talk about group theories,both formal and informal work team to understand that, how it can be useful in our life, this work is carried out in broad strokes, introducing the concepts to better understand the terms that are used in the research, all this will be in a way clear and concise.
It is worth mentioning that the information collected was taken from true bibliographic sources, which help us to provide more accurate information on this particular topic. Trying to understand with a bigger picture the different subjects of groups and needs.
2. Approach
Sometimes in some companies they are not sufficiently informed about group theories, the different work groups or what a born leader consists of. It is important to know all aspects of this topic, since subordinates generally only come to the company with the desire to work and an acceptable economic remuneration to cover their needs.
It is essential that some have to take the role of the leader, but sometimes, the leader does not know their own leadership, therefore, that impulse is needed from the current leaders or from the members of the team themselves, but above all, to know how act in adverse situations.
Since it is required to act in an appropriate way according to the needs and attitude of the collaborators.
3. Justification
According to field research and the fundamentals used for the work, it is being carried out in order to understand and acquire the necessary knowledge to use them in a work environment. As well as defining oneself in what type of group or person is considered one according to their attitudes, characteristics and the theories that are used so that this type of group can give positive results to the company or its senior management.
Since in a company there will always be work groups and each collaborator has to be identified in which sector he falls according to the division of groups and above all what skills, aptitudes and positive attitudes he possesses, factors that will achieve to fulfill the personal objective and the business. Therefore, it is essential to know what types of groups, work teams and theories exist, to apply disciplinary methods and also to be aware of what a leader should do in each case presented.
4. General Objective
Analyze the different theories of groups and needs, their factors and characteristics that complement it to apply knowledge in the professional area of managing high performance teams.
5. Specific objective
- Analyze the theories of Henri Tajfel and Leon Festinger to understand behavior in the workplace Conduct research with highlights of the different theories to detect the differences between each one Make data lists to identify the different types of groups that predominate Finish with an individual contribution on the topics investigated for learning.
I. Fundamentals
The historical background: Charles Fourier (1772-1837) the group and the community
Charles Fourier, a French thinker of the so-called utopian socialists, was a sincere and impartial critic of the society he knew, he fought against everything he considered fraudulent: excessive profits in trade, ecclesiastical tyranny, bureaucracy and the oppressive family and marriage ties of the time. He followed Rousseau's idea of holding civilization responsible for the ills of humanity. His ideas provide original elements for a model of libertarian society, he rejected the industrial model of the time, he relies on the gradual growth of the movement.
Historical and social foundations of Group Theory
It is important to pay attention to the components of the social context of the period between world wars, especially in Europe and the United States, where the first contributions to the theory of small groups emerged. From this context we can highlight the climate of social depression and also of disenchantment with the hereditary social sciences of modern rationality and its notion of progress based on reason. The human reason that was postulated as the foundation of scientific knowledge was also capable of exterminating the species with its war technology.
Scientific reason will give rise to other more humanistic foundations in the social sciences, historical reason: Man is his circumstance, in an indivisible relationship with the Other and the world.
History and Situation will become foundational pillars of knowledge in the social sciences, hence the dialectic takes on an important value as a method of thinking about reality, a thinking that is transformation (temporal process) of life based on tensions. To a certain extent, rethinking the human condition in its concrete conditions of existence installed a new ideology in the social sciences of the early twentieth century, which among many other achievements, would lead to the universal declaration of human rights.
The founders of the theory of small groups are authors from the beginning of the 20th century, who dealt with a phenomenon that had not been sufficiently studied until then, which was what we now call: the links or interactions between individuals. The proposal, at that time channeled its attention to a new object of study composed of: the social group, the links and the intrapsychic life, the three areas will be thought of as an integrated and interdependent whole. Thus was born the discipline that will be called Social Psychology.
Despite the diversity of theories, it can be agreed that some authors in particular, be it, due to their capacity for innovation, depth, prediction, power of synthesis or we would say marketing today, stand out as "fathers" of this science, for us they are: S. Freud, G. Mead, K. Lewin, B. Skinner.
II. Investigation Development
1. Groups and needs
1.1 Group theory and communication
Before starting with the topic of group theory and communication, it is necessary to define the term group and communication, which is why a group can be defined as two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to achieve certain specific objectives. Factor where communication is mentioned, which in the same way can be defined as a process to transmit.
Among the main antecedents are the experiences that back in the 20s and 30s were carried out in the Hawthorne workshops of the Western Electric Company in Chicago, through which the important influence that social factors exerted on the performance of people was observed in their workplace, and the value of the "informal group" was realized.
Subsequent experiences have shown that organizations are not only composed of individuals themselves, but that they form a network of social relationships and are members of different groups, which largely marks their organizational behavior.
When mentioning the term group, it is necessary to define its important points, which stand out:
- Independence: according to this criterion, what makes a group of people become a group is their mutual interdependence, that is, that these people depend on each other to achieve certain objectives. From here, two clarifications can be established: Motivation for group membership: whether membership of the group is voluntary or not. Objectives: whether the objectives are established by the group itself or are imposed externally on it.
However, it is necessary to determine that there are 2 types of groups in an organization:
Interactive group: As its name says, it is characterized by the interaction between the members of the group, they maintain a behavior of independence with the potential for mutual interaction, maintaining face-to-face interaction.
Categorical group: It is defined as the categorization of its members, that is, the interaction of its members is not necessary, it is enough to identify the members of the group and know that they belong to said group, this term is related to social identity, or belong in a society.
1.2 Henri Tajfel's theory
According to Henri Tajfel, there are factors for the inter-group relationship to occur, which is classified into 3 conditions:
- Condition of identity: Relationships defined in terms of belonging Condition of interdependence: That pursue the satisfaction of needs or seek the achievement of goals Condition of structure: They are given from clearly positions, with what it implies in terms of assigned responsibilities, status, social influence.
Some authors mention both positive and negative factors of group interaction:
According to Tajfel, intergroup behavior is the most common behavior among humans. We add: such behavior can acquire enviable tones of solidarity and cooperation, such as conflict, hostility and domination.
An extraordinarily fruitful theoretical argument to understand intergroup behavior, especially that which is channeled by negative aspects, is to take into account the dynamics of the relationships that can occur between comparison-stereotype-polarization categorization.
William G. Sumner defines ethnocentrism as “that conception of things in which the group itself is the center of everything, and everyone else is valued by reference to it. Each group nurtures its own pride and vanity, prides itself on being superior, exalts its own divinities, and regards strangers with contempt ”.
Endogroup favoritism does not give way immediately or automatically to intergroup hostility. For that to happen, some other ingredients are required.
An interdependent world is a world in which relationships between people and between groups are often framed by interests and goals that are not always compatible.
We must flee from the demonization of the conflict.
Tajfel conflict map
Tajfel conflict map
1.3 Leon Festinger's theory
The concept of cohesion proposed by Festinger (1954) is based on the idea that cohesion is that force that forces us not to abandon the group and to continue to adhere to it. In other words, it is the attractiveness that emanates from the group, its brilliance, and what attracts and bewitches the people who make it up. This vision closely relates cohesion to interpersonal attraction.
Why can a group be attractive? Why can membership become irresistible? What turns out to be desirable in a group?
There are four explanations, for the same author, that account for the above:
- The properties that are stimulating of a group: its goals, the characteristics of some members, the functioning it has, the prestige it has, etc. In other words, they are the properties that a group has and that make it an attractive group. The motivational needs of people, that is, those needs for filiation, recognition, security, etc., that a person has and what they are doing. to allow, to the extent that their personal needs are in tune with the group, to see it as an attractive group. The expectations that are based on a specific group. Expectations regarding the benefit of being part of it The level of comparison: there are many groups, and people belong to some and are no longer linked to others. This level allows, subjectively,consider the benefit of being part of a group given previous experience.
Factors for group cohesion:
Member attractiveness: Group membership puts a person in close association and frequent interaction with other members. Your evaluation of these members will influence how attracted that person is to group membership.
Similarities between members: Heider says that people are attracted the more similar their evaluations are. Festinger's theory of social comparison states that a person will be more attracted to situations in which others are similar to him in abilities and opinions.
Group Goals: Having a distinctive purpose or purpose serves to attract the group. It influences not only the content of the goal, but also the explicitness of its formulation, its clarity and its probability of success.
Type of interdependence between members: When the members of a group accept a common goal and agree on the actions necessary to achieve them, they become cooperatively interdependent.
Group activities: If a group has performance standards that are too high for members, the prospect of repeated personal failures should adversely affect the attractiveness of the group.
Leadership and decision making: The nature of leadership influences the attraction of the group. A democratic form of organization that encourages broad participation in decision-making appears to induce more attraction to the group than one where decisions are centralized.
Structural properties For example, communication structure and hierarchical position or status.
Group size: The relationship is negative, that is, the larger the group, the less attractive it becomes, although the latter is also related to the activity.
Factors for group cohesion
1.4 Theory of social influence and conformity
On this class of studies we find those carried out by Allport, which indicates that people who work in the presence of others were unconsciously affected by the guidelines of the group as a whole. However, the most exhaustive studies on conformity are found in the hands of Asch (1940) who develops a series of investigations where he observes that individual opinion tends to change towards group opinion (JR Torregrosa 1984, p.351) “la General opinion emphasized the power of social conditions to arbitrarily induce psychological changes. He interpreted slavish submission to group pressures as a general fact and implicitly belittled or denied the capacity for independence that men possess ”.
Asch carried out a famous experiment in which he formed groups of college students between 7 and 9 individuals, which he put into a class. She showed them drawings with lines that she had to match by their length (she explained that it was a visual perception test), in relation to a pattern line. When everyone had expressed their opinion, he would put other lines again, up to twelve sets of cards. In the beginning, everyone did it correctly since the difference between these lines was very noticeable. From there, Asch taught all subjects except one, who would be the "naive subject", the individuals who followed Asch's instructions erred on purpose and the answer of the naive subject was reserved to the last place: it was found that one of each three were carried away by the response of the majority.To explain this Asch gave three reasons, which provide us with three forms of submission of an individual to a group:
- Due to a change in the perception of the line: naive subjects vary their estimation because they were really convinced that the length of the line was different, the conformity effect produced a real change in the perception of the line. Distortion of judgment: a great Most of those who submit to the opinion of the group did so by recognizing themselves as wrong and agreeing with the group. They believed that the failure was theirs, perhaps due to a distortion in sight or in the brain.Distortion of action: they were those who really did not care about their response, the only thing they wanted was to be equal to the group, to belong to the group and not run the risk of being expelled or marginalized for being different, for this they were capable of not expressing their own opinion and conforming to that of the group.
1.5 Theory of social exchange
The theory of Social Exchange, from Thibaut and Kelley's point of view, roughly states that human beings interact with others in the full recognition that their actions will be rewarded.
The patent application procedure includes the drafting of a detailed technical description of the invention or innovation to be patented. Such a description is necessary due to the nature of the patent system, which is based on social exchange. This exchange consists of the state or government granting the inventor a monopoly or exclusivity of the innovative product or process. In return, the inventor offers the disclosure of all technical information regarding the operation and realization of said innovation.
This exchange benefits society, since the technical knowledge derived from the patented technology can be taken advantage of by anyone, once the term of the patent has expired since the exclusive benefit of the inventor is only temporary.
Thus, despite the fact that generally in free market societies, monopolies are prohibited because they affect the free development of economic activity, in the case of the patent system, governments make an exception and grant monopolies on technologies. innovative, with the aim of encouraging technological development, allowing people involved in the development of new technologies, take advantage of the monopoly granted by a patent to obtain a competitive advantage in the market and achieve an economic benefit.
2. Formal and informal teams and work team
2.1 Group
A group is defined as the set of two or more individuals who are related and interdependent and who came together to achieve specific objectives.
The groups have appropriate characteristics, dynamic interrelations; The groups are not static, but they are in constant change: they are dynamic.
Kissen (1987). There are those who assert that groups have no real existence, and that when we speak of a group it is merely an abstraction, a “conceptual distortion”.
For his part, Olmsted (1972). He considers a group as a plurality of individuals who are in contact with each other, who take into account their mutual existence and the awareness that their goal also has mutual importance.
Newcomb (1978). It says that a group consists of two or more people who share norms and whose social roles are interlinked.
In turn González Núñez (1987). He describes it as a more or less permanent meeting of several people who interact and influence each other in order to achieve certain common goals in whose emotional space all members recognize themselves as members of the group and are governed by a behavior.
2.2 Formal Teams
By formal teams we mean those that define the structure of the organization, with specific work assignments that set tasks. In formal groups, the behavior of individuals is stipulated and directed towards the goals of the organization.
According to James, A. (1996). Formal teams are deliberately created by managers for the purpose of assigning them specific tasks that serve the organization to achieve its goals.
It is the one that defines the structure of the organization, through certain work assignments in which activities are established, in formal groups, the goals of the organization stipulate the behaviors that can be observed and are aimed at achieving them.
Formal groups are deliberately created by managers and are responsible for executing certain tasks to help the organization achieve its goals.
Shermenhorn, Huny, Osborn (2005). It mentions that a formal team or group is officially designated to serve a specific organizational purpose. The organization creates such a group to perform a specific task, which usually involves the use of resources to create a product.
Formal groups can be permanent or temporary. Permanent working groups, or command groups in the vertical structure, appear in the organizational charts as departments, divisions or teams, these groups are officially created in order to perform a specific continuous function. In contrast, temporary work groups are task groups created specifically to solve a problem or perform a defined task; they are undone once the assigned purpose has been fulfilled.
On the other hand, Gibson and others (Gibson, Ivancevich and Donnely, 1998): point out that the needs and organizational processes of companies tend to form two types of formal groups: those in command and those in task. The former are made up of subordinates who report to a specific supervisor. The authority relationship between a department head and supervisors or between the head nurse and her subordinates are examples of this hierarchical group. While the latter are those in which employees work together to complete a task or project.
2.3 Informal Team
In contrast, informal groups are alliances that do not have a formal structure or are defined by the organization. These groups are natural formations of the work environment that arise in response to the need for social contact.
Gilbert, D. (1996). He mentions that an informal group or team arises whenever several people meet and interact regularly.
These groups develop within the formal structure of the organization. Members of informal teams tend to subordinate some of their individual needs to those of the overall team.
They are alliances that are not formally structured or determined by the organization. These are natural formations in a work environment and are presented in response to the need for social contact.
Informal groups arise every time people meet and interact on a regular basis. Such groups develop within the organizational structure. According to Shermenhorn and others, (Schermenhom, Huny, Osborn, 2005). Informal groups emerge without an official designation from the organization. They form spontaneously and are based on personal relationships or special interests, and without any specific organizational endorsement. They are normally found within most formal groups.
Informal groups often help people get their work done. Through their network of interpersonal relationships, they have the potential to streamline the flow of work, as people help each other in ways that formal lines of authority do not provide.
On the other hand, Gibson and others (Gibson, Ivancevich and Donnely, 1998) affirm that informal groups are natural associations of people willing to work in response to social needs. There are two specific informal groups: interest and friendship. In the first, individuals who do not belong to the same hierarchical or task group can join together to achieve a common goal. The objectives of these groups are not related to those of the organization. Friendship groups are formed because their members have something in common, be it age, political beliefs, or ethnic origins. These friendship groups often extend their relationships and communications outside of their work environment. Although friendship groups are informal, bosses should be aware that they must,as far as possible try to positively influence them.
2.4 Formal and informal team
Why do individuals form groups? There is no reason by itself sufficient to explain why individuals join groups. Since most people belong to different groups, it is obvious that different groups provide different benefits to their members.
The reasons why the working groups are formed are:
- Common needs, Members of a group seek similar challenges, such as a football team Common interests, When members share common interests, such as employees who want to modify their vacation plan Common goals, They come together to achieve common goals, such as the organizational goals of a department.Physical proximity, Employees who work in the same department or same type of work, frequently share social activities.Cultural similarities, Often, people who have just immigrated and enter a company, they join with people of the same nationality. Other common reasons people join a group are: Security, By joining a group, individuals can reduce the insecurity of being isolated. People feel stronger, have less self-doubt,and can better resist threats when part of a group Status, Inclusion in a group that is considered important by other people, provides recognition and status for its members Self-esteem, Groups can provide people with feelings of self-worth. That is, in addition to providing status, membership can also bring a greater sense of worth to group members. Power, which cannot be achieved individually, is often likely to be obtained through group action. There is power in the crowd.That is, in addition to providing status, membership can also bring a greater sense of worth to group members. Power, which cannot be achieved individually, is often likely to be obtained through group action. There is power in the crowd.That is, in addition to providing status, membership can also bring a greater sense of worth to group members. Power, which cannot be achieved individually, is often likely to be obtained through group action. There is power in the crowd.
2.5 Work team
A work team is a group of organized people, who work together to achieve a goal.
A work team aims to achieve common goals. The team is formed with the conviction that the proposed goals can be achieved by putting into play the knowledge, abilities, skills, information and, in general, the competencies of the different people who make it up. The term that is associated with this combination of knowledge, talents and abilities of team members in a common effort.
Achieving this synergy is the fundamental objective of a work team. It cannot be implemented by order nor does it appear by itself. It only appears when the interest in the team's result is compounded by the trust and mutual support of its members.
What makes a team different from a group? Do you have a team just because a group of people work together to get something done?
There are groups that are not really a work team (and perhaps they do not need to be) because they do not have a common goal, lasting relationships or a need to work in an integrated way. For example, “ad hoc” groups can be formed to work in a single meeting, or on short-term projects. Or “focus groups” that are brought together for the sole purpose of obtaining input for a project, not for its participants to work together.
III. Conclusion and technical contribution
Angel Ek
Thanks to the research work carried out, I was able to distinguish the differences between formal and informal teams, as well as the different theories that the authors put together. Some of these may interpret the characteristics differently, but the same conclusion is always reached.
On the other hand, this research will allow us to demonstrate the different theories that exist based on the topics discussed, as well as the forerunners of said movements, providing great ideas and key foundations for a better understanding at the time of its application, whether in a company, school or even in our own daily routine. This will help us to be able to distinguish and identify when formal or informal teams are carried out in a company or in the school itself, having the ability to know how to act at the right time so, if it is a formal or informal team, respectively, your needs are.
Limbert Tamayo
The research presented helps to understand the types of existing groups, the theories that some authors mention that are applicable for obtaining the objectives, authors who see the subject from the point of view of psychology and sociology. The contributions they present are applied in large companies today to obtain positive results for the company and individual.
The work was helpful to understand and know a little about the authors who talk about theories and types of groups, which increases the interest to know little more about this topic.
Oscar Lopez
Thanks to the present work carried out, it can be understood that group theories, both the characteristics and the needs and also the position of a leader are essential in a company since without them the company would not exist. For this, it was important to emphasize the information to be able to use the acquired knowledge and apply it in a work environment in order to achieve efficiency in the company for both you and your collaborators.
Alexander Pat
When we carried out the topics above, we understood that human behavior greatly influences a group and an objective to be achieved, in this way what is wrong can be found and minimized, thanks to the theories about human behavior, which have already been seen exponents you can study and repair the negative behavior of people making the work areas is in constant positive change, this is important for the gastronomic environment since as we know it is a work in which you work, under pressure and you should not lose your sanity.
After conducting research on high performance communication types and techniques, we observed the great importance of the types and techniques that can be verbal, oral or written as the case may be.
IV. Bibliography
- González, J. (2003). Group interaction and Psychopathology. Mexico DF: P and V. Fernández Villanueva, C. (2003). Social psychologies on the threshold of the 21st century. Madrid: Fundamentos.Rodriguez, J. (2006). Modern management of organizations. Mexico DF: Thomson.Stoner, J., Freeman, V., & Gilbert, D. (1996). Administration. Mexico: Pearson.
V. Annex
Illustration 1. Maslow's pyramid of needs.
Illustration 2. Types of common groups in society.
Illustration 3. Needs with general objectives.
SAW. Glossary
- Democratic: it is a form of social organization that attributes the ownership of power to the whole of society. In a strict sense, democracy is a form of state organization in which collective decisions are made by the people.Divinities: In polytheistic religions, a supernatural being who has power over a specific part of what exists and over the destiny of the human beings Endogroup: it is the reference group to which it belongs, where the same codes are handled, the configuration of the group's social identity is given by the perception of similarities Static: it remains in the same state and does not undergo changes. Immovable, still Stereotype: it is the exaggerated perception with few details that one has about a person or group of people who share certain characteristics,qualities and abilities, and that seeks to justify or rationalize a certain behavior in relation to a certain social category.Exalt: praise a lot someone or something that is admired, giving it greater power.Hostility: Enmity or aversion that one person shows towards another. It could be said that it is hostile action, denoting enmity or aversion or an attack or military action by one army or armed group against another Influence: it is the ability to exercise power (in any of its forms) over someone, on the part of a person, a group or a particular event. Interactivity: refers to the possibility that users have to interact with the medium, the authors and the text. Allowing in this way a development of actions that propose and communicate directly.refers to something or a group of people who are related to each other, either for a specific goal or for a common good Monopoly: it is a situation of legal privilege or market failure, in which there is a producer (monopolist) Offeror who has great market power and is the only one in a given industry that has a product, good, resource or service determined and differentiated. Motivation: derived from the Latin motivus, which means cause of movement. It is defined as the pointing or emphasis that is discovered in a person towards a certain means of satisfying a need, thereby creating or increasing the necessary impulse to put that means or that action into action, or to stop doing it Mutual: that It is done in a reciprocal way between two people, animals or things: they agreed to go to the movies.Large number of a thing. Variety of aspects or characteristics that occur at the same time in one thing: plurality is essential in a democracy. Polarization: it is the process by which in an originally undifferentiated group characteristics or distinctive features are established that determine the appearance in it of two or more mutually charged zones. Social: they generally empanize with any type of person without difficulty. Of the set of people who are organized into classes according to their economic level or their political power, or who are related to them: social class Utopia: refers to the representation of an idealized world that is presented as an alternative to the really existing world, through a review of this.Plurality is essential in a democracy. Polarization: it is the process by which in an originally undifferentiated set, distinctive characteristics or traits are established that determine the appearance in it of two or more mutually charged areas. Social: generally breading with any type of person without any difficulty. Of the set of people who are organized into classes according to their economic level or their political power, or who are related to them: social class Utopia: refers to the representation of an idealized world that is presented as an alternative to the really existing world, through a review of this.Plurality is essential in a democracy. Polarization: it is the process by which in an originally undifferentiated set, distinctive characteristics or features are established that determine the appearance in it of two or more mutually charged areas. Social: generally breading with any type of person without any difficulty. Of the set of people who are organized into classes according to their economic level or their political power, or who are related to them: social class Utopia: refers to the representation of an idealized world that is presented as an alternative to the really existing world, through a review of this.It is the process by which in an originally undifferentiated set, distinctive characteristics or features are established that determine the appearance in it of two or more mutually charged areas. Social: generally breading with any type of person without any difficulty. Of the set of people who are organized into classes according to their economic level or their political power, or who are related to them: social class Utopia: refers to the representation of an idealized world that is presented as an alternative to the really existing world, through a review of this.It is the process by which in an originally undifferentiated set, distinctive characteristics or features are established that determine the appearance in it of two or more mutually charged areas. Social: generally breading with any type of person without any difficulty. Of the set of people who are organized into classes according to their economic level or their political power, or who are related to them: social class Utopia: refers to the representation of an idealized world that is presented as an alternative to the really existing world, through a review of this.refers to the representation of an idealized world that is presented as an alternative to the really existing world, through a critique of it.refers to the representation of an idealized world that is presented as an alternative to the really existing world, through a critique of it.
