ABSTRACT
Voluntary social groups are distinguished from the organized social groups in work organizations. One of the primary functions of the social group in a work organization is to carry out work efficiently. It is necessary to distinguish casual associations from the permanent group life of work organizations. The importance of organized work groups for individual innovation has been repeatedly confirmed in studies of work organizations. Voluntary work groups affect morale in the non-technical areas of human association at work. Face-to-face groups of peers at work are important as the unit within which standards of conduct are established and maintained. Conduct standards developed by, and learned in, organized work groups are oriented specifically with respect to work. In the clique as a voluntary social group, personality integrity is supported in ways similar to those observed in organized work groups. Antagonism of work groups toward their employing organizations has received the most attention in the literature.
