ABSTRACT
The chapter on group and group dynamics lays emphasis on the significance of forming groups, and the characteristics and classification of groups. Formal and informal groups are categorized based on source, size, behavioral trends, stability, etc. A section of the chapter focuses on the models of group development like the Five-Stage Model, the Punctuated Equilibrium Model that depicts the stages of group development. The importance of group dynamics is conveyed through examples in the chapter along with the enumeration of the role it plays in the survival of the group in the context of an organization. The case of Group Decision-Making conveys the principle of generality, where discussions should be pushed to higher levels of generality as the generalization of ideas unites people in the group. Group Behavior also has been adequately dealt with by talks about Group Roles, Group Cohesiveness, and Group Decision-making strategies that can be autocratic, democratic, or consensus. Group influence can lead to phenomena like Groupthink, Deindividuation, and group shift. The chapter also illustrates external factors impacting group behavior that include resources, availability, work culture and conditions, performances, rewards, etc. The chapter uses case studies to illustrate phenomena, traits, influence, and impact of group behavior from an organization's context that successively impacts the business growth of an organization.
