Digital Commons Network^™

An Exploration Of Groups Dynamics And The Impact Of Unconscious Processes, Phil Hanlon

Level 3

Despite extensive research on groups, organisations continue to experience problems with them. Is this an inherent feature of the nature of groups? This article aims to provide a practical understanding of the unconscious processes in groups and how these impact on group functioning. It further elaborates some guidelines for managers on optimising team / group performance.

The article interrogates the work of Sigmund Freud regarding his views on how groups function, drawing mainly on his work Group Psychology and Analysis of the Ego (1921).

It asks if a study of Freud’s work can help organisations reconsider the nature of groups, …

Emotional Intelligence, Diversity, And Group Performance: The Effect Of Team Composition On Executive Education Program Outcomes, Michael P. Lillis

Journal of Executive Education

Group dynamics play a crucial role in group performance and effectiveness. The notion that people prefer to work with similar others in homogeneous groups is a common observation. Yet studies have revealed that homogeneity doesn’t necessarily translate into optimal group performance. In fact, research on group diversity has been fairly inconsistent; suggest the potential for some kind of underlying moderator variable. Using a sample of executive MBA students, this paper examines how group diversity and emotional intelligence are associated with group performance. We develop an integrative model that posits that the association between group heterogeneity and group performance becomes more …

Individual Incentives Versus Team Performance: Lessons From A Game Of Charades, Shawn E. Peacock, Patricia Denise Lopez, Marlon F. Sukal

Organization Management Journal

In this article, we describe a modified game of Charades that was developed to facilitate a discussion on the basic principles of effective reward system design. Students are organized into small groups. Incentive schemes are then manipulated so that one player within the group strives for an individual incentive, while the rest of the team play for a group reward. Through this simple and “fun” activity, students learn firsthand what happens when individual and team interests and incentives are not aligned. This experiential learning activity also offers excellent opportunities to discuss group dynamics, communication and coordination, and the importance of …

Individual Incentives Versus Team Performance: Lessons From A Game Of Charades, Shawn E. Peacock, Patricia Denise Lopez, Marlon F. Sukal

Organization Management Journal

In this article, we describe a modified game of Charades that was developed to facilitate a discussion on the basic principles of effective reward system design. Students are organized into small groups. Incentive schemes are then manipulated so that one player within the group strives for an individual incentive, while the rest of the team play for a group reward. Through this simple and “fun” activity, students learn firsthand what happens when individual and team interests and incentives are not aligned. This experiential learning activity also offers excellent opportunities to discuss group dynamics, communication and coordination, and the importance of …