In our class, groups are very important for each one of us. They are meant to make sure that we complete our group project on time. Therefore our group could easily be identified as a task group. The formation and the development of a group are considered first in group dynamics. Group/team dynamics exists in almost every team and hence groups. There are several traits used to characterize group dynamics they include cohesiveness, interaction, safety, conflict resolution, growth, accomplishment, and trust (Levi,2011). According to classic theory, groups develop according to sentiments, activities, and interactions. Other theories that explain group dynamics include social identity theory and social exchange theory. Our group is made up of four individual, and it is very much effective. Since our group is an informal group, we have set rules and regulation that every individual must adhere. Each person also has a role to play in our group. As we have also studied in class, team or group dynamics are the forces that determine the behavior and performance of a group or a team. They cover every section of a group right from personalities, relationships and the environment in which the team operates (Levi, 2011). Our group demonstrated Good team dynamics though it is an informal group. This is because as we have continued to work as a group, we have improved our performance in class and each among the four of us has gave the best for the last group project.
Our Group leaders were Emma and Dani. They demonstrated good leadership skills and positively interacted with every group member. Besides, they effectively elaborated to us of what was expected for us to do in the assignment. They constantly kept us updated with the directions our teacher kept giving for the project. They also effectively delegated tasks to every member of the group where each one of us was supposed to work on a chapter. Since we would discuss the assignment after class, Emma and Dani were always present and ready to answer any question from each one of the group members. They were also very creative based on the way they would argue the assignment and how they solved the conflicts that arose in the group. Emma also acted as the implementor and the coordinator of the group. This is because she could easily put the ideas and plans into executable tasks. She was also orderly and very much disciplined. She helped us clarify different issues and procedures of the assignment and made sure that everyone gave the best for the assignment. Again she trusted everyone in the group. On the other hand, Dani was the research investigator in the group and the complete finisher of the assignment. Dani was a cheerful person with a lot of contact with people who were within and outside the group. He was adventurous openminded and enthusiastic. He was close to everyone in the group, but he was a little bit careless. Dani was also the person who compiled the assignment. This is because the assignment required a lot of attention, checking and rechecking. All through the assignment he acted as the safety and quality persons and was a bit overprotective and could not easily delegate his tasks to others. As for me, I acted as a plant and the monitor of the assignment. I was not practical as the rest of the group members, but I was much creative, original and innovative. Sometimes I could act as the analyst of the group, and I could always want to get at the bottom of every issue. My judgment on every issue concerning the group was always right. The rest one member of our group was the shaper and the specialist of the group.
We could not meet physically because of the geographical barriers, so we acted as a virtual group. Therefore we used technology to compensate for the shortcomings that were brought about by a virtual environment. We used document collaboration as a tool for our virtual group. We could share documents where each of our group members was supposed edit. Specifically, we used Google Docs to brainstorm. This experience was very much interesting for each of our group members. Honestly, we got a lot of participation from each group member. We had to look for a channel in which we would hold a lot of conversation concerning the assignment, and this was through our messenger group chat. We could post group questions and answers, jokes, announcement and discussions. In our group, we have always had a networked Culture because we always know and understand each other well. There is always a high level of socialization in our group which makes every member of the group to be loyal and committed to others we also look after each other to make sure that every one of us is doing well. Differences rarely arise in our group. We respect and accept each other.
When teams and groups execute their tasks efficiently, they bring together experiences and ideas of members (Levi, 2011). The organization can be more effective in forming group and teams. For a team to be effective, it must first understand group dynamics. However, LaFasto and Larson came up with a connected model to help individuals develop good relationships within teams (Levi, 2011).This model was developed based on the four aspects of a good relationship which are constructive, self-corrective, mutual understanding and productive. Once good relationships are ensured in a team, there is as a high possibility that the team will be successful.
References
Levi, D. (2011). Group dynamics for teams. Los Angeles: SAGE.
