Question

Some people enjoy working in groups while some prefer to work alone. Using what you have learned about group processes including your group project on person perception, think about the following questions: What is one instance in which working in groups is beneficial? What is one example where it be detrimental? What things might you suggest to make group projects successful? What types of assignments are particularly conducive to group work? What projects are not? Cite evidence from your textbook and relevant personal experiences

Answer 1

One of the instances when working in a group was beneficial was with respect to handling a task within a project given to our group which consists of 5 members. The basic agenda was to complete the task and not an area to show individual performance. We first had a discussion on various guidelines to be followed in completing the task. Next, we took note of the deadline and divided the task into several smaller ones. The next part was assigning portions of the task to each member. Everyone had discussions with respect to the task to be assigned and this was where I realized that working in a group was a great thing as all members were totally focussed on completing the task with ease much before the deadline than getting panic which would have been the case if I had to handle the task all alone.

Working in group is detrimental when it will be informed to a group that the individual performance would be recognized and duly appreciated. Every person working for a job would be having a desire to grow. One of those incidents where I found group working to be detrimental was when myself and one of my colleagues were put together in a group and was given an assignment. The highlight of the assignment was that the individual performance for the assignment would be rated and the one who is above average would be given an off-site project which meant working abroad. As the project progressed, I was misguided by my colleague with faulty information which led to poor performance ultimately making me unfit for the off-site projects. This would have never happened if this project was never a group one.

In order for a group project to be successful, the goal for the task assigned to the group should always be a collective one and should never look for individual performance. Group members should be a mixture of all type of members from under performer to above average ones. This will help bring different dimensions to the project as a group full of above average members would create egoistic chaos.