Question

Identify, describe and discuss a selected group from your local social service agency. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using groups in general, and this type of group in particular. With the group that you have selected describe the group dynamics and at least one (1) major success or setback experienced by the group. Critically reflect upon this success or setback, identifying at least one (1) factor which may have produced it, and how you might reproduce the success, or reduce the likelihood of the setback in the future.

Answer 1

A social group is a collection of two or more humans who interact with one another, share similar characteristics, and have a collective sense of unity. Social groups can be classified into two types: primary groups and secondary groups. A primary group is a small social group whose members share close, personal, enduring relationships. A family is an apt example for a primary group. Secondary groups are large groups whose relationships are impersonal and goal oriented.

Let us consider the American Red Cross as a secondary group. Here the size of the group is large, because it is formed by a large group of people. The members of this group do not share physical proximity as they do not live in the same place at the same time. The relationship between members of the group are goal oriented directed towards a specific task. People may join on their own sweet will, there is no compulsion. In this type of agency contacts and communications are indirect, members do not have face-to-face relations and therefore maintain impersonal relations. Members of the Red Cross Society are regulated by formal rules and regulations.

The advantages of the secondary group is that as society expands demanding more and more division of labour and specialization of functions, the large-scale secondary groups become necessary. Secondary groups have now become essential for the fulfillment of man's needs. Citing the example here is of the American Red Cross which is a formal authority with the responsibility of managing certain specific tasks efficiently. The members of this group have a broader outlook and are more universal in their judgement. The American Red Cross has opened a channel of opportunities to make the world a better place to live in. This humanitarian organization provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education into the United States. The disadvantages involved in a secondary group may be that the groups aren't always successful at reaching their goals. They may also run the risk of losing track of the structures and processes they have put in place to help them move towards their goals.

The American Red Cross is a leader in the plasma industry. It provides more than a quarter of the nation's plasma products. The Red Cross Plasma Services provides plasma products that are reliable, cost effective and as safe as possible. It has help rearrange Red Cross Blood Services processing, testing and distribution system and has established a new management system. This can be considered as a major sucess of this secondary group. A team-oriented environment may have contributed to the overall success of the organisation. Members here are more flexible and more responsive to this dynamic environment. This generates greater outputs with no increase in inputs. According to me, the members here work intensely with individual and mutual accountability that generates a positive synergy to bounce ideas off one another to correct one another's mistakes. All these factors contributed to the sucess of the American Red Cross.

In order to reproduce the sucess, there should foremost be clear expectations of what is required of the group members. The team mission of commitment should be adhered to at all times. Competency of the team members should be maintained in order to accomplish the team mission. Understanding group processes and working effectively and cooperatively will play a key role in maintaining the organization's standards. Diverse opinions should be welcome and conflicts be taken up positively. The organization should provide the training and education to stimulate creative thinking among its members. The central leadership should assist the groups to obtain what they need for success.