Question

What is the difference between a team and a group?

Teams are groups, but what makes them unique? Their unity? Their focus on group goals? The interdependence among members?

TASKS (A-E):

A. Think of various teams you, or a family member of yours, have been a member.

Examples of teams could be any of the following:

• workgroup in a business setting
• sports team
• military squad
• medical team are all good examples of the kinds of groups to investigate.

B. After you have decided upon a team for this exercise, consider the following five aspects of what makes a group a team and evaluate your team on EACH of the five aspects.

C. After you have assessed your team on these aspects, determine whether or not your team was a high-functioning team (performing well in at least four of the five aspects) or a low-functioning team (performing well in only one or two aspects).

1. Interlocking Interdependence:

• Do group members work closely with each other?
• Are there any problems coordinating the group’s activities?
• Do people work together or do they primarily work on their own projects?
• What happens when a group member doesn’t perform up to the group’s standards?

2. Coordinated Interaction:

• What do the members of your group do?
• Do group members interact frequently together or separately?
• Do members of the group coordinate their actions with the actions of other members?

3. Compelling Purpose:

• Do members of your group put the group’s goal above their own individual goals?
• Do members work hard to reach the group’s goals?
• Does the group have a specific mission or goal?
• If the group fails, do you fail?

4. Adaptive Structures:

• How organized is the group?
• Is it clear who is supposed to do what?
• Are there conflicts about who is in charge?

5. Cohesiveness questions:

• Would you say that your group is a cohesive, tight-knit one?
• Do people like each other?
• Does the group have much turnover?

• Does the group have a name?
• Are group members proud to say that they are a member of this group?
• Do the group members share a sense of identity with each other?

D. Write your team assessment in paragraph format (one paragraph per assessment) and post to the forum.

Answer 1

A. I worked as a team member in the NCC (MILITARY SQUAD IN INDIA - national cadet corps)

It was a 10 day camp and we had 10 people in our team

B. Interlocking independence : the group worked closely since we all had worked before

There were problems regarding the nite duty but eventually everyone gave it once

People worked in groups of 2 each and sometimes a full

Coordinated interaction : people did interact during daily tasks like morning PT

Evening classes etc., during certain trainings it was individual person and there were group trainings as well

Compelling purpose:the group was hardworking, people always gave their 100 percent

The mission was togain maximum points and be the best group and win trophy

Yes if the group fails, we fail as well

Adaptive structure:the group was well organized , tasks were clear at the day start, it was followed dedicatedly, I was the one in charge since I knew all, all trusted me, it was a unanimous decision

Cohesiveness : a well knit group, people liked each other, group proud name: INVINCIBLES

C. HIFH FUNCTIONING TEAM WITH FULL MARKS IN ALL, WE ALSO WON THE GROUP TROPHY

D. the team performed well in all tasks. Since people were given tasks according to their skill, their likes, results were really good. It showed true team power