Groups and Teams

Employee resource groups $($ERGs$),$ also known as affinity groups, have become part of nearly all large organizations$$ cultures. ERGs are voluntary networking groups that provide forums for employees to gather socially and share ideas outside their particular business units. Many ERGs are organized around surface characteristics such as gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, and ethnic background. However, they can be formed around any issue. The rationale for ERGs is obvious. Large organizations often are very decentralized, leading many employees to feel disconnected and isolated. That$$s especially true for employees who are or feel different. So large companies such as Best Buy, Ford, Prudential, Wells Fargo, Johnson & Johnson, and

Macy$$s have found that their ERGs lead to greater feelings of inclusiveness. When employees of a large organization realize they$$re hardly alone, ERGs are a great way to foster commitment by joining employees to others in the organization, often in a way that$$s independent of their work unit.

John Brown is a new Finance Assistant Manager at Best Buy, and he loves the idea of an Employee resource group $($ERG$)$ because he feels a sense of belonging on the job, especially since he is now a member of the finance committee group, and he is able to network with other members from other organizations. The committee often share and report information on how they successfully manage their various finance departments. However, he soon realized that some members secretly used illegitimate financial data to inflate their report and was also lacking in practicing fair trade for some of their high paying customers.

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He mentions this to two of his closest colleagues, Mary and Ben who also agreed with him and recognized these practices as well. John wanted to report these practices to the committee Chairman, but Mary and Ben discouraged him not to do so because he might get himself and them kicked out of the group and loose some of their best perks. John decided not to pursue the matter because he does not want to tarnish his reputation, especially since he is a new employee and also enjoys the perks that he receives, as much as Mary and Ben.

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Adapted from $$Organizational Behaviour$$ by Stephen Robbins

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Question $1$

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A$.$ Explain the stages of group development. $(10$ marks$)$

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B$.$ Explain the factors that affect group behaviours. $(10$ marks$)$