TCO 3. Team-based work groups in the business world are intended to build on gro
ID: 3492493 • Letter: T
Question
TCO 3. Team-based work groups in the business world are intended to build on group synergy, through a diversity of perspectives and membership that produces better decisions. However, it is often the case that group disharmony arises among the members, and becomes the chief output of group interactions instead. Consider the case of Elizabeth and her team. Elizabeth is a very assertive and self-assured person who has a dominating interaction style. It is rare for anybody in the team to be able to get a word in edgewise in team meetings, especially for the members who are shy and introverted. Such group members start out with every intention of being productive, although as time passes they don't feel like their ideas are valued and their participation levels drop. Two part question: a. Can you justify the attribution that the introverted members are social loafers because they slack off? Explain your answer. b. How does the concept of perceived self-control apply to this situation? Explain your answer.Explanation / Answer
a. Social loafing is characterized by not taking an active part in a group activity and therefore not taking the onus of anything. In other words, it may be said that individuals who rely too much on others and do not want to take up any active role for doing their part in a group activity, have been termed as social loafers.
Introverted people are the ones who do not rely on social interactions to get a high. They remain aloof and do not indulge in too much of social interaction when thrown in social situations. They are characterized by remaining aloof and confining to themselves.
This means that when an introvert is participating in a group activity, their contribution to the activity may be limited. Now when an individual who has the tendency of social loafing, is an introvert then the effect of this personality disposition will be many fold.
In the given case, the leader is assertive and dominating, this is further putting off the individuals who are introverts.
b. Having a dominating and extremely assertive team leader, in itself is discerning for the other team mates. In such a scenario, if the team members are assertive, they tend to go inside their shell and not take the initiative of doing something. They perceive that the situation they are in is not suitable for them to put forth their views and opinions. Thus, they exert self-control and not indulge actively in the group activity.
In the given case, Elizabeth is assertive and team members fell threatened by her approach. Instead of putting forth their views that exercise self-control, and social loafing to handle the stressful situation which Elizabeth creates.
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