What are the goals of Groups?

[luttu]

What are the functions of Groups in an organisation?

[rms]

Groups provide a means of fulfilling many of the needs of the individuals in them such as: (i) affilialive needs (ii) egoistic needs (iii) functional needs and (iv) cognitive needs. Organisational members bring with them a variety of needs and groups serve the following purpose:
(1) An outlet for affiliation needs i.e., needs for friendship, support and love.
(2) A means of developing, enhancing or confirming a sense of identity and maintaining self-esteem. Through group membership, a person can develop or confirm same feelings of who he is, can gain status, and thereby enhance his sense of self-esteem.
(3) A means of establishing and testing reality. Through developing consensus among group members, uncertain parts of social environment can be made real and stable.
(4) A means of increasing security and sense of power of coping with a common and powerful enemy or threat.
(5) A means of getting same job done that members of need to have done, such as gathering information.