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What are the factors which determine group cohesiveness?
Posts: 755
Threads: 467
Joined: Oct 2010
A cohesive group is one in which members act toward an agreed goal in which everyone assumes a position of responsibility with respect to its achievement. The level of cohesiveness varies significantly among informal groups. Several factors determine group cohesiveness. They are following:
Status of the Group—Other things remaining same, people generally feel loyal towards a high status group than towards a low status group. They are more conscious to confirm to the norms of the group from which they want to escape. It should be noted that a high status group receives greater loyalty from its members, which in turn makes the group even stronger and more likely to gain increased status.
Size of the group—The effective group is relatively small. Small groups are closer knit than large ones. When the group is small its members have constant face to face contacts. So it is easier to have close relationship with all the members of a small group than with all the members of a large one.
Nature of the Group—Heterogeneous groups (whose members have different interest and backgrounds) are often less effective in promoting their own interests than groups whose members are more homogeneous. Homogeneous groups whose members are alike on such factors as age, education, status, experience, background, etc. do better when the task or goal requires mutual cooperation and conflict, free behaviour.
Communication- Groups whose members are located close together and can interact frequently and easily, are likely to be more cohesive and effective than those at a greater distance. Such groups tend to develop their own language and symbols and codes to communicate with group members. Even scattered groups, like maintenance crews may become tightly knitted if the technology of work requires or permits them to interact frequently with one another. In fact, one of the determinants of group cohesion is the speed with which messages can be transmitted through the group.
Location of the group—Location of the group plays an important role in enhancing cohesiveness. Isolation from other groups of workers tends to build high cohesiveness. Where there is no dividing line between one group and another. Cohesion is more difficult to achieve because a chain of interactions develops with little group solidarity. Where members of a group are located close together and are in isolation from other groups, they will develop greater cohesiveness because of constant face to face interaction.
Autonomy—Like individual, the groups of individuals may have dependent or independent function to other groups and, thus, will have different structure. When each member of a group has independent and different activities, then the cohesiveness among members of the group will be less as compared to group whose members are doing the operations which arc dependent upon each other.
Leadership Style—The different styles of leadership influence the group cohesiveness differently. An effective leader keeps the members of the group more close by helping them satisfy their social needs.
Management Behaviour—The behaviour of management has a direct influence on the degree of cohesion that exists within a group. By creating competition among employees and by constantly comparing one employee with another, a manager may make close relating difficult. A manager can also build solidarity by rewarding cooperative behaviour. He can utilise the group cohesiveness for achieving the goals of the enterprise if he can provide them good leadership.
Outside Pressure — Groups provide security for the individual members from pressure from other groups. This is because group members work together when they are threatened by a common danger, e.g., group of employees may forget their personnel differences and also ranks against a new supervisor who is regarded as a threat to the group. It may also happen that the group is unable to bear the excessive pressure and cohesiveness cannot be created to withstand the pressure from outside.
