Formal and Informal Groups
Formal and Informal Groups As managers in organisations we need to be aware of groups, the dynamics of group behaviour and the mechanisms that are required in order to make our working groups or teams more effective. ... It has been recognised that groups are good for people as they foster innovation and creativity, improve decision making, and help gain commitment and control members. ... There are two basic types of groups in organisations, these being Formal and Informal. The Formal group is one where it has been created via formal authority. These groups are task orientated and have been formed to achieve the goals set out by the organisation. The members of the Formal group eg. ... The Informal group serves to satisfy the social needs of the members. These groups are formed for very different reasons than the Formal group. ... Some Informal groups are also formed when workers are faced with a common threat eg. ... This group has no formal authority within the organisation and the members only look to this group as some form of emotional support. Management have a crucial role in managing the different types of groups so that the groups become psychologically aware and form into effective teams.