This 5 page paper discusses why it is difficult for a new employee to join a department in which a cohesive group has been established. The writer points out that to understand why a new person may have problems, one must understand the group development process. The steps in that process are explained along with other comments related to the question. The writer also offers ideas for making the transition easier for everyone. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Name of Research Paper File: MM12_PGgrp6.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
takes time for a group of individuals to become a fully functioning, cohesive, productive group. When people work in groups, there are two major issues involved. The first is the
task and the problems involved in getting the job done. The second is the process of the group work itself: the mechanisms by which the group acts as a unit.
Group dynamics has to do with the inter-relationship of individuals who are working within a group setting. The group process leads to a spirit of cooperation and coordination. A group
has its own acceptable procedures and mor?s that everyone understands and follows (Blair, 2000). Groups are developed through a series of steps. Those steps are called different things but all
the nomenclature comes down to very old terms that were described by Tuckman and Jensen. A number of theorists have changed the order of storming and norming with norming coming
first (Center for Service and Leadership, 2002). The reason for the change has been based on observations of the development of groups (Center for Service and Leadership, 2002). It makes
sense that conflict would erupt after the individual members felt safe enough to voice their own opinions that may be contrary to another members opinions. The stages of group development
are: * Forming - the time when the group first comes together (Tuckman and Jensen, 1977; Johnson and Johnson, 1987). Individuals tend to be polite and hesitant to engage
in conflict. They rely on safe behaviors and they look for a leader to emerge (Center for Service and Leadership, 2002). The groups major purpose and goal at this time
is orientation to the task and to each other (Johnson and Johnson, 1987; Center for Service and Leadership, 2002). The only way the group can progress to the next level