The document discusses group cohesiveness and its importance for effective group functioning. It defines group cohesiveness as the bonds linking group members to each other and the group as a whole. It identifies five stages of group development: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. The dimensions of group cohesiveness are described as group unity, attraction, and teamwork. Key factors that contribute to cohesiveness include threat, competition, time together, previous successes, difficulty of entry, group size, and similarity of attitudes and values. The benefits and disadvantages of cohesiveness are outlined, as well as ways to increase and decrease cohesion within a group.

1. SUBMITTED BY-
SANGEETA THAPA
SAURABH TIWARI
SHIKHA PANDEY
SHWETA
SIDDHARTHA
GROUP COHESIVENESS
SUBMITTED TO-
PROF S C DAS

2. Group
•A Group can be defined as a collection of individuals
working in face-to-face relationships to share
information and resources for a task to be achieved.
•The main function of a group is to exchange task-
related information and discuss task related issues.

3. Stages of Group Development
 Forming- In the forming stage a lot of uncertainty
persists about the group’s purpose, structure and
leadership. They like to keep things simple and avoid
any controversy.
 Storming- The storming stage is characterized by the
domination of few members, as a result of which
some members remain completely passive.
 Norming- In the norming stage, group members
begin to resolve differences and clarify the purpose of
the group and roles of the group members.
 Performing- The performing stage is marked by
interdependence in personal relations and problem
solving.
 Adjourning- Adjourning involves the termination of
task behaviors and disengagement from relationships.

4. What is group cohesiveness?
 Group cohesiveness is the ability to think and act 'as one' if
the group is physically together or not.
 A group is said to be in a state of cohesion when its members possess
bonds linking them to one another and to the group as a whole.
 According to Stephen P Robbins, “Group cohesiveness is
the degree to which members are attracted to each other
and are motivated to stay in the group.”
Cohesion grows
out of
communication
and common
interest
Builds group
identity
Creates
climate of
inclusion for all
members

5. Dimensions of group cohesiveness
 Group Unity
 Attraction
 Team work

6. Group unity
 Many theorists believe that group cohesion
results from a deep sense of “we-ness” or
belonging to a group as a whole.
 By becoming enthusiastically involved in the
efforts of their group and by recognizing the
similarities that exist among group members,
individuals tend to develop a close connection
with their group and its members.

7. Attraction
 According to Hogg (1992), group cohesiveness
typically develops from a depersonalized
attraction to group members based on their status
as group members, rather than a personal
attraction based on specific relationships.

8. Team work
 Some theorists stress that cohesion comes from
group members’ commitment to work together to
complete their shared tasks and accomplish their
collective goals.
 Members of task-oriented groups typically exhibit
great interdependence and often possess
feelings of responsibility for the group’s
outcomes.

9. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO GROUP COHESIVENESS
Threat &
Competition
COHESION
Time Together
Previous
Successes
Difficulty in
Entry
Group Size
Similarities of
attitudes and
values

10. 1. Threat & Competition
 Whenever the common group goal is threatened,
cohesiveness increases.
 Also, such cohesiveness increases the
importance of the goals.
 When we fight for a goal, the goal gets the
highest priority.
 Thus the threatening party will have less chance
of success when faced with a unified force.

11. 2. Difficulty in Entry
 Some groups are not easy to join. The members
are very carefully selected and the selected
members feels a sense of pride and
accomplishment.
 The more difficult it is to get into a group, the
more cohesive that group becomes.
 The reason being that in exclusive and elite
groups the members are selected on the basis of
certain characteristics and these characteristics
being common to all add to the degree of liking

12. 3. Time Together
 It is quite natural that the more time people
spend together, the more they will get to
know each other and more tendency there
will be to get closer to each other, thus
strengthening the degree of cohesiveness.
 In an organizational setting, people who
work near each other are more likely to
spend more time together.

13. 4. Group Size
 Since continuous and close interaction among
members is a fundamental necessity for
cohesiveness, it would be natural to assume that
large groups restrict the extent of communication
and interaction with each other, thus resulting in
reduction of degree of cohesiveness.

14. 5. Previous Success
 When a group achieves a meaningful goal,
the cohesiveness of the group increases
because the success is shared by all the
members and each one feels responsible for
the achievement.
 For example, when a sports team wins an
important game, every one in the team
congratulates every other member of the

15. 6. Similarity of Attitudes & Values
 One of the strongest source of group
cohesiveness is the similarity in values, morals,
beliefs and code of conduct.
 We enjoy the company of others who hold similar
opinions and characteristics as ourselves.

17. BENEFITS
 Increased morale
 Increased productivity
 Improved communication
 Conformity and influences

18. Disadvantages
 Clash of personalities
 Conflict of task
 Breakdown in communication
 Struggling for power
 Frequent turnover of members
 Disagreement

19. HOW TO INCREASE COHESION?
 Make the group smaller.
 Encourage agreement with group goals.
 Increase time members spend together.
 Increase group status and admission
difficultly.
 Stimulate competition with other groups.
 Give rewards to the group, not individuals.
 Physically isolate the group.

20. HOW TO DECREASE COHESION?
 Induce disagreement in group goals.
 Increase membership heterogeneity.
 Restrict interaction among members.
 Increase group size.
 Allocate reward to individuals rather than to a
group as a whole.
 Remove physical isolation.
 Introduce a dominating member

21. Conclusion
 Group cohesion has been linked to a range of
positive and negative consequences.
 People in cohesive groups are confronted with
powerful pressures to confirm to the group’s
goals, norms, and decisions.
 Cohesiveness leads to the improvement in
productivity and efficiency of individuals as well
as groups.

22.  “Talent win games, but teamwork and intelligence
wins championships” - Michael Jordon
 If you want to go Fast, go alone. If you want to go
Far, go together.
 Individually we are one drop but together, we are
an ocean.
- Ryunosuke Satoro

24. REFERENCES
 Udai Pareek’s Understanding Organizational
Behaviour 3rd edition
 http://www.managementstudyhq.com/group-
cohesiveness.html
 Google.co.in/search
 http://www.tusculum.edu/faculty/home/tmcfarlan
d/ppt2/BUSN312-
McFarland/ch08_files/frame.htm