HCM 433 MANGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR.pdf

The purpose of any group is to generate specific benefit to the (specific members and the
environmental of the group. In other words, group have many functions and advantages for
individuals and the organization. Thus by becoming a members of a group, a person fulfills at
least four of needs:
1. Social and Affiliation Needs:
Groups serve as the primary mechanism for fulfilling social need (Mashow) and affiliation
need (Macleland) through friendship and support. The work group is the most likely place to
find understanding, companionship and comradeship at work.
Job problems can be discussed with group members; an this often applies to personal problems
as well. So employees join work groups and work at being accepted in order to satisfy their
need for affiliation (social need).
2. Identity, Recognition and Esteem (Ego) Needs
The second reason people become involve in work groups is that the group can provide the
recognition-ego (esteem) needs described by Maslow. It can also make a significant input to a
person’s identity development because a major part of the identity of those for whom work is
important comes from the workplace. Indeed most middle class and upper-class.
3. Security and Power Needs:
Groups can help employees satisfy their security needs (maslow) or their need or power
(mcClellard) if a group supports an employee against “arbitray” demands by outsiders (other
groups, managers, clients), it gives that employee more control over his or her destiny. It gives
the employee a sense of power and therefore dignity. The evidence is fairly strong that most
employees join unions to protect themselves against what they perceive to be arbitrary acts by
supervisors or superiors.
4. Other Needs
Groups serve a series of other purpose in addition to these just discussed. One is to help
established and stabilize perceptions of the workplace. Another benefit of groups is that they
promote communication. It may be the give-and-take in a formal meeting, or can take the form
of the grapevine, which is the informal communication through which group members became
aware of “what is really going on in the firm”.
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