.
Status in a group can be given by the organisation e.g. a company car, big office, and high position in company. However sometimes the group itself can give out status. Organisations have to be aware that people with status have higher influence within the group (Greenberg & Baron 1997). .
3. Norming. In this stage relationships within the group develop and the group becomes more cohesive. There is also a keen interest to find mutual agreement. (Tuckman and Jenson 1977).
Strong group cohesion leads to workers being more ready to accept the group's goals. However if the goals of the group differ from the goals of the organisation, or if the group members are to self-orientated the organisation may find their employees working towards different things. .
E.g. the goals of the workers on the shop floor are to go slower in the week to ensure overtime at the weekend. The organisations goals may be to try and increase production to meet a deadline without needing overtime.
Further research into the links between strong group cohesion on productivity and group satisfaction have shown that members of cohesive groups appear to experience fewer work related anxieties, have higher rates of job satisfaction, lower levels of tension, absenteeism and turnover. All these factors will have an effect on group productivity and job satisfaction. This can be used to positively to help achieve the organisations goals. (Huczynski &Buchanan 1991).
Group norms are "Generally agreed on informal rules that guide group members behaviour." Greenberg & Baron (1997).
They can dictate behaviours that should be performed, prescriptive, or dictate behaviours that should be avoided, proscriptive (Greenberg & Baron 1997). .
A group's norm's can have a positive and negative effect on the organisation. The norms don't necessarily coincide with the organisations rules and procedures (Rollinson, Broadfield, Edwards 1998). E.g. workers may always stop working half an hour before they should, or, only work at a certain rate so that they can always work within themselves.
