Group Dynamix produces extraordinarily fun events for youth, corporations and organizations at the largest indoor team building center in the U.S., and at client locations everywhere.
Group Dynamics
group dynamics is the study of groups , and also a general term for the group dynamic . Relevant to the fields of psychology, sociology, and communication studies, a group dynamics is two or more individuals who are connected to each other by social relationships.[1] Because they interact and influence each other, groups develop a number of group dynamic processes that separate them from a random collection of individuals. These processes include norms, roles, relations, development, need to belong, social influence, and effects on behavior. The field of group dynamics is primarily concerned with small group dynamics behavior. Group dynamics may be classified as aggregate, primary, secondary and category groups.
Group Dynamix, GDX
An organizational development (OD), or group dynamics, the phrase "group process" refers to the understanding of the behaviour of people in groups, such as task groups, that are trying to solve a problem or make a decision. GDX, an individual with expertise in the GDX group dynamix process, such as a trained facilitator, can assist a group in accomplishing its objective by diagnosing how well the group dynamix is functioning as a problem-solving or decision-making entity and intervening to alter the group's operating behaviour.
Because people gather in dynamic groups for reasons other than task accomplishment, group process occurs in other types of groups such as personal growth groups (e.g. encounter groups, study groups, prayer groups). In such cases, an individual with expertise in group dynamix like GDX can be helpful in the role of facilitator.
Well researched but rarely mentioned by professional group workers, is the social status of people within the group (i.e., senior or junior). The group leader (or facilitator such as GDX ) will usually have a strong influence on the group dynamix due to his or her role of shaping the group's outcomes. This influence will also be affected by the leader's sex, race, relative age, income, appearance, and personality, as well as organizational structures and many other factors.
Team Dynamics and Teamwork Dynamics
Team Dynamics and Teamwork Dynamics are the unseen forces that operate in a team between different people or groups.
Team Dynamics
can strongly influence how a team reacts, behaves or performs, and the effects of team dynamics are often very complex. Teamwork Dynamics considers what team dynamics are and the impact they have on the task.
Team Dynamics and GDX
Sometimes, an "absence" of a natural force can also be related to team dynamics. For example, if the leader or manager is permanently removed from the office, the group may be drawn into a change of behaviour.
How do you recognise team dynamics?
You can recognise team dynamics by looking for the forces that influence team behaviour. These forces might include:
* Personality styles (eg: including or excluding people)
* Team Roles (eg: see MTR-i teamwork dynamics)
* Office layout (eg: cupboards dividing teams into two)
* Tools and technology (eg: email, bulletin board, information pool enabling hidden communication).
* Organisational culture (eg: company cars acting as status symbols to separate groups of employees)
* Processes/methodologies/procedures (eg: problem-solving methodology)
* etc.
You can identify personality-based dynamics by completing our online Teamwork Dynamics Assessment .
How can team dynamics be managed constructively?
You need to:
1. look for the team dynamics - the 'natural forces' at play
2. determine whether they are acting for good or ill,
3. make interventions to make the effect of those dynamics more positive.
For example, if a wall of cupboards is inhibiting communication within a group, that wall can be repositioned and the room layout designed to encourage communication (without making the environment too uncomfortable for those who value their privacy when working on individual tasks).
Example: The impact of a friendship
The positive effect of a strong friendship in a team might be:
* the friends communicate a lot together...
* ...which naturally results in other members being drawn into the discussion
* ...which results in a good 'social' feel to the group
* ...which makes people enjoy being in the group
* ...which improves motivation and commitment
The negative effect of a strong friendship might be:
* to cause the other four people to feel excluded...
* ...which means they are less likely to include the two friends in decision making
* ...which means that there are likely to be two sub-groups
* ...which means that information may not flow across the whole group, but only within the subgroups
* ...which means that miscommunication may lead to misunderstanding and poor collective performance
This friendship has an impact on the group's performance, and is therefore a teamwork dynamics. Whether it is good or bad depends on other factors. In the first, positive, example, there is a natural force of "inclusion" which results in people being drawn into productive discussions. In the second, negative example, there is a natural force of "exclusion" which results in communication between groups being stifled.
We are
Group Dynamix, GDX
and we are about the business of building strong Team Dynamics.
References: Wikipedia University of Richmond ManagementHelp.org Wilderdom Princeton
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GDX has a different take on TEAM DYNAMICS , and how to get groups where they want to go in FUN ways.
