{"id":386,"date":"2025-03-10T15:33:39","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T15:33:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=386"},"modified":"2025-07-22T11:57:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T11:57:36","slug":"what-is-a-group","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/chapter\/what-is-a-group\/","title":{"raw":"What is a Group?","rendered":"What is a Group?"},"content":{"raw":"<header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\"><header class=\"textbox__header\"><\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nBy the end of this section, you should be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Identify types of groups in the workplace.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Understand primary and secondary groups.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nMost humans form self-identities through communication, and much of that interaction occurs in a group context. A<span class=\"c17 c9\">\u00a0<strong>[pb_glossary id=\"2410\"]group[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0may be defined as three or more individuals who affiliate, interact, or cooperate in a familial, social, or work context.\u00a0<strong><span class=\"c17 c9\">[pb_glossary id=\"2412\"]Group communication[\/pb_glossary]<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"c0\"> may be defined as exchanging information with those who are culturally, linguistically, and\/or geographically alike. Group members may be known by their symbols, such as patches and insignia on a military uniform. They may be known by their use of specialized language or jargon. Group members, as in gated communities, may also be known by their proximity. Regardless of how the group defines itself and whether its borders are porous or permeable, it recognizes itself as a group. Humans naturally make groups a part of their context or environment.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/header>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_720\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<img class=\"wp-image-720\" src=\"https:\/\/ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub\/app\/uploads\/sites\/115\/2018\/04\/image4-4-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"photo of a group of people working together at a large table\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/> Source: Pixabay.com[\/caption]\r\n<h2 id=\"h.4jl0xdsnjxg6\">Types of Groups in the Workplace<\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"c5\">As a skilled business communicator, learning more about groups, group dynamics, management, and leadership will serve you well. Mergers, forced sales, downsizing, and entering new markets require individuals within a business or organization to become part of new groups. Groups may be defined by function. From a developmental viewpoint, they can also be determined by relationships within the group. Groups can be discussed in terms of their relationship to the individual and the degree to which they meet interpersonal needs. Some groups may be assembled at work to solve problems, and once the challenge has been resolved, they may dissolve into previous or yet-to-be-determined groups. These temporary problem-solving groups are called <span class=\"c17 c9\">functional groups<\/span><span class=\"c0\"> and may be familiar to you.\u00a0<\/span>In an academic or professional context, being a discipline member means adhering to a similar framework for viewing the world. Disciplines involve a standard set of theories that explain the world, terms to describe those theories, and an applied purpose related to increasing knowledge. In business, you may have colleagues who are marketing experts and members of the marketing department who perceive their tasks differently from a member of the sales staff or someone in accounting. You may work in the mailroom, and the mailroom staff form a distinct group that is interconnected with the larger organization.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"c5\"><span class=\"c0\">Relationships are part of any group and can be described in terms of status, power, control, role, function, or viewpoint. They are formed through communication interaction across time and often share a common history, values, and beliefs about the world around us. <\/span>You meet many basic human needs through conversations and a shared sense that you and your coworkers belong together, such as feeling included, affection, and a sense of control (Schutz, 1966)<span class=\"c0\">. In a work context, \u201caffection\u201d may sound odd, but we all experience affection at work in the form of friendly comments like \u201cGood morning,\u201d \u201cHave a nice weekend,\u201d and \u201cGood job!\u201d Our professional lives also fulfill more than just our fundamental needs (i.e., air, food, water, and safety). While your workgroup may share common goals, such as delivering mail promptly to the corresponding departments and individuals, your daily interactions may extend beyond this functional perspective.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h.vfjcvt5aftot\" class=\"c19\"><span class=\"c13\">Primary and Secondary Groups<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"c5\"><span class=\"c0\">There are two fundamental types of groups: primary and secondary. The hierarchy denotes the degree to which the group(s) meet your interpersonal needs. <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"2414\"]Primary groups[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> meet most, if not all, of one\u2019s needs. Groups that meet some, but not all, needs are called secondary groups. <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"2413\"]Secondary groups [\/pb_glossary] <\/strong>often include work groups, where the goal is to complete a task or solve a problem. Secondary groups may meet your need for professional acceptance and celebrate your success, but they may not meet your need for understanding and sharing on a personal level. <\/span><span class=\"c0\">In terms of problem-solving, workgroups can accomplish more than individuals can. People, each with specialized skills, talents, experience, or education, come together in new combinations, face new challenges, find new perspectives, and create unique approaches that they would not have formulated alone.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h.7b9dnnx0gdh7\" class=\"c19\"><span class=\"c13\">If Two\u2019s Company and Three\u2019s a Crowd, What Is a Group?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"c5\"><span class=\"c0\">This old clich\u00e9 refers to the human tendency to form pairs. <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"2415\"]Pairing[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> is the most basic form of relationship formation; it applies to childhood best friends, college roommates, romantic couples, business partners, and many other dyads (two-person relationships). A group, by definition, includes at least three people. We can categorize groups based on their size and complexity. <\/span>The larger the group grows, the more likely it is to subdivide. Analysis of these smaller, or micro, groups is increasingly a point of study as the internet allows individuals to connect with like-minded people or those who share similar habits to share virtually anything across time and distance. A <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"2416\"]micro group[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> is a small, independent group with a link, affiliation, or association with a larger group. The likelihood of possible interactions increases with each additional group member (Harris &amp; Sherblom, 1999; McLean, 2003<span class=\"c0\">). <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"2417\"]Small groups[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> typically contain between three and eight people. One person may involve intrapersonal communication, while two may constitute interpersonal communication, and both may be present within a group communication context.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"c5\"><strong><span class=\"c9\">[pb_glossary id=\"2418\"]Group norms[\/pb_glossary]<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"c0\"> are customs, standards, and behavioral expectations that emerge as a group forms. If you post an update daily on your Facebook page and your friends stop by to post on your wall and comment, not posting for a week will violate a group norm. They will wonder if you are sick or in the hospital, where you have no access to a computer to keep them updated. If, however, you only post once a week, the group will naturally come to expect your customary post. Norms involve self- and group-imposed expectations that often arise as groups form and develop. <\/span>If there are more than eight members, it becomes a challenge to have equal participation, where everyone can speak, listen, and respond. Some will dominate, others will recede, and smaller groups will form. Finding a natural balance within a group can also be a challenge. Small groups need to have enough members to generate a rich and stimulating exchange of ideas, information, and interaction, but not so many people that what each brings cannot be shared (Galanes, Adams, &amp; Brilhart, 2000<span class=\"c0\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Key Takeaways<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>We work in groups and teams for most of our careers. Learning to identify different types of groups in the workplace and manage groups ranging from small to large is an important skill.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Attribution<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.openeducationalberta.ca\/saitbusinesscommunication\" rel=\"cc:attributionURL\">Business Communication for Success<\/a>\u00a0Copyright \u00a9 2021 by\u00a0Southern Alberta Institute of Technology\u00a0is licensed under a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\" rel=\"license\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License<\/a>, except where otherwise noted.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<header>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\"><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<header class=\"textbox__header\"><\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>By the end of this section, you should be able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify types of groups in the workplace.<\/li>\n<li>Understand primary and secondary groups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Most humans form self-identities through communication, and much of that interaction occurs in a group context. A<span class=\"c17 c9\">\u00a0<strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_386_2410\">group<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0may be defined as three or more individuals who affiliate, interact, or cooperate in a familial, social, or work context.\u00a0<strong><span class=\"c17 c9\"><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_386_2412\">Group communication<\/a><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"c0\"> may be defined as exchanging information with those who are culturally, linguistically, and\/or geographically alike. Group members may be known by their symbols, such as patches and insignia on a military uniform. They may be known by their use of specialized language or jargon. Group members, as in gated communities, may also be known by their proximity. Regardless of how the group defines itself and whether its borders are porous or permeable, it recognizes itself as a group. Humans naturally make groups a part of their context or environment.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_720\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-720\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-720\" src=\"https:\/\/ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub\/app\/uploads\/sites\/115\/2018\/04\/image4-4-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"photo of a group of people working together at a large table\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-720\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Pixabay.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"h.4jl0xdsnjxg6\">Types of Groups in the Workplace<\/h2>\n<p class=\"c5\">As a skilled business communicator, learning more about groups, group dynamics, management, and leadership will serve you well. Mergers, forced sales, downsizing, and entering new markets require individuals within a business or organization to become part of new groups. Groups may be defined by function. From a developmental viewpoint, they can also be determined by relationships within the group. Groups can be discussed in terms of their relationship to the individual and the degree to which they meet interpersonal needs. Some groups may be assembled at work to solve problems, and once the challenge has been resolved, they may dissolve into previous or yet-to-be-determined groups. These temporary problem-solving groups are called <span class=\"c17 c9\">functional groups<\/span><span class=\"c0\"> and may be familiar to you.\u00a0<\/span>In an academic or professional context, being a discipline member means adhering to a similar framework for viewing the world. Disciplines involve a standard set of theories that explain the world, terms to describe those theories, and an applied purpose related to increasing knowledge. In business, you may have colleagues who are marketing experts and members of the marketing department who perceive their tasks differently from a member of the sales staff or someone in accounting. You may work in the mailroom, and the mailroom staff form a distinct group that is interconnected with the larger organization.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c5\"><span class=\"c0\">Relationships are part of any group and can be described in terms of status, power, control, role, function, or viewpoint. They are formed through communication interaction across time and often share a common history, values, and beliefs about the world around us. <\/span>You meet many basic human needs through conversations and a shared sense that you and your coworkers belong together, such as feeling included, affection, and a sense of control (Schutz, 1966)<span class=\"c0\">. In a work context, \u201caffection\u201d may sound odd, but we all experience affection at work in the form of friendly comments like \u201cGood morning,\u201d \u201cHave a nice weekend,\u201d and \u201cGood job!\u201d Our professional lives also fulfill more than just our fundamental needs (i.e., air, food, water, and safety). While your workgroup may share common goals, such as delivering mail promptly to the corresponding departments and individuals, your daily interactions may extend beyond this functional perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h.vfjcvt5aftot\" class=\"c19\"><span class=\"c13\">Primary and Secondary Groups<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"c5\"><span class=\"c0\">There are two fundamental types of groups: primary and secondary. The hierarchy denotes the degree to which the group(s) meet your interpersonal needs. <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_386_2414\">Primary groups<\/a><\/strong> meet most, if not all, of one\u2019s needs. Groups that meet some, but not all, needs are called secondary groups. <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_386_2413\">Secondary groups <\/a> <\/strong>often include work groups, where the goal is to complete a task or solve a problem. Secondary groups may meet your need for professional acceptance and celebrate your success, but they may not meet your need for understanding and sharing on a personal level. <\/span><span class=\"c0\">In terms of problem-solving, workgroups can accomplish more than individuals can. People, each with specialized skills, talents, experience, or education, come together in new combinations, face new challenges, find new perspectives, and create unique approaches that they would not have formulated alone.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h.7b9dnnx0gdh7\" class=\"c19\"><span class=\"c13\">If Two\u2019s Company and Three\u2019s a Crowd, What Is a Group?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"c5\"><span class=\"c0\">This old clich\u00e9 refers to the human tendency to form pairs. <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_386_2415\">Pairing<\/a><\/strong> is the most basic form of relationship formation; it applies to childhood best friends, college roommates, romantic couples, business partners, and many other dyads (two-person relationships). A group, by definition, includes at least three people. We can categorize groups based on their size and complexity. <\/span>The larger the group grows, the more likely it is to subdivide. Analysis of these smaller, or micro, groups is increasingly a point of study as the internet allows individuals to connect with like-minded people or those who share similar habits to share virtually anything across time and distance. A <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_386_2416\">micro group<\/a><\/strong> is a small, independent group with a link, affiliation, or association with a larger group. The likelihood of possible interactions increases with each additional group member (Harris &amp; Sherblom, 1999; McLean, 2003<span class=\"c0\">). <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_386_2417\">Small groups<\/a><\/strong> typically contain between three and eight people. One person may involve intrapersonal communication, while two may constitute interpersonal communication, and both may be present within a group communication context.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"c5\"><strong><span class=\"c9\"><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_386_2418\">Group norms<\/a><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"c0\"> are customs, standards, and behavioral expectations that emerge as a group forms. If you post an update daily on your Facebook page and your friends stop by to post on your wall and comment, not posting for a week will violate a group norm. They will wonder if you are sick or in the hospital, where you have no access to a computer to keep them updated. If, however, you only post once a week, the group will naturally come to expect your customary post. Norms involve self- and group-imposed expectations that often arise as groups form and develop. <\/span>If there are more than eight members, it becomes a challenge to have equal participation, where everyone can speak, listen, and respond. Some will dominate, others will recede, and smaller groups will form. Finding a natural balance within a group can also be a challenge. Small groups need to have enough members to generate a rich and stimulating exchange of ideas, information, and interaction, but not so many people that what each brings cannot be shared (Galanes, Adams, &amp; Brilhart, 2000<span class=\"c0\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Key Takeaways<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<ul>\n<li>We work in groups and teams for most of our careers. Learning to identify different types of groups in the workplace and manage groups ranging from small to large is an important skill.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Attribution<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.openeducationalberta.ca\/saitbusinesscommunication\" rel=\"cc:attributionURL\">Business Communication for Success<\/a>\u00a0Copyright \u00a9 2021 by\u00a0Southern Alberta Institute of Technology\u00a0is licensed under a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\" rel=\"license\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License<\/a>, except where otherwise noted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\" id=\"definition\">definition<\/span><template id=\"term_386_2410\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_386_2410\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>three or more individuals who affiliate, interact, or cooperate in a familial, social, or work context.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_386_2412\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_386_2412\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>exchanging information with those who are culturally, linguistically, and\/or geographically alike.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_386_2414\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_386_2414\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>meet most, if not all, of one\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_386_2413\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_386_2413\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>Groups that meet some, but not all, needs.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_386_2415\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_386_2415\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>is the most basic form of relationship formation; it applies to childhood best friends, college roommates, romantic couples, business partners, and many other dyads.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_386_2416\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_386_2416\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>a small, independent group with a link, affiliation, or association with a larger group.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_386_2417\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_386_2417\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>contains between three and eight people.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_386_2418\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_386_2418\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>are customs, standards, and behavioral expectations that emerge as a group forms.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><\/div>","protected":false},"author":101,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-386","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":384,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2744,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/386\/revisions\/2744"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/384"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/386\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=386"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=386"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}