Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Role Behavior
A concept I chose interesting that was not previously discussed was Individual Role Behavior. After reading about observers in groups, I took an interest in this concept because I believe that an observer would benefit in providing more detailed suggestions and insights when individual roles are present and obvious in a group. As previously discussed in Chapter 3, the text mentioned the various roles that each individual must play in order for a group to be a success. Each role that a member plays in the group helps assist the team to reach their goals. In Chapter 14, the author mentions two different types of roles: The task-oriented role that assists the groups' ultimate goal, the Maintenance-oriented role that focuses on the social aspects, and the Self-centered roles that concern an individual's needs. All these roles are developed during your group interactions and transactions; meaning the roles are given with all of the group member's decision and feedback in assigning these roles. These three classifications of roles help with the groups' process as well as the productivity of actions within a group. Without these individual role behaviors, it would be very difficult to manage a group tasks without butting heads with one another. Through these individual role behaviors, each person is able to provide their required tasks/job which makes the process flow at ease.
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I think the self-centered role is an important role to consider as an observer or a consultant for a group. When I consider my membership in various groups, there’s always something in it for me, otherwise I wouldn’t continue membership. I think this might be a role that is overlooked too often when the group is trying to accomplish whatever it is that the group is trying to do. When I was in charge of a group putting on a large festival, it really helped members to be more productive when I recognized and validated their individual needs and reasons for being a part of the group. Everyone had a task-oriented role; however, putting on the festival is a year-long effort, so people would lose sight of why they were working so hard and want to give up. Once we went back to the basics of why they were a member of the festival committee, whether it was for recognition, altruism, sense of duty, whatever, people were willing to continue working.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great topic to write about after reading all about the observer role. We can delve into the idea that every member represents a different role for the group and can bring different opinions to the table. These three different roles play very important steps in the development of the group. The task oriented role can organize the group and will most likely fulfill whatever is needed for the group to reach their goal. The maintenance oriented role can bring the group together and represent whatever the group is pushing for. And lastly the self centered roles can make sure that each individual is completing their task to THEIR best knowledge and capabilities. All these roles put together will invite success.
ReplyDeleteHi Hope, I thought your response was really good and well written. I liked how you discussed individual role behavior and how it would benefit with providing a more in-depth insight. I agree that each member plays a specific role in a group. Each person is important to the group because their role contributes something to the group. Not everyone provides the same thing, but together they are able to make a functioning group. You said that it would be difficult to manage a group task without butting heads and I believe that to be true. No one works perfectly together. There are differences of opinions and ideas but the goal is to have an effective team.
ReplyDeleteI felt this was a very important thing to highlight for this week’s readings. Individual role behaviors are something to me that is important to a group’s process to completing a task. If everyone is able to know their roles in the groups they’re in, it can make things a lot easier. There have been many instances where in the groups I have been a part of, members’ bumped heads or certain task weren’t taken care of. Then, in the groups where everyone was assigned a specific task/role, that problem almost never happened. Individual roles to me, gives groups more clarity and organization. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post here. It helped me understand the various roles in groups, their behaviors, and how/why they are effective to be understood and implemented in groups. Groups with observers are critical for feedback and growth of the group. The task oriented role can help an individual keep the group on the task at hand, focusing on their goal, and helping them stay on a common path. However, working completely on the task at hand will exhaust a group, the maintenance oriented role can help stimulate ideas and allow the group to focus on social aspects. Meanwhile the self-centered role can help address any personal issues that might be going on with each individual within the group. Just as you put it, without these roles, the group would experience anarchy.