Title: Week 8
Course: Principles of Management

Managing groups and teams

Aim of the topic: The aim of the topic is to identify the different teams and groups in an organization, their differences and similarities, and their roles.

Intended learning outcomes: At the end of this topic, you will be able to;

1. Describe different types of teams and groups, and their formation.
2. Explain functions of groups and teams in an organization.
3. Explain conflict resolution processes in teams and groups.

Over to you:  Before you come to class this week there are some fundamental concepts that you will explore in the pre-topic activity i.e Resource 8.  In class, we are going to ensure that you have a clear grasp of the concepts before you start to derive your own definitions of these ideas.  There will also be some reading for you to do. You will read the journal article on conflict management available at: http://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jbm/papers/Vol8-issue6/B0860716.pdf   and the article on formal and informal organizations available at:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327111799_Formal_and_Informal_Organizations. You will watch the video clips on Team management available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqLSZJSZsk0  and on group formations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3dPUtcRBDY.  This will make you complete individual e-tivities 8.1 and 8.2. E-tivity 8.3 is a group task and should be completed in collaboration with your group members.

E-tivities: The e-tivities below will assist you in achieving the intended learning outcomes for this topic.

E-tivity 8.1: The purpose of this activity is to help you understand what are groups and teams, and how groups are formed.

Task:

- Read Resource 8 on Managing groups and teams.
- Watch this video on Group formations ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3dPUtcRBDY
- Give your own definition of a group and explain how a group is formed. Then submit as Assignment 1 week 8.

E-tivity 8.2: The aim of this e-tivity is to define groups as informal organizations and understand their functions in an organization.

Task:

- Read the article on formal and informal organizations at; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327111799_Formal_and_Informal_Organizations
- Distinguish between formal and informal groups, and explain the functions of informal groups in the organization. Then submit as Assignment 2 week 8.

E-tivity 8.3: The activity is meant to help you understand how to manage a team, forms and sources of conflicts, and techniques of managing conflicts in an organization.

Task:

- Watch this video on Team management ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqLSZJSZsk0
- Read the journal article on conflict management available at;http://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jbm/papers/Vol8-issue6/B0860716.pdf
- In your groups, Describe tips given on how to manage a team effectively, and highlight various forms of conflicts sources and techniques to manage conflicts. Then submit your group work in the next face-to-face class or under Group Assignment 1 week 8.

Anticipated time requirement for E-tivities: 5 hrs