Social psychologyLesson 3 of 3 in the course Group and Intergroup Relations

Organizational Intergroup Coordination: Interdependence, Information, and Integration

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Organizations depend on groups working together. This lesson introduces the conditions that shape intergroup performance, with particular attention to interdependence—the ways groups rely on one another.

Intergroup behavior describes what happens when one group in an organization interacts with another. Production may rely on purchasing for materials, while sales and finance need to coordinate plans and resources. If these interactions do not work well, organizational effectiveness and competitiveness can suffer.

All flashcards

Interdependence
The degree to which groups rely on one another for resources, information, or work outputs.
Task uncertainty
Uncertainty about work that can increase the need for communication and information gathering.
Integration requirements
The collaboration or structural connections groups need to coordinate toward organizational objectives.
Linking role
A position or unit that coordinates the activities of two or more groups.
Decoupling
Separating groups to minimize harmful interaction while preserving necessary connections between their work.

Quiz questions

  1. A design group supplies prototypes to marketing, while marketing returns customer feedback that shapes design. What type of interdependence is this?Answer: Reciprocal interdependence.
  2. Why do uncertain tasks generally require more communication between groups?Answer: Questions and changes arise that groups need to discuss and resolve.
  3. What does effective integration allow groups with different goals to do?Answer: Accommodate one another's needs while contributing to shared objectives.
  4. What coordination approach provides ongoing coordination across several organizational groups?Answer: A linking role.
  5. When is a task force especially suitable for improving intergroup coordination?Answer: When a specific, time-limited problem needs expertise from several units.

Based on Organizational Behavior by J. Stewart Black, David S. Bright, Donald G. Gardner, Eva Hartmann, Jason Lambert, Laura M. Leduc, Joy Leopold, James S. O’Rourke, Jon L. Pierce, Richard M. Steers, Siri Terjesen, Joseph Weiss (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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