e five groups which each contained five individuals. I was in a subgroup of a much larger group. Each group is very territorial, “the tendency for humans and other animals to lay claim to and defend a particular area or territory.”(7) It is considered taboo for one subgroup to interfere with the “work” of another subgroup. Being part of a subgroup can have advantages and disadvantages. It meant that the optimum size of the group would be maintained. However, all groups do not have the same workload. Generally one group will not offer to assist another with their workload. One group could be working diligently while another has nothing productive to do. This is hard on morale and also makes it hard to concentrate when there is a lot of noise being generated that is not work related.Small work groups often become very close, especially if the members are around the same age. It is not uncommon for individuals to socialize outside the workplace, also making it a casual and social group. Casual and social groups are defined as “neighborhood groups, fraternities, and even classmates. The impact of these relationships on behavior is often quite profound.” (8) I have gone many places with members of my group that were not work related. Members of an individual group will help their teammate when their own tasks are complete. We were not given individual incentives so there was no “personal penalty” for helping another individual. “Morale and cohesion are characterized by positive feelings and emotions and a readiness to be involved and committed. There is a high degree of trust among team members who find many ways to support one another.” (9) Seating arrangements are very important. At Boeing, groups are situated in cubicles that are not always conducive to a productive environment. Individuals working on a project are often separated because of space restricti...
