Roles of Groups in the Workplace

Workplace groups are becoming more common in today's organizations. Companies are seeking the synergy that develops when people come together to work on a project. Project managers lead groups of people from all departments and work with their clients to implement programs. Groups also help to solve operational problems, like quality and customer service and remain as a team until the problem is reduced or eliminated. Groups also help improve the communication and problem solving abilities of team members and create professional relationships that are valuable sources of assistance.

Projects

  1. Many companies draw together people from different departments to implement programs and projects. A project manager leads these groups and together, with these diverse teams, produces products or programs for a client. Team members bring expertise from marketing, accounting, human resources, training and operations to meet deadlines and complete the agreed upon project. Using the collective power of each team member, the group accomplishes much more than it could have alone. The project groups are becoming more common as they consistently produce outstanding results.

Teambuilding

  1. Working in groups leads to increased team building for your company. Opportunities to work with people and departments with whom you rarely interact brings increased understanding and cooperation to your organization. Empathy for the work of other departments also develops when groups work toward a common goal. Team building occurs naturally during the course of a project or assignment and further cooperation for future projects is more likely. Groups develop a team spirit over time, and everyone in your company benefits.

Creativity

  1. Creativity increases when working in groups. Much like a brainstorming session, where ideas are shared, working together in groups increases creativity. As new ideas and suggestions are discussed, group members build off of these ideas and create new ones. Problems that once seemed impossible to solve are resolved when groups work together. Often the group member who has the least experience is the one who brings up the idea that becomes the solution. New and exciting products and concepts arise when groups are brought together to solve problems.

When to Use Groups

  1. The key to group success is knowing when to use them. Groups function best when they have ample time to meet, discuss issues and resolve problems. If you need immediate decisions, groups do not always work best. Complex projects and assignments that take time for completion are ideal candidates for group work. Groups are also good for training and educational opportunities. Employees can learn on the job from experienced team members and also become more productive in a shorter period when engaged in group work.