ExpertIndividual and Group Behaviour
Learning outcomes
- Navigate distinct personality traits and interpersonal friction points.
- Understand group alignment dynamics and role theory.
Individual Behaviour
People behave differently at work based on their:
- Personality: Stable traits (e.g., introversion vs extroversion).
- Perception: How they interpret the world. (e.g., Manager sees a deadline as a fun challenge; employee sees it as a threat).
- Attitudes: Feelings towards their job (Job Satisfaction).
Two employees receive the same critical feedback. One uses it to improve, the other gets angry and quits. This difference is primarily due to differences in:
Role Ambiguity vs Role Conflict
Role Ambiguity: You are hired, but no one gives you a job description. You don't know what to do.
Role Conflict: You know your job, but the Sales Director tells you to approve a bad client, while the Finance Director tells you to reject them.
Group Dynamics
When individuals form a group, they develop Group Norms (unwritten rules of behavior). If the norm is 'we take long lunches', a new employee will likely conform to this, even if it breaks official company rules.
An employee is told by the IT manager to update the servers, but the Operations manager tells them not to touch the servers during business hours. The employee is experiencing:
Exam Focus
Understand 'Role Signs'. These are visible indicators of a person's role or status (e.g., a uniform, a corner office, a specific job title).
What is a 'Group Norm'?
Which of the following is an example of a 'Role Sign'?
If a highly productive employee joins a team where the 'group norm' is to work very slowly, what is the most likely outcome according to group dynamics theory?
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ACCA BT — Business & Technology Practice Exam 2
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