1991 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Studies on Stiffening Processes of Groups
| Project/Area Number |
02801018
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Field |
Psychology
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| Research Institution | Kyushu University |
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Principal Investigator |
FURUKAWA Hisataka Kyushu University, Faculty of Education, Associate Professor, 教育学部, 助教授 (30190143)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1990 – 1991
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| Keywords | Group Age / Stiffening of group / Change of external environments / Communication networks / Innovation orientation / Reorganizing of group |
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| Research Abstract |
1. A new concept of "group age", which is defined by the time length after the group is formed, was newly proposed. The possibility of group's stiffening processes was theoretically discussed by paying attention to the advance of standardising, uniforming, and organizing functions inherent in every groups and proceed with time (i. e., group age). By referring to this new concept, major leadership theories which have been presented for these fifty years, was successfully interrelated and integrated.
2. To examine the validity of the new concept, three experimential studies was undertaken. The first was experimental one. Groups with five members engaged in a task which requires cooperation. After a while, the task was changed intentionally to another. Responses of groups facing with these situational change was analyzed. Results revealed (1) group structure was emerged and developed easely in order to perform task efficiently, and (2) task change caused obvious decrease in group efficienc
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y. This was dominant not only for the group which developed structure which was suitable for the preceding task but for the group which had a assigned leader.
3. The second study was a survey research to examine the organizational factors which determine the innovation orientation of work groups (active attitudes or readiness for making improvements and introducing change and innovation into work itself and whole workshop.) Innovation orientation related to "group age" inversely and to the level of activation in communication networks among group members positively.
4. The third was done by using groups engaged in business game. It was revealed that the loss of the priority of group performance got to make the group members' vision narrow and made groups' decision inappropriate and ineffective. These impairments made group performance worse.
5. Based on these findings, it was concluded that every group tend to begin stiffening unless intentional intervention by external agents or introduction or creation of change by internal members. Future research needs to deal with the processes of group reorganizing. Findings and discussions of this research is useful for this purpose. Less
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