Team Cohesion
Running head: TEAM CONFLICT AND COHESION
Team Conflict and Cohesion
Mak Turno
University of Phoenix
July 9, 2007
Team Conflict and Cohesion
The dynamics of a team relies heavily on the interaction of team members during times of conflict not just during times of agreement. Often groups seek to achieve a cohesive relationship in an effort to unite the team towards its goals. Group members can make the mistake of subverting conflict in an attempt to maintain this team unity. Conflict serves a valuable role in effective group interactions that must be understood by participants of a team. An examination into the characteristics of conflict and cohesion and the relationship between the two dynamics can provide perspective to achieve the goal of educating team members. Furthermore, team members must be educated on conflict resolution strategies that allow for conflict and cohesion to exist on the same team.
Characteristics of Cohesion
Team cohesion has two predominant types: task and social. Task cohesion is when members of a team can reach a consensus on the method and process of achieving a common goal or set of goals. Social cohesion is when members of a team accept one another on a personal level. A cohesive team can exhibit either type; however, high-performance teams have been shown to exhibit both. “A high-performance team works together to achieve mutual goals, recognizes that each member is accountable and committed to achieving team goals, communicates effectively with each other, shares the joy of achievement and the pain of not meeting goals, shares information, helps each other, and recognizes that the success of the group is dependent upon each individual” (Bulleit, ρ.3).
Task cohesion has shown to have significant impact in work groups more than social cohesion. According to a study conducted by Forrester and Tashchian, “social cohesion did not prove to be as significant a predictor of work outcomes,” but did provide “improved
Team Conflict and Cohesion
Mak Turno
University of Phoenix
July 9, 2007
Team Conflict and Cohesion
The dynamics of a team relies heavily on the interaction of team members during times of conflict not just during times of agreement. Often groups seek to achieve a cohesive relationship in an effort to unite the team towards its goals. Group members can make the mistake of subverting conflict in an attempt to maintain this team unity. Conflict serves a valuable role in effective group interactions that must be understood by participants of a team. An examination into the characteristics of conflict and cohesion and the relationship between the two dynamics can provide perspective to achieve the goal of educating team members. Furthermore, team members must be educated on conflict resolution strategies that allow for conflict and cohesion to exist on the same team.
Characteristics of Cohesion
Team cohesion has two predominant types: task and social. Task cohesion is when members of a team can reach a consensus on the method and process of achieving a common goal or set of goals. Social cohesion is when members of a team accept one another on a personal level. A cohesive team can exhibit either type; however, high-performance teams have been shown to exhibit both. “A high-performance team works together to achieve mutual goals, recognizes that each member is accountable and committed to achieving team goals, communicates effectively with each other, shares the joy of achievement and the pain of not meeting goals, shares information, helps each other, and recognizes that the success of the group is dependent upon each individual” (Bulleit, ρ.3).
Task cohesion has shown to have significant impact in work groups more than social cohesion. According to a study conducted by Forrester and Tashchian, “social cohesion did not prove to be as significant a predictor of work outcomes,” but did provide “improved
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