Workplace Diversity and Team Dynamics

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Group and Team

I. Definition of Team

A team is composed of people working together for a common goal. It is a group of people who are working together to accomplish tasks and responsibilities. They can be working together in playing sports, preparing for a presentation, or working together in a family or professional setting.

II. Definition of Group

A group is composed of people who are together in completing a task. However, they are not working together to complete the work. They can be doing the same thing together but they don't work for a common goal as a whole. Examples of people who are in a group are those watching movie or a tournament. They act as observers but they are not considered doers.

III. The Differences Between a Group and a Team

A group and a team are both composed of people who are together who may be working on the same tasks or having own responsibilities. The following are the differences between groups and teams:

A. People in groups have individual accountability while teams both have individual and mutual accountability to the team.
B. Group members come together and share information and perspectives. Team members often meet together to discuss, decide, solve problems, and plan.
C. Each member in a group is focused on his or her own individual goal but team members focus on their team's goals.
D. Individual members in groups produce own individual outputs but team members produce a collective team product/output.
E. Group members have defined roles, responsibilities and tasks while members in a team also have their own individual roles, responsibilities and tasks but they are performed to help the team do its work in achieving its goals. Team members often share and rotate tasks and functions.
F. While individuals in a group are concerned with his or her own outcome and challenges, people in a team are concerned with outcomes for everyone and face all the ...