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QUESTION 
Small groups
 
What groups are you a member of in your study or work environment(s)? How big are these groups? 
How does the size of your class, study group, work team – or whatever: 
(a) 
Affect your ability to come up with questions or ideas? 
(b) 
Give you help and support to do something you couldn't do alone? 
ANSWER 
Your primary groups are probably your tutor group or class. If at work, it would be the section in which 
you work. If the groups are large, you may feel reluctant to put forward ideas or ask questions, but even 
within a large group you should feel there is support and that help is at hand if you need it. 
 
2.4 Individual and group contribution 
People 
contribute differently in groups
(due to group dynamics and synergy) than they do individually. 
This may have a positive or negative effect. 
People contribute different skills and attributes to the organisation as individuals than they do as group 
members because: 
(a) 
Human behaviour is different in groups than in solo or interpersonal situations: 
group dynamics 
have an effect on performance. 
(b) Groups 
offer 
synergy
: 2 + 2 = 5. The pooling and stimulation of ideas and energies in a group 
can allow greater contribution than individuals working on their own. ('None of us is as smart as 
all of us', Blanchard.) 
(c) 
Group dynamics and synergy may also be 
negative
: distracting the individual, stifling individual 
responsibility and flair, and so on. Individuals may contribute more and better in some situations. 
Individuals contribute: 
Groups contribute: 

A set of skills 

A mix of skills 

Objectives set by manager 

Some teams can set their own objectives under the 
corporate framework 

A point of view 

A number of different points of view, enabling a swift 
overview of different ways of looking at a problem 

Creative ideas related to the 
individual's expertise 

Creative ideas arising from new combinations of 
expertise 

'I can't be in two places at once' 

Flexibility as team members can be deployed in different 
ways 

Limited opportunity for self-criticism 

Opportunity for exercising control