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Successfully working in a group involves different factors which includes the group’s dynamics and the kind of leadership involved. Through a team that was working for a fast food chain, I was able to observe group dynamics in action. Specifically, I was able to see and understand the concept of group structure as well as the role that a leader plays.
The group was composed of both males and females, a mix of Asian, American, and African-American races. As I continue to observe their dynamics, I noticed that they form smaller task groups. Each task group is composed of individuals who work together to achieve a specific task (“Group Dynamics,” n.d.). For instance, there was a specific task group which was dedicated to address the customers’ orders while there was another task group assigned to make sure that the entire area was clean and that the available tables were ready for new clients.
Moreover, I also observed the group’s structure. Because there was a significant number of customer’s coming in the fast food restaurant, the group’s size of 15-20 people seemed to be just right. It is said that smaller groups tend to be more effective because larger groups take more time in making decisions (“Group Dynamics,” n.d.). However, this does not seem to be the case in the group that I observed. It was evident that they knew exactly what to do, when to do it and how to do things relative to the tasks being performed by the other team members. Another aspect of the group’s structure was their roles. I believe that being part of a business entity, their assigned roles were already predetermined as soon as they were accepted in their jobs. This was far more evident on the uniforms and badges that they were wearing. Aside from the people who were assigned in the kitchen, almost all of the members were wearing the same kind of uniform – those who were in the cashier, those who were assisting the incoming customers, and those who were making sure that the entire area was clean. However, two of them were wearing a different kind of uniform, one was walking around checking on others’ work and checking on other things while the other was sitting inside a cubicle near the cashier’s area. Clearly, these two were the manager and the supervisor.
As every customer was being served, I noticed that no conflict or issue was raised by anyone in terms of the quality of service being provided by the group. This was probably because each member fully understood their responsibilities, and they were accountable enough to perform them. Also, in terms of the way they work as a team, I did not observe any issue, such as social loafing. With social loafing, some members or individuals exert less effort when working as a group (“Social Loafing,” n.d.). In the case of the fast food chain workers, everyone seemed to be doing their part equally with enthusiasm. In other words, the group was able to use the abilities of each member appropriately.
Although it was not quite apparent during my 30-minute observation, I believe that the way the team performed was a reflection of the effectiveness of the leaders. First, as the supervisor approached some members from time to time, it does not seem like it was because something was not done right. Based on the reactions in their faces, the conversations just looked like some exchange of information needed for the operation. Moreover, I did not notice any client complaining to the supervisor or the manager. I also did not see an issue in which any team member had to escalate to their leaders. Because the group was able to perform smoothly, it only goes to show that their leaders trained and taught them well before they were allowed to do the actual work.
Overall, the group of workers at the fast food chain showed me what group dynamics is all about. Their composition and the way they work allowed me to understand the role of group structure and the influence of leaders in terms of the quality of a group’s performance.
References
Group dynamics (n.d.). Reference for Business. Retrieved from http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Gr-Int/Group-Dynamics.html
Social loafing (n.d.). Psychology and Society. Retrieved from http://www.psychologyandsociety.com/socialloafing.html
