ZQMS-ARC-REC-002

ASSIGNMENT COVER

REGION : HARARE
PROGRAMME : Banking and Finance
INTAKE : 2
FULL NAME OF STUDENT : GORE TENDAI
PIN : P2322510k
MAILING ADDRESS : tendaigore482@gmail.com
CONTACT TELEPHONE/CELL : 0777732554
ID. NO : 79-170153N23
COURSE NAME : BUSINES COMMUNICATION
COURSE CODE : BHIR121 102
ASSIGNMENT NO : 1
DUE DATE : 25/09/23
ASSIGNMENT TITLE : BHIR121 102 ASSIGNMENT 1
SEMESTER 1
Question 1 a. How do group dynamics affect the survival of a particular group?
MARKER’S COMMENTS: ______________________________________________________
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OVERALL MARK: _____________ MARKER’S NAME: ________________________

MARKER’S SIGNATURE:_______________________________ DATE: ___________
Issue Date: 3 October 2013 Revision 0

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QUESTION 1 a.
Group dynamics involves the way in which feelings and attitudes of a group change, as well as
developing through the course of its existence due to interaction of its members. According to
Forsyth (2018) group dynamics can be defined as the forces which cause members in a group to
differentiate themselves from outsiders through the interactions of different members and what
they bring to the group. When dynamics are positive the groups work well together. When
dynamics are insufficient the group's effectiveness is reduced.

The dynamic of group roles is one factor affecting the survival of the group. To begin with, each
member of the team understands the direction and goals. There is no ambiguity around what needs
to be accomplished, resulting in less tension. Apprehension and uncertainty make people tense.
Henceforth, it is important to with clarity to attain alignment. As a result, alignment of ideas
contributes to the positive effects towards group dynamics that affect the survival of a particular
group. Moreover, the role played by a group member also plays a pivotal role in affecting the
survival of a particular team in group dynamics. This is due to the degree to which group members
have specialized functions such as critics and recording. As a result, individuals engage in tasks
roles on the goals of the group.

The group structure is also a factor that contributes to affecting the survival of a group in group
dynamics. This is in the sense that, when the team is larger there are greater chances of satisfaction.
This takes place when all the members are contributing and listening to each other's ideas. By so
doing it encourages unity and commitment positively.

Group dynamics affect the survival of a particular group through group social norms. Having
looked at the positive effects, group dynamics affect the survival of a certain team since when a
single member acts destructively it may lead to members ineffectiveness. By so doing it ignites
anger within the other members thereby adding weight to the negative impacts affecting the
survival of a group.

The groups response to the external environment also has a bearing on the group’s survival. This
is as a result that when a group is working on a project and their cooperation is registered, they are

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eligible to get funding from the government. For instance, a group has a chicken layer project, and
they lack funding, the government can always intervein and facilitate what is needed. Therefore,
the survival of a group is affected in a positive manner as the government would be aiding the
requests of the group. The type of currency that is used also plays an important role in affecting
the survival of a particular group in group dynamics. In the sense that when the currency is affected
by inflation rates there is a high chance of members losing hope and leaving the group because of
such an economic factor.

Social norms are also reflected in groups as members tend to occupy specific positions in relation
to the time they have been in the group. More to that, group influence occurs when members
prioritize socialization of full members leaving out the new members. By so doing, it demotivates
the newcomers as it may take time for them to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings.
Hence the existing members behavior is of paramount definition to the groups emerge as it may
be easily tarnished by such acts of the full members towards the new ones.

Group conflict is also another dynamic affecting group survival. To add to the above, team
members can be untrustworthy. This is because some members will be deceived by their love for
money not considering the goals of the group at large. For example, an individual has their own
interest at heart hence they end up stealing from the funds raised by the group. Thus, group
dynamics affect the survival of a group in a positive way due to fraud committed by an individual
in a group.

Decision making in group dynamics also affects the survival of a particular group in the sense that
group members think indifferently. This factor leads to not reaching an agreement as a team as
members have different ideas towards what needs to be done. For example, the group has an
argument of purchase of an incubator to hatch the eggs while other members advocate on the native
way of incubating the chicken eggs in the name of saving funds. Therefore, this will be
sophisticated for members to come up with a tangible decision.

Looking at how group dynamics affect the survival of a particular group in both positive and
negative factors. It is clear for one to draw a conclusion that group dynamics affects the survival

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of a group in both ways as decision making affects negatively while on the other hand government
policies affect dynamics positively.

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1b) The major factors that contribute towards the existence and emergence of conflict include the
level of economic development, cultural patterns, capacities for different ways of fighting and
decision-making institutions. These are some of the factors that will be discussed in the following
essay looking at the factors that contribute to the emergence of conflict.

Experience can contribute towards the existence and emergence of a conflict in the sense that an
individual may have once associated with untrust worth members. As a result of such experience,
it becomes difficult for them to tag along with others resulting in the emergence of a conflict. For
example, the individual was once in a group running poultry project and was robbed of their profits.

Decisiveness is another factor that can lead to conflicts within the group members. This is because
ideas will be wavering from one direction to another. Such a scenario will make people lose faith
because of their inability to make decisions, not only as a leader but the business as a whole.

Moreover, ideology may be part of the contributions to the emergence of conflicts as the group
members have a variety of ideas. For instance, the group will be proposing on purchasing land for
agricultural purposes, other members will not be in favor of the idea. As a result of such it will be
sophisticated to come up with a solid plan as other members will be contesting against the idea,
thereby leading to group resistance and misunderstanding.

Culture is an essential part in arising conflict. Cultures are like underground rivers that run through
our lives and relationships, giving us messages that shape our perceptions, attributions, judgments,
and ideas of self and other. Though cultures are powerful, they are often unconscious, influencing
conflict. Cultural groups may share race, ethnicity, or nationality, but they also arise from
cleavages of generation, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, political and religious affiliation,
language, and gender. Thus, such will lead to arising of conflict.

Resources such as money, time, and equipment are often scarce. Competition among people or
departments for limited resources is a frequent cause of conflict. For example, cutting-edge laptops
and smart phones such iPhone are expensive resources that may be allocated to employees by
firm’s requirements. When a group of employees have access to such resources while others do

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not, conflict may emerge between employees and management. While technical employees may
feel that these devices are crucial to their productivity, employees with customer contact such as
sales administrators may make the point that these devices are important for them to make a good
impression to clients. As a result, important resources are often limited, this is one source of
conflict many companies have to live with.

Another cause of conflict is task interdependence; that is, when accomplishment of your goal
requires reliance on others to perform their tasks. For example, when you are tasked with creating
advertising for your product, you are dependent on the creative team to design the words and
layout, the photographer or videographer to create the visuals, the media buyer to purchase the
advertising space, and so on. The completion of your goal is dependent on others. Hence it leads
to conflict as other members will not be buying the idea.

Moving on, conflict arises when two parties think that their goals are mutually exclusive. Within
an organization, incompatible goals often arise because of the different ways department managers
are compensated. For example, a sales manager’s bonus may be tied to how many sales are made
for the company. As a result, the individual might be tempted to offer customers free activities
such as expedited delivery to make the sale due to such emergence of a conflict will be initiated.

Conflict arises simply out of a small, unintentional communication problem, such as lost e-mails
or dealing with people who don’t return phone calls. Giving feedback is also a case in which the
best intentions can quickly escalate into a conflict situation. When communicating, be sure to focus
on behavior and its effects, not on the person. For example, a work member always arrives late at
all meetings. Hence, such communication problems pave way for emergence of conflict.

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References

Forsyth, D. R. (2018). Group dynamics. Cengage Learning.

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