Define social loafing. Why does it occur? How can it be reduced? ...

[yoooooman]

Define social loafing. Why does it occur? How can it be reduced?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Discuss how various levels of cohesiveness (low, medium, and high) affect group performance and effectiveness when group goals are aligned with organizational goals.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[cam1229]

Answer to Question 1

Social loafing is the tendency for people to exert less effort when they work in a group than when they work alone. It occurs for two main reasons. First, individual levels of performance cannot be easily identified and evaluated by a supervisor. A second reason why social loafing occurs is that employees who are performing in a group sometimes think that their own efforts are unimportant or not needed. This belief lowers their level of motivation.

Managers can try to reduce or eliminate social loafing by making each employee's individual contribution to group performance identifiable, by making each employee feel he or she is making a valuable contribution to the group, and by keeping the group as small as possible.

Answer to Question 2

Groups are considered cohesive when they are attractive to their members, when individuals value their group membership, and when individuals have strong desires to remain members of the group.

When the level of cohesiveness is insufficient (1 ) group members are not motivated to participate in the group, (2 ) they do not effectively communicate with each other, (3 ) the group has difficulty influencing its members' behavior, and (4 ) the group often fails to achieve its goals. When the level of cohesiveness is excessive (1 ) time is wasted by members socializing on the job, (2 ) conformity is stressed at the expense of needed change, and (3 ) group goal accomplishment becomes more important than cooperation with other groups to achieve the organization's goals.

A moderate amount of group cohesiveness results in the most favorable group and organizational outcome. A moderately cohesive group has (1 ) the appropriate level of communication and participation among members, (2 ) the ability to influence members' behavior to ensure conformity while still allowing for some deviation, and (3 ) the capacity to stress the importance of the group's accomplishments but not at the expense of other groups and the organization.