Working in Teams and Individually

Foundations of Group Behavior

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Argument 1-Efficacy of Group Work Over Individual

The analysis explores group behavior and revisits the long-standing debate about the relative efficacy of group work versus individual effort. Working in groups or teams can be more productive than individually, as group dynamics are managed well. Primarily, collectives serve as archives of a variety of viewpoints and knowledge. Considerably, groups can gather information from their numerous members, resulting in a broader range of potential solutions for any problem (Robbins & Judge, 2015). When used effectively, this diversity of opinion can produce groundbreaking and creative solutions. The 1955 Polio vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk and his team is a case example. According to Orenstein et al. (2022), Dr. Salk is often acknowledged for his discovery, but the collaborative work of several scientists, each bringing their specialized knowledge, ultimately resulted in the groundbreaking achievement.

Moreover, the punctuated-equilibrium model emphasizes that groups, specifically transient ones, experience periods of inertia interspersed with intense activity, particularly near deadlines. This model implies that groups are more adaptable than individuals at quickly handling pressure and changing course. Nevertheless, the efficacy of collaborative tasks does not diminish the difficulties they entail. As emphasized in the chapter, groupthink can be a potential pitfall, as it discourages critical evaluation of different perspectives due to the pressure to conform. However, methods such as the nominal group technique and brainstorming can mitigate this by