• Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

This essay will explain how groups are formed and will discuss how motivation techniques promote effective group work and a well motivated workforce.

Extracts from this document...


This essay will explain how groups are formed and will discuss how motivation techniques promote effective group work and a well motivated workforce. A group can be defined as "two or more freely interacting people with shared norms and goals and a common identity" (Kreitner, Kinicki and Buelens 1999). However there is no specific definition to the term 'group'. Cartwright and Zander (1968) identified eight different definitions of the word all which represent a particular perspective on the most important characteristics of a group. Mullins (2005) states that "groups are deliberately planned and created by the management as part of the formal organisation structure." Managers create formal groups to accomplish goals and serve the needs of the organisation. The main purpose of formal groups is to perform specific tasks and achieve specific objectives defined by the organisation. However informal groups are not formed or planned by the management. These develop naturally among employees through communication and interaction within the workplace. Informal groups tends to satisfy employees social needs, for example developing meaningful relationships with other people and obtaining and sharing important information. ...read more.


To increase motivation and group work within the childcare industry one should consider Herzberg's Two Factor, which is hygiene and motivating factors. His theory hinges on the idea that people are motivated by the things that make them feel good about work. In childcare it is important to ensure hygiene factors such as the conditions the employees work in are satisfactory and comfortable along with security of having an acceptable amount of wage and benefits such as pension. Another way to motivate employees is by reinforcing them. Skinner's theory simply states that the employee's behaviour that leads to positive outcomes will be repeated (skinner 1953). Managers should positively reinforce employee behaviour that will lead them to positive outcomes. For example if the teacher has a plan for an activity, the manager should encourage the teacher to the activity or the play. By this he/she will feel valued and would like to make further contribution in other tasks. Some employees are quiet and some are loud. Despite people's personality, everyone should have a say in discussion or at least be given the chance. Managers should be able to build up self esteem in their employees and for their employees to build up to their work colleagues. ...read more.


As suggested by the expectancy theory, workers expect some sort of reward as an outcome of the effort that they put in. It is vital that communication is a two-way action as not all people have the same incentives as mentioned before, one working in the childcare vocation may get to an advance whereas another may prefer the option to work in another group, such as a different year group or subject. So it is essential that one projects their desired needs in order for them to be met. However, a lack of communication can de-motivate employees and one should be careful to not send out misleading information. Managers who do not meet their demands as promised, causes a break-down in communication and trust, which will therefore lead on to cause motivational problems, but if managed to maintain this trust then they will be more valued, as will their decisions, upholding the employees will to co-operate. In conclusion this essay shows different ways how groups are formed and different types of groups such as formal and informal groups. There are many ways of motivating employees but employers should know that there are different ways of rewarding. Different theorists have different ways of explaining their techniques on motivating workforces. ...read more.

The above preview is unformatted text


Found what you're looking for?

  • Start learning 29% faster today
  • 150,000+ documents available
  • Just £6.99 a month

Not the one? Search for your essay title...
  • Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

See related essaysSee related essays

Related AS and A Level People & Operations Management essays

  1. Marked by a teacher

    Roles and Responsibilities of Staff Members at McDonalds.

    5 star(s)

    Body Language Performance scores = 1 - weakest 10 - strongest 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Appearance 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Confidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Eye contact 1 2 3 4 5

  2. Travel and Tourism. For this task I will script a welcome meeting for two ...

    on the 17th floor overlooking the Upper East Side and Central Park, the rooftop garden at The Surrey is a true oasis. A tranquil, elegant setting for relaxing or for business entertaining, the garden also features exclusive service from Cafe Boulud for beverages, light meals and anything else you may require.

  1. Describe, with examples, how working environment can impact on motivation and contribute to an ...

    It allows employees to claim equal value in terms of demands made on them, such as effort, skills and decisions made. There is also an EU Directive that state that for the same work or work of equal value, sex discrimination must be eliminated in all aspects of pay.


    an Accounts Clerk at Joseph Chamberlain College which I have been looking for a long time. I have heard how successful your company has been over the past 10 years it has good reputation. I have experience in operating a computer book- keeping system and I think this would help me and reduce time in training etc.

  1. Teamwork. There are several reasons why a business may organise their staff into teams. ...

    o The drawback of being in a small team is that the task ahead may not be completed as quickly, as there is more for each member to do individually. Although, this can be an advantage as individuals will have a variety of tasks to complete, rather than just sticking to one job and being bore/de-motivated.

  2. Belbin's theory and linking it to my group

    � Resource Investigator - The resource investigator's strength lies in being an extrovert who can develop contacts, communicate well, explore new ideas and opportunities, and bring enthusiasm and drive to the team effort. Cerebral/Intellectual Role: � Planter - The planter's strength lies in problem solving and out-of-the-box thinking.

  1. Free essay

    In this task I am required to define motivation and retaining staff, methods used ...

    The staff turnover will also increase because they won't be happy with the work place and this means that the school will have to hire new teachers and they have to do the induction again and this can cost money and this might keep happening because the new teachers might

  2. Motivation within a workplace - examples from Asda.

    This will therefore act as a great motivator. Methodology To complete this coursework, I will use a selection of resources to be certain that I get the best possible picture of what motivational strategies ASDA use. I have e-mailed ASDA asking whether they could provide me with information on how

  • Over 160,000 pieces
    of student written work
  • Annotated by
    experienced teachers
  • Ideas and feedback to
    improve your own work