CHAPTER 18 · GROUPS AND TEAMS

Chapter 18 — Groups and Teams

الشابتر ده بيفرق بين Group و Team، وبين Formal Groups و Informal Groups، وبيشرح Committees و Groupthink وأسئلة الامتحانات المتكررة عليهم.

🎯 ابدأ الأسئلة دلوقتي 📋 Cheat Sheet
10
Topics
22
Exam Items
5
Final Years
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Chapter Overview — الخريطة العامة

المطلوب منك في الشابتر: تعريفات، مقارنات، مراحل، وأسئلة امتحانات مباشرة.

🧭 إيه اللي لازم تحفظه؟

Groups

Group Definition: interact + psychologically aware + perceive themselves as a group.
Formal Groups: Command Group, Task Group, Committee.
Informal Groups: Interest Group, Friendship Group.

Teams

Team Definition: members influence one another toward an organizational objective.
Groups vs Teams: Share information vs Collective performance.
Stages: Forming → Storming → Norming → Performing → Adjourning.
امتحانيًا: أكتر حاجة اتكررت هي الخلط بين Command Group و Task Group، وتعريف Groupthink، وسؤال Interest Group vs Friendship Group.
01

Group Definition — تعريف الـ Group

مش أي تجمع ناس يبقى Group بالمعنى الإداري؛ لازم تتحقق 3 شروط.

👥 Official Definition
Group
Any number of people who interact with one another, are psychologically aware of one another, and perceive themselves to be a group.
بالعربي: ناس بينهم تفاعل، حاسين بوجود بعض كأعضاء، وشايفين نفسهم كـ group واحد.

1. Interact

لازم يكون فيه تواصل أو تعامل بين الأعضاء، مش مجرد ناس واقفة في نفس المكان.

2. Psychologically Aware

كل عضو مدرك نفسيًا إن فيه أعضاء تانيين موجودين معاه في نفس الـ group.

3. Perceive Themselves

الأعضاء شايفين نفسهم كيان واحد: "إحنا group".

ليه managers يدرسوا Groups؟ لأن Groups موجودة في كل أنواع المنظمات، وبتتكون طبيعيًا في كل أجزاء المنظمة، وممكن تسبب نتائج مرغوبة أو غير مرغوبة. فهمها بيرفع احتمال إن نتائجها تكون مفيدة للمنظمة.
02

Formal vs Informal Groups

السؤال هنا: الـ group اتعملت بقرار إداري ولا اتكونت طبيعيًا من العلاقات؟

Formal Group
A group that exists within an organization by virtue of management decree to perform tasks that enhance the attainment of organizational objectives.
يعني الإدارة هي اللي أنشأتها عشان شغل أو هدف تنظيمي.
Informal Group
A collection of individuals whose common work experiences result in the development of interpersonal relations beyond those established by management.
يعني علاقات اتكونت من التجربة المشتركة في الشغل، مش من قرار رسمي.
Point Formal Group Informal Group
Origin Management decree Common work experiences
Purpose Organizational objectives Social relations / shared concerns
Structure Official and planned Natural and unofficial
Examples Command Group, Task Group, Committee Interest Group, Friendship Group
اختصار امتحاني: لو السؤال بيقول formed by management أو designated work assignments غالبًا الإجابة Formal Group. لو بيقول common work experiences أو علاقات خارج الإدارة، الإجابة Informal Group.
03

Formal Group Types

السلايد بيقسم الـ Formal Groups إلى Command Groups و Task Groups.

Command Group

A formal group that is outlined in the chain of command on an organization chart.

بالعربي: مجموعة ظاهرة في الـ organization chart، زي manager وتحته supervisors. دي غالبًا routine وثابتة.

Task Group

A formal group of organization members who interact with one another to accomplish most of the organization’s nonroutine tasks.

بالعربي: مجموعة بتتعمل لمهمة غير روتينية أو مشكلة محددة. مش هي اللي في chain of command.
الغلط المتكرر: جملة "A task group is outlined in the chain of command on an organization chart" = False. ده تعريف Command Group مش Task Group.
04

Committees — اللجان

Committee غالبًا بتتصنف كـ Task Group.

Committee
A group of individuals charged with performing some type of specific activity and usually classified as a task group.
يعني لجنة معمولة لنشاط محدد، وغالبًا نوع من الـ Task Group.

Committees are established for four major reasons

  1. Exchange ideas بين أعضاء المنظمة.
  2. Generate suggestions and recommendations لوحدات تانية.
  3. Develop new ideas لحل مشاكل موجودة.
  4. Assist in policy development أو تطوير السياسات التنظيمية.

Why managers should use committees

  • Improve the quality of decision making.
  • Encourage honest opinions.
  • Increase participation in decision making.
  • Ensure representation of important groups in the decision-making process.
Committee Success Area What to remember
Procedural Steps Clear written goals, specified authority, optimum size, capable chairperson, permanent secretary, agenda before meeting, start/end on time.
People-Oriented Guidelines Rephrase ideas, bring all members into active participation, stimulate further thought.
Avoid Groupthink Don't let the desire for agreement kill realistic evaluation.
سؤال Final 2024: Specifying the authority of the committee يعتبر procedural step. أما bringing all members into active participation فهو people-oriented guideline.
05

Groupthink

واحدة من أكتر كلمات الشابتر ظهورًا في الامتحان.

Groupthink
The mode of thinking that group members engage in when the desire for agreement so dominates the group that it overrides the need to realistically appraise alternative problem solutions.
بالعربي: رغبة المجموعة في الاتفاق بتبقى أقوى من تقييم البدائل بواقعية، فالأعضاء يسكتوا اعتراضاتهم.

Symptoms

  • Member agrees publicly while privately opposing.
  • Members feel pressure to conform.
  • Members censor their own ideas.
  • Poor decisions and poor outcomes.

Exam Trap

الجملة اللي بتقول إن Groupthink هو منع النقد لحد ما كل الناس تعرض بدائلها غلط؛ ده أقرب لقاعدة في Brainstorming مش تعريف Groupthink.

Example: لو رئيس اللجنة بدأ بسؤال منحاز زي "Should we enter this foolish price war?" فهو بيدفع الناس لاتفاق معين بدل تقييم البدائل بموضوعية.
06

Teams vs Groups

كل Team هو Group، لكن مش كل Group هو Team.

Team
A group whose members influence one another toward the accomplishment of an organizational objective.
يعني فريق أعضاؤه بيأثروا في بعض لتحقيق هدف تنظيمي مشترك.
احفظها زي ما هي: Are all groups in organizations teams? No. Are all teams in organizations groups? Yes. Good managers constantly try to help groups become teams.
Feature Groups Teams
Goal Share information Collective performance
Synergy Neutral Positive
Skills Random and varied Complementary
Accountability Individual Individual and mutual
Roles & Responsibilities Not always explicitly defined or developed Clearly developed and discussed
Rules & Procedures Not formally developed; evolve according to group needs Clearly discussed and developed to help team work together
Methods Members interact and work is usually divided Members collaborate, coordinate efforts, and work interdependently
07

Team Development Stages

الترتيب مهم جدًا: Forming → Storming → Norming → Performing → Adjourning.

01

Forming

الأعضاء بيتعرفوا على بعض وعلى الهدف العام.

02

Storming

خلافات وصراع أدوار وآراء قبل الاستقرار.

03

Norming

تتكون قواعد وعلاقات وطريقة عمل مشتركة.

04

Performing

الفريق يشتغل بكفاءة ناحية الأداء والهدف.

05

Adjourning

إنهاء المهمة أو تفكيك الفريق بعد الإنجاز.

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Informal Groups Types

أهم فرق: Interest Group مبنية على قضية، و Friendship Group مبنية على علاقة شخصية.

Interest Group

An informal group that gains and maintains membership primarily because of a common concern members have about a specific issue.

مثال امتحاني: A group of workers pressing management for better pay.

Friendship Group

An informal group that forms in organizations because of the personal affiliation members have with one another.

مثال: زملاء بقوا أصحاب بسبب قربهم أو اهتمامات شخصية مشتركة.

Benefits of Informal Group Membership

  • Perpetuation of social and cultural values that members consider important.
  • Status and social satisfaction that people might not enjoy without group membership.
  • Increased ease of communication among group members.
  • Increased desirability of the overall work environment.
09

Exam Add-on — Team Effectiveness

جزء ظهر في Final 2025 عن بناء فريق فعال، حتى لو مش واضح في ملف السلايدز المختصر.

Final 2025 Trap: Setting stable goals and priorities for the team مش People-related step. دي Organization-related step.

People-related steps

  • Make the team’s work satisfying.
  • Develop mutual trust.
  • Build good communication.
  • Minimize unresolved conflicts.
  • Deal with threats effectively.
  • Build job-security perception.

Organization-related steps

  • Build a stable overall organization structure.
  • Become involved in team events.
  • Reward and recognize teams.
  • Set stable goals and priorities for the team.

Task-related steps

  • Develop clear objectives and project plans.
  • Provide technical direction and leadership.
  • Establish autonomy and challenging work.
  • Appoint qualified personnel.
  • Encourage involvement.
  • Build visibility for team work.
Cross-functional team: A work team composed of people from different functional areas who are all focused on a specified objective.
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Roll Up — ملخص الشابتر

الشجرة اللي تحفظ منها الشابتر كله في دقيقة.

Group
→
Formal
→
Command · Task · Committee
Formal = by management decree
Group
→
Informal
→
Interest · Friendship
Informal = common work experiences + relationships beyond management
Team
→
Collective performance
→
Forming → Storming → Norming → Performing → Adjourning
Team = group whose members influence one another toward an organizational objective
✍️

Written Question — Compare Groups to Teams

Final 2019 Q7 — ده سؤال جدول، فحطه في دماغك كإجابة نموذجية.

Question: Compare groups to teams as per the following table.

Feature Groups Teams
Goal Share information Collective performance
Synergy Neutral Positive
Skills Random and varied Complementary
Accountability Individual Individual and mutual
Methods Group members interact, and work is usually divided. Team members collaborate and coordinate efforts. Team members work together interdependently.

لو السؤال زوّد Roles and Responsibilities أو Rules and operating procedures اكتبهم من الجدول الكامل فوق في قسم Teams vs Groups.

✅

Quiz A — صح / غلط (True / False)

كل جملة هنا ظهرت في امتحان أو اتكررت بصياغة قريبة.

TF-1 Final 2019 Q2f · Final 2021 Q21 · Final 2024 Q1-5 · Final 2025 Q1-9
"A task group is a formal group outlined in the chain of command on an organization chart."
T True
F False
✅ الإجابة: False الجملة دي تعريف Command Group. أما Task Group فهو formal group لمهام nonroutine tasks.
TF-2 Final 2021 Q14 · Final 2024 Q1-6
"Groupthink is a group decision-making process in which negative feedback on any suggested alternative is forbidden until all members have presented alternatives."
T True
F False
✅ الإجابة: False ده مش تعريف Groupthink. Groupthink = desire for agreement overrides realistic appraisal. الجملة أقرب لفكرة تأجيل النقد في Brainstorming.
TF-3 Final 2024 Q1-12
"The ideal number of committee members for most tasks seems to be from 15 to 20."
T True
F False
✅ الإجابة: False السلايد بيقول the optimum size of the committee should be determined. يعني مفيش رقم ثابت 15-20، وكمان الرقم ده غالبًا كبير على معظم اللجان الفعالة.
TF-4 Final 2024 Q1-13
"An interest group is an informal group that forms in organizations because of the personal affiliation members have with one another."
T True
F False
✅ الإجابة: False Personal affiliation = Friendship Group. Interest Group = common concern about a specific issue.
TF-5 Final 2025 Q1-10
"The membership of friendship groups in an organization tends to remain static over long periods of time."
T True
F False
✅ الإجابة: False Friendship Groups بتتكون بسبب personal affiliation، والعضوية ممكن تتغير مع الوقت لما صداقات تنتهي أو صداقات جديدة تتكون.
TF-6 Final 2025 Q1-11
"A people-related step in building an effective team is setting stable goals and priorities for the team."
T True
F False
✅ الإجابة: False Setting stable goals and priorities = Organization-related step. الـ People-related steps تشمل mutual trust, good communication, conflict minimization, and job-security perception.
🎯

Quiz B — اختيار متعدد (Multiple Choice)

كل MCQ يخص Chapter 18 من ملفات Finals 2019, 2021/2022, 2024, 2025.

MCQ-1 Final 2019 Q1g · Final 2024 Q30
Formal groups are commonly divided into _______ and _______.
A transitory groups; recurrent groups
B in-groups; out-groups
C command groups; task groups
D interest groups; friendship groups
E primary groups; secondary groups
✅ الإجابة: C — command groups; task groups ده التقسيم الأساسي في السلايد: Formal Groups Kinds = Command Group و Task Group.
D: Interest/Friendship دول Informal Groups مش Formal.
MCQ-2 Final 2019 Q1h
Which of the following is one of the characteristics of a group as used in management-related discussions?
A A group is simply a gathering of people.
B Groups always work toward the accomplishment of an organizational goal.
C A group must consist of 5 or more people.
D Groups are characterized by occasional communication among members over time.
E A group consists of members who are psychologically aware of one another.
✅ الإجابة: E — psychologically aware of one another التعريف الإداري للـ Group فيه 3 شروط: interact, psychologically aware, perceive themselves as a group.
A: عبارة عامة جدًا؛ الامتحان عايز characteristic دقيقة من التعريف.
MCQ-3 Final 2021 Q41 · Final 2022 Answers
A formal group is a group that _______.
A is formed by management to perform organizational tasks
B is normally defined but unstructured
C is formed by the common interests of group members
D is formed by the affiliation of the group members
E is normally unstructured and undefined
✅ الإجابة: A — formed by management كلمة السر في Formal Group هي management decree: الإدارة أنشأتها لمهام تخدم الأهداف التنظيمية.
MCQ-4 Final 2021 Q42 · Final 2022 Answers
Formal groups that handle routine activities and are outlined on an organization chart are called _______.
A task groups
B committees
C transitory groups
D work teams
E command groups
✅ الإجابة: E — command groups Organization chart و chain of command = Command Group. Task Group للمهام غير الروتينية.
MCQ-5 Final 2021 Q43 · Final 2022 Answers
Two formal groups that are often established in organizations are _______ and _______.
A transitory groups; recurrent groups
B interest groups; committees
C in-groups; out-groups
D committees; work teams
E interest groups; work teams
✅ الإجابة: D — committees; work teams حسب اختيارات الامتحان، الاتنين ممكن يكونوا Formal لأن المنظمة بتنشئهم لمهام محددة.
مهم: لو الصياغة قالت commonly divided into ومعاك خيار command groups; task groups اختاره فورًا.
MCQ-6 Final 2024 Q22
Which of the following is least accurate regarding groups?
A They are found in all organizations.
B Understanding groups can help managers raise desirable consequences.
C Groups inevitably form in all facets of organizational existence.
D Groups invariably cause desirable consequences within the organization.
E Groups are characterized by a size small enough to permit face-to-face communication.
✅ الإجابة: D — Groups invariably cause desirable consequences السلايد بيقول إن Groups can cause either desirable or undesirable consequences. كلمة invariably معناها دائمًا، ودي غلط.
MCQ-7 Final 2024 Q39
An informal group that gains and maintains membership primarily because of a common concern members have about a specific issue is called _______.
A a work team
B a friendship group
C a command group
D an interest group
E a committee
✅ الإجابة: D — an interest group Common concern about a specific issue = Interest Group. Personal affiliation = Friendship Group.
MCQ-8 Final 2024 Q41
A work team composed of people from different functional areas of the organization who are all focused on a specified objective is known as a _______.
A a task group
B cross-functional team
C a command group
D special-purpose group
E self-directed team
✅ الإجابة: B — cross-functional team Different functional areas + specified objective = Cross-functional team.
MCQ-9 Final 2024 Q43
One of the benefits of utilizing committees is that _______.
A the decision-making process is much quicker than individual decision-making
B there is no limit on the size of the committee
C a committee does need a leader or a secretary
D committees improve the quality of decision-making
E decision-makers don't have to represent the group they come from
✅ الإجابة: D — improve the quality of decision-making من أسباب استخدام Committees: تحسين جودة القرار، تشجيع الآراء الصريحة، زيادة المشاركة، وتمثيل مجموعات مهمة.
MCQ-10 Final 2024 Q46
Which of the following is a purely procedural step that could be taken to increase the probability that a committee will be successful?
A rephrasing ideas already expressed
B specifying the authority of the committee
C bringing all members into active participation
D stimulating further thought by members
E keeping the goals of the group flexible
✅ الإجابة: B — specifying the authority of the committee دي من Procedural Steps. الخيارات A/C/D من People-Oriented Guidelines.
MCQ-11 Final 2024 Q50
Which of the following is an example of an interest group?
A a group of friends interested in rock music
B a quarterly work planning group
C a group meeting to consider the feasibility of a new product
D a group meeting to prepare the monthly financial reports
E a group of workers pressing management for better pay
✅ الإجابة: E — workers pressing management for better pay دي common concern about a specific issue، فهي Interest Group. باقي الاختيارات غالبًا social أو formal task/work activities.
MCQ-12 Final 2024 Q52 · Final 2025 Q58
Which of the following statements about groupthink is true?
A Groupthink cannot take place in a newly formed group.
B A group with high levels of mistrust and conflicts is likely to be most susceptible to groupthink.
C A group with a high level of cohesiveness is likely to be susceptible to groupthink.
D Managers must help committees to establish groupthink to generate alternative problem solutions.
E A group which is highly competitive will most probably result in groupthink.
✅ الإجابة: C — high level of cohesiveness لما التماسك والرغبة في الاتفاق تزيد جدًا، الأعضاء ممكن يكتموا المعارضة، وده يرفع احتمال Groupthink.
MCQ-13 Final 2024 Q60
_______ is the mode of thinking that group members engage in when the desire for agreement so dominates the group that it overrides the need to realistically appraise alternative problem solutions.
A Social loafing
B Group polarization
C Groupthink
D Cognitive dissonance
E Collective intelligence
✅ الإجابة: C — Groupthink ده التعريف الحرفي للـ Groupthink. ركز في الكلمات: desire for agreement و overrides realistic appraisal.
MCQ-14 Final 2025 Q37
Which of the following would be considered a formal group?
A task force for employee birthday celebrations
B reading group
C bowling team
D bringing people from various functions to solve a business dilemma
✅ الإجابة: D — bringing people from various functions to solve a business dilemma ده أقرب لـ Formal Task Group / Cross-functional team أنشأته الإدارة لحل مشكلة business. Reading/Bowling/Birthday أمثلة اجتماعية أو غير مرتبطة بهدف تنظيمي واضح.
MCQ-15 Final 2025 Q46
A collection of individuals whose common work experiences result in the development of a system of interpersonal relationships that extend beyond those established by management is a/an _______.
A work team
B task group
C informal group
D command group
✅ الإجابة: C — informal group الجملة دي تعريف Informal Group بالنص: common work experiences + interpersonal relationships beyond management.
MCQ-16 Final 2025 Q48
_______ are work groups established by the organization that have designated work assignments and specific tasks.
A task groups
B formal groups
C informal groups
D cross-functional groups
✅ الإجابة: B — formal groups Established by the organization + designated work assignments + specific tasks = Formal Groups.
📋

Cheat Sheet — ورقة المراجعة السريعة

كل مصطلح مهم في Chapter 18 مع التعريف المختصر.

📌 Core Definitions

Group
Interact + psychologically aware + perceive themselves as a group
Formal Group
Exists by management decree to enhance organizational objectives
Informal Group
Common work experiences create relationships beyond management
Team
Group whose members influence one another toward an organizational objective

🏢 Formal Groups

Command Group
Outlined in chain of command on organization chart
Task Group
Formal group for nonroutine tasks
Committee
Group charged with a specific activity; usually a task group
Committee Success
Goals + authority + size + chairperson + secretary + agenda + avoid groupthink

🧩 Informal Groups

Interest Group
Common concern about a specific issue
Friendship Group
Personal affiliation among members
Benefits
Values + status/social satisfaction + easier communication + better work environment

⚠️ Exam Traps

Task vs Command
Org chart = Command Group, not Task Group
Groupthink
Desire for agreement overrides realistic appraisal
Groups vs Teams
Groups share information; Teams seek collective performance
Stages
Forming → Storming → Norming → Performing → Adjourning
⚡

Flashcards — مراجعة سريعة

اضغط على البطاقة لعرض الإجابة.

ما تعريف Group؟
اضغط لرؤية الإجابة
Interact + psychologically aware + perceive themselves as a group
Command Group ولا Task Group في organization chart؟
اضغط لرؤية الإجابة
Command Group
Groupthink يعني إيه؟
اضغط لرؤية الإجابة
Desire for agreement overrides realistic appraisal
Interest Group vs Friendship Group؟
اضغط لرؤية الإجابة
Interest = common concern
Friendship = personal affiliation
Team Development Stages بالترتيب؟
اضغط لرؤية الإجابة
Forming → Storming → Norming → Performing → Adjourning
Groups vs Teams في Goal؟
اضغط لرؤية الإجابة
Groups = Share information
Teams = Collective performance