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Formal groups
Formal groups are created to achieve specific organisational objectives and are concerned with
the co-ordination of work activities.
People are brought together on the basis of defined roles within the structure of the organisation.
The nature of the tasks to be undertaken is a predominant feature of the formal groups. Goals are
identified by management, and certain rules, relationships and norms of behaviour established.
Formal groups tend to be relatively permanent although there may be changes in actual
membership. However, temporary formal groups may also be created by management for
example, the use of project teams in a matrix organisation.
Informal groups
Informal groups are based more on personal relationships and agreement of groups members
than on defined role relationships. They serve to satisfy psychological and social needs not
related necessarily to the tasks to be undertaken. Groups may devise ways of attempting to
satisfy member's affiliations and other social motivations which are lacing in the work situation,
especially in industrial organisations.
The membership of informal groups can cut across the formal structure. They may comprise
individuals form different parts of the organisations and/or from different levels of the
organisation both vertically and diagonally as well as same horizontal level. An informal group
could also be the same as the formal group, or it might comprise part only of the formal group.
Kavungya answered the question on May 17, 2019 at 16:02
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