Group Work Preview

Whenever faced with the task of doing group work, especially in a situation where not all members are known to each other, several challenges may arise. Usually the only common interest between the group members is the subject itself and as a result, the group's dynamics are yet to form. The team will segregate the workload and progressively collaborate closer to the due date with each member's findings. Usually an incomplete and unpresentable report is the result of the group members, which may never be finalised to the entire satisfaction. The management control systems (MCS) package presented by Malmi and Brown will ensure that each group member's goals and expectations are aligned for an agreed final result.

The first of several potential challenges that may be faced by my group when completing this assignment may be the threat of problem personalities. There are generally two extremes: 'free riders' and dominant personalities/perfectionists. The MCS package offers the ex-ante form of control of planning as a possible solution to this problem. Malmi and Brown propose two broad approaches. The first being action planning, where immediate short-term goals and actions are established. The second being longer run strategic focused goals. By establishing a team culture with continuous work-in-progress meetings that allow everyone to be heard, unconsciously team members then constantly work towards the end overall result while in the meantime mitigating and, preferably, eliminating any threat of problem personalities.

In any team-based atmosphere, whether it is a workplace environment or on the sporting field, differing individuals motivations must be aligned with the overall goal of the group. Brown's CMS package proposes the idea of reward and compensation as a solution to addressing this particular problem. Malmi and Brown write: it is a system focusing "on motivating and increasing the performance of individuals and groups". This procedure is closely related to the goals that are established above in planning stages although it is a challenge in its own right. Ultimately, for each group member to know that they will be compensated with the desired end group result, the process of achievement will become much more attainable.

Another potential problem that I have experienced in the past with group assignments is the inability to be able to get in contact with group members at certain times. With each member's timetable potentially being different, this is almost an inevitable fact of doing group work. Avoidance by a group member is the worst and most frustrating manifestation of this challenge. The CMS package presents a potential solution to these challenges: under the heading of culture. Flamholtz et al. (1985) defined organizational culture as "the set of values, beliefs and social norms which tend to be shared by its members and, in turn, influence their thoughts and