Groups and Teams

Groups and Teams

Linda Iniguez

MGMT 331

University of Phoenix

Rick Benito

September 10, 2006

Groups and Teams

The winds of change are inevitable as is seen throughout history. Empires fell and gave way to new rulers and the eventual integration of societies and people took place. Not much has changed in the present day from the days that have past and we look back upon. In the present day the experience of hostile take-overs and the melding of societies can be applied specifically in the business world. The ever-changing culture and characteristics of organizations have prompted a change in the approach to team dynamics. The evolution of teams in the business world can be seen through the impact of demographic characteristics and cultural diversity.

Demographic characteristics are the background variables that help shape what a person becomes over time. (Schermerhorn, J.R 2005) Considering that individuals come in all shapes and sizes and from different walks of life, each individual is unique and makes for interesting encounters.

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Another component of society and the business environment is the adaptation to cultural diversity. Cultural Diversity is the differences in race, ethnicity, language, nationality, or religion among various groups within a community, organization or nation. The diversity encountered in meeting others can break up the monotony of every day life. Dealing with this uniqueness in a business group setting, however; does not come without its challenges.

In a business group setting certain demographic and cultural characteristics influence the group's synergy such as ethnicity, marital status, age, religion and gender. People of different ethnicities brought together in a group can offer different points of views and depending on the intended goal of the group, can share some of their traditions linked to that ethnic culture. For example, a marketing group...