GROUP DYNAMICS AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Organizational effectiveness may be either enhanced or inhibited through the actions of internal groups (Bettenhausen, 1991). An understanding of group processes, thus, is essential for organizational managers. Increasing cultural pluralism emphasizes the need to both understand and manage group processes in contemporary organizations (Bernal, 1993). The delegation of autonomy to groups within nursing practice empowers nurses within groups to develop the strategies that effectively integrate pluralistic perspectives (Laschinger & Shamian, 1994). The integration of culturally differing perspectives within organizations is accomplished through the process of group dynamics (Smith & Comer, 1994). Group dynamics is a field of study that explains how individuals interact and build unity.

Groups are collections of individuals that are attracted to one another and who are held together by a variety of social forces (Bettenhausen, 1991). The purpose of a group is to provide individual members with a means of pursuing common goals. The essential characteristics of a group "play a critical role is shaping member behavior and attitudes" (p. 348). The group structure provides a sense of purpose for group members.

An important component of a group's environment is the size of the group (Bettenhausen, 1991). As groups increase in size, group members are more likely to be dissatisfied, and group organi

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Category: Psychology - G