Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 14/e

Group Property 3: Status, and Group Property 4: Size

We’ve discussed how the roles we play and the norms we internalize tend to dictate our behavior in groups. However, those are not the only two factors that influence who we are in a group and how the group functions. Have you ever noticed how groups tend to stratify into higher- and lower-status members? Sometimes the status of members reflects their status outside the group setting, but not always. Also, status often varies between groups of different sizes. Let’s examine how these factors affect a workgroup’s efficacy.

Group Property 3: Status

Status—a socially defined position or rank given to groups or group members by others—permeates every society. Even the smallest group will show differences ...