NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

School of Management

HRM 301 Organizational Behavior

Dr. N. Rotter

Session 13: Group processes in the Organization, Part II

Norms and roles

George & Jones: Chap 11

Objectives:

After today's session, you should be able to:

1.Describe the importance of norms within the organization.

2. Describe the characteristics of norms and give examples of organizational norms.

3. Describe the importance of roles within the organization.

4. Describe the characteristics of roles and give examples of organizational roles.

I. Norms

A. Definition: Agreed upon and often informal rules that guide group members' behavior

1. Formality

2. Consensus

B. Dimensions

1. Behavioral

2. Evaluative

C. Characteristics

1. Range of tolerated behaviors

2. Intensity

3. Crystallization

D. Typical organizational norms

1. Performance norms

2. Dress norms

3. Reward allocation norms

4. Commitment norms

E. Norm development

1. Precedents over time

2. Transfers from other situations

3. Critical events

4. Explicit rules

II. Roles

A. Definition: Group position that has a set of expected behaviors

B. Characteristics

1. Role expectations

2. Role incumbent

3. Role ambiguity

4. Role conflict

C. Typical organizational roles

1. Task roles

2. Maintenance role