Chapter 10 - Mini Case Q & A

Sharks CPA is adopting new accounting software and is looking to launch the new

product in their various divisions across the firm. Management has created a diverse

group of employees to serve on the task force which will select the new software. The

taskforce includes 3 senior accountants who have been with the company since it

started, 1 person from HR, and 2 people from sales. The HR representative and one of

the people from sales play together on the company softball team on Saturdays.

Answer the following questions in full sentence format. Remember to use cited key terms, definitions, and theories from your textbook in each of your answers. In-paragraph citations (with page numbers) and a formal reference are always expected.

Expect to write 350 words for the question.

Reference: Chapter 10: Thompson, L. L. (2018). Making the team: A guide for managers. Pearson

Question: Discuss all three types of subgroups (Exhibit 10-1) and then identify the

subgroups likely to form within the taskforce.

Exhibit 10-1 is below:

Chapter 10 Subgroups and Multi-Teams Exhibit 10-1 Identity, Resource and Knowledge-based subgroups Type of Examples of Characteristics of inter-subgroup processes subgroup subgroup type Identity-based Cliques Inter-subgroup processes are characterized by social idenity (e.g., subgroup . Values threat to the identities of the team's subgroups and fragmentation homophilies of the team's identity). Relational subgroups . Social subgroups Resource-based Coalitions Inter-subgroup processes are characterized by social dominance subgroup . Factions (e.g., asymmetric perceptions of fairness and centralization of Alliances power in the team). Blocs Knowledge- . Cohorts Inter-subgroup processes are characterized by information based subgroup . Informational processing (e.g. consideration of alternative sources of knowledge subgroups and the convergence of mental models). Clusters . Task-related subgroups Adapted from Carton, A. M., & Cummings, J. N. (2012). A theory of subgroups in work teams. Academy of Management Review, 37(3), 441-470