Difference between group and team
A group It is a set of people, animals or things that are circumstantially reunited or that share common characteristics. A team It applies to people specially organized to carry out some activity or work.
While the group members have autonomy in the activities they carry out, the team members must act in a cohesive manner.
Additionally, in groups each member can consider achievements and obtain results individually. In teams, achievements are planned to be achieved with the contribution of all members.
| Group | Team | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | People reunited or who share certain characteristics. | Organized people to act together. |
| goals | Each member can have particular objectives and achieve them individually. | The objectives are common to all members and are achieved together. |
| Performance | Individual, does not depend on the other members. | Collective, it depends on the contribution of the other members. |
| Attitude | Passive, normally members only follow established guidelines. | Proactive, the participation and contribution of the members is more common. |
| In the Laboral scene | They work with a scheme in a directional way. | Creativity and novelty in members' ideas are valued. |
What is a group?
A group is a set of people, animals or things that share certain characteristics or that are brought together by some circumstance.
Generally, group members have autonomy even if they share common objectives or have the same leader, because to carry out their tasks they do not depend on others.
In the work environment, group colleagues can carry out their tasks by responding in an appropriate way. individual for the contribution made.
An example of this could be the teachers of a school, who make up a group that does the same work and has a common boss, who is the director of the school.
However, each teacher is responsible for her work in the classroom, since she does not depend on the other teachers to give their classes, being able to be excellent or perform poorly without directly affecting the work of the the rest.
Group types
The groups can be classified as follows, taking into account the integration, interaction and rules that govern them:
Primary group
They are made up of few people and communication occurs directly.
The relationship between its members is based on affection, commitment and solidarity.
Example: family, friends.
Secondary group
It is made up of many people who do not always interact directly.
The reason that unites them is the common objectives and the fact that they are governed by a regulation.
Example: the workers of a company.
Reference group
It is used to make comparisons and study behaviors to be assimilated by an external person who does not belong to him.
Example: the artistic group to which a musician would like to belong in the future.
Membership group
Group of which a person is part where all members share certain characteristics.
Example: people who share the same nationality, such as Mexicans, Venezuelans or Argentines.
Formal group
It complies with a scheme and rules established for its members, in order to achieve previously formulated objectives.
Example: a discussion group.
Informal group
They usually arise from formal groups by the integration of members united by emotional ties and companionship.
Example: a group of work colleagues.
What is a team?
The team is a group of people who they act together and they support each other equitably to achieve a common goal.
In teams, it is essential to cohesion among its members in order to achieve optimal results and thus fulfill its purpose.
For this reason, team members support each other and they collaborate between them to improve their performance together. In this sense, they carry out their functions jointly, with the participation and contribution of all, responding collectively for the work carried out.
Examples of teams are those made up of sports, such as basketball, soccer, or baseball. Here a group is formed led by a captain, each of the members occupies a different position, but all make contributions and pursue the same purpose, which is the triumph of the team. To achieve this, everyone must act together.
Equipment types
Taking into account different criteria, teams can be classified as follows:
According to the operating time:
- Permanent: they work indefinitely, regardless of the objectives they are achieving. For example: the team of reporters of a newspaper.
- Temporary: they are created to attend to an eventuality that arises at the moment. By presenting a solution, they end their functions. For example: a team that is formed to compete for a tender.
Depending on the degree of formality:
- Formal- They are created with a preset goal and can be permanent or temporary. For example: a soccer team that sets up to compete for a trophy.
- Informal: they are formed spontaneously to attend to a specific matter or for social purposes. For example: fellow students improvise a discussion team to discuss a topic.
According to the hierarchy:
- Horizontal: all its members are at the same level and position when making decisions.
- Vertical: its members occupy different positions or positions and are at different hierarchical levels.
According to their role in the workplace:
- Conflict resolution- They are responsible for solving specific problems that affect the entire team. For example: the human resources department.
- Decision making: they are the ones that set the standard to follow. For example: the board of directors of a company.
- Of production: motivate all members to get the best results. For example: the managers of each of the departments of a company.
See also Difference between leader and boss.
Degree in social communication, journalism mention, from the Santa Rosa Catholic University (2014), with specialization in communication and negotiation strategies by the Iberoamerican Institute of the University of Salamanca (2013).