from one another, it is difficult to change the group's goals. A number of steps have been suggested (Lippitt, 1961) to help a group be more productive.
The group most have a clear understanding of in purposes.
The group should become conscious of its own process. By improving the process, the group can improve its problem-solving ability.
The group should become aware of the skills, Wen., and other resources within its membership and should remain flexible in using them.
The group should develop group methods of evaluation, to that the group can have methods of improving its process.
The group should create new jobs and committees as needed and terminate others when they are no longer compatible with the goals.
Group Goals and the Individual Member
Initially, members act in a new group as they acted in others (Mills, 1967); there is for them an undifferentiated membership role. They scan others for guides to norms and expected behaviors. As they become familiar with the processes of the new group, they learn which behaviors are rewarded and which are deviant. They widen their understanding of what is acceptable behavior in this group. Their personal goals are no longer the only considerations.
They begin to operate at a higher level. They come to understand the group's goals and accept them. They commit their personal resources to accomplishing the goals, and give them higher priority than their own goals. They eventually come to evaluate their performances and the performances of others in terms of accomplishment of the group's goals. They even modify their behavior to help the group become more effective.
Goals are such a central concept of groups that the most common definition of a group is "two or more people interacting with a common goal." Social scientists agree that group goals influence all aspects of group behavior.