Types of Group: Definition & Classification

In the bustling corporate arenas of the USA, groups form the building blocks of most institutions, from the Silicon Valley tech giants to the non-profit organizations in the heartland. 

Understanding the nuances of different group types can significantly impact leadership strategy, organizational structure, and team dynamics.

Definition: Though groups can be classified in many ways, the most popular types of groups are formal and informal groups. Organizations or governments deliberately create formal groups for specific purposes, and informal groups are developed randomly.

Types of Group

Groups can be classified in different ways. Some of them are:

1. Formal and Informal Groups
2. Primary and Secondary Groups
3. Organized and Unorganized Groups
4. Temporary and Permanent Groups
5. Open and Closed Groups
6. Accidental and Purposive Groups

Let’s start with the first classification.

Formal Group

An organization deliberately creates a formal group to achieve an objective. This group has defined criteria for members to join. It has structure, an operating procedure, and is led by a leader. A formal group is also known as a planned group.

An example is the ‘Committee’ system widely adopted by American corporations and highlighted by institutions like Harvard Business Review.

Types of Formal Group

A formal group can be defined in many ways. Some classifications are as follows:

• Temporary Group
• Permanent Group
• Functional Group
• Command Group
• Task Group
• Committee

Temporary Group: These groups are created for the short term. Once they achieve the objective, they cease to exist.

Permanent Group: These groups are permanent and operate for a long time.

Functional Group: These groups are defined according to group members’ positions in an organization, such as engineers, clerks, supervisors, etc.

Command Group: These groups are permanent and exist in every organization. They can be called sections or departments.

Task Group: This group is temporary and created to achieve a specific task. Usually, these groups consist of influential stakeholders.

Committees: Members of this group are appointed by organizations to resolve issues. This group is permanent and consists of stakeholders with high positions.

Informal Group

Informal groups are are formed by individuals when they communicate with one another. These groups are not created by organizations and work democratically.

People form these groups to solve their common issues or social needs; the issues may or may not be related to work. These groups work democratically, as noted by the American Sociological Association.

Types of Informal Group

An informal group can be one of the following types:

1. Apathetic Groups
2. Erratic Groups
3. Strategic Groups
4. Conservative Groups

Apathetic Groups: These groups are not very active, have minor grievances, and do not have a collective strategy against the organization or government. They lack cohesiveness.

Erratic Groups: As the name suggests, these groups are known for erratic behavior, poor control, mismanagement, and no leadership or autocratic leadership.

Strategic Groups: These are well-formed groups that follow ground rules and have leadership. These groups can pressure the organization or government to consider their demands.

Conservative Groups: These groups are conservative, have strong unity, and have specific objectives.

Now, we will discuss other group types in brief.

Primary Group

In primary groups, members directly interact and influence each other. There is no outside interaction. The size of the group is small, and members share a close relationship. These groups are common among close friends and family.

Secondary Group

Secondary groups are larger than primary groups, and they don’t have close relationships like primary groups. These are usually formal groups created to achieve specific objectives. These groups are objective-driven.

Organized Group

When people from the same department or a group of individuals come together to achieve a certain well-defined objective, the group is called an organized group.

Unorganized Group

These groups are randomly created with no specific objective. These groups are temporary, and members have no connection with each other.

Temporary Group

When a group is formed to achieve a specific objective and ceases to exist once it achieves its objective, it is a temporary group. Temporary groups can be formal or informal.

Permanent Group

These groups exist for a longer duration and help organizations run their business. These groups are usually formal and have well-defined structures and procedures.

Open/Closes Group

In an open group, anyone can join and exit anytime. In a closed group, admission is restricted, and members fulfilling a particular criterion can join the group.

According to the American Psychological Association, group dynamics can differ significantly based on open or closed structures.

Accidental Group

These groups are formed accidentally, with no purpose or objective. These groups can be temporary or permanent.

Purposive Group

These groups are created to achieve a particular task. 

Summary

Groups can be defined with many classifications. Understanding these classifications will help analyze group formation, their dynamics, and the working environment, and then take advantage of the interest of the organization. As the U.S. Chamber of Commerce emphasized, a profound understanding of these group dynamics can be a game-changer in American workspaces.