The difference between a group and a team - Essay Example

A person who fails in individual assignments may shine excellently in a group or team under the leadership of a leader. Group and team have some basic differences in their formation, functioning and objectives. In a team work all the members have equal responsibility in completing the project successfully. For example, in a marketing team of an organization, each member of the team has equal responsibility is achieving the target. They cannot put the blame entirely on the team leaders for their failures.

On the other hand all the group activities are controlled and directed by a group leader and hence the group leader has more responsibility than the members to attain the group objectives. A team usually consists of people having different skills. They may function better under a team compared to individual functioning. For example in a printing unit, the production team may consist of printers, helpers, designers, materials managers, delivery boys etc. Each member has different skills which will be utilized for the benefit of the company.

Team objectives may fail if one or more members fail in their missions. For example, if the materials managers failed to procure the materials in time the production may be disturbed. If either the printer or the helper fails to execute their responsibilities properly, then also the production process may be affected. Group on the other hand consists of people having similar skills. For example, in an organization the accounts department may consist of 5 – 10 accountants under an accounts manager or financial controller.

The accounts manager/ financial controller distribute the works to the group members and he is responsible for handling the entire finance matters of the company. In case of a financial problem, he cannot blame the group members since all of them work under the strict