Which of the following factors is most likely to lead to a lack of cohesiveness in a project team?

Team cohesiveness refers to the degree to which members are attracted to each other and motivated to stay in the group. Internal competition among team members for rewards, recognition, or resources is highly detrimental to this bond. It creates a "win-lose" dynamic, prioritizing individual achievement over collective success. This fosters conflict, mistrust, and a breakdown in communication and collaboration, directly leading to a lack of cohesiveness. The team's focus shifts from shared objectives to internal rivalries, undermining its unity and effectiveness.

A. Prestige: High prestige or status associated with being a member of a team typically increases pride and member attraction to the group, thereby enhancing cohesiveness.

B. Small size: Smaller teams generally promote higher cohesiveness because they allow for more frequent and meaningful interaction, easier communication, and stronger interpersonal bonds.

D. Common threat: An external threat or a shared challenge often acts as a powerful unifying force, increasing cohesiveness as members collaborate to overcome the adversity.

1. Robbins

S. P.

& Judge

T. A. (2018). Organizational Behavior (18th ed.). Pearson. In Chapter 9

"Foundations of Group Behavior

" the authors discuss factors influencing group cohesiveness. They note that competition between groups increases cohesiveness

but competition within a group (intragroup competition) is a divisive force that reduces it.

2. Carron

A. V.

& Brawley

L. R. (2012). Cohesion: Conceptual and measurement issues. Small Group Research

43(6)

726-743. This article discusses the antecedents of cohesion

noting that cooperative environments are conducive to cohesion

whereas competitive internal environments are not. (https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496412468072)

3. MIT OpenCourseWare. (2004). 15.301 Managerial Psychology

Lecture Notes: Groups and Teams. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The course materials explain that factors increasing cohesiveness include external threats

smaller size

and high status (prestige)

while factors like internal competition decrease it by creating conflicting goals among members.