Which type of group is defined by the organization's structure? Choose 1 answer

A formal group is one that is defined by the organization's structure, with designated work assignments and established tasks. The behaviors that team members should engage in are stipulated by and directed toward organizational goals. Examples include departments, command groups (a manager and their direct reports), or task forces created for a specific project. The organization deliberately creates these groups to fulfill its objectives.

A. Informal group: This type of group is not formally structured or organizationally determined; it forms naturally in the workplace based on social needs or common interests.

C. Interest group: This is a sub-type of informal group. Members affiliate to attain a specific objective of shared interest, which may or may not be related to organizational goals.

D. Friendship group: This is a sub-type of informal group where members are brought together because they share one or more common characteristics or social bonds.

1. Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2018). Organizational Behavior (18th ed.). Pearson. In Chapter 9, "Foundations of Group Behavior," a formal group is defined as "one defined by the organization’s structure, with designated work assignments establishing tasks" (p. 286).

2. Luthans, F. (2011). Organizational Behavior: An Evidence-Based Approach (12th ed.). McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Chapter 8 distinguishes between formal groups, which are "part of the official organization structure," and informal groups, which are "established by the members."

3. Stanford University, Graduate School of Business. OB-374: Acting with Power. Course syllabus and readings often define formal structures and groups as those sanctioned by the organization's hierarchy and design.