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Steiner (1972) described several types of tasks that groups might perform, and compared the productivity of groups to that of individuals.
In additive tasks the contributions of each member are combined into the final group product. For example, pushing an automobile that is stuck in the mud involves the efforts of everyone, and the group is more effective than an individual. In disjunctive tasks, there is a single problem for the group to solve. The most competent person in the group usually finds the solution. A group of people working collectively will be more likely to hit on the right answer than one person working alone. For example, a group of people is more likely to solve a difficult crossword puzzle than is a single individual; a group of scientists working on a cure for cancer is more likely to succeed than is a scientist working alone. A conjunctive task requires all group members to work toward the goal, and productivity is limited to the least competent member. For example, if a group is tied together when climbing a mountain, every member is essential, and if even one does not keep up, the group is ineffective. Here, often individual performance is better than a group's. Hill (1982) noted that research has confirmed Steiner's divisions, and that in most cases the performance of a group is better than the performance of the average individual (but often worse than that of the best individual). |
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