What is the primary characteristic of task/work groups?

The primary characteristic of task or work groups is their emphasis on efficiency and collaboration. These groups are typically formed with a specific objective or goal in mind, focusing on completing tasks or projects within a designated timeframe. The members of task groups actively collaborate to share workloads, utilize each other's strengths, and ensure that the work is done effectively and efficiently. This focus on efficiency helps to streamline processes and promotes teamwork among members, which is crucial in achieving the group's goals.

While dialogue and process are also important in group dynamics, particularly in promoting understanding and agreement, the main purpose of task groups is to achieve a specific outcome, making efficiency a top priority. Individual creativity can still play a role in task groups, but it is usually secondary to the collective effort to meet deadlines and produce results. Developing new norms may be a result of the group's interactions, but it is not the main defining feature of task/work groups.