ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Team formation, development and management
In a team of eight, the team leader notices that several members contribute less effort on a joint report than they would if working alone, because individual contributions cannot be identified. Which term describes this problem?
The problem is social loafing: individuals reduce effort in a group because their own contribution is not identifiable. It differs from groupthink, which is about conformity and suppressed dissent. Clear individual responsibilities and visible measurement help reduce it.
- AGroupthink
- BSocial loafingCorrect
- CRole ambiguity
- DCognitive dissonance
Explanation
Social loafing is the tendency for individuals to put in less effort in a group when their personal contribution is not visible or measured. Groupthink concerns suppression of dissent to preserve harmony, which is not described here. Setting individual targets and clear accountability helps reduce loafing.
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