Difference between group and committee

What is the difference between group and committee? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of committee.


Group can be defined as any number of motivated individuals who interact and contribut
towards achievement of common goal.

Group dynamic concern with the interaction and force among group members

Characteristics of Group Members

i) They are motivated to join the group.
ii) They are interacted with each other.
iii) They contribute their time and energy to the group process.
iv) They have agreements and disagreements through various forms of interactions.

Three factors affecting group effectiveness

a) Task Interdependence means how closely group members work together.
b) Out Come Interdependence means whether or how group performance is rewarded.
c) Group Potency means members believe that group can be effective.

Committee

A committee is a group of persons within an organization to whom, as a group, some matter is committed. The committee may be formed for a limited duration or a standing committee. Also the members of the team may or may not have other responsibility in the organization in addition to those as a member of the committee.

Advantages and disadvantages

Committee is formally structure group designed to carry out special task.

1- The combine and integrated judgment through members of wide experience, ability and knowledge.
2- Committee can reduce conflict & promote coordination between departments. Committee is speed up horizontal designing.
3- Committee provides motivation and commitment. Involvement and participation increases member’s acceptance.
4- Committee can help in human development and growth.

Negative attributes or weaknesses of committee

1- Committee are time consuming and costly. A committee takes minutes and wastes hours.
2- The committee has divided responsibility in committee. There is group responsibility but no individual accountability or responsibility.
3- Committee decisions are products of compromise of one persons domination.