The tendency of a person to exert less work in a group project
Social loafing
The tendency of a person to exert less work in a group project is often referred to as social loafing. Social loafing is the phenomenon where individuals tend to reduce their effort or contribution when they work collectively as opposed to when they work individually. This can happen for a number of reasons such as task complexity, distribution of work, and the level of motivation among group members.
One reason for social loafing is the bystander effect. In large groups, individuals tend to feel less responsible for their actions and often assume that someone else will take care of the task at hand. This diffusion of responsibility leads to a decrease in motivation and a lack of personal investment in the project.
Another factor can be the distribution of work. If one person in the group is assigned the majority of the work, other members may feel less inclined to contribute as much. This uneven distribution of work can lead to reduced satisfaction, motivation, and commitment among the group members.
Finally, the level of motivation and effort of the group members may also play a role in social loafing. If the group members do not value the project or have little interest in its outcome, they may be less likely to put in full effort. In contrast, if group members are highly motivated and invested in the project, they are more likely to put in more effort and work harder to achieve the goal.
To mitigate the tendency of social loafing, it’s important to set clear expectations and goals from the outset of the group project. Provide regular feedback and communicate regularly to ensure that everyone is on the same page. It’s also vital to distribute the workload evenly and provide opportunities for each member to contribute to the project. Additionally, creating a positive and supportive team culture can increase motivation and reduce social loafing.
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