"Wholeness suggests that every component of a system affects and is affected by, every other component".


 Compatibility 
 
 
    For small groups, compatibility is an essential part of a successful working relationship. No group can successfully achieve their goals if the group is not compatible. What makes groups of people compatible with one another is  interesting. There are many  factors leading to  what makes some people more compatible than others.   When two or more people meet, the interaction that comes about can either be compatible, or not compatible. Compatible meaning that they get along, and work well together. Not compatible meaning that their communication skills do not compliment one another.   Rarely do people fall between the two groups, meaning that sometimes they will get along, while other times they will not.  Yet, it is possible.  If the  group is compatible, then they can expect to work in an environment that is productive, as well as being fun. If the group cannot get along, then work will seem tidious, and in the end, not worth while.

 
Behaviors that provoke compatibility---

 
One might wonder what behaviors provoke compatibility. When working in a group, in order to promote a good working environment, one must consider a couple of factors. The first is behavior that satisfies needs, and the other behavior likely to stimulate compatibility are those related to the personalities of the group members. These issues fall under the compatibility of needs.
 
 
 Successful Compatibility. 
 

 
     There are many ways to tell if you're in a compatible group. To begin with, one way to tell  if your group shows compatibility is whether or not they tend to argue of petty issues. If it progresses as a problem,  that means your group is starting to become tense towards each other, thus losing the compatibility.  If you are in a group that can laugh at themselves when they make mistakes, and has an overall good nature about things, then you are in a compatible group. Also, a compatible group feeds off of everyone in the groups ideas. They tend to base their work on a system of equality  where the responsibilities are considered shared.  That is how a successful working relationship is built. Another way to tell if you ae in a compatible group is if your group can talk about about other things other then their work. For example, if  your group is sitting around the table before work begins, and everyone is comfortable talking about things that are going on outside the group, then that is  something that makes your group more compatible.
    It is great when your group is compatible, but once you have accomplished that, you must then learn how to keep the group compatible. Many groups start out compatible; but, then over the course of time become less friendly towards each other. This is when a lot of animosity is built, stored up, and can become dangerous.  In order to keep your group  successful, one must make an effort to always listen to what the other people in the group have to say, and be respectful of their opinions. One must always take  group work seriously, but should also maintain  a good sense of humor. Nobody likes to work with someone who can't laugh at themselves from time to time.

 
 Benefits of Successful Compatibility.----     

 
 
    There are many benefits to being in a group that is compatible. The working environment is much more motivating and fun to work in.  If you work in a place that you feel comfortable in, then you are able to accomplish a lot more. You will probably do a lot better work, too. Studies have shown that workers that can get along with one another have a higher success rate than those who do not.  The reason being that they are much more concentrated on the task at hand rather than caddy problems and/or non- related matters to their work environment.  If you are in a compatible group, the experience you have will enable you to gain the important skills to be successful in future group work. One that is part of a successful, compatible small group he/she will know what works and what does not work in the future of cooperative work.  Other benefits of compatibility include a sense of stability. It is hard to get work accomplished when you and your partner do not communicate and make yourselves incompatible. When the channel of communication is blocked, it is often frustrating to those with objectives and goals.
 
 

  Unsuccessful Compatibility 
 
  

        When your small group is incompatible, accomplishing tasks with one another tends to be extremely uncomfortable.   First of all, nobody feels comfortable stating their opinion because they fear that someone else in the group is going to put them down, or make them feel unintelligent. That lack of confidence makes it unbearable to work with that group, and in the end, the finished product is not successful. Thus, equal status is unachievable and more animosity is achieved.   Another thing that makes a group incompatible is unfriendliness. To be successful in a group, you must be able to be friendly to each other.  One might not be the closest of friends among his/her work peers; yet, the environment around them must be secure and inviting.   This does not mean that you must spend a lot of time with your group, but it means that when you are together you must be able to get along, and be able to talk about issues that are unrelated to group work. If everyone in the group tries their best, and gives 100 percent effort, then the group will probably get along. All it takes is for one person to become lazy and try to rely on other people to do their work, for the rest of the group to become upset. Nothing upsets groups more than a person who doesn't contribute.
    When forming groups, a leader will emerge and take charge.  This is natural, but sometimes this causes problems. If a person is too bossy or tries to push people around, then a group will never be compatible. The leader of the group must be a person who knows how to get the most out his group, while encouraging, and motivating the group.
    There are many ways for a group to avoid being incompatible. One way is to become  someone who knows when to speak and when to listen. Everyone in the group has something they can learn from other people. If you give everyone a chance to speak, then nobody will complain that the group is treating them unfairly. Another way to promote compatibility is to try to talk with your group about other things. Before you  start working, talk about the weather, or sports, or even your other classes. This will make one's fellow group members more comfortable and it will become much more easier to accomplish group goals.
    Every group member must also contribute. If everyone does their part, then everyone will probably get along, because nobody can say that they are doing all the work, or that someone in the group is doing no work.

 
Consequences of unsuccessful compatibility.---     

 
     If groups cannot learn to work together, then they will fail at what they do. A perfect example is a sports team. A basketball team is a small group. The best teams are those who are compatible with each other on and off the court. If they don't learn to get along, then they will never be successful. That can also apply to the business world. The most successful companies have workers who feel comfortable with each other, no matter what setting they are in. Another consequence of being in a group that is not compatible is that the experience will give one a negative opinion of groups, and may prevent them from trying it again.
 


  Compatibility of needs

 

        In order for the group to be successful, all the needs of the group must be satisfied. In order for this to happen, all the individuals in the group must know where they stand.  One must know that they must put aside their personal needs, so that the group can succeed. If one's personal needs get in the way of the groups needs, then the group will fail. One's ego must not hold the group back. One must know that when the group is successful, then everyone looks good, just like if they fail, everyone looks bad.

 
 
 Mutual Satisfaction versus Interpersonal Needs.----

 
     Compatibility depends partially on each members interpersonal needs being satisfied. The interpersonal needs are inclusion control and affection. For example, if two people in the group give each other the affection they need, then they are compatible, if they don't give each other the affection, they are not compatible. This is called Reciprocal Compatibility-the mutual satisfaction of needs.
    The type of compatibility depending on the amount of mutual interaction is called interchange compatibility. That is the degree to which each person wants to exchange the behavior or the amount each wants to exchange. An example of this is if  one group member wants to show affection, but the other member only shows a limited amount of affection.
     If one member of the group wants to show affection, and the other wants to receive it, then they will be compatible. If both want to show affection, or both just want to receive it, then they will be incompatible.  Another example is if  both of them want to be dominant, or both want to be submissive, then they are incompatible. This is called originator compatibility. One person initiates the behavior; the other receives it.
 


   Compatibility of Personality.                           
 
    
       Groups are more likely to be more compatible if they are able to respect the personality characteristics of the group members. There is evidence to suggest that pairing up a person who is dominant with a submissive person will result in a compatible relationship. If you pair up two people who are dominant, or two that are submissive, the group will not work. The reason that this works is that dominant people like to give orders and lead other people. Submissive people like to work hard to satisfy the leader. That is why the relationship works. If you had two people who were dominant, then the ego's would clash, and there would be too much fighting. No work would get done. If two submissive people worked together, then nobody in the group would motivate the other person to work hard, and nothing would get done.
 

 
 Learning to work through problems---       
 
    If people learn to work through their differences, then group work will be successful, as well as enjoyable. Communication is the best way to work at it. Let the group members know how you feel at all times. If you are upset at them, tell them, otherwise they will think they are doing a good job, and won't change. On the other hand, if you think they are doing a great job, tell them, because that is how confidence is built. Following these steps will lead to successful group work.
 
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