Group cohesion and individual effort are two disparate aspects that influence the effectiveness of a team. Group cohesion is the sense of camaraderie that binds a team together, while individual effort refers to the amount of work each team member contributes. Both are crucial for a team’s success but striking a balance is key.

A highly cohesive team can sometimes stifle individual effort, leading to groupthink and a lack of innovation. Conversely, excessive individual effort can disrupt group cohesion, causing friction and misunderstandings. Therefore, managers need to find a happy medium where both cohesiveness and individual effort are optimised.

The Cynefin framework can help in this regard. This decision-making tool aids managers in understanding the complexity of different problems and deciding on the most appropriate approach. For simple and complicated problems, best practice and good practice approaches work well, respectively. For complex problems, emergent practice is the best approach, while for chaotic problems, novel practice is required.

In conclusion, managers should strive to balance group cohesion and individual effort, using tools like the Cynefin framework to guide them. This will not only enhance the team’s performance but also foster a healthy and productive work environment.

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