Which factor reduces social loafing in a team?

Which factor reduces social loafing in a team?

• A. Avoid assigning any roles to team members
• B. Strong team cohesion, clear roles, and accountability reduce loafing
• C. Increase individual competition within the group
• D. Ignore group processes to prevent overhead

Answer: (B)

Reducing social loafing comes from making individual effort meaningful within the group. When a team has strong cohesion, members feel connected and motivated to support one another, which increases commitment to the group’s success. Clear roles ensure everyone knows exactly what they are responsible for and how their work contributes to the whole, so it’s harder for anyone to slack off without it being noticed. Accountability adds a mechanism for feedback and consequences, making each person’s contribution identifiable and valued. Put together, these elements keep individuals engaged, focused on their tasks, and aware that the group's results depend on everyone’s input. Avoiding roles leads to ambiguity and diffusion of responsibility, which can elevate loafing. Increasing competition inside the group might push some to work harder, but it can erode cooperation and cohesion and doesn’t reliably address accountability. Ignoring group processes misses the practices that keep people engaged and responsible, so loafing is likely to persist.

Reducing social loafing comes from making individual effort meaningful within the group. When a team has strong cohesion, members feel connected and motivated to support one another, which increases commitment to the group’s success. Clear roles ensure everyone knows exactly what they are responsible for and how their work contributes to the whole, so it’s harder for anyone to slack off without it being noticed. Accountability adds a mechanism for feedback and consequences, making each person’s contribution identifiable and valued. Put together, these elements keep individuals engaged, focused on their tasks, and aware that the group's results depend on everyone’s input.

Avoiding roles leads to ambiguity and diffusion of responsibility, which can elevate loafing. Increasing competition inside the group might push some to work harder, but it can erode cooperation and cohesion and doesn’t reliably address accountability. Ignoring group processes misses the practices that keep people engaged and responsible, so loafing is likely to persist.