Which concept describes the influence on behavior and productivity that arises from informal social relations within a group?

• A. Centralized Control
• B. Formal Hierarchy
• C. Power of an Informal Group
• D. Groupthink

Answer: (C)

The main idea is how informal social relations within a team shape how people behave and how productive they are. Power of an Informal Group refers to the influence that emerges from friends, networks, and informal leaders in a group, operating alongside the official structure. These informal ties create norms, trust, and channels for sharing information, which can boost collaboration, motivation, and efficiency. A respected informal leader can steer efforts and accelerate problem-solving without formal authorization, while strong informal networks can spread good practices quickly. Conversely, weak or negative informal dynamics can dampen productivity. The other options describe formal mechanisms or a specific decision-making pitfall, not the broad influence of informal social relations on everyday behavior and output.