Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Working group
open-in-new
<p>A working group is a group of <a href="/facts/Expert/W1BtG3h1">experts</a> working together to achieve specified goals. Such groups are domain-specific and focus on discussion or activity around a specific subject area. The term can sometimes refer to an <a href="/facts/Interdisciplinary/HP0uaNUs">interdisciplinary</a> <a href="/facts/Collaboration/8rkNh7hP">collaboration</a> of researchers, often from more than one <a href="/facts/Organization/CR83f1Rn">organization</a>, working on new activities that would be difficult to sustain under traditional funding mechanisms (e.g., federal agencies). Working groups are variously also called task groups, workgroups, technical advisory groups, working parties, or <a href="/facts/Task_force/gaNGe3se">task forces</a>. </p><p>The lifespan of a working group can last anywhere between a few months and several years. Such groups have the tendency to develop a <i>quasi-permanent existence</i> when the assigned task is accomplished; hence the need to disband (or phase out) the working group when it has achieved its goal(s). </p><p>A working group's performance is made up of the individual results of all its individual members. A <a href="/facts/Team/oKapIa1a">team</a>'s performance is made up of both individual results and collective results. In large organisations, working groups are prevalent, and the focus is always on individual goals, performance and accountabilities. Working group members do not take responsibility for results other than their own. On the other hand, teams require both individual and mutual accountability. There is more information sharing, more group discussions and debates to arrive at a group decision. </p><p>Examples of common goals for working groups include: </p> <ul><li>creation of an informational document</li> <li><a href="/facts/Standardization/vS9AhNMS">creation of a standard</a></li> <li>resolution of problems related to a system or network</li> <li><a href="/facts/Continuous_improvement/tcIYRuHK">continuous improvement</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Research/mo8joeTL">research</a></li></ul>