Process Loss

Process Loss
Process Loss occurs when a group performs worse than its potential.

There are three different kinds of tasks that each suffers from their own kinds of potential process loss

Additive Tasks
The sum of all the members’ contributions contribute to the group product. E.g. donating to a charity. In these types of tasks, process loss occurs often through social loafing.

Conjunctive task
The group’s product depends on the group’s lowest performing individual. E.g. a mountain climbing team. Process loss often occurs through the ‘weakest link’ within the group.

Disjunctive task
The group product is determined by the individual with the best performance. Process loss can occur when the entire group interferes with the individual’s performance or rejects their ideas. In disjunctive tasks, often it is the case that someone may feel they have the answer to a problem, but no one listens, or understands them, or takes them seriously.