Technological advancements coupled with consumer demands in a global marketplace have forced businesses to move from a traditional nine to five workday to a world of twenty -four hours a day, seven days a week. Maintaining a competitive advantage is a matter of survival in today's weak economy. Successful leaders and managers recognize that they must continue to find new and innovative ways to meet customer needs using the creative power of groups and teams. This article will explore understanding group dynamics and the distinctions between leadership and management. Social media is a popular pastime in America. Facebook currently has over 500 million active users and more than half of active users log into Facebook every day. An average user has at least 130 friends. It is estimated that people spend more than 700 billion minutes per month on Facebook. Twitter is another favorite social network. This company has more than 57 million members. These and other similar sites are extremely popular because humans have a fundamental need for interaction. Most of us will connect with others by joining some type of group, whether it's in business, education, sports, or a social cause. According to Shockley-Zalabak (2009), “Most of us are members of more than one group. Families, professional organizations, sports teams, friendships, and volunteer groups are just a few small group experiences in which most of us are involved. These groups in different ways and for different reasons. In our organizational lives, our jobs often define membership in certain groups. Our skills and visibility within the organization can determine membership in other types of groups, and our interpersonal relationships determine the extent of our membership. ..... middle of paper ......y. Successful businesses must keep up with global demand after money never sleeps. Works Cited Cushman, D. & King, S. (1995). Management. Retrieved from http://www.sunypress.edu/p-2151-communication-and-high-speed-ma.aspx.Huguley, C. (2009, Air Force Brochure 36-2241, Guide to professional development. Retrieved from http://www.afmentor.com/docs/pubs/index.htmJohnson, DW and Johnson, FP (2009). , W. (2008). Effect of technology on interpersonal communication. Retrieved from http://communicatebetter.blogspot.com/2008/08/technology-and-its-influence-on.html.Shockley-Zalabak, P.S. (2009). Fundamentals of Organizational Communication: Knowledge, Sensitivity, Skills, Values ​​(7th ed. University of Colorado, Inc.)...