Discuss the similarities and differences between potential and actual groups. How can the gap between potential groups and actual groups be narrowed?

What will be an ideal response?

An ideal response will:
1. Define a potential group as all the people who might be interest group members because they share some common interest.
2. Define an actual group as the people in the potential group who actually join.
3. Note that both the potential and actual members share the same interests, but that actual members constitute a smaller group of people who actually participate in the organization.
4. Note that groups vary in the degree to which they enroll their potential membership, with public interest groups enrolling a small fraction of their potential members and business and trade associations enrolling a larger percentage.
5. Note that selective benefits help narrow the gap between potential group membership and actual membership.