Deck 3: Groups, Teams, and Powerful Meetings

Question 1

Shannon is a supervisor at Florenz Inc.She joined Florenz Inc.because two of her friends from college were working for the firm.In the context of reasons for joining groups,which of the following is the primary reason for Shannon joining Florenz Inc.?

A) Strength in numbers
B) Common goals
C) Achievement as objective
D) Pleasure of closeness

Answer 1

D
Explanation: In this case, Shannon joined Florenz Inc. because of the pleasure of closeness to her friends from college. Closeness is one of the reasons why people join a group. Being members of the same group builds ties among people. Friendships generally result from the shared experiences that come from membership in some kind of group, such as a class at school.

Question 2

A hospital's permanent accounting department and customer service department are examples of _____ groups.

A) project
B) functional
C) task
D) informal

Answer 2

B
Explanation: Functional groups are groups that fulfill ongoing needs in an organization by carrying out a particular function, such as producing goods, selling products, or investing funds. For example, a hospital's accounting department has the ongoing responsibility for keeping accurate records of the flow of money into and out of the organization.

Question 3

The structure of an organic organization is relatively _____.

A) flat
B) vertical
C) oblique
D) tall

Answer 3

A
Explanation: The structure of an organic organization is relatively flat. This is because there is very little hierarchy in an organic organization.

Question 4

Timothy and his team work on an animal rescue project.Timothy met Anna,an animal lover,who asked Timothy if she could join his team.Timothy accepted her in his team.In the context of reasons for joining groups,for which of the following reasons did Anna join Timothy's team?

A) Pleasure of closeness
B) Achievement of objectives
C) Common goals
D) Strength in numbers

Question 5

Task groups are best defined as:

A) permanent groups set up to fulfill ongoing needs in an organization.
B) groups that form when the individuals in an organization develop relationships to meet personal goals.
C) groups set up to carry out a specific activity and are disbanded when the activity is completed.
D) groups which appear on a company's organization chart.

Question 6

Groups that form when individuals in an organization develop relationships to meet personal needs are called _____ groups.

A) informal
B) formal
C) task
D) functional

Question 7

In the U.S.division of Nine Inc.,employees from different functional departments are brought together to work on the development of a new operating system.After the successful completion of the project,this group is broken up.This group is an example of a(n)_____ group.

A) functional
B) virtual
C) informal
D) task

Question 8

Formal groups are best defined as groups that are:

A) set up by management to meet organizational objectives.
B) formed when individuals in an organization develop relationships to meet personal needs.
C) bound together by common interests such as political beliefs and social activities.
D) created by members who are prone to social loafing and groupthink.

Question 9

Two or more people who interact with one another,are aware of one another,and think of themselves as a unit are most accurately termed as a(n):

A) cluster.
B) crowd.
C) group.
D) assembly.

Question 10

Most employees welcome the opportunity to be part of informal groups primarily because these groups:

A) help in enhancing productivity.
B) improve technical skills.
C) satisfy formal needs.
D) satisfy social needs.

Question 11

John is a new employee at IronMakers Inc.He desires to be a supervisor.Therefore,he associates with the supervisors of the organization.He feels important when he is with them.In the context of reasons for joining groups,which of the following is the reason why John likes to associate with the supervisors in his company?

A) Pleasure in closeness and friendship
B) Achievement of personal objectives
C) Common goals
D) Strength in numbers

Question 12

Functional and task groups are types of _____ groups.

A) cohesive
B) formal
C) informal
D) homogenous

Question 13

A task group is:

A) formed to carry out a particular function, such as producing or selling goods.
B) often disbanded once the objective of the group is achieved.
C) set up to satisfy the informal needs of the members in a group.
D) also called an organic group.

Question 14

A(n)_____ organization can be best defined as one in which there is very little hierarchy; each employee is multi-talented and has the diverse skills and flexibility to perform a variety of tasks.

A) graded
B) organic
C) functional
D) vertical

Question 15

Which of the following best defines functional groups?

A) Groups that fulfill ongoing needs in an organization by carrying out a particular function
B) Groups that are set up to carry out a specific function and then disband when the activity is completed
C) Groups that work together and solve functional problems through computer-based interactions
D) Groups that are formed for specific projects that are ongoing

Question 16

Which of the following is a weakness of an organic organization?

A) It is an informal structure that lacks authority.
B) It is good only for functional tasks.
C) It requires cooperation from all the members.
D) It requires a tall organizational structure to function effectively.

Question 17

Lawrence manages the legal department of a manufacturing company.The legal department has the continuing responsibility of dealing with all legal issues related to the company.In the context of different types of groups,Lawrence is a member of a(n)_____ group.

A) project
B) functional
C) informal
D) task

Question 18

Which of the following statements is true about groups in a workplace?

A) Working in groups often leads to members losing their confidence.
B) Groups are formed to reduce the occurrence of social loafing.
C) Most employees of large organizations cluster into smaller groups such as task groups.
D) Not all the employees of an organization form a group.

Question 19

Salman is a new employee at a quarry.Being a new employee,he feels lonely at work.However,he finds a group of people who share jokes and speak informally with each other to reduce work-related stress.Salman feels confident being with them and joins their group.In the context of reasons for joining groups,which of the following is the reason why Salman joined the group?

A) Pleasure of closeness
B) Achievement as objective
C) Common goals
D) Strength in numbers

Question 20

Which of the following is true about an organic organization?

A) An organic organization focuses on the centralization of authority.
B) Employees of an organic organization have limited skills.
C) The procedures in an organic organization are rigid.
D) An organic organization has very little hierarchy.

Question 21

A supervisor who wants to reinforce or change group norms will have the greatest success by:

A) enforcing strict rules against group norms.
B) involving the top management in dealing with undesirable group norms.
C) focusing on the high-status members of the group whom the group tends to mimic.
D) trying to increase the cohesiveness of the group by promoting new activities.

Question 22

Mark supervises a group of employees who are always at odds with one another.Which of the following steps should Mark take to foster group cohesiveness?

A) Make the group members aware of their individual contributions to the group
B) Help the members set their personal goals rather than focusing on a common goal
C) Try to keep the group size large
D) Encourage competition with other groups

Question 23

Which of the following is most likely to develop among the members of a formal group when the formal group fails to meet some personal needs?

A) Functional subgroups
B) Informal subgroups
C) Reference groups
D) Task groups

Question 24

Which of the following is true of cohesive groups?

A) They are always exceptionally good at conceptual skills.
B) They have formal norms because of which they have better human relations skills.
C) They work harder than others and are more likely to accomplish their objectives.
D) They are disbanded once the objective of the group is accomplished.

Question 25

Rita,a supervisor at MindThoughts Corp.,was assigned the task of training new recruits and also monitoring her subordinates.She found that these roles clashed with each other and needed her to act in two different ways.In the context of roles,this is an example of _____.

A) role conflict
B) role overload
C) role playing
D) role ambiguity

Question 26

In the context of characteristics of groups,roles are best defined as:

A) patterns of behavior related to employees' positions in a group.
B) group standards for appropriate or acceptable behavior.
C) the degree to which group members stick together.
D) group members' positions relative to others in an organization.

Question 27

Brandon,Ravi,and Li work at Creltz Inc.They call themselves "The Triad." They love playing music during the weekends.Their group often outperforms all other groups at Creltz.They are known to complete their projects within time even when projects are challenging.In the context of characteristics of groups,this group is a(n)_____ group.

A) egocentric
B) cohesive
C) status-oriented
D) self-managing

Question 28

Norms refer to the:

A) efforts made by group leaders to support the group.
B) patterns of behavior related to employees' positions in a group.
C) degree to which group members stick together.
D) group standards for appropriate or acceptable behavior.

Question 29

Awareness of roles is important because it primarily helps:

A) employees to avoid informal behavior.
B) supervisors to dictate their orders effectively.
C) supervisors to encourage desirable behavior.
D) employees to adopt an "us versus them" attitude toward management.

Question 30

A situation in which a person has two different roles that call for incompatible types of behavior is known as:

A) role playing.
B) role ambiguity.
C) role conflict.
D) role overload.

Question 31

Groups tend to be more cohesive when:

A) norms are determined by the supervisor.
B) there is one group leader who guides other members.
C) the status of the group is high.
D) everybody participates equally.

Question 32

Alice,Noah,and Isaac are colleagues at Faxotell Inc.They meet every Saturday morning at the gym for work out sessions.In the context of types of groups,the gymnasium group of Alice,Noah,and Isaac is a(n)_____ group.

A) informal
B) formal
C) homogenous
D) task

Question 33

John,Damon,and Roxanne work at Digizel Inc.They have been working together for two years.They meet their targets every day.However,they never do more than what is expected of them.Salma,a new employee,joins their group at Digizel.Within the first week,she starts exceeding her targets and performing exceptionally well.This angers John,Damon,and Roxanne.In this scenario,Salma broke the group's _____.

A) norm
B) cohesiveness
C) status
D) homogeneity

Question 34

A supervisor can receive his group's support by:

A) dictating terms and guidelines.
B) establishing norms for group behavior.
C) encouraging the group to participate in solving problems.
D) giving out the industry secrets of competitors.

Question 35

A group of about 30 members at AutoMax Inc.leaves 15 to 20 minutes early from work every day.William,a supervisor at AutoMax,notices this issue.Which of the following is the right way to deal with the issue?

A) William must impose strict regulations against those who leave early.
B) William must try to persuade employees to change or ignore the informal group's norm.
C) William must fire a couple of employees so that it instills fear in other employees to follow timings.
D) William must increase their daily targets so that the employees stay for a longer duration of time in the office.

Question 36

To reap the benefits of working with groups,a supervisor should:

A) create an informal atmosphere within the organization.
B) treat all employees fairly and impartially.
C) prevent group concerns from reaching the higher management.
D) keep the groups big in order to prevent undesirable behavior.

Question 37

Alex,an employee at FinStance Inc.,owns a BMW car.His colleagues expect him to take them for a drive in his car.In the context of characteristics of groups,Alex has a relatively higher _____ than his colleagues.

A) integrity
B) cohesiveness
C) status
D) norms

Question 38

Group members with the highest status:

A) tend to pattern their behaviors after those of lowest-status members.
B) have the most effect on the development of group norms.
C) like to spend most of their time in solitude.
D) seldom act according to the established standards of behavior.

Question 39

The degree to which group members stick together is called:

A) integrity.
B) cohesiveness.
C) status.
D) homogeneity.

Question 40

A group member's position in relation to others in the group is referred to as:

A) status.
B) role ambiguity.
C) cohesiveness.
D) norm.

Question 41

Identify the stage of team development in which a team decides to disband after having achieved its goals.

A) Norming
B) Storming
C) Performing
D) Adjourning

Question 42

_____ is the stage of the team development process in which team members become acquainted with one another and oriented to the idea that they are part of a team.

A) Performing
B) Norming
C) Forming
D) Storming

Question 43

In the context of stages of team development,storming is often perceived as a stressful period because group members:

A) undergo a lot of formal training.
B) try to delineate exactly what each member's specific role will be.
C) try to understand conceptual issues that affect their performance.
D) are too concerned about their productivity.

Question 44

Solving organizational problems and meeting assigned challenges are ideally part of the _____ stage of team development.

A) norming
B) storming
C) performing
D) adjourning

Question 45

Ameen,Amir,and Ehsan work at Fenzel Inc.They are from the Middle-East.They love soccer.They perform as a team at their workplace.Their hobbies include music and cooking.In the context of characteristics of a group,Ameen,Amir,and Ehsan belong to a(n)_____ group.

A) egocentric
B) formal
C) conflicting
D) homogenous

Question 46

Barbara and Johannes are new recruits at Tezel Inc.They are beginning to know each other and understand their roles in the company.They are learning to coordinate with each other by understanding their strengths and weaknesses.In the context of the stages of team development,Barbara and Johannes are in the _____ stage.

A) performing
B) norming
C) forming
D) storming

Question 47

Abigail is a new employee at Marzel Inc.She is trying to delineate her role in the company.In the context of stages of team development,Abigail is in the _____ stage.

A) forming
B) norming
C) performing
D) storming

Question 48

Sasha,Megha,Margaret,Shen,and Zahra work for FirstNet Corp.They were selected from different teams for a pilot project,which they completed in six months.Their team manager informs them that they will be assigned back to their respective teams soon.In the context of stages of team development,Sasha,Megha,Margaret,Shen,and Zahra are currently in the _____ stage.

A) adjourning
B) performing
C) storming
D) norming

Question 49

Chen works at Forma Pharmaceuticals.He has been working for this company for more than a year.His productivity is always good.He is good at understanding and solving the critical problems of his department.In the context of stages of team development,Chen is in the _____ stage.

A) forming
B) norming
C) performing
D) storming

Question 50

Which is the first stage of the team development process?

A) Forming
B) Storming
C) Performing
D) Norming

Question 51

For creative tasks,a heterogeneous group can perform better than a homogenous group because the members of a:

A) heterogeneous group have higher conceptual skills than a homogenous group.
B) heterogeneous group have a variety of skills, experience, and viewpoints.
C) homogenous group as a whole has broader skills and knowledge.
D) homogenous group often involve themselves in gossiping and detour behavior.

Question 52

Which of the following is true of self-managing work teams?

A) These teams disband once the objective of the team is accomplished.
B) Members of these teams collaborate with each other to produce an entire product.
C) Members of these teams collaborate with each other to produce an entire product.
D) These teams are formed when individuals in an organization develop relationships to meet personal needs.

Question 53

Which of the following best describes self-managing work teams?

A) Groups of 5 to 15 members who work together to produce an entire product and are authorized to take important decisions
B) Groups of 5 to 15 members who work together to produce an entire product and are authorized to take important decisions
C) Groups that are bound together by common interests such as political beliefs and social activities
D) Groups formed by members who are prone to social loafing and groupthink

Question 54

At Max Construction Company,over 50 permanent work groups consisting of diverse members work together to build an entire plant.These groups have the authority to hire new employees,decide how to run their own projects,and accept budget responsibility.These groups are examples of:

A) informal groups.
B) self-managing work teams.
C) task groups.
D) homogeneous teams.

Question 55

A _____ can be best defined as a small group whose members share goals,commitment,and accountability for results.

A) congregation
B) cluster
C) team
D) group

Question 56

Which of the following statements is true about the storming stage of team development?

A) It is a period of conflict in which group members assert their different roles on the team.
B) This is the fifth stage in which the team decides to disband after having achieved its goals.
C) In this stage, supervisors are encouraged to advise team members to be discreet about their opinions related to their roles in the group.
D) This stage of team development is not required for every team, given that some teams meet for indefinite periods of time.

Question 57

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of a homogeneous group?

A) A homogeneous group is most suitable for complex, creative tasks.
B) A homogeneous group has broader skills and knowledge compared to heterogeneous groups.
C) The members of a homogeneous group have a lot in common.
D) The members of a homogeneous group can examine problems from different points of view.

Question 58

Brenda,Claude,and Stefan are employees at Fern Automobiles.They completed their training as associate automobile engineers.They went through a period of conflicts.However,they now understand their roles and coordinate and achieve their department's goals on a regular basis.In the context of stages of team development,Brenda,Claude,and Stefan are in the _____ stage.

A) adjourning
B) norming
C) storming
D) performing

Question 59

Abhi and Jack are new employees at Senfer Co.They are being trained together.During training,Abhi and Jack find that they have significant differences in opinions about their work allocations.This results in a heated argument between the two.They discuss this with their supervisor,who helps them to resolve the argument and sort out differences.In the context of the stages of team development,Abhi and Jack are going through the _____ stage.

A) forming
B) norming
C) performing
D) storming

Question 60

Steve manages a group of employees consisting of twelve females and eight males.Ten members of his group are Hispanics,five are Africans,and five are Asians.This group managed by Steve is a:

A) dysfunctional group.
B) heterogeneous group.
C) homogeneous group.
D) cohesive group.

Question 61

All team members need to know what is happening.In the context of characteristics associated with team productivity,to which of the following characteristics does this statement correspond?

A) Access to information
B) Debate and discussion
C) Atmosphere of listening
D) Honesty and integrity

Question 62

Team members should view accomplishing objectives as the team's primary purpose because they give them the direction and purpose.Which of the following characteristics associated with team productivity best corresponds to this statement?

A) Acceptance of assignments
B) Goals that are understood and accepted
C) Assessment of progress and results
D) Involvement and participation

Question 63

Which of the following best describes the process of team building?

A) It is the process of developing the ability of members to work together to achieve common objectives.
B) It is the process of making the transition after adjournment as seamless as possible for the team members by assuring that new challenges await them.
C) It is the process of giving each team member the absolute authority to take decisions related to achieving organizational goals.
D) It is the process of bringing together individuals in the organization who share common interests and forming groups to meet personal needs.

Question 64

Naomi,Salim,and Cheryl are members of a graphic design team at TelDesign Corp.They willingly accept projects from their supervisor and complete them on time.They coordinate with each other in a synergistic way and often develop high quality graphics.Which of the following is the team characteristic associated with team productivity that most accurately highlights the characteristics depicted by this graphic design team?

A) Openness and honesty
B) Acceptance of assignments
C) Comfortable atmosphere
D) Win-win approach to conflict

Question 65

Team members should work to resolve differences in ways that let everyone get more of what they want.Which of the following team characteristics associated with team productivity mostly deals with this goal?

A) Win-win approach to conflict
B) Assessment of progress and results
C) Goals that are understood and accepted
D) Involvement and participation

Question 66

In the context of coaching a team,enabling is best defined as the process of:

A) providing employees with the resources they need to do their job and removing obstacles that interfere with their work.
B) forming small groups in which the members share goals, commitment, and accountability for results.
C) making the transition after adjournment as seamless as possible for the team members by assuring that new challenges await them.
D) giving each team member the absolute authority to take decisions related to achieving organizational goals.

Question 67

Ronnie and Ming,employees at Zolaten Inc.,had an argument with their supervisor because the supervisor informed them that their targets would be higher the next month.This resulted in a minor conflict.However,they eventually agreed to cooperate and achieved their department's objectives.Which of the following team characteristics associated with team productivity was most accurately depicted by Ronnie and Ming in this scenario?

A) Accountability
B) Honesty
C) Comfortable atmosphere
D) Access to information

Question 68

Jim and Nancy are managers at Zensol Inc.Jim proposes a plan for improving customer satisfaction,but Nancy disagrees with his plan.However,she asks him to speak about his plan in the quarterly meeting to see if the other members of her department like it.In the context of characteristics associated with team productivity,which of the following most accurately highlights the characteristic that Nancy made sure was present in their department?

A) Honesty and integrity
B) Comfortable environment
C) Atmosphere of listening
D) Access to information

Question 69

Choose the team characteristic associated with team productivity that mostly deals with the importance of team members focusing on outcomes and effects.

A) Decisions made by consensus
B) Debate and discussion
C) Assessment of progress and results
D) Involvement and participation

Question 70

If everyone in a team agrees all the time,it may signify that the team members are unable or unwilling to contribute.Which of the following team characteristics associated with team productivity mostly deals with the significance of this issue?

A) Win-win approach to conflict
B) Debate and discussion
C) Openness honesty
D) Atmosphere of listening

Question 71

In the context of coaching employees,which of the following tips is most likely to help a supervisor in stimulating high-quality performance?

A) Criticize the team members who are not performing well, preferably during team meetings.
B) Be authoritative and dominate meetings so that the team members do not stray from their agenda.
C) Tell employees what to do rather than enabling them to handle a situation as it is a waste of time.
D) Encourage team members by expressing understanding and appreciation of their ideas and feelings.

Question 72

Which of the following is the team characteristic associated with team productivity that deals with the fact that the members of a team must have close relationships,which is impossible when the team's membership keeps changing?

A) Atmosphere of listening
B) Access to information
C) Acceptance of assignments
D) Relatively low turnover

Question 73

The leader of a team will sometimes have to make a decision alone or reject suggestions,but all team members should have a voice in making many decisions,not simply a vote without the full opportunity to be heard.Which of the following is the team characteristic associated with team productivity that most accurately highlights the significance of this issue?

A) Atmosphere of listening
B) Decisions made by consensus
C) Debate and discussion
D) Leadership that does not dominate

Question 74

Small organizations are sometimes unable to afford an expert consultant to carry out their team building processes.In such cases,the _____ carries out this responsibility at regular team meetings.

A) human resource manager
B) supervisor
C) top management
D) production manager

Question 75

Jose,a supervisor at Stay-A-Day Hotels,provides his subordinates all the resources they need to do their job properly.He also ensures that he helps them in removing all the obstacles that hinder their ability to perform well at work.In the context of coaching the team,Jose is _____ his subordinates.

A) storming
B) adjourning
C) enabling
D) norming

Question 76

In the context of characteristics associated with team productivity,a(n)_____ leader is most likely to have a leadership style that does not dominate.

A) flexible
B) authoritarian
C) extrovert
D) orthodox

Question 77

Successful teamwork requires _____ communication among team members.

A) stereotypical
B) open
C) assumed
D) biased

Question 78

In the context of characteristics associated with team productivity,openness and honesty build _____ between team members.

A) status
B) trust
C) norms
D) homogeneity

Question 79

When a team member is reluctant to speak up at meetings,the leader should seek his or her input during or outside the meeting.Identify the team characteristic associated with team productivity that mostly deals with the significance of this issue.

A) Assessment of progress and results
B) Involvement and participation
C) Relatively low turnover
D) Acceptance of assignments

Question 80

Activities like setting goals,analyzing what needs to be done and allocating work,examining how well the group is working,and examining the relationships among the team members are part of the process of _____.

A) enabling
B) biofeedback
C) team building
D) appraisal