Question 1

____________ is the ability to direct or influence others' behaviors and thoughts toward a productive end.

Accepted Answer

Leadership involves having the ability to influence others towards a productive outcome, while control and authority may involve more of a dictatorial approach and power may involve coercion or manipulation.

Question 2

Gail could see that the members of her work team were tired and losing their focus on the task. She took a moment to gather them together and said, "I've been watching the clock, too. I know it's late, and I know we've all put in more hours than anyone could have expected today, and I want you to know how much I appreciate your dedication. Nobody else could do what you all have done today, and I hope you'll power through this last little bit to help us meet this deadline." What leadership style is Gail using?

Accepted Answer

Gail is using a supportive leadership style by acknowledging her team's hard work and dedication and encouraging them to push through the final stretch. She is not giving specific directions or delegating tasks (directive) nor is she setting specific goals or challenging her team (achievement-oriented) or involving her team in decision making (participative).

Question 3

Al's speech coach sat him and the rest of his teammates down at the beginning of the season and said, "We have everything it takes to be the best team in the region this year, and I need every one of you to do your best in every round of competition so we can fulfill that expectation." The coach appears to be using which leadership style?

Accepted Answer

The coach is using an achievement-oriented leadership style by setting high expectations and encouraging the team to achieve excellence, indicating a focus on performance and goal attainment.

Question 4

Leaders who are respected or admired by their followers are said to have .

Accepted Answer

Referent power is the power that a leader has due to the admiration, respect, and loyalty of their followers. This type of power is gained by developing strong relationships, communication, and a positive attitude. Strong referent power can result in higher levels of motivation, commitment, and loyalty from followers. Legitimate power is based on the position or role of a leader, reward power is based on the ability to provide rewards, and expert power is based on knowledge or expertise.

Question 5

Ashley noticed that the group was coming to the end of their meeting and wanted to see how close the group was to making a decision. So she took an informal vote-a tactic we call a(n)

Accepted Answer

The description given in the question ("informal vote") matches the definition of a nonbinding straw poll, which is used to gauge the opinions of a group without making any official decisions or commitments. The other options (Australian ballot, consensus checker, caucus vote) are not a good match for the situation described in the question.

Question 6

In which stage of the problem-solving process do members of a group employ brainstorming techniques?

Accepted Answer

Brainstorming techniques are employed during the stage of generating solutions, in which all members of the group contribute ideas and suggestions, without criticism or evaluation, to solve the identified problem.

Question 7

The group members' thoughts, beliefs, and emotions relate to which of the forces that shape a group's decision making?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive forces are the thoughts, beliefs, and emotions of the group members that influence the group's decision making.

Question 8

____________ is the extent to which less powerful members of a group accept that power is distributed unequally.

Accepted Answer

Power distance refers to the degree to which individuals in a society or organization accept that power is distributed unequally. It is the extent to which less powerful members of a group accept and expect that power is held by a few individuals or groups.

Question 9

In what type of unethical behavior does a leader use harsh criticism, name-calling, gossip, slander, personal attacks, or threats to safety or job security in order to get members to follow him or her?

Accepted Answer

The type of unethical behavior described is bullying, which involves using aggressive and intimidating tactics to gain control and power over others. Harassment refers to unwanted and repeated behavior that creates a hostile environment, coercion involves forcing someone to do something against their will, and dictating involves making demands without regard for others' opinions or input.

Question 10

A leader who controls the group's communication by conveying specific instructions to the members uses which type of leadership style?

Accepted Answer

The leadership style that involves conveying specific instructions to the members and controlling the communication is the directive leadership style.

Question 11

The first step in the problem-solving process is

Accepted Answer

Before you can generate solutions or evaluate them, you must first identify the problem. Brainstorming may come later in the process once the problem has been clearly defined.

Question 12

____________ refer to group members' personal motives, goals, attitudes, and values.

Accepted Answer

Psychological forces refer to the internal factors that influence an individual's behavior, which includes personal motives, goals, attitudes, and values.

Question 13

Positions like "manager," "professor," and "president" convey which kind of power?

Accepted Answer

Positions like "manager," "professor," and "president" convey legitimate power because they are granted the authority to make decisions and give orders by the organization or society. Legitimate power is based on a person's position, title, or authority within a hierarchy.

Question 14

Power that stems from a leader's ability to threaten or harm others is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Coercive power is the power to punish or harm others for noncompliance or disobedience. This power relies on fear and intimidation to get others to do what the leader wants, and can be used for negative purposes if the leader is not ethical or responsible.

Question 15

Jen had a tough time getting her sorority sisters to commit to helping her clean up after the homecoming party until she offered to order pizza and treat everyone who helped out to a movie night. What type of power did Jen exercise over the group?

Accepted Answer

Jen exercised reward power by offering pizza and movie night as a reward for helping with clean-up, motivating her sorority sisters to commit to the task.

Question 16

When Tina stepped up to serve as the organizer for the sustainability committee's organizational meetings, she decided to get the group organized by having anyone who was interested join her for an open forum where they could help define the group's mission, identify problems, and brainstorm some actions they could take to help their campus go green. What leadership style was Tina using?

Accepted Answer

Tina is using a participative leadership style by involving everyone interested in the decision-making process and soliciting their input to define the group's mission, identify problems, and brainstorm actions.

Quiz 10: B: leadership and Decision Making in Groups