Question 1

Adam needs to generate ideas to find a solution to his problem. He has decided to ask the same question to each of his department heads. Each department head needs to write down as many answers as possible. He then goes over the answers and takes some time to discuss the ideas without criticism. He then puts the ideas up to a vote. Adam has used which type of team decision approach?

Accepted Answer

Adam's approach aligns with the nominal group technique, which involves generating ideas independently (in this case, by asking each department head to write down as many answers as possible), followed by a discussion of the ideas without criticism, and finally, voting on the ideas. This process is characteristic of the nominal group technique, which is designed to prevent any single voice from dominating the discussion and to ensure that all ideas are considered equally.

Question 2

______ are the degree to which certain factors contribute to team effectiveness.

Accepted Answer

Process gains refer to the degree to which certain factors contribute to team effectiveness, emphasizing the positive outcomes that result from the ways in which team members interact and work together.

Question 3

Which term is defined as the degree to which team members connect with each other?

Accepted Answer

Cohesion refers to the degree to which team members connect with each other, fostering a sense of solidarity and unity within the group.

Question 4

Once he successfully completed the group project, the committee to review the company's finances disbanded, and everyone returned to their original units. The finance committee is in which stage of group development?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Once he successfully completed the group project,...

Question 5

After several months of training, the Air Force Special Operations team has developed high loyalty and trust, and there are clear patterns of communications among the members. The Special Operations team is in which stage of group development?

Accepted Answer

The team is in the "performing" stage, characterized by high levels of loyalty, trust, and established communication patterns, indicating that the team is functioning effectively and focusing on achieving its goals.

Question 6

What type of team decision-making technique is a structured way for team members to generate ideas and identify solutions?

Accepted Answer

The nominal group technique is a structured method for group brainstorming that encourages contributions from everyone in the group. It is designed to help teams generate ideas and identify solutions in an organized manner, ensuring that all members have the opportunity to participate.

Question 7

Each member is asked the same question in relation to a work issue and requested to write as many answers as possible. Answers are read aloud and recorded for discussion. Then, the ideas are put to the vote. No criticism or judgment of any ideas is allowed. This describes which type of team decision-making?

Accepted Answer

The nominal group technique involves members independently writing down their ideas, which are then shared with the group and discussed without criticism before voting takes place. This process is designed to ensure that all members have an equal opportunity to contribute ideas and that decisions are made democratically.

Question 8

Soneybucks has created a taskforce to write a new employee manual. The taskforce was given a deadline 6 weeks after the time they were introduced to the project. They are now 4 weeks into the project. According to the punctuated equilibrium model, the taskforce is likely to ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Soneybucks has created a taskforce to write...

Question 9

Which of the following is an accurate conclusion from the recent study called Project Aristotle by Google?

Accepted Answer

Project Aristotle by Google found that the success of teams was less about the individual intelligence of team members and more about the team's collective approach to work, particularly the norms and psychological safety established within the team. Dysfunctional teams often failed not because of the skill level of their members but because of the wrong norms that governed their interactions.

Question 10

Which element below is defined as generating creative, spontaneous ideas from all members of a group without making any initial criticism or judgment of them?

Accepted Answer

Brainstorming is a technique used to encourage creative thinking and generate a large number of ideas from group members without immediate criticism or judgment.

Question 11

______ is the reduced effort people exert in a group compared to the amount they supply when working independently.

Accepted Answer

Social loafing refers to the phenomenon where individuals exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone.

Question 12

Which type of team decision-making is described as a method of decision-making in which information is gathered from a group of respondents within their area of expertise?

Accepted Answer

The Delphi technique is a method of decision-making that involves gathering information from a panel of experts who contribute their opinions or insights on a particular issue, often through rounds of questionnaires, to reach a consensus. This method is particularly used when direct communication between experts is not feasible.

Question 13

Johnson needs to solve a problem with the fulfillment department. She states the problem to her team and asks that people yell out solutions. She wants people to just think on the spot without any initial criticism or judgment of the ideas. Once she has a good number of ideas on the board, she goes back to discuss some of the good solutions. Johnson has used which type of team decision approach?

Accepted Answer

Johnson's approach is brainstorming, which involves generating ideas without initial criticism to encourage creativity and participation.

Question 14

A psychological phenomenon in which people in a cohesive group go along with the group consensus rather than offer their own opinions is called ______.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon where the desire for harmony or conformity in a group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Members of the group prioritize consensus over their own individual ideas and critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints.

Question 15

______ is the tendency for individuals to perform tasks better when in the presence of others.

Accepted Answer

Social facilitation is the phenomenon where individuals perform tasks better when they are in the presence of others. This is because the presence of others increases physiological arousal, which enhances the ability to perform well-practiced tasks or simple tasks but can impair performance on complex tasks.

Question 16

Questionnaires are sent to a select group of experts, whose responses are collated and reviewed, and then a summary is returned to the group with a follow-up questionnaire. Again, the experts provide their answers. The process continues until the group agrees on a common answer and a decision is reached. This describes the process of which type of team decision-making?

Accepted Answer

The described process is the Delphi technique, which involves a series of questionnaires sent to experts, with summaries of responses shared in subsequent rounds to reach a consensus.

Question 17

The ______ suggests that when teams first come together, they tend to perform at a low level for a period of time that is more or less equal to half the time until the deadline or due date.

Accepted Answer

The punctuated equilibrium model suggests that groups initially experience a period of inertia or low performance, which lasts until the midpoint of their timeline. At this midpoint, they experience a transition that often leads to a significant increase in productivity as the deadline approaches.

Question 18

An accreditation team is under pressure to make certain that everything is reported for the upcoming review. Some information is missing, and one group member suggests that they fill in the blank space with their best guess at the data, rather than delay the review. No one disagrees. The accreditation team is falling into what psychological phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

The accreditation team is falling into the phenomenon of groupthink, where the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. In this case, the team's unanimous decision to guess missing information rather than delay the review to ensure accuracy reflects the suppression of dissenting viewpoints and the prioritization of consensus over critical evaluation.

Question 19

A major disadvantage to team decision-making is when team members are more concerned with preserving harmony in the group than with risking opinions that may cause conflict or offense. This is called ______.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink occurs when team members prioritize consensus and harmony over critical analysis and debate, leading to poorer decision-making outcomes.

Question 20

______ are the informal rules of behavior that govern the team.

Accepted Answer

Norms are the informal rules that govern the behavior of a team, influencing how its members interact with each other.

Quiz 7: Teams