Question 1

A moderate level of conflict in an organization can lead to all EXCEPT which of the following?
A) Motivation
B) Creativity
C) Apathy
D) Innovation
E) Initiative

Accepted Answer

A moderate level of conflict can stimulate motivation, creativity, innovation, and initiative. However, too much conflict or unresolved conflict can lead to apathy and disengagement.

Question 2

The shipping department receives the products to be shipped from the production group. These two groups are constantly in conflict with one another, most likely due to
A) personality conflicts.
B) limited resources.
C) interdependencies.
D) poor management.
E) the union.

Accepted Answer

The conflict between the production group and shipping department is likely due to interdependencies, meaning that their work is closely linked and one group's actions can affect the other's ability to function effectively. For example, if the production group is delayed in getting products ready for shipment, it can cause frustration and delays for the shipping department. This type of conflict is common in organizations and can be addressed through improved communication and coordination between the groups.

Question 3

Katsuya knows his marketing department is the top performer. He is frustrated that all the funding seems to go to operations where performance does not meet expectations. This is an example of ____ conflict.
A) intragroup conflict
B) internal environmental conflict
C) role ambiguity
D) intergroup conflict
E) role overload

Accepted Answer

Intergroup conflict arises between different groups or departments within an organization. In this case, Katsuya's frustration with the allocation of funding indicates a conflict between his marketing department (his group) and the operations department (another group).

Question 4

There is a cohesive group at work that functions with norms that do not support the organization's best interest. You decide to reduce their cohesiveness. You should
A) isolate the group in a building by itself.
B) give the group a project to complete at which it is sure to fail.
C) arrange a contest between the group and another group.
D) try to find a common goal on which all can agree.
E) provide some sort of outside threat to the group.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There is a cohesive group at work...

Question 5

Which of the following statements reflects current thinking with respect to conflict in organizations?
A) Very low levels of conflict create an atmosphere of peace and quiet and tend to increase creativity.
B) Managers should work hard to eliminate as much conflict as possible because of the hostility it creates.
C) High levels of conflict are desirable in some cases because they eliminate complacency.
D) Managers can enhance organizational performance by ensuring moderate amounts of conflict.
E) Some individuals are conflict prone, and managers should avoid hiring them.

Accepted Answer

Current thinking suggests that moderate levels of conflict can lead to higher levels of creativity, problem-solving, and decision-making in organizations. However, too much conflict can be counterproductive and should be managed effectively by managers. Therefore, managers can enhance organizational performance by ensuring moderate amounts of conflict.

Question 6

Burger King settled a lawsuit with Coca-Cola that claimed data Coca-Cola provided about a frozen Coke taste test were fixed and misled Burger King executives. This is an example of
A) intragroup conflict.
B) internal environmental conflict.
C) role ambiguity.
D) intergroup conflict.
E) interorganizational conflict.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of interorganizational conflict, as it involves a dispute between two different organizations, Burger King and Coca-Cola.

Question 7

On the television show Mad Men , Roger is higher in the organization than Don. However, Don is perceived as the creative talent that all the customers want on their accounts and the reason for the firm's success. Don is the
A) formal leader.
B) informal leader.
C) task specialist.
D) maintenance specialist.
E) hero.

Accepted Answer

Don is an informal leader because he is not in a formal leadership position, but is still influential and respected by his colleagues and clients.

Question 8

Emily thinks Alex is a narcissist, always making everything about him. She tries to avoid him. They have ____.
A) intragroup conflict
B) internal environmental conflict
C) role ambiguity
D) interpersonal conflict
E) role overload

Accepted Answer

Interpersonal conflict refers to a perceived incompatibility or experiencing tension and frustration between two or more individuals due to differences in ideologies, personalities, or goals. Emily's avoidance of Alex due to his narcissistic behavior reflects their interpersonal conflict.

Question 9

3M encourages its employees to think of creative solutions to problems. It uses what is called out of the box thinking, and no idea is thought to be too ridiculous or too petty if it will solve a problem. Jana did not feel as if she could make suggestions in front of people who had been members of her work team for many years, even though no one else seemed shy about sharing ideas. Eventually, due to a process called ____, Jana became comfortable with sharing her ideas.
A) brainwashing
B) forced conformity
C) norm generalization
D) norm variation
E) socialization

Accepted Answer

The process referred to in the paragraph is socialization. Jana's initial discomfort in sharing her ideas in front of her team members suggests that she was not yet fully integrated into the company culture of encouraging out of the box thinking. However, through socialization (i.e. the process of learning the norms and values of a group), Jana became more comfortable with sharing her ideas. Brainwashing (A) and forced conformity (B) have negative connotations and suggest a lack of individual agency. Norm generalization (C) and norm variation (D) do not accurately describe the process described in the paragraph.

Question 10

Conflict in an organization is MOST likely to occur if ____ interdependence exists.
A) pooled
B) sequential
C) reciprocal
D) complex
E) simple

Accepted Answer

The answer of Conflict in an organization is MOST likely...

Question 11

Group cohesiveness is fostered by all of the following EXCEPT
A) small size.
B) unpleasant experiences.
C) clear goals.
D) success.
E) competition between groups.

Accepted Answer

Cohesiveness is typically fostered by small size, clear goals, success, and competition between groups. Unpleasant experiences can actually decrease cohesiveness.

Question 12

Which of the following actions should increase the cohesiveness of a sales force?
A) A sales contest between the individual members of the sales force
B) A sales contest between the sales force and the sales force in another division of the company
C) An increase in the size of the sales force to at least 25 to 30 members
D) Hiring a super salesperson who will dominate the group and tell them what they should do to improve sales
E) Allowing the group to fail so they will see that they have to work together in the future

Accepted Answer

Sales contests between different divisions can foster a sense of unity and team spirit within a sales force, as they work together towards a common goal against an external competitor, rather than competing against each other.

Question 13

A group of ten people assembled to do volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity.  Cohesiveness was high from the start because they all wanted to be there, helping others, and making a big difference in the lives of a family.  Cohesiveness was high due to
A) agreement on goals.
B) personal attraction.
C) intergroup competition.
D) interaction.
E) favorable evaluation.

Accepted Answer

The high cohesiveness in the group is primarily due to their agreement on goals, as they all shared the common objective of helping others and making a significant impact on a family's life through their volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity.

Question 14

The informal leader of a group usually draws on which forms of power?
A) Legitimate and reward
B) Reward and coercive
C) Coercive and expert
D) Expert and referent
E) Referent and legitimate

Accepted Answer

The informal leader of a group usually draws on expert and referent power. Expert power comes from knowledge, skills, and expertise that the person possesses, while referent power comes from the leader's personality, behavior, and relationships with others. These two forms of power make the informal leader influential and respected among group members.

Question 15

Which of the following combinations of group performance norms and cohesiveness is BEST from the manager's point of view?
A) Low cohesiveness/low norms
B) Low cohesiveness/high norms
C) High cohesiveness/low norms
D) High cohesiveness/high norms
E) High cohesiveness regardless of performance norms

Accepted Answer

High cohesiveness leads to a strong sense of team work and group loyalty, which can be beneficial for achieving team goals. However, high cohesiveness alone may not be enough to ensure effective performance. The group also needs to establish high performance norms to guide behavior and achieve desired outcomes. Therefore, the combination of high cohesiveness and high performance norms is the best from the manager's point of view.

Question 16

A person who engages in leadership activities but whose right to do so has not been formally recognized is called a(n)
A) formal leader.
B) informal leader.
C) task specialist.
D) maintenance specialist.
E) hero.

Accepted Answer

An informal leader is someone who takes on leadership responsibilities and influences others without formal recognition or authority. They may emerge from within a group or organization based on their knowledge, experience, or personal qualities. They may not have the official title or position of a leader, but their actions and influence can be just as impactful.

Question 17

Which of the following combinations of group performance norms and cohesiveness will lead to the lowest level of performance in a group?
A) High cohesiveness/high norms
B) High cohesiveness/low norms
C) Low cohesiveness/high norms
D) Low cohesiveness/low norms
E) Low performance norms regardless of the level of cohesion

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following combinations of group...

Question 18

High performance results from
A) low cohesion, high-performance norms.
B) high cohesion, low-performance norms.
C) high cohesion, high-performance norms.
D) high-performance norms regardless of the level of cohesion.
E) low cohesion, low-performance norms.

Accepted Answer

High cohesion ensures a strong sense of team spirit and mutual support, which can be valuable in achieving high-performance results. Additionally, teams with high-performance norms prioritize excellence and continuous improvement, leading to better outcomes. Therefore, a combination of high cohesion and high-performance norms is the most likely to produce the best results.

Question 19

Honda Motor Company's plant outside Columbus, Ohio, manufactures cars as small as the Civic and as large as the Element, all on the same assembly line. This flexible manufacturing development allows automakers to rapidly change to consumers' desires. It should also decrease ____ between marketing and production.
A) intragroup conflict
B) internal environmental conflict
C) role ambiguity
D) intergroup conflict
E) role overload

Accepted Answer

Intergroup conflict refers to conflicts between different departments or groups within an organization. Flexible manufacturing allows for rapid changes in response to consumer desires, which should decrease conflict between the marketing and production departments.

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a recommended method for controlling conflict?
A) Changing established standards
B) Making more resources available
C) Maintaining superordinate goals
D) Enhancing coordination
E) Managing interpersonal dynamics

Accepted Answer

Changing established standards may not be a recommended method for controlling conflict because it could lead to confusion, lack of stability, and mistrust among individuals and groups. It is generally better to focus on other methods such as maintaining superordinate goals, enhancing coordination, and managing interpersonal dynamics to effectively address conflict. Making more resources available could also be helpful in some situations.

Quiz 18: Managing Work Groups and Teams

A moderate level of conflict in an organization can lead to all EXCEPT which of the following?

The shipping department receives the products to be shipped from the production group. These two groups are constantly in conflict with one another, most likely due to

Katsuya knows his marketing department is the top performer. He is frustrated that all the funding seems to go to operations where performance does not meet expectations. This is an example of ____ conflict.

There is a cohesive group at work that functions with norms that do not support the organization's best interest. You decide to reduce their cohesiveness. You should

Which of the following statements reflects current thinking with respect to conflict in organizations?

Burger King settled a lawsuit with Coca-Cola that claimed data Coca-Cola provided about a frozen Coke taste test were fixed and misled Burger King executives. This is an example of

On the television show Mad Men , Roger is higher in the organization than Don. However, Don is perceived as the creative talent that all the customers want on their accounts and the reason for the firm's success. Don is the

Emily thinks Alex is a narcissist, always making everything about him. She tries to avoid him. They have ____.

Conflict in an organization is MOST likely to occur if ____ interdependence exists.

Group cohesiveness is fostered by all of the following EXCEPT

Which of the following actions should increase the cohesiveness of a sales force?

A group of ten people assembled to do volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity. Cohesiveness was high from the start because they all wanted to be there, helping others, and making a big difference in the lives of a family. Cohesiveness was high due to

The informal leader of a group usually draws on which forms of power?

Which of the following combinations of group performance norms and cohesiveness is BEST from the manager's point of view?

A person who engages in leadership activities but whose right to do so has not been formally recognized is called a(n)

Which of the following combinations of group performance norms and cohesiveness will lead to the lowest level of performance in a group?

High performance results from

Which of the following is NOT a recommended method for controlling conflict?