Question 1

The potential for synergy increases as the level and intensity of group members' interactions increase and their expertise and skills are applied to the group's tasks.

Accepted Answer

Synergy occurs when individuals working together produce a result that is greater than the sum of their individual contributions. This can be achieved through increased interaction, collaboration, and the application of unique skills and expertise. Therefore, the potential for synergy increases as these factors become more prominent within a group.

Question 2

By rewarding employees for good attendance and punctuality, managers can minimize coordination difficulties involved with sequentially interdependent tasks.

Accepted Answer

When employees show good attendance and punctuality, they can ensure that they are present at their designated times to complete their tasks, reducing delays and coordination difficulties. This can be further incentivized through rewards, such as bonuses or recognition.

Question 3

When the activities of group members are sequentially interdependent, the performance level of the most capable or highest-performing member of the group determines group performance.

Accepted Answer

When the activities of group members are sequentially interdependent, the performance level of the least capable or poorest-performing member of the group determines group performance.

Question 4

Since its tasks are organized in a sequential fashion, members of a reciprocally interdependent work group have few coordination problems.

Accepted Answer

Reciprocally interdependent work groups experience considerable coordination problems because of the inherent unpredictability of group relations and interactions.

Question 5

Social loafing is more common with sequential interdependence than with pooled interdependence, as individual contributions are harder to identify in sequentially interdependent tasks.

Accepted Answer

Social loafing occurs when individuals in a group reduce their effort because they believe their individual contributions are not crucial for the outcome of the task. This is more common in tasks with sequential interdependence, where the individual contributions are harder to identify and it's easier for members to think that their efforts won't make a difference. In contrast, with pooled interdependence, where the task outcome depends on the collective effort of the group, individuals are more likely to feel their contributions are necessary and relevant, which reduces the occurrence of social loafing.

Question 6

Large groups have the greatest potential for conflict.

Accepted Answer

Large groups have diverse individuals with different opinions, beliefs, and values. This creates a higher potential for disagreements and conflicts. Additionally, communication and decision-making can become challenging in large groups, leading to misunderstandings and power struggles that can lead to conflicts.

Question 7

A group task based on sequential task interdependence requires specific behaviors to be performed by the group's members in a predetermined order.

Accepted Answer

Sequential task interdependence refers to a type of interdependence in which the tasks to be performed by the group are linked in a specific sequence, so the group's members need to complete their tasks in a predetermined order. This implies that specific behaviors are required to accomplish the overall task successfully.

Question 8

In reciprocal task interdependence, each group member's performance influences the performance of every other member of the group.

Accepted Answer

Reciprocal task interdependence exists when each member of a team depends on the performance of other members to accomplish their own work. This means that if one member does not perform well, it affects the work of other members as well. Therefore, the given statement is true.

Question 9

When group members A, B, and C make independent contributions to group performance, and their contributions are added together to measure the group's performance, it is referred to as reciprocal task interdependence.

Accepted Answer

If a group task involves pooled task interdependence, each member of the group makes a separate and independent contribution to group performance.

Question 10

Because pooled interdependence allows each member's contribution to be measured and rewarded, the potential for process losses due to a lack of motivation is relatively low.

Accepted Answer

Pooled interdependence involves individual contributions being combined into a group outcome, and therefore it allows for easier measurement of individual contributions. This often results in greater clarity regarding individual performance, and the ability to reward members accordingly. As a result, there is typically less of a lack of motivation in a pooled interdependence setting, making process losses due to a lack of motivation relatively low.

Question 11

A group is cohesive when its members find the group attractive, when they value their group membership, and when they have strong desires to remain members of the group.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately describes the concept of group cohesion. Cohesiveness is a measure of the degree to which group members are attracted to and committed to their group, which can impact group dynamics and outcomes.

Question 12

Pooled task interdependence occurs when each member of the group makes a separate and independent contribution to group performance.

Accepted Answer

Pooled task interdependence is a type of task interdependence in which each member makes a separate and independent contribution to group performance. This means that there is no interaction between group members, and each person works on their own tasks independently of each other.

Question 13

As the level of task interdependence increases, so does the potential for both process gains and process losses.

Accepted Answer

As the level of task interdependence increases, there is a greater need for coordination and communication among team members, which can lead to process gains. However, if team members have conflicting goals or communication breakdowns, there is potential for process losses.

Question 14

Assembly-line work in which each group member's performance affects other group members later in the work cycle is characterized by pooled interdependence.

Accepted Answer

A group task based on sequential task interdependence requires specific behaviors to be performed by the group's members in a predetermined order.

Question 15

Sequential interdependence makes identifying the individual performances of group members difficult because each member contributes to the same final product.

Accepted Answer

Sequential interdependence refers to a situation in which the output of one member becomes the input of another member in a group. This makes it difficult to distinguish individual contributions as everyone is working towards the same final product.

Question 16

Process losses on tasks with pooled task interdependence can occur because of the duplication of effort.

Accepted Answer

Process losses occur when team members duplicate work, resulting in wasted time and resources. This is more likely to occur in tasks with pooled interdependence, where each team member works independently towards a shared goal.

Question 17

The potential for process losses is lowest when tasks are reciprocally interdependent.

Accepted Answer

The potential for process losses is highest when tasks are reciprocally interdependent because of motivation and coordination problems.

Question 18

Large groups tend to be more cohesive than small groups.

Accepted Answer

As groups get bigger, their members tend to be less satisfied. For this reason, large groups do not tend to be cohesive.

Question 19

The negative effects of sequential task interdependence can be minimized by forming work groups consisting of individuals with divergent ability levels.

Accepted Answer

The negative effects of sequential task interdependence can be minimized by forming work groups consisting of individuals with similar levels of ability.

Question 20

Process losses can be minimized in a reciprocally interdependent group when group members feel personally responsible for meeting the group's goals.

Accepted Answer

When group members feel personally responsible for meeting the group's goals, they are more likely to work together and collaborate effectively, leading to a reduction in process losses. This is because they are invested in the success of the group and feel accountable for their contribution to achieving the group's objectives.

Quiz 11: Effective Work Groups and Teams

The potential for synergy increases as the level and intensity of group members' interactions increase and their expertise and skills are applied to the group's tasks.

By rewarding employees for good attendance and punctuality, managers can minimize coordination difficulties involved with sequentially interdependent tasks.

When the activities of group members are sequentially interdependent, the performance level of the most capable or highest-performing member of the group determines group performance.

Since its tasks are organized in a sequential fashion, members of a reciprocally interdependent work group have few coordination problems.

Social loafing is more common with sequential interdependence than with pooled interdependence, as individual contributions are harder to identify in sequentially interdependent tasks.

Large groups have the greatest potential for conflict.

A group task based on sequential task interdependence requires specific behaviors to be performed by the group's members in a predetermined order.

In reciprocal task interdependence, each group member's performance influences the performance of every other member of the group.

When group members A, B, and C make independent contributions to group performance, and their contributions are added together to measure the group's performance, it is referred to as reciprocal task interdependence.

Because pooled interdependence allows each member's contribution to be measured and rewarded, the potential for process losses due to a lack of motivation is relatively low.

A group is cohesive when its members find the group attractive, when they value their group membership, and when they have strong desires to remain members of the group.

Pooled task interdependence occurs when each member of the group makes a separate and independent contribution to group performance.

As the level of task interdependence increases, so does the potential for both process gains and process losses.

Assembly-line work in which each group member's performance affects other group members later in the work cycle is characterized by pooled interdependence.

Sequential interdependence makes identifying the individual performances of group members difficult because each member contributes to the same final product.

Process losses on tasks with pooled task interdependence can occur because of the duplication of effort.

The potential for process losses is lowest when tasks are reciprocally interdependent.

Large groups tend to be more cohesive than small groups.

The negative effects of sequential task interdependence can be minimized by forming work groups consisting of individuals with divergent ability levels.

Process losses can be minimized in a reciprocally interdependent group when group members feel personally responsible for meeting the group's goals.