Question 1

Identify and describe any team you have been a member of, or know about otherwise, that has a strong norm of teamwork that all members buy into. What role did the team leader play in making this possible?

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Question 2

Recall a meeting you attended. Did you receive an agenda prior to the meeting? How well did the leader conduct the meeting? Give ideas on how the meeting could have been improved. Did the group have any problem members? How well did the leader handle them?

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Question 3

Describe which of the facilitator's team building activities (see Exhibit 8.7) your SMT or other type of team facilitator employed in leading the team.

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Question 4

If you have been part of an SMT, describe the benefits that you derived from being part of the team. Be specific, matching your description to the list in Exhibit 8.6.

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Question 5

Based on Self-Assessment 1, list some things that a team could do to improve its level of teamwork. Use experiences associated with a present or past job.

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Question 6

Our team seems to always be in a state of flux because no one seems to know what they are doing. Which of the following guidelines for SMT effectiveness is missing in this situation?

Accepted Answer

The missing guideline is unambiguous goals and objectives. This means that everyone in the team must have a clear understanding of what they need to accomplish and the direction they need to take to achieve their goals. Without this guideline in place, the team is likely to be confused, inefficient, and unproductive.

Question 7

Recall a present or past job. Describe what type of team you are in or have been in-functional, cross-functional, or self-managed.

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Question 8

Recall a team decision that you were a part of, and describe the team leader's role during the process leading up to the final decision. Would you characterize the leader's role as belonging to the leader-centered or team-centered approach to decision making?

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Question 9

Rick and Ellen have been disagreeing a lot during recent team meetings; however, no one on the team has stepped up to help them overcome their differences. Which of the following guidelines for improving SMT effectiveness is missing in this situation?

Accepted Answer

strong and experienced facilitator
A strong and experienced facilitator is crucial in helping team members navigate through disagreements and conflicts. The facilitator's role is to guide discussions, ensure that all voices are heard, and help the team find common ground or reach a consensus. They can also provide the team with tools and techniques for effective communication and conflict resolution. In the absence of such a facilitator, teams may struggle to overcome interpersonal issues, which can hinder their overall performance and effectiveness.

Question 10

Interview someone you have worked with or know who is a team leader. Ask him or her to provide specific examples for some of the roles outlined in Exhibit 8.1 that he or she employed.

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Question 11

Some of our team members receive different incentives and rewards when we complete our projects. Which of the following guidelines for improving SMT effectiveness is missing in this situation?

Accepted Answer

The missing guideline is appropriate compensation structure. The fact that some team members receive different incentives and rewards indicates that the compensation structure is not appropriate or consistent.

Question 12

Using your own experience, or asking someone who has been part of an SMT, describe some of the self-managing activities of the team that made it a truly self-managing team as opposed to a traditional team.

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Question 13

Teams are often credited with making better decisions than individuals, yet they are also criticized for groupthink. What are some strategies for creating effective teams that are not victims of the groupthink phenomenon?

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Question 14

Think of a work situation in which you were required to do a lot of creative thinking, or in which your job required doing a lot of very creative things. In what ways did the organization and your immediate supervisor or leader facilitate or hinder your effectiveness? Use the discussion of top management and the team leader's roles in facilitating creativity as your guide.

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Question 15

What are some of the key indicators of team dysfunction?

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Question 16

Have you worked in a team in which former managers have been reassigned to function simply as members of the team? What was your experience with the behavior and attitude of these former managers in their new role as team members?

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Question 17

Think of a past or present job. Based on your knowledge of the distinction between a group and a team, would you say you were part of a team or a group? Explain.

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Question 18

Recall any experience you have had or currently have, working with individuals from different disciplines or technical specialties from yours. How did you get along with these individuals? Describe the positives and negatives of your experience.

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Question 19

Identify a team you were or are a part of and describe the advantages that you derived from being a member of the team.

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Question 20

Recall a team you have worked with that you would characterize as effective. What role(s) did your leader and/or organization play in making the team effective?

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Quiz 8: Self-Managed Teams and Team Leadership