Question 1

Researchers in Germany conducted experiments meant to contrast the effectiveness of face to face (FTF) goal setting procedures with desktop video conferencing systems (DCVS) goal setting and concluded:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Researchers in Germany conducted experiments meant to...

Question 2

A deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment resulting from in-group pressures defines:

Accepted Answer

The given definition describes the phenomenon of groupthink, which is a collective decision-making process in which group members prioritize the maintenance of group cohesion over the consideration of alternative perspectives or critical evaluation of information. Groupthink often results in flawed decision making and can lead to negative consequences. Option A, group polarization, refers to the tendency of group members to hold more extreme views after group discussion. Option C, the risky shift, refers to the tendency of groups to make riskier decisions than individuals would make alone. Option D, the recency effect, is a cognitive bias in which individuals have a stronger memory for recent information and may give it more importance in decision making. None of these options fit the given definition.

Question 3

As a project group leader, you have recognized the benefits of conflict and some disagreement among project members in solving difficult problems.Accordingly, you are likely to use:

Accepted Answer

Dialectical inquiry is the best choice as it involves structured debate and disagreement among project members to arrive at the best possible solution. This technique encourages critical thinking and analysis, allowing group members to challenge assumptions and propose new ideas. It ultimately leads to a synthesis of opposing viewpoints and the emergence of a superior solution.

Question 4

An approach to minimize groupthink is to:

Accepted Answer

Re-examining the preferred solution even if consensus has been reached allows for new perspectives and potential flaws to be identified, preventing groupthink. Manipulating group members to increase peer pressure, encouraging rationalization, and denigrating the opposition are all tactics that can actually contribute to groupthink.

Question 5

Group polarization results in:

Accepted Answer

Group polarization refers to the tendency for group discussion to produce shifts toward more extreme attitudes among members. This occurs because group members validate and reinforce each other's opinions, leading to a strengthening of their initial viewpoints. As a result, group discussion tends to amplify individual members' opinions and attitudes, rather than moderating them.

Question 6

A structured approach to decision making that focuses on generating alternatives silently, prevents criticism of alternatives, and uses a voting process to identify group choices is:

Accepted Answer

The described approach is the "nominal group" technique, in which participants generate alternatives individually before sharing them with the group, and then the group votes on the best choice(s) without criticism or discussion. The Delphi technique involves multiple rounds of feedback and iteration, dialectical inquiry promotes debate and discussion among group members, and devil's advocacy involves intentionally challenging proposed ideas to strengthen them.

Question 7

Which of the following is a characteristic of quality teams?

Accepted Answer

Quality teams make data-based decisions about improving product and service quality. Option A is incorrect because quality teams are empowered with decision-making authority. Option B is incorrect because quality teams are designed to work across functional areas, not in parallel to the organization's structure. Option C is incorrect because quality teams not only generate ideas but also evaluate them based on data and evidence.

Question 8

One of the most fundamental aspects of group decision making is the ability to discuss issues and learn from each other's perspectives. The study reviewed in the Science Feature of Chapter 10 investigated factors that increase group discussion and made several important findings. Which of the following statement(s) best reflect(s) the result of this study?

Accepted Answer

The study found that both factors mentioned in options A and B, namely, the perception that the group wanted to improve and learn and confident expression of dissenting opinions, increased group discussion. Option C was not mentioned as a factor in the study.

Question 9

Recent research examining the effects of cultural diversity on decision making has found that when individuals in a group are racially dissimilar:

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that racially diverse groups often arrive at better decisions due to a wider range of perspectives and more thorough consideration of different viewpoints, leading to more innovative and effective solutions.

Question 10

High cohesiveness, directive leadership, and high stress are antecedent conditions for:

Accepted Answer

High cohesiveness and directive leadership can create a situation of groupthink, where members prioritize agreement over critical thinking and alternative perspectives. High stress can exacerbate this tendency by increasing the pressure to conform and reduce the group's ability to consider all relevant facts and opinions. Group polarization refers to the tendency for group members to adopt more extreme positions than they individually held before the discussion, which is not necessarily related to cohesiveness, leadership style, or stress. Satisficing refers to the group's tendency to choose the first option that meets a minimum threshold of acceptability, rather than considering all available alternatives.

Question 11

When using verbal brainstorming, a common problem includes:

Accepted Answer

Production blocking is a common problem in verbal brainstorming, where individuals need to wait for their turn to speak, which hinders the generation of new ideas.

Question 12

An antidote for groupthink in self-managed teams is:

Accepted Answer

Welcoming dissent encourages team members to share alternative perspectives and opinions, ultimately avoiding groupthink where everyone conforms to the group's consensus. Brainstorming and the Delphi technique can be useful methods, but they do not directly address the issue of groupthink. The use of nominal groups may also be helpful, but it is not always necessary in self-managed teams where everyone is already encouraged to contribute.

Question 13

A good group decision approach when an objective is to maximize the number of alternatives is:

Accepted Answer

Brainstorming is a good group decision approach when the objective is to maximize the number of alternatives. It allows for free thinking and encourages participants to generate as many ideas as possible without criticism or analysis. This can lead to a wide range of possible alternatives, which can then be evaluated and refined.

Question 14

A recent review of the decision situation in the Challenger incident identified which two variables as being important to the groupthink phenomena?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A recent review of the decision situation...

Question 15

Brainstorming is so much a part of the culture at Ideo that it has its own set of beliefs about what makes brainstorming work best. Ideo has created the Apple mouse, the Palm V, and Oral-B toothbrush. All of the following improved Ideo's brainstorming except:

Accepted Answer

Creativity awards can stifle creativity by creating a competitive environment and discouraging risk-taking.

Question 16

The social comparison approach and persuasive arguments view have both been used to explain:

Accepted Answer

Both the social comparison approach and persuasive arguments view have been used to explain group polarization, which is the tendency for a group to make more extreme decisions than the initial inclinations of its members due to the influence of the group dynamic.

Question 17

Which of the following would NOT be an aspect of the communication environment for a virtual team?

Accepted Answer

NGT (Nominal Group Technique) is a decision-making method for use among groups of many sizes, who want to make their decision quickly, by a vote, but want everyone's opinions taken into account. It is not specifically an aspect of the communication environment for a virtual team, unlike GDSS (Group Decision Support Systems), DVCS (Distributed Version Control Systems), and internal intranets, which directly support virtual team collaboration and communication.

Question 18

A technique that is valuable in its ability to generate a number of independent judgments without the requirement of a face-to-face meeting is:

Accepted Answer

The Delphi technique is the best choice as it is designed for generating independent ideas from individuals who do not need to meet face-to-face. It involves a series of questionnaires and feedback rounds to refine opinions and judgments until the group reaches a consensus. The other options may require a face-to-face meeting or do not emphasize independent judgments as strongly as the Delphi technique.

Question 19

Which of the following would NOT be considered a symptom of groupthink?

Accepted Answer

High conflict is not a symptom of groupthink; in fact, conflict within a group can sometimes help to avoid groupthink. The other options all represent symptoms of groupthink, such as the illusion of invulnerability (feeling like the group is invincible), rationalization (making excuses for decisions), and the illusion of unanimity (believing that everyone in the group agrees).

Question 20

Electronic brainstorming overcomes two common problems that can produce verbal group brainstorming failure.These common problems include:

Accepted Answer

Electronic brainstorming helps to overcome evaluation apprehension, where participants may fear judgment of their ideas, and production blocking, where only one person can speak at a time, limiting the flow of ideas.

Quiz 10: Decision Making by Individuals and Groups