Question 1

Elizabeth is on the same team as Reece, but she never interacts with him because she knows they are on opposite sides of the political ideological spectrum. As a result, their team generates few ideas to help the company. This is an example of
A) deep-level diversity.
B) the role of devil's advocate
C) comprehensive interdependence.
D) the similarity-attraction approach to diversity.
E) the value in diversity problem-solving approach.

Accepted Answer

A theory that has been used widely to explain why diversity may have detrimental effects on teams is called the similarity-attraction approach. According to this perspective, people tend to be more attracted to others who are perceived as more similar. People also tend to avoid interacting with those who are perceived to be dissimilar, to reduce the likelihood of having uncomfortable disagreements.

Question 2

________ diversity refers to diversity regarding observable attributes such as race, ethnicity, sex, and age.
A) Disjunctive
B) Additive
C) Surface-level
D) Conjunctive
E) Deep-level

Accepted Answer

Surface-level diversity refers to diversity regarding observable attributes such as race, ethnicity, sex, and age. Although surface-level diversity may have a negative impact on teams early in their existence because of similarity-attraction issues, those negative effects tend to disappear as members become more knowledgeable about one another.

Question 3

________ tasks depend on the abilities of the "weakest link."
A) Conjunctive
B) Subjunctive
C) Disjunctive
D) Indicative
E) Additive

Accepted Answer

Tasks for which the team's performance depends on the abilities of the "weakest link" are called conjunctive tasks.

Question 4

Which of the following observations about member conscientiousness is True?
A) A team member with low conscientiousness tends to be dependable and works hard to achieve team goals.
B) Correcting a team member who has high conscientiousness will result in interpersonal conflicts.
C) A team member with low conscientiousness will have a positive effect on other team members.
D) A team member who has low conscientiousness helps other team members to accomplish work responsibilities.
E) A team with high conscientiousness will be more productive than a team with even one member with low conscientiousness.

Accepted Answer

There is a strong negative effect on the team of having even one member who is particularly low in conscientiousness.

Question 5

Milo has assembled a diverse team of leaders to carry out major initiatives within his company. Milo has quickly noticed that the wide variety of viewpoints shared by team members has made it hard for the team to reach any goals. How can Milo address this problem?
A) instruct the team to reflect on its goals and progress
B) encourage freedom of expression within the team setting
C) eliminate introverted and disagreeable members from the team
D) try to avoid overemphasizing the importance of tasks and procedures
E) make sure every team member participates and has input in each discussion

Accepted Answer

Diversity in members' approach to pursing goals has been shown to hinder team functioning and effectiveness, but this effect can be reduced if teams are instructed to take the time to reflect on their progress toward goals and their strategies. Negative effects of deep-level diversity with respect to members' values have been found to be reduced when team leaders emphasize the teams' task and provide explicit direction regarding team procedures, standards, roles, and expectations. However, team leaders can also exacerbate problems associated with deep-level diversity.

Question 6

________ diversity refers to diversity with respect to attributes that are less easy to observe initially but that can be inferred after more direct experience.
A) Disjunctive
B) Similarity-attraction
C) Surface-level
D) Conjunctive
E) Deep-level

Accepted Answer

Deep-level diversity refers to diversity with respect to attributes that are less easy to observe initially but that can be inferred after more direct experience. Differences in attitudes, values, and personality are good examples of deep-level diversity.

Question 7

Layla participated in a problem-solving quiz competition among teams. Because Layla was the most familiar with the types of problems on her quiz, her team's performance depended largely on Layla's performance. What is the type of task represented by the quiz competition?
A) additive
B) disjunctive
C) conjunctive
D) surface-level
E) multiplicative

Accepted Answer

In tasks with an objectively verifiable best solution, the member who possesses the highest level of the ability relevant to the task will have the most influence on the effectiveness of the team. These types of tasks are called disjunctive tasks.

Question 8

Deep-level diversity has positive effects on team creativity when
A) team members are instructed to take the perspective of their teammates.
B) all team members are highly conscientious.
C) there are no team members exhibiting individualistic roles.
D) team size is more than 15 people.
E) there are fewer than three fault lines in the team.

Accepted Answer

Deep-level diversity has positive effects on team creativity when team members are instructed to take the perspective of their teammates.

Question 9

Halle is on a team that has just been formed. There are people of a wide variety of ages and ethnicities, and there is an even blend of men and women. Halle's team demonstrates
A) deep-level diversity.
B) surface-level diversity.
C) high task interdependence.
D) conjunctive task completion.
E) low outcome interdependence.

Accepted Answer

Surface-level diversity refers to diversity regarding observable attributes such as race, ethnicity, sex, and age.

Question 10

Tasks for which the contributions resulting from the abilities of every member are considered in total to determine team performance are ________ tasks.
A) conjunctive
B) subjunctive
C) disjunctive
D) indicative
E) additive

Accepted Answer

Additive tasks are those tasks for which the contributions resulting from the abilities of every member "add up" to determine team performance.

Question 11

Sam and Ernie have been friends since high school. They both like designing landscapes and work well together. They also enjoy working with Larry, a man who is a bit older than them and the third member of their landscaping design team. Often, any one of them can be heard saying he could do landscape design with his friends forever. This team has
A) low viability.
B) high viability.
C) deep-level diversity.
D) individualistic roles.
E) surface-level diversity.

Accepted Answer

Team viability, also called team commitment, refers to the likelihood that the team can work together effectively into the future.

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of a team task role rather than an individualistic role?
A) aggressor
B) recognition seeker
C) devil's advocate
D) dominator
E) blocker

Accepted Answer

Individualistic roles reflect behaviors that benefit the individual at the expense of the team. Examples include aggressor, recognition seeker, dominator, and blocker. The devil's advocate is a team task role.

Question 13

When Mia performs routine tasks needed to keep progress moving in her team, she is performing the role of a(n)
A) orienter.
B) energizer.
C) compromiser.
D) initiator-contributor.
E) procedural technician.

Accepted Answer

Team task roles refer to behaviors that directly facilitate the accomplishment of team tasks. A procedural technician performs routine tasks needed to keep progress moving.

Question 14

According to the value in diversity problem-solving approach
A) diversity in teams is beneficial because it provides for a larger pool of knowledge from which a team can draw as it carries out its work.
B) diversity in teams is not beneficial if the problems to be solved are unfamiliar to the team members.
C) surface-level diversity is less likely to lead to team cohesion than deep-level diversity is.
D) deep-level diversity in teams is less likely to lead to productive outcomes than surface-level diversity is.
E) diversity in teams is beneficial because it allows the individual team members to accept differences between people and work together.

Accepted Answer

The value in diversity problem-solving approach suggests that diversity is beneficial because it encourages exchange of information and learning.

Question 15

"Diversity on attributes such as cultural background, race, and attitudes is associated with communication problems and ultimately poor team effectiveness." This statement represents the theory of the ________ approach to diversity in teams.
A) cooperative diversity
B) similarity-attraction
C) surface-level
D) diversity combining
E) value in diversity problem-solving

Accepted Answer

Similarity-attraction approach says that diversity is detrimental because people tend to be more attracted to others who are perceived as more similar and avoid interacting with those who are perceived to be dissimilar. This results in communication problems and poor team effectiveness.

Question 16

Which of the following examples most accurately describes a situation where task interdependence improves team performance?
A) Jess's team completes very simple tasks.
B) Marty's team members work alone unless the boss checks in on them.
C) Cameron's team is required to share reports about how they did simple tasks.
D) Agnes's team works closely together to develop complex computer control modules.
E) Norb's team is comprised of two distinct groups of friends with similar interests.

Accepted Answer

The relationship between task interdependence and team performance is moderately positive. That is, task performance tends to be higher in teams in which members depend on one another and have to coordinate their activities rather than when members work more or less independently. Additionally, the relationship tends to be significantly stronger in teams that are responsible for completing complex knowledge work rather than simple tasks. When work is more complex, interdependence is necessary because there's a need for members to interact and share resources and information. When work is simple, sharing information and resources is less necessary because members can do the work by themselves.

Question 17

Trent loves working on the new engineering team. Everyone is so friendly, and there is never any bitterness or conflict. Trent is sure they will come up with the most innovative designs ever. Is Trent right?
A) Maybe, but only as long as there are a majority of narcissists participating on the team.
B) Yes, but only if all the team members also demonstrate rather high levels of neuroticism.
C) No. Teams must have dissenters, questioners, and confrontational individuals in order to succeed.
D) Yes. The absolute best makeup for a team is to have all members demonstrate high levels of agreeableness.
E) Maybe, but the team members may be so focused on creating harmony, they may endanger task accomplishment.

Accepted Answer

It may seem nice to have all members demonstrate high levels of agreeableness. However, because agreeable people tend to prefer harmony and cooperation rather than conflict and competition, they may be less apt to speak up and offer constructive criticisms that might help the team improve. They may act in ways that enhance harmony at the expense of task accomplishment.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about team and individualistic roles is True?
A) An aggressor manipulates team members for personal control.
B) A standard-setter expresses goals for the team to achieve.
C) A gatekeeper offers challenges to the team's status quo.
D) A slacker brags and calls attention to him- or herself.
E) A dominator is one who encourages participation from teammates.

Accepted Answer

A standard-setter, a team-building role, expresses goals for the team to achieve.

Question 19

In tasks with an objectively verifiable best solution, the member who possesses the highest level of the ability relevant to the task will have the most influence on the effectiveness of the team. These types of tasks are ________ tasks.
A) additive
B) conjunctive
C) subjunctive
D) disjunctive
E) indicative

Accepted Answer

In tasks with an objectively verifiable best solution, the member who possesses the highest level of the ability relevant to the task will have the most influence on the effectiveness of the team. These types of tasks are called disjunctive tasks.

Question 20

Brenda wants to create teams in her office that perform well and have members who are dedicated to their team. What can she do to try to make performance and commitment as high as possible within her teams?
A) simplify the types of tasks that team members must complete
B) increase opportunities for team members to work independently
C) increase the complexity of the tasks team members must complete
D) require team members to share all information even if it seems unnecessary
E) eliminate concrete guidelines for task completion and procedures within the team

Accepted Answer

Team viability, also called team commitment, refers to the likelihood that the team can work together effectively into the future. If the team experience is not satisfying and the members do not feel a bond with one another or with the team itself, members may become disillusioned and focus their energy on activities away from the team. Of course, it's difficult to summarize the relationship between team characteristics and team performance and commitment when there are so many characteristics that can be used to describe teams. But, it turns out that the relationship between task interdependence and team performance is moderately positive. That is, task performance tends to be higher in teams in which members depend on one another and have to coordinate their activities rather than when members work more or less independently.

Quiz 11: Teams: Characteristics and Diversity

Elizabeth is on the same team as Reece, but she never interacts with him because she knows they are on opposite sides of the political ideological spectrum. As a result, their team generates few ideas to help the company. This is an example of

________ diversity refers to diversity regarding observable attributes such as race, ethnicity, sex, and age.

________ tasks depend on the abilities of the "weakest link."

Which of the following observations about member conscientiousness is True?

Milo has assembled a diverse team of leaders to carry out major initiatives within his company. Milo has quickly noticed that the wide variety of viewpoints shared by team members has made it hard for the team to reach any goals. How can Milo address this problem?

________ diversity refers to diversity with respect to attributes that are less easy to observe initially but that can be inferred after more direct experience.

Layla participated in a problem-solving quiz competition among teams. Because Layla was the most familiar with the types of problems on her quiz, her team's performance depended largely on Layla's performance. What is the type of task represented by the quiz competition?

Deep-level diversity has positive effects on team creativity when

Halle is on a team that has just been formed. There are people of a wide variety of ages and ethnicities, and there is an even blend of men and women. Halle's team demonstrates

Tasks for which the contributions resulting from the abilities of every member are considered in total to determine team performance are ________ tasks.

Which of the following is an example of a team task role rather than an individualistic role?

When Mia performs routine tasks needed to keep progress moving in her team, she is performing the role of a(n)

According to the value in diversity problem-solving approach

"Diversity on attributes such as cultural background, race, and attitudes is associated with communication problems and ultimately poor team effectiveness." This statement represents the theory of the ________ approach to diversity in teams.

Which of the following examples most accurately describes a situation where task interdependence improves team performance?

Trent loves working on the new engineering team. Everyone is so friendly, and there is never any bitterness or conflict. Trent is sure they will come up with the most innovative designs ever. Is Trent right?

Which of the following statements about team and individualistic roles is True?

In tasks with an objectively verifiable best solution, the member who possesses the highest level of the ability relevant to the task will have the most influence on the effectiveness of the team. These types of tasks are ________ tasks.

Brenda wants to create teams in her office that perform well and have members who are dedicated to their team. What can she do to try to make performance and commitment as high as possible within her teams?