Question 1

Spectrum Inc. received a large order from an important customer. Spectrum would not be able to meet the shipping date under its current organization in operations. The operations manager organized a special team of workers she knew who worked well together. The order was completed and shipped on time. What was the key benefit that resulted from creating the team?

Accepted Answer

Creating a special team of workers allowed the operations manager to increase speed and efficiency in the product development process, enabling Spectrum Inc. to meet the shipping date for the large order from the important customer.

Question 2

Which statement describes an advantage that teams have over individuals in the decision-making process?

Accepted Answer

Teams have the advantage of generating more commitment to the decisions made because members are involved in the decision-making process and feel ownership over the outcome, which increases the likelihood of successful implementation.

Question 3

A manufacturing company of computer chips forecasts growth over the next 18 months. To prepare for its human resource needs,it has undertaken a program for employees to learn the duties of all other functions in their department that are at their same level. What is this organization engaging in?

Accepted Answer

The organization is engaging in cross-training, which involves training employees to perform duties outside of their regular job function. This helps to prepare employees for potential growth and changes within the organization.

Question 4

What is the key to rewarding team behaviours and efforts?

Accepted Answer

Rewarding team performance rather than individual performance promotes cooperation and collaboration within the team, encourages a sense of ownership and pride in the team's achievements, and discourages competition between team members. It also reinforces the idea that success is a result of collective effort, rather than individual glory.

Question 5

Why can teamwork be more satisfying than traditional work?

Accepted Answer

Teamwork gives workers unique leadership responsibilities, which enables them to build individual leadership skills. This aspect of teamwork can be more satisfying than traditional work, as individuals have the opportunity to grow and develop their skills in a way that traditional work may not allow for.

Question 6

Joanne found that when her team was smaller with just five members,everyone completed a lot of work. Now that the team is made up of over 20 employees,the effort of each individual is not as high. What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

Social loafing is the tendency for people to exert less effort when working in a group compared to when working alone. This can occur when individuals feel that their contribution is less significant in a larger group or when they believe others will do the work for them. In the given scenario, the decrease in individual effort when the team size increased is consistent with social loafing. Groupthink refers to a phenomenon where a group's desire for consensus and agreement overrides critical thinking and independent decision-making. Cross-training involves teaching individuals in a team new skills related to other team members’ roles. Self-management refers to the ability of individuals to regulate their own behavior and work independently without the need for constant supervision.

Question 7

A local hospital ran into a funding problem when it tried to build a new state-of-the-art pediatric unit. It then asked a group of physicians,hospital volunteers,and administrative staff to develop and implement a plan to raise the necessary money. What is the term for this group of people with complementary skills?

Accepted Answer

A work team is a group of individuals who have different skills and expertise and work together towards a common goal. In this case, the group of physicians, hospital volunteers, and administrative staff were brought together to raise money for the pediatric unit, which is a common goal. They may have complimentary skills that make them effective in achieving their goal, but they are not a functional department as they do not have a permanent role within the hospital. Additionally, they are not an autonomous unit as they are working within the framework of the hospital's goals and objectives. A semistructured team is a type of work team that has some formal structure but allows for flexibility and creativity in achieving its goals.

Question 8

How do work teams enhance speed and efficiency when designing and manufacturing new products?

Accepted Answer

Work teams can enhance speed and efficiency by allowing overlapping development phases. This means that while one phase is underway, another team can start working on the next phase, which can help to speed up the process. In contrast, traditional sequential development phases may require more time as each phase must be completed before the next one can begin. Additionally, overlapping development phases can encourage collaboration and communication across departments, which can lead to better decision-making and problem-solving.

Question 9

Stephen is the company owner's son and thinks he can get away with not doing the work he is responsible for. Other team members constantly cover for Stephen and complete the work for him. What does Stephen's behaviour exemplify?

Accepted Answer

Stephen's behaviour exemplifies social loafing, which is the phenomenon where individuals in a group exert less effort than they would if they were working alone because they believe their individual contribution will not affect the group outcome. In this case, Stephen believes he can get away with not doing his work because others will cover for him, leading to other team members picking up the slack and completing Stephen's work, which is a classic example of social loafing.

Question 10

What happens when teams are used properly and in the right settings?

Accepted Answer

When teams are used properly and in the right settings, they increase customer satisfaction and service quality. This is because teams can collaborate and work together to solve problems, improve processes, and ultimately meet customer needs more effectively.

Question 11

When are teams typically required?

Accepted Answer

Teams are typically required when tasks require multiple perspectives, as teamwork allows for collaboration and the pooling of diverse skills and ideas. Tasks that are complex or require a variety of expertise are best suited for team-based approaches.

Question 12

Kevin is learning the functions for artwork,which is handled by Jenny,film,which is handled by Mark,and printing,which is handled by David,so that he can complete any job that comes to the department. What is Kevin engaged in?

Accepted Answer

Kevin is engaging in cross-training, as he is learning multiple functions in the department to be able to complete any job that comes to the department.

Question 13

Which of the following is a disadvantage associated with the use of work teams?

Accepted Answer

Social loafing is a disadvantage associated with the use of work teams. It refers to the tendency of some team members to exert less effort when working together than they would when working alone. This can reduce overall team productivity and effectiveness. Storming behaviour and group negation are challenges that may arise during the formation and development of a team, but not necessarily disadvantages associated with the use of work teams. Outsourcing is not directly related to the use of work teams.

Question 14

Which of the following is a potential disadvantage associated with the use of work teams?

Accepted Answer

Work teams can initially lead to high employee turnover as individuals adjust to new roles, responsibilities, and dynamics within the team structure.

Question 15

A furniture manufacturer has a problem in its cutting department. Rather than trying to solve the problem herself,the production manager employs a work team to review the entire cutting process. The work team is able to develop several creative ideas,select the best idea,and then implement it to resolve the problem. Which factor likely led to this solution?

Accepted Answer

By bringing together a work team with diverse perspectives, the cutting process problem could be examined from multiple angles. This allowed for the exploration of creative and innovative solutions. Additionally, removing the manager from the problem-solving process likely eliminated any potential biases or preconceived notions that could have been hindering progress.

Question 16

According to the text,what is the term for a small number of people with complementary skills who hold themselves mutually accountable for pursuing a common purpose,achieving performance goals,and improving interdependent activities?

Accepted Answer

The term described in the text is "work team". A work team is a small group of people with complementary skills who hold themselves mutually accountable for pursuing a common purpose, achieving performance goals, and improving interdependent activities.

Question 17

E-Lab (the "E" stands for experience)has project teams perform field research for its clients. These project teams are composed of students of theology,actors,and musicians as well as the more traditional marketing experts and statisticians. Each member of the group is trained to conduct observational research,interview clients,and understand the marketing impact of what he or she learns. What does E-Lab use to make its project teams more efficient?

Accepted Answer

E-Lab uses cross-training to make its project teams more efficient. By training each member of the group to conduct observational research, interview clients, and understand the marketing impact of what they learn, the team is better equipped to handle a variety of tasks and work together effectively. The diverse backgrounds of the team members also contribute to a more well-rounded approach to problem-solving.

Question 18

Which statement describes a circumstance under which teams should be used?

Accepted Answer

Teams are most effective when there are ample resources available to support their efforts. This ensures that the team can function efficiently and achieve its goals without being hindered by a lack of necessary tools, information, or materials.

Question 19

What have many leading companies experienced as a result of making greater use of work teams?

Accepted Answer

Many leading companies have experienced greater customer satisfaction as a result of making greater use of work teams. When employees work together in teams, they can share their knowledge and skills, which can lead to better decision-making, improved problem-solving, and more innovative solutions. This, in turn, can lead to greater customer satisfaction, as teams are able to meet customer needs more effectively and efficiently.

Question 20

How are organizations using teams to help increase customer satisfaction?

Accepted Answer

By creating problem-solving teams to study ways to improve customer satisfaction and make recommendations, organizations can identify areas that need improvement and implement changes to meet customer needs and preferences. This approach helps organizations to be more responsive to customer needs and increase customer satisfaction.

Quiz 9: Leading Teams