Question 1

A member of your team has suddenly complained, during a meeting, that no one is adequately listening to her insights.As team leader, you feel a responsibility to respond; you ask, "Are you saying that the team is making decisions too quickly, without enough discussion?" Which of the following conflict resolution strategies have you used?
A)Paraphrasing
B)Checking for feelings
C)Checking for inferences
D)Including you-attitude

Accepted Answer

C

Question 2

According to a Microsoft survey, which of the following tops the list of meeting time-wasters?
A)Long agendas
B)Omnibus motions
C)Diverse teams
D)Unclear objectives

Accepted Answer

According to the Microsoft survey, unclear objectives are the top time-waster in meetings with 64% of respondents citing it as an issue. Long agendas (52%) and omnibus motions (41%) were also mentioned as meeting time-wasters, but not as commonly as unclear objectives. Diverse teams were not mentioned as a top time-waster in the given options.

Question 3

You are in charge of running a meeting of 40 people for which you have 15 items on the agenda for a 2 hour time period.What can you do to help ensure that you finish on time?
A)Dispense with minutes.
B)Stifle dissent if possible.
C)Use an omnibus motion if possible.
D)Try to cover some of the items only implicitly.

Accepted Answer

Using an omnibus motion would allow for multiple items to be voted on as a package, saving time and ensuring that all items are addressed. It is important to cover all agenda items, but the omnibus motion allows for efficiency while doing so.

Question 4

Which of the following people would MOST likely be considered a leader by the members of a team?
A)A person who nods pleasantly throughout the meeting when anyone makes a comment B) A person who is confident that he/she has all the best ideas, and expresses that confidence to other team members
B)A person who is always willing to run the team by giving orders, making demands, and doing all the talking
C)A person who talks a lot, listens effectively, and responds non-verbally to others in the group

Accepted Answer

The person who talks a lot, listens effectively, and responds non-verbally to others in the group is demonstrating qualities of effective leadership, such as communication skills, active listening, and the ability to engage with others. This person is more likely to be considered a leader by the members of the team because they are able to communicate effectively and build trust and rapport with others. The other options involve less effective leadership styles, such as being overly confident or domineering.

Question 5

Ibrahim has complained to you privately about the other members of the team that you're both on: "No one seems to understand what a deadline is!" You respond, "You sound really anxious." Which conflict resolution strategy have you used?
A)Paraphrasing
B)Checking for feelings
C)Checking for inferences
D)Including you-attitude

Accepted Answer

The speaker has used the conflict resolution strategy of checking for feelings by identifying that Ibrahim sounds anxious. This allows them to address the emotional component of Ibrahim's complaint and potentially soothe some of his stress around the team's work.

Question 6

Which of the following is a significant danger of groupthink?
A)Too many alternatives will emerge, making it impossible to come to a consensus.
B)A full range of alternatives never emerges, resulting in a poor decision.
C)Each person will believe that he or she is right, making it impossible to agree.
D)The group will take longer to reach a decision than is necessary.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink can limit the range of alternatives considered by a group, which can result in a poor decision. This happens because group members may fall prey to a shared illusion of invulnerability or an inherent belief in the group's morality, which can be detrimental to critical thinking and analysis.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a blocking response?
A)Interrogating
B)Asking for information or clarification
C)Advising
D)Minimizing the problem

Accepted Answer

Asking for information or clarification is a form of engaging in the conversation and shows an interest in understanding the other person's perspective, rather than blocking communication.

Question 8

Sarah's team is in the second week of information-sharing meetings.Which stage of team formation is her team likely in?
A)Orientation
B)Formation
C)Coordination
D)Formalization

Accepted Answer

In the second week of information-sharing meetings, Sarah's team is likely in the Coordination stage, where team members start to share information and collaborate more effectively.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of successful student teams?
A)Subgroups make decisions
B)The leader sets clear deadlines
C)The team can explain its goal
D)The team addresses conflict directly

Accepted Answer

Subgroups making decisions is not a characteristic of successful student teams. Successful teams tend to work collaboratively, with all members contributing ideas and making decisions together. Building subgroups within a team can lead to division and conflicting goals, which can ultimately hinder success. The other options listed (clear deadlines, explaining goals, addressing conflict) are all important characteristics of successful student teams.

Question 10

Moshe's team has just discovered that, after several months' work, they all agree on the solution to the problem.Which stage of team formation is his team likely in?
A)Orientation
B)Formation
C)Coordination
D)Formalization

Accepted Answer

The Formalization stage is when the team has reached a consensus and agreement on solutions, indicating they have moved past initial stages of forming and norming.

Question 11

When someone complains about a problem, is it a good idea to quickly suggest a solution?
A)Yes, because a quick suggestion shows you think quickly.
B)Yes, because offering a solution shows that you care about the other person.
C)No, because the other person needs his/her feelings acknowledged before discussing a solution.
D)No, because the other person wants action, not words.

Accepted Answer

It is important to acknowledge the other person's feelings before diving into a solution. This shows empathy and understanding, which can help the other person feel heard and validated. Rushing to offer a solution without acknowledging their feelings may feel dismissive and may not address the root of the problem.

Question 12

Your subordinates tell you that a project will not be completed on time because they are behind schedule.Which of the following is the best response?
A)"You should have told me sooner."
B)"What's wrong with you people? Don't you know what a deadline is?"
C)"If it isn't on my desk by Friday, I'll fire every one of you."
D)"Could you finish it if you had some more help?"

Accepted Answer

Option D shows concern for the situation and offers a solution, rather than blaming or threatening the subordinates. It also shows a willingness to provide additional resources to ensure the project is completed successfully.

Question 13

Yixin's team has just chosen her as its leader.Which stage of team formation is her team likely in?
A)Orientation
B)Formation
C)Coordination
D)Formalization

Accepted Answer

Yixin's team is likely in the formation stage, as they have just chosen a leader and are in the early stages of developing their roles, responsibilities, and goals.

Question 14

You are in a student team composed of seven members that is working on a term project.The team has fractured into two groups, both of which seem to have very different goals.Which of the following strategies is the best way to handle this situation?
A)Delegate each decision to one of the two groups, alternating which one is chosen, so that both groups have control over some aspects of the project.
B)Allow the more energetic and committed group to direct the project.
C)Keep trying to actively engage each team member.
D)Suppress the conflict, and try to move forward together.

Accepted Answer

Strategy C is the best way to handle this situation. It is important to actively engage each team member and try to find out the root cause of the conflict. It is possible that both groups have different perspectives and goals because of a lack of communication or understanding. Therefore, instead of delegating decisions to one group or suppressing the conflict, it is important to bring everyone together, facilitate communication, and try to reach a consensus that is acceptable to all team members. This approach will not only help resolve the current conflict but also promote collaboration and teamwork in the future.

Question 15

Which of the following options is NOT a factor that you should consider when you plan a meeting?
A)Whether some participants will need to connect remotely
B)Deadlines that may reduce scheduling options
C)How well participants know each other
D)Whether the participants are suitably homogeneous

Accepted Answer

Factors such as whether participants need to connect remotely, deadlines affecting scheduling, and the familiarity among participants are practical considerations for planning a meeting. However, aiming for homogeneity among participants is not typically a priority; diversity in viewpoints and expertise can enrich discussions and outcomes.

Question 16

A subordinate comes to you because he is upset with treatment he receives from co-workers.Which of the following would be a good first response?
A)Tell him to solve his own problems.
B)Tell him that there are far more important things to worry about.
C)Give him some advice on how to handle the situation.
D)Acknowledge his feelings.

Accepted Answer

It is important to acknowledge his feelings as a first response to show that you are listening and empathetic towards his situation. This will help establish trust and make it easier for the subordinate to open up and discuss the issue. Simply telling him to solve his own problems or belittling his concerns will not help resolve the issue and may cause further frustration. Giving advice can be helpful, but it should come after acknowledging his feelings and understanding the situation fully.

Question 17

Which of the following revisions of "You give me too much work to do" BEST conveys you-attitude?
A)"You've got to cut down on my work load."
B)"Why can't you just lighten up a little? You're always on my back."
C)"If you could just see the amount of work on my desk, you wouldn't be asking me to do this extra project."
D)"I feel really over-loaded.I need someone to help me on this project."

Accepted Answer

This choice uses "I" language and clearly communicates the speaker's feelings and needs without blaming the other person. It also implies a solution to the problem, asking for help on the project.

Question 18

You are in a group that feels very cohesive, so cohesive that it seems to agree readily at every step of a project without any lengthy discussion or conflict.Sometimes you don't agree with decisions, but you don't say anything because you don't want to destroy the group's harmony.Which of the following is the most probable situation?
A)One person in the group has such good ideas that no one can disagree with that person.
B)No one in the group can think of any really good reasons NOT to adopt the ready-made decision.
C)Members of the group value agreement so much that dissenters feel incapable of speaking out.
D)The decisions made are bad, but no one really cares.

Accepted Answer

The group's high level of cohesiveness and focus on agreement suggests that dissenting opinions may not be welcomed or may be seen as unwelcome disruption. Members may feel pressure to conform to avoid disrupting the harmony of the group. The lack of conflict may not necessarily mean that the decisions made are good or that one person has overwhelming influence.

Question 19

Which of the following options is NOT good advice for teams that need to collaboratively write?
A)If a discussion went well, assume that a draft written by one person will suffice for that stage of the writing process.
B)Take time to get to know each other and build loyalty before starting to write.
C)Attend all meetings.
D)Give the team lots of time to discuss problems, in addition to the time devoted to writing tasks.

Accepted Answer

Assuming that a draft written by one person will suffice after a successful discussion is not good advice for collaborative writing, as it neglects the contributions and perspectives of other team members. Collaborative writing involves input from all team members, so a draft written by only one person would not be comprehensive.

Question 20

Which of the following strategies is likely to lead to a successful collaborative writing project?
A)Assume that everyone has a common understanding of the problem.
B)Determine organization, format, and style options while team members are writing, so that these conventions evolve organically.
C)Consider the team members' work styles and other commitments.
D)Determine tight deadlines, in order to keep everyone on task.

Accepted Answer

Considering the team members' work styles and other commitments is likely to lead to a successful collaborative writing project because it takes into account the individual needs and schedules of team members, which can increase their motivation and productivity. Assuming a common understanding without checking for it can lead to miscommunication and errors, while determining organization, format, and style options as the team writes can lead to inconsistent and inefficient work. Setting tight deadlines can also increase stress and reduce the quality of the work.

Quiz 6: Working and Writing in Teams

According to a Microsoft survey, which of the following tops the list of meeting time-wasters?

You are in charge of running a meeting of 40 people for which you have 15 items on the agenda for a 2 hour time period.What can you do to help ensure that you finish on time?

Which of the following people would MOST likely be considered a leader by the members of a team?

Ibrahim has complained to you privately about the other members of the team that you're both on: "No one seems to understand what a deadline is!" You respond, "You sound really anxious." Which conflict resolution strategy have you used?

Which of the following is a significant danger of groupthink?

Which of the following is NOT a blocking response?

Sarah's team is in the second week of information-sharing meetings.Which stage of team formation is her team likely in?

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of successful student teams?

Moshe's team has just discovered that, after several months' work, they all agree on the solution to the problem.Which stage of team formation is his team likely in?

When someone complains about a problem, is it a good idea to quickly suggest a solution?

Your subordinates tell you that a project will not be completed on time because they are behind schedule.Which of the following is the best response?

Yixin's team has just chosen her as its leader.Which stage of team formation is her team likely in?

You are in a student team composed of seven members that is working on a term project.The team has fractured into two groups, both of which seem to have very different goals.Which of the following strategies is the best way to handle this situation?

Which of the following options is NOT a factor that you should consider when you plan a meeting?

A subordinate comes to you because he is upset with treatment he receives from co-workers.Which of the following would be a good first response?

Which of the following revisions of "You give me too much work to do" BEST conveys you-attitude?

Which of the following options is NOT good advice for teams that need to collaboratively write?

Which of the following strategies is likely to lead to a successful collaborative writing project?