Question 1

When one or more individuals in the group decide to withhold effort in the belief that others are planning to withhold effort,the result is called the bad apple effect.

Accepted Answer

The scenario described is known as social loafing, not the bad apple effect. The bad apple effect refers to the impact that a single, underperforming or negative member can have on the overall performance or morale of a team.

Question 2

A free rider effect is when a team member obtains the benefits of membership but does not bear a proportional share of the responsibility for generating the benefit.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of a free rider effect.

Question 3

The characteristics of groupthink include illusion of invulnerability,direct pressure,self-censorship,illusion of unanimity.

Accepted Answer

These are indeed the characteristics of groupthink.

Question 4

The sucker effect refers to negative team or group members who withhold effort,express negative feelings and attitudes,and violate important team norms and behaviors.

Accepted Answer

The sucker effect refers to the phenomenon where individuals reduce their effort and contribution to a group task to avoid feeling like they are being taken advantage of by others who are not working as hard.

Question 5

Cohesiveness is an agreement-at-any-cost mentality that results in ineffective team decision making and poor decisions.

Accepted Answer

Cohesiveness can lead to a lack of critical thinking and constructive conflict, which can result in poor decisions being made in order to maintain agreement within the team.

Question 6

When group members make statements such as "No one can stop us now" or "The other team has a bunch of jerks," it's likely that members are suffering from the groupthink characteristic of illusion of popularity.

Accepted Answer

These statements are indicative of the groupthink characteristic known as "illusion of invulnerability" and "out-group stereotypes," not "illusion of popularity." Illusion of invulnerability leads members to be overly optimistic and take excessive risks, while out-group stereotypes involve negative views of those not in the group.

Question 7

A bad apple is a team member who obtains the benefits of membership but does not bear a proportional share of the responsibility for generating the benefit.

Accepted Answer

A bad apple typically refers to a team member whose negative behavior or attitude adversely affects the entire group's performance or morale, not specifically to someone who benefits without sharing responsibility.

Question 8

When group members make it clear that strong arguments against any of the team's illusions,stereotypes,or commitments is contrary to what is expected of all loyal members,it's likely that members are suffering from the groupthink characteristic of direct pressure.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is characterized by direct pressure on members to conform to the group's opinions, so if strong arguments against certain beliefs or stereotypes are met with resistance and pressure to conform, it is likely a sign of groupthink.

Question 9

The characteristics of groupthink include illusion of popularity,indirect pressure,self-promotion,illusion of unanimity.

Accepted Answer

The characteristics of groupthink include illusion of invulnerability, direct pressure on dissenters, self-censorship, and illusion of unanimity, not illusion of popularity or self-promotion.

Question 10

High cohesiveness always leads to higher productivity in teams.

Accepted Answer

High cohesiveness in teams can lead to higher productivity if the team's goals are aligned with organizational goals. However, if the team becomes too insular, it can resist outside ideas and feedback, potentially leading to groupthink and a decrease in productivity.

Question 11

When an individual in a group decides to withhold effort in the belief that others are planning to withhold effort as well it is called the sucker effect.

Accepted Answer

The sucker effect, also known as the free-rider problem, refers to when an individual in a group decides to withhold effort in the belief that others will work harder, thus taking advantage of their efforts.

Question 12

Low cohesiveness is typically accompanied by low conformity in a team.

Accepted Answer

Low cohesiveness means that team members are not strongly connected and united. This often leads to low conformity, as team members may not feel compelled to follow group norms or conform to the opinions of others.

Question 13

A group member suffering from the groupthink characteristic of direct pressure might think: "If everyone feels that way,my feelings must be wrong."

Accepted Answer

Direct pressure in groupthink involves applying pressure on dissenters to conform, not self-doubt about one's feelings.

Question 14

Groupthink is an agreement-at-any-cost mentality that results in ineffective team decision making and poor decisions.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon where a group of people prioritize harmony and conformity over critical thinking, often resulting in poor decision making. This can cause members to ignore alternative solutions or dissenting opinions in order to maintain group cohesion, ultimately leading to ineffective outcomes.

Question 15

Groupthink is the strength of the members' desire to remain in a team and their commitment to it.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink refers to the phenomenon where the desire for harmony or conformity in a group leads to an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome, with members trying to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints.

Question 16

In a team suffering from the team dysfunction "accountability for results," team members might hesitate to ask for help,provide constructive feedback,or provide help outside their own areas of responsibility.

Accepted Answer

The dysfunction described is more closely related to "avoidance of accountability" or "lack of commitment." "Accountability for results" specifically refers to team members not holding one another accountable for performance and outcomes, rather than hesitating to ask for or provide help.

Question 17

When team members do not commit to a clear set of goals and plan of action,the team could be suffering from the team dysfunction avoidance of accountability for results.

Accepted Answer

When team members avoid committing to a clear set of goals and plan of action, they are not being accountable for results, which is a dysfunction that can harm the team's effectiveness.

Question 18

Personal acceptance conformity is much stronger than compliance conformity.

Accepted Answer

Personal acceptance conformity refers to conforming to norms or behaviors because we internalize and believe in them, while compliance conformity refers to simply conforming to norms or behaviors because of external pressure or fear of punishment. Studies have shown that personal acceptance conformity is stronger and longer-lasting than compliance conformity.

Question 19

In a team suffering from the team dysfunction "absence of trust," team members might hesitate to ask for help,provide constructive feedback,or provide help outside their own areas of responsibility.

Accepted Answer

In an absence of trust, team members are likely to be guarded and hesitant to take risks, which can result in a lack of open communication and a reluctance to share ideas or ask for help. This can lead to a breakdown in collaboration and a failure to achieve common goals. Therefore, it is true that team members in such an environment might hesitate to ask for help, provide constructive feedback, or provide help outside their own areas of responsibility.

Quiz 12: Developing and Leading Teams: Part A