Question 1

The ability of a team to perform well across a range of tasks is known as ____________.

Accepted Answer

Collective intelligence refers to the ability of a team to work together and combine their individual knowledge and skills to perform well across a range of tasks, making it the most fitting option. Team building is a process of improving communication and relationships within a team, which can contribute to collective intelligence but is not sufficient to fully describe it. Proxemics is the study of how people use and communicate with space, and is not directly related to the performance of a team. Nominal group technique is a structured method for generating and prioritizing ideas, but is not relevant to the ability of a team to perform well across a range of tasks. Distributed leadership refers to shared leadership responsibilities within a team, which can contribute to collective intelligence but is not sufficient to fully describe it.

Question 2

All of the following statements about maintenance activities are true EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Maintenance activities are focused on the social and interpersonal aspects of group dynamics, such as encouraging participation, setting a positive tone, and resolving conflicts, rather than initiating discussion or sharing information, which are more related to task-oriented activities.

Question 3

Edgar Schein identified three common behavior profiles that may hinder group operations when people try to cope with individual entry problems in self-serving ways. These three profiles are __________.

Accepted Answer

The three profiles identified by Schein are tough battler (aggressive), friendly helper (passive), and objective thinker (regressive). The other choices do not align with Schein's profiles.

Question 4

To improve team processes, both team leaders and members must be prepared to deal with all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

While team leaders and members can work together to improve team processes in many ways, handling reward and punishment distribution issues is not typically a key aspect of this process. Instead, team processes often focus on improving communication, decision-making, goal setting, and reducing conflicts.

Question 5

Which approach to team building places group members in a variety of physically challenging situations that must be mastered through teamwork, not individual work?

Accepted Answer

The outdoor experience approach to team building involves putting group members in physically challenging situations that require teamwork to overcome. This approach can help build trust, communication, and cooperation among team members in a unique and engaging way. The other options do not necessarily involve physical challenges or teamwork as the primary focus.

Question 6

In coping with the challenge of entering a team, __________ are individuals who act in a passive, reflective, and even single-minded manner while struggling with the fit between individual goals and group directions.

Accepted Answer

Objective thinkers are individuals who tend to be passive and reflective, often focusing on their own thoughts and analysis, which can make them appear single-minded as they try to reconcile their personal goals with the group's objectives.

Question 7

Which of the following is a sequence of planned activities designed to gather and analyze data on the functioning of a team and to initiate changes designed to improve teamwork and increase team effectiveness?

Accepted Answer

Team building is the process of planning activities that help team members to work together more effectively. It involves identifying potential issues within the team, gathering and analyzing data on the team's performance, and initiating changes designed to improve teamwork and increase team effectiveness. Proxemics refers to the study of how people use space and distance to communicate. Nominal group technique is a method for generating and evaluating ideas within a group. Collective intelligence refers to the ability of a group to solve problems and make decisions. Distributed leadership refers to a leadership model in which leadership responsibilities are shared among team members.

Question 8

With regards to the sequence of steps in the team-building process which of the following is correct?

Accepted Answer

E) Problems or opportunity in team effectiveness; data gathering and analysis; planning for team improvements; actions to improve team functioning; and evaluation of results. This sequence correctly reflects a comprehensive approach to team building, starting from identifying issues or opportunities, through planning and action, to evaluation.

Question 9

In an __________ approach to team building, the manager, team leader, or group members themselves take responsibility for regularly engaging in the team-building process.

Accepted Answer

In a continuous improvement approach to team building, the team engages in ongoing efforts to improve team cohesion, communication, and collaboration. This approach involves regular team meetings, performance evaluations, and feedback sessions to foster ongoing growth and development of the team.

Question 10

A team member contributes __________ leadership by encouraging the participation of others, trying to harmonize differences of opinion, praising the contributions of others, and agreeing to go along with a popular course of action.

Accepted Answer

The described leadership style focuses on maintaining a positive social climate within the team, which is an example of maintenance leadership. The other options do not match the mentioned behavior.

Question 11

____________ is not one of the problems that new group members face.

Accepted Answer

Lack of originality is not typically viewed as a common problem for new group members. The other options (participation, goals, control, and process) are all frequently cited as challenges that new group members may encounter.

Question 12

Which approach to team building offers opportunities for intense and concentrated effort to examine group accomplishments and operations?

Accepted Answer

The formal retreat approach allows for a structured and dedicated time for team members to assess their accomplishments and operations. It provides an opportunity for concentrated effort and reflection on how the team can improve and move forward. The other options do not necessarily provide this level of focus and intensity.

Question 13

In which approach does team building takes place during off-site meetings?

Accepted Answer

Off-site meetings that involve team building activities typically follow the formal retreat approach. This approach involves scheduling activities outside of the regular work environment in a planned and structured format to focus on team building, communication, and problem-solving.

Question 14

Which of the following directly contributes to the performance of important group tasks?

Accepted Answer

Task activities directly contribute to the performance of important group tasks by focusing on the task at hand and working towards achieving the shared goals of the group. Assignment mandates, directive activities, responsibility activities, and maintenance activities all indirectly support the group's performance by facilitating communication, motivation, accountability, and cohesion among group members.

Question 15

___________ is the third step in the team building process?

Accepted Answer

The answer of ___________ is the third step in the...

Question 16

The sharing of responsibility for meeting group task and maintenance needs is known as:

Accepted Answer

The sharing of responsibility for meeting group task and maintenance needs is an example of distributed leadership, where leadership is not restricted to a single individual but is dispersed among group members. This type of leadership allows for increased collaboration and accountability among team members, leading to more effective group outcomes.

Question 17

Which of the following statements regarding characteristics of high-performance teams is false?

Accepted Answer

High-performance teams have members who focus on collective effort and excellence rather than individual effort and excellence. Collaboration and teamwork are essential for the success of high-performance teams.

Question 18

Researchers point out that collective intelligence is _________ in teams whose processes result in social sensitivity and absence of domination by one or a few members.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that teams with processes that prioritize social sensitivity and equality among members tend to have higher collective intelligence.

Question 19

Which of these is NOT appropriate in creating a high-performing team?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring that new information is kept to a minimum to avoid information overload may actually hinder a team's performance by preventing members from staying up-to-date with important changes or updates. It is usually more appropriate to provide the necessary information and teach team members how to manage it effectively.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about improving team processes is NOT accurate?

Accepted Answer

Effective teams still require ongoing efforts to continuously improve and maintain team processes. Team-building is just one step towards improving team performance and should not be seen as a one-time fix.

Quiz 8: Teamwork and Performance