Question 1

Define conformity. Explain the relationship that conformity has with deviant work behavior, groupthink, and groupshift.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define conformity. Explain the relationship that conformity...

Question 2

Several years ago you began a small retail store to sell computer parts. The store grew and the business expanded to offer computer repair and custom programming. You have noticed that people have definite expectations about what their appropriate roles within the expanding company should be.
-John is expected to help customers in the retail store as well as perform computer repair work. He feels that every time he gets started on a repair, he is interrupted and doesn't know whether to finish his repair or wait on the customer. John suffers from role ________.
A) conflict
B) expectations
C) perception
D) identity
E) duality

Accepted Answer

John is experiencing role conflict as he is struggling to balance his role as a computer repair technician and a customer service representative. He is interrupted frequently, which creates a conflict between the two roles.

Question 3

Apply the five stages of group development to the formation of the prison guard group in Zimbardo's prison experiment. Discuss how the role perceptions and role expectations would or would not be affected as the group moved from one stage to the next.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Apply the five stages of group development...

Question 4

You decide that your company's choice of which new product to manufacture needs to have widespread acceptance and that this decision needs to be of the highest quality possible. Having read the literature on decision making, you believe that this choice needs to be made by a group of your best managers.
-You have decided to use the electronic meeting technique. Which of the following is not true about this type of meeting?
A) Participants type their responses onto a computer screen.
B) You can expect participants to be honest.
C) Participants will be anonymous.
D) Group cohesiveness will be high.
E) It can be highly effective under certain conditions.

Accepted Answer

Group cohesiveness will not necessarily be high in an electronic meeting. Since participants are not physically present, they may not feel as connected to the group and may be less likely to engage in teambuilding activities.

Question 5

Joe is restructuring departments and is creating teams to increase the effectiveness of his departments. He recognizes that the size of groups impacts their overall behavior.

-Joe has learned in an OB course that ________.
A) small groups are good for developing ideas
B) large groups are better at taking action
C) social loafing is the tendency for individuals to expend less effort when working collectively
D) team spirit always spurs individual effort and enhances the group's overall productivity
E) groups composed of all men or all women are the most effective groups, in general

Accepted Answer

Social loafing is the tendency for individuals to expend less effort when working collectively.

Question 6

Several years ago you began a small retail store to sell computer parts. The store grew and the business expanded to offer computer repair and custom programming. You have noticed that people have definite expectations about what their appropriate roles within the expanding company should be.
-To clear up role confusion, you have decided that you must come to an unwritten agreement with each employee about your mutual expectations. You are developing a(n) ________.
A) role playing document
B) role expectation contract
C) psychological contract
D) employment contract
E) implicit role adherence schedule

Accepted Answer

A psychological contract is an unwritten agreement between an employer and employee about their mutual expectations. It includes the implicit expectations, beliefs, and assumptions that underlie the employment relationship. By formalizing these expectations, the employer can help to avoid role confusion and create a more positive work environment. A role playing document, role expectation contract, employment contract, and implicit role adherence schedule are not appropriate terms for this concept.

Question 7

Individual decisions are more time consuming than group decisions.

Accepted Answer

In general, individual decisions tend to be quicker since only one person is involved in the process. Group decisions often require discussion, debate, and consensus-building, which can take more time.

Question 8

The chief advantage of the nominal group technique is that it permits the group to meet formally but does not restrict independent thinking, as does the interacting group.

Accepted Answer

The nominal group technique allows for formal group meetings, but also allows for independent thinking. In contrast, the interacting group may limit independent thinking as members may feel pressured to conform to the opinions of others in the group.

Question 9

Joe is restructuring departments and is creating teams to increase the effectiveness of his departments. He recognizes that the size of groups impacts their overall behavior.

-Given what Joe knows about groups, what is a good size for a group that must take action?
A) 4
B) 7
C) 9
D) 12
E) over 12

Accepted Answer

According to research on group behavior, the ideal size for a group that must take action is around 7 members. This is because smaller groups can often lack diversity of ideas and skills, while larger groups can be less efficient and have difficulty making decisions. Furthermore, with a size of 7, each member has a chance to contribute and participate in discussions, which can increase overall engagement and satisfaction within the group.

Question 10

Your organization is considering the use of team decision making. You have read the literature on decision making and are trying to inform your manager about the advantages and disadvantages of group decision making.
-You should expect a weakness of group decision making to be ________.
A) less complete knowledge
B) more time will be used to make the decision
C) employees will be less accepting of the group decision
D) the decision will probably be a lower quality decision
E) decreased risky shift

Accepted Answer

Group decision making often takes more time because it involves discussions, debates, and reaching a consensus among all members.

Question 11

Astro Inc. is reorganizing and your new work group begins working together on Monday morning. Your college course in organizational behavior contained information about the stages of group development and your supervisor has asked your advice about the predictable stages of group development.
-You should tell your supervisor that in the first stage of group development, the team members will probably be ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Astro Inc. is reorganizing and your new...

Question 12

Your organization is considering the use of team decision making. You have read the literature on decision making and are trying to inform your manager about the advantages and disadvantages of group decision making.
-You should expect to find that ________.
A) group decision making will be faster
B) group discussions will be shared equally
C) there will be increased acceptance of the decision
D) group decision making will be very costly
E) groups will find reaching a decision to be less effortful than individuals

Accepted Answer

Group decision making often leads to increased acceptance of the decision because team members feel more involved and committed to the outcome.

Question 13

Explain why the psychological contract could be difficult to enforce when working with a high-status individual. Define the psychological contract. Explain status and what makes an individual high status. Provide a a workplace example of a high-status individual in conflict with the psychological contract.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why the psychological contract could be...

Question 14

Differentiate between formal and informal groups.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Differentiate between formal and informal groups....

Question 15

Astro Inc. is reorganizing and your new work group begins working together on Monday morning. Your college course in organizational behavior contained information about the stages of group development and your supervisor has asked your advice about the predictable stages of group development.
-You should predict that the most productive stage will be ________.
A) producing
B) increasing
C) maturity
D) performing
E) omitting

Accepted Answer

The most productive stage of group development is the performing stage where the group is focused on achieving its goals and working efficiently. The other options (producing, increasing, maturity, omitting) do not accurately describe a stage of group development.

Question 16

Your organization is considering the use of team decision making. You have read the literature on decision making and are trying to inform your manager about the advantages and disadvantages of group decision making.
-You have observed that the group tends to come to consensus very quickly and there appears to be an illusion of unanimity. You conclude that they may be suffering from ________.
A) inefficiency syndrome
B) groupshift
C) disintegrating norms
D) groupthink
E) risky shift

Accepted Answer

The observation of the group coming to consensus quickly and experiencing an illusion of unanimity suggests that they may be suffering from groupthink. Groupthink occurs when a group prioritizes conformity and unity over critical thinking, leading to faulty decision making.

Question 17

Compare and contrast the affects of group size and group cohesiveness. Describe the problems of a large group in terms of social loafing and lack of cohesion. What steps could a manager take to increase cohesion and productivity with a large group that can not be reduced in size?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the affects of group...

Question 18

Several years ago you began a small retail store to sell computer parts. The store grew and the business expanded to offer computer repair and custom programming. You have noticed that people have definite expectations about what their appropriate roles within the expanding company should be.
-You can help the people in the company understand their roles and the roles of other people by explaining some common facts about roles. Which of the following is not true?
A) Each person will be expected to play a number of diverse roles.
B) Most people have the ability to shift roles rapidly when they recognize that the situation and its demands require major changes.
C) Role perception is how people believe others are expected to act in their given roles.
D) It may be helpful for them to view role expectations through the perspective of a psychological contract.
E) People can be flexible in the roles that they play.

Accepted Answer

Role perception is actually how individuals believe they themselves are expected to act in their given roles, not how they believe others are expected to act.

Question 19

Joe is restructuring departments and is creating teams to increase the effectiveness of his departments. He recognizes that the size of groups impacts their overall behavior.

-Joe is forming a fact-finding group. What would be the better group size to gain diverse input?
A) 3
B) 7
C) 9
D) 10
E) over 12

Accepted Answer

The answer of Joe is restructuring departments and is creating...

Question 20

You decide that your company's choice of which new product to manufacture needs to have widespread acceptance and that this decision needs to be of the highest quality possible. Having read the literature on decision making, you believe that this choice needs to be made by a group of your best managers.
-You have decided to use the nominal group technique. Which is true about this method?
A) This method is good for building group cohesiveness.
B) This method is good for processing ideas rapidly.
C) This method is good for encouraging independent thinking.
D) This method is an inexpensive means for generating a large number of ideas.
E) This method requires a great deal of face-to-face interaction.

Accepted Answer

The nominal group technique is a structured decision-making method that encourages independent thinking by requiring each individual to generate their ideas independently before the group discussion takes place.

Quiz 9: Foundations of Group Behavior

Define conformity. Explain the relationship that conformity has with deviant work behavior, groupthink, and groupshift.

Apply the five stages of group development to the formation of the prison guard group in Zimbardo's prison experiment. Discuss how the role perceptions and role expectations would or would not be affected as the group moved from one stage to the next.

Joe is restructuring departments and is creating teams to increase the effectiveness of his departments. He recognizes that the size of groups impacts their overall behavior. -Joe has learned in an OB course that ________.

Individual decisions are more time consuming than group decisions.

The chief advantage of the nominal group technique is that it permits the group to meet formally but does not restrict independent thinking, as does the interacting group.

Joe is restructuring departments and is creating teams to increase the effectiveness of his departments. He recognizes that the size of groups impacts their overall behavior. -Given what Joe knows about groups, what is a good size for a group that must take action?

Your organization is considering the use of team decision making. You have read the literature on decision making and are trying to inform your manager about the advantages and disadvantages of group decision making. -You should expect a weakness of group decision making to be ________.

Your organization is considering the use of team decision making. You have read the literature on decision making and are trying to inform your manager about the advantages and disadvantages of group decision making. -You should expect to find that ________.

Differentiate between formal and informal groups.

Compare and contrast the affects of group size and group cohesiveness. Describe the problems of a large group in terms of social loafing and lack of cohesion. What steps could a manager take to increase cohesion and productivity with a large group that can not be reduced in size?

Joe is restructuring departments and is creating teams to increase the effectiveness of his departments. He recognizes that the size of groups impacts their overall behavior. -Joe is forming a fact-finding group. What would be the better group size to gain diverse input?