Deck 10: Managing Teams

Question 1

Rewards that depend on team performance rather than individual performance are the key to rewarding team behaviors and efforts.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Firms must provide team members with the technical training they need to do their jobs, particularly if they are being cross-trained to perform all of the different jobs on a team.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Maxine delayed the delivery of one of the projects she was in charge of because her productivity was low and she took too many days off work. Her team members had completed their share of work on time. In this scenario, Maxine's actions exemplify _____.

A) groupthink
B) minority domination
C) social loafing
D) synergy

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Peter disagrees with the automation of many of the company's processes but decides not to speak against it as his team is in favor of the changes. Peter believes that disagreeing with his team will have negative effects on the team. This scenario illustrates the concept of _____.

A) groupthink
B) reverse psychology
C) synergy
D) conservative bias

Question 5

Computer programmers working on separate projects in the same department of a company are considered a team.

Question 6

Gainsharing works best in unstable environments where employees are required to learn additional skills or knowledge.

Question 7

BreeTek is a cybersecurity company. The company has set up offices in all the major countries in the world. Software developers from different countries are required to communicate with each other regularly. As they cannot meet in person, they communicate with each other via email, videoconferencing, and group communication applications. This team of software developers is an example of a(n) _____.

A) cross-functional team
B) advisory team
C) virtual team
D) leadership team

Question 8

In the storming stage of team development, team members will have accepted team goals, be operating as a unit, and, as indicated by the increase in performance, be working together effectively.

Question 9

Mara and Jade are part of a team at Citrus Inc. The team has an eight-hour work shift, and the team members have to report to their supervisor every day. The members have a fixed set of tasks that has to be completed by the end of the day, and every task has to be implemented according to the provided instructions. This team is an example of a(n) _____.

A) self-designing team
B) self-managing team
C) traditional work group
D) employee involvement group

Question 10

A group of lawyers that works at Jameson & Emerson law firm has informally agreed to explain to the interns the requirements and procedures needed to work at the law firm. The majority of the interns have recently graduated from law school and do not have any experience working at a law firm. The group's agreed-on standards can be best categorized as _____.

A) goals
B) norms
C) synergies
D) agendas

Question 11

In gainsharing programs, companies share the financial value of performance gains, such as productivity increases, cost savings, or quality improvements, with their workers.

Question 12

A team of engineers and architects has been formed to work on the construction of a bridge. The team will work together on-site till the construction of the bridge is complete. Thereafter, it will be dissolved. This team is an example of a(n) _____.

A) self-designing team
B) advisory team
C) project team
D) virtual team

Question 13

Challenging team goals greatly increase the incidence of social loafing.

Question 14

If employees can work effectively on their own, they can always work effectively in teams.

Question 15

Cross-training is less appropriate for teams of highly skilled workers.

Question 16

__________represents the variances or differences in ability, experience, personality, or any other factor on a team.

A) Team equity
B) Team autonomy
C) Team synergy
D) Team diversity

Question 17

Every month a group of workers at Orkden Pharmacy meets at the company head office to discuss issues pertaining to equipment maintenance, workplace safety, and drug quality. The workers provide suggestions to the top management about how to solve most of these problems, but the decision to take any action is completely up to the top management. This group is an example of a(n) _____.

A) self-designing team
B) self-managing team
C) traditional work team
D) employee involvement team

Question 18

Intentionally doing one's work badly is an example of a negative team norm.

Question 19

Carmine Inc. is a software firm that caters to the requirements of its clients. At Carmine, work teams have access to all vital and confidential data that is normally accessible only to managers. This helps motivate teams and keep them well informed. In this scenario, the employee-friendly workplace culture is most likely to increase _____.

A) employee job satisfaction
B) centralization of authority
C) organizational information security
D) grapevine communication

Question 20

A(n)__________is a team intentionally composed of employees from different departments of an organization.

A) employee involvement team
B) traditional work group
C) cross-functional team
D) semi-autonomous work group

Question 21

Which of the following signs indicates that a team's size needs to be changed?

A) If the team members have varied functional expertise
B) If employee turnover is low
C) If a few members dominate the team
D) If the team members have diverse perspectives

Question 22

Which of the following has the most autonomy in the autonomy continuum?

A) Semi-autonomous work groups
B) Self-designing teams
C) Employee involvement teams
D) Traditional work groups

Question 23

Wesellyoubuy, a consumer electronics company, received consumer complaints about its employees not being able to communicate with consumers properly. After investigating the prime reason behind these complaints, the management found that the consumer service employees were following the same strategy to address all types of consumer issues. The management immediately started a new training program for the consumer service employees where they were trained to respond to every possible query a consumer might have. Eventually, their service ratings and sales showed improvement. In this scenario, the consumer service team improved _____.

A) manufacturing speed
B) customer satisfaction
C) employee productivity
D) product diversification

Question 24

Frank, a marketing manager, has often noticed that his team members do not communicate with each other and are rarely present for team meetings. He also noticed that his team's productivity is considerably low. This scenario illustrates that Frank's team lacks _____.

A) diversity
B) autonomy
C) leadership
D) cohesiveness

Question 25

Which of the following statements is true of team compensation?

A) Skill-based pay works best in relatively stable environments where employees can focus on improving productivity, cost savings, or quality.
B) Nonfinancial awards tend to be most effective when teams or team-based interventions are first introduced.
C) Gainsharing is most effective for self-managing and self-directing teams performing complex tasks.
D) Gainsharing programs are especially effective when coupled with management recognition, such as awards, certificates, and praise.

Question 26

John, a product manager, ensures that his team has regular meetings and no team member is absent during the meetings. He also ensures that all the members of his team work together in all the projects the company receives. John has modified the workplace accordingly to facilitate teamwork. In this scenario, John is attempting to increase his team's _____.

A) autonomy
B) productivity
C) discipline
D) cohesiveness

Question 27

The product development team at Arkelea Tech. has the highest productivity in the company. The team synergy is high, and team members take joint responsibility for the execution and completion of tasks. The members of Arkelea's product development team are in the _____ of team development.

A) norming stage
B) storming stage
C) forming stage
D) performing stage

Question 28

A group of architects and builders is supposed to work together on a construction project. The team members are currently getting to know each other, setting up norms for the initial phase, and creating a temporary preliminary team structure. This group is in the _____ stage of team development.

A) storming
B) norming
C) performing
D) forming

Question 29

Benmank is an insurance company and consists of many teams. The teams have members having decades of experience and also members who are fresh out of college. In order to ensure smooth communication and to avoid misunderstandings, the company should provide training on _____.

A) decision-making skills
B) managing skills
C) problem-solving skills
D) interpersonal skills

Question 30

The teams working at Dixon Corp. are allowed to give their suggestions to the top management regarding the workflow and new product designs. The teams are, however, not authorized to make any management decisions and also do not have a say in the kind of projects the company accepts. These teams are an example of a(n) _____.

A) self-designing team
B) self-managing team
C) traditional work team
D) employee involvement team

Question 31

Which of the following statements is true of a work team?

A) In a work team, top management is responsible for organizational outcomes and performance.
B) In a work team, each member of the team pursues different goals.
C) A work team consists of a small number of people with complementary skills.
D) A work team usually restricts minority domination.

Question 32

EDRright is a multinational company that primarily provides course materials for some of the largest schools and universities in the world. The work is intellectually taxing, and it involves high-stress situations. The company forms teams and provides cross-training. The company also ensures that every member has a specific role to play and feels valued to be a part of the team. In this case, EDRright is trying to increase _____.

A) service quality
B) grapevine communication
C) employee job satisfaction
D) organizational information security

Question 33

Oromyx Inc., a manufacturer of home appliances, received consumer complaints about its product demonstration and installation services. The management ordered an investigation to determine the reasons behind these complaints. It was then found that the employees that were hired to demonstrate and install the appliances lacked hands-on experience with the appliances they were selling. The management immediately started a training program for the employees to get them better accustomed to the appliances. Eventually, their service ratings and sales showed improvement. In this scenario, the work team improved _____.

A) employee productivity
B) customer satisfaction
C) design efficiency
D) product diversification

Question 34

A team of surgeons is working in the neuroscience unit of ColdMont Medical Hospital. The team has informally agreed to explain to the medical students interning at the hospital the specific procedures that are involved in a brain surgery. However, there are no formal guidelines mandating that students should be given an explanation. The team's agreed-on standards can be best categorized as _____.

A) job descriptions
B) hierarchies
C) stretch goals
D) norms

Question 35

Which of the following statements is true of members of virtual teams?

A) They often meet face-to-face to discuss business strategies.
B) They are usually located in a single geographic area.
C) They use email and videoconferencing for business communication.
D) They are essentially part of temporary teams.

Question 36

Vrenbrem Inc. is a multinational investment company that primarily provides finances to medium-sized enterprises. It also finances smaller start-ups that do not have adequate funding. The company has to work with a diverse clientele and has teams that are trained to handle every situation. The company provides cross-training to its teams to ensure a certain level of understanding of each member's roles. In this case, Vrenbrem is trying to increase _____.

A) grapevine communication
B) customer satisfaction
C) employee job satisfaction
D) organizational information security

Question 37

Lauren is appointed as the project manager of a team in a smartphone company. After selecting the members of the team, she conducts a meeting with the new members so that they are acquainted with each other. Following a brief introductory session, Lauren establishes some initial ground rules for the team. This scenario illustrates that Lauren's team is in the _____ stage of team development.

A) storming
B) norming
C) performing
D) forming

Question 38

__________is the degree to which workers in a team have the discretion, freedom, and independence to decide how and when to accomplish their jobs.

A) Synergy
B) Cohesiveness
C) Groupthink
D) Autonomy

Question 39

The teams working at Lamine Inc. have access to all company and client information that is normally accessible only to managers. This helps motivate teams and keeps them well informed. In this scenario, the employee-friendly workplace culture is most likely to increase _____.

A) job satisfaction
B) customer satisfaction
C) organizational information security
D) grapevine communication

Question 40

Unlike cognitive conflict, affective conflict:

A) undermines team performance by preventing teams from engaging in the kinds of activities that are critical to team effectiveness.
B) is characterized by a willingness to examine, compare, and reconcile differences to produce the best possible solution.
C) increases the satisfaction of team members, leads to cordiality between coworkers, and increases team cohesiveness.
D) involves emotional reactions that occur when disagreements between coworkers are professional rather than personal.

Question 41

Which of the following is a disadvantage of a large team?

A) In a large team, it is difficult to take advantage of team members' varied skills and knowledge.
B) In a large team, team members find it difficult to get to know one another.
C) In a large team, team members are overloaded with work due to high task complexity.
D) In a large team, it is difficult to come up with ideas to address a specific problem.

Question 42

Patrick believes that it is his responsibility to speak on behalf of his team during meetings. However, Patrick's team members have not elected him to be the leader or spokesperson, and they feel that Patrick is hindering them from expressing their opinions. This work team is most likely experiencing _____.

A) minority domination
B) groupthink
C) synergy
D) structural accommodation

Question 43

A(n)__________is created to complete specific, one-time tasks within a limited time.

A) project team
B) traditional work group
C) employee involvement team
D) functional team

Question 44

A marketing team at Wident Inc. consists of six people. Randy is the only team member who speaks for the entire duration in every team meeting and does not let other team members share their views. This work team is most likely experiencing _____.

A) minority domination
B) groupthink
C) synergy
D) structural accommodation

Question 45

At Tirdes Corp., every employee manages his or her own work and bears full responsibility for the completion of the task. The employees also have complete autonomy over how they finish their work. This is an example of a _____.

A) semi-autonomous work group
B) department team
C) traditional work group
D) self-designing team

Question 46

Which of the following statements is true of affective conflict?

A) It is characterized by a willingness to examine, compare, and reconcile differences to produce the best possible solution.
B) It focuses on problem-related differences of opinion that eventually lead to improvements in team performance.
C) It relates to the emotional reactions that can occur when disagreements become personal rather than professional.
D) It involves disagreements among team members because their different experiences and expertise lead them to view problem and solutions differently.

Question 47

Which of the following is true of the right team size for good performance?

A) A team must be small enough to encourage minority domination.
B) A team must be small in order to gain the advantages of team decision making.
C) A team must be large so that the team can be splintered into smaller subgroups.
D) A team must be large enough to take advantage of team members' diverse skills and knowledge.

Question 48

A team of scientists is assembled to conduct research on a new source of renewable energy. Research and development will continue for one year after which the team will be disbanded. This team is an example of a(n) _____.

A) self-designing team
B) advisory team
C) project team
D) virtual team

Question 49

Which of the following is an advantage of project teams?

A) They give full autonomy to team members.
B) They offer permanent membership.
C) They allow employees to work remotely.
D) They reduce communication barriers.

Question 50

The best employees from the finance, research and development, marketing, and production departments of a company formed a team to formulate strategies to help the company deal with a financial crisis. The members identified all the problem areas in their respective departments and put forward unanimous solutions to resolve the issues. This team is an example of a(n) _____.

A) cross-functional team
B) department team
C) traditional work group
D) employee involvement team

Question 51

Which of the following is most likely a result of minority domination?

A) Team members withhold their efforts and fail to perform their share of the work.
B) Team members feel intense pressure not to disagree with each other.
C) Team members do not feel accountable for the decision and actions taken by their teams.
D) Team members do not share their views in fear of being criticized.

Question 52

__________means giving teams the ability to change organizational designs, policies, and practices if doing so helps them meet their stretch goals.

A) Social loafing
B) Bureaucratic immunity
C) Structural accommodation
D) Competency mapping

Question 53

Which of the following is an advantage of cross-training?

A) It suppresses the skills and knowledge of an organization's competitors.
B) It increases the external pool of resources for recruitment.
C) It reduces training expenses for an organization.
D) It allows a team to function normally even in the absence of a member.

Question 54

Power Plate Inc., a consumer electronics manufacturer, introduced a new solar cooker in the market. The team responsible for the successful launch of the product consisted of product designers, innovators, engineers, marketing professionals, and sales professionals. This is an example of a(n) _____.

A) cross-functional team
B) department team
C) traditional work group
D) employee involvement team

Question 55

The sales department at Delta Corp. has devised a set of rules for its employees. All the employees are required to be in the office premises by 8a.m. every day. They are also required to wear business casuals. In addition, every employee has to send a productivity update to his or her supervisor before leaving for the day. In this case, the sales department has developed _____.

A) job descriptions
B) hierarchies
C) stretch goals
D) norms

Question 56

Which of the following statements is true of self-designing teams?

A) They require management approval to perform a task.
B) They control work tasks and team membership.
C) They are also known as self-managing teams.
D) They have less autonomy than employee involvement teams.

Question 57

A team of scientists and dentists collaborates to develop a toothpaste that can instantly whiten teeth. A meeting is held so that the team members are acquainted with each other. The members formally introduce themselves and collectively establish group norms. This group is in the _____ stage of team development.

A) storming
B) norming
C) performing
D) forming

Question 58

Kinlin Corp. has a very high attrition rate, and the management is forced to transfer employees from one department to another to ensure smooth functioning of the departments. In order to ensure that no work is interrupted when members leave a department, the management should provide _____ to the members.

A) diversity training
B) decision-making training
C) interpersonal skills training
D) cross-training

Question 59

The employees at Violet Inc. are required to complete their work and leave the office premises by 6:00 p.m. Team outings are organized every month, and every team member is expected to be present. This scenario exemplifies _____.

A) job descriptions
B) hierarchies
C) stretch goals
D) norms

Question 60

Gillian, a salesman, completed his day's tasks and was about to leave when Marsha, his supervisor, realized that there is a pending task and assigned it to Gillian. Gillian refused to complete the task by stating that he has finished his share of work for the day. He suggested that Marsha assign the task to someone else. Marsha stated that if he refused to complete the task, he would no longer have a job in this company. Within days Gillian's attitude improved, and now he is more cooperative and agrees to work on various tasks. Based on the scenario, Gillian is most likely a part of a(n) _____.

A) semi-autonomous work group
B) self-designing team
C) employee involvement team
D) traditional work group

Question 61

Social loafing occurs when:

A) team members feel intense pressure to not disagree with each other so that the team can approve a proposed solution.
B) workers develop healthy interpersonal relationships with other team members.
C) workers complete the assigned tasks and feel obligated to socialize with other team members.
D) team members withhold their efforts and fail to perform their share of the work.

Question 62

In the__________stage of team development, team members often become intensely loyal to one another and feel mutual accountability for team successes and failures.

A) storming
B) performing
C) forming
D) norming

Question 63

All the members of the sales team at Arkema are new hires. The team members need to work together to ensure that clients' requirements are fulfilled and weekly targets set by the company are adequately met. However, the team members are often involved in minor arguments and find it difficult to work with each other. In which of the following stages of team development is this team most likely to resolve petty differences among its members?

A) The norming stage
B) The storming stage
C) The forming stage
D) The reforming stage

Question 64

In which of the following ways can teams have healthy conflicts?

A) By imposing a consensus to resolve issues
B) By establishing individual goals
C) By using limited and subjective data
D) By focusing on issues rather than personalities

Question 65

The product development team of a company conducts a meeting to discuss the worthiness of launching a new product in the market. The majority of the team members support the idea and believe it would sell in the market. However, one member, Jeff, is not very sure of the success of the product in the market but decides not to voice his opinion fearing that his dynamics with the team might get affected. This scenario illustrates the concept of _____.

A) groupthink
B) reverse psychology
C) synergy
D) conservative bias

Question 66

Identify a true statement about team norms.

A) They often allow flexibility in terms of job performance.
B) They are rules that are formally signed and agreed upon by team members.
C) They often lead to stronger organizational commitment.
D) They indicate the extent to which team members are attracted to a team.

Question 67

The finance team of a company conducts a meeting to discuss the worthiness of investing its funds in the local share market. Although most of the team members support the idea, one member, Mikhail, feels that the proposed investment is risky as the stock prices of many companies in the market has been erratic. However, Mikhail does not voice his opinion fearing that his dynamics with the team would be affected. This scenario illustrates the concept of _____.

A) groupthink
B) reverse psychology
C) apophenia
D) conservative bias

Question 68

Billy is the new manager at a retail store. He has noticed that the employees do not get along with each other and do not like to work together as a team. Which of the following steps should Billy take to build cohesiveness among his subordinates?

A) He should provide proprietary business information to his subordinates.
B) He should arrange distinct work schedules for his subordinates so that their roles do not overlap.
C) He should encourage his subordinates to work independently.
D) He should encourage his subordinates to engage in nonwork activities.

Question 69

__________is the stage of team development when team members jockey for position and try to establish a favorable role for themselves on the team.

A) Storming
B) Norming
C) Performing
D) Forming

Question 70

Larry's sales team members often argue with each other while addressing a problem and seemingly resolve their differences as soon as the appropriate solution to the problem has been found. This scenario illustrates the concept of _____.

A) autonomy
B) conservative bias
C) groupthink
D) cognitive conflict

Question 71

Ginny was hired by her company because she agreed to work overtime and carry out all tasks assigned to her as per the instructions. She also signed a contract that would terminate her from the company if she was unable to comply with the organization's policies. Given this information, Ginny is most likely part of a(n) _____.

A) semi-autonomous work group
B) self-designing team
C) employee involvement team
D) traditional work group

Question 72

In the context of work teams, which of the following increases employee job satisfaction?

A) Working under an autocratic leadership
B) Being trained to meet the needs of specific customers
C) Taking direct responsibility for the quality of a company's products
D) Being involved in decision-making processes

Question 73

Which of the following is necessary for stretch goals to effectively motivate teams?

A) Teams must be empowered with control of resources, such as budgets, workspaces, and computers.
B) Teams must include employees from a single functional area.
C) Teams must go through the process of multilevel reviews and sign-offs to get management approval before making changes.
D) Teams must have a low degree of autonomy over how they achieve their goals.

Question 74

All the members of the sales team in Orokem are friendly with each other and enjoy working together. The team members feel equally responsible for the successes and failures of the team. The members of Orokem's sales team are in the _____ of team development.

A) norming stage
B) storming stage
C) forming stage
D) performing stage

Question 75

During the norming stage of team development, team members:

A) are likely to disagree about what the group should do.
B) try to establish a favorable role for themselves on the team.
C) begin to settle into their roles as team members.
D) meet each other for the first time.

Question 76

The management of a pizzeria has put forth a set of rules that all its employees need to follow. All the employees are required to be in the restaurant by 9:00a.m. They are also required to wear a uniform and maintain a presentable appearance. In this case, the restaurant management has developed _____.

A) job descriptions
B) hierarchies
C) stretch goals
D) norms

Question 77

Onyx Inc., a manufacturer of home appliances, received consumer complaints about its product demonstration and installation services. Marshall, the company's chief executive officer, ordered an investigation to determine the reasons behind these complaints. It was found that the employees that were hired to demonstrate and install the products lacked experience. Marshall immediately formed and trained a team with better skills. Eventually, their service ratings and sales showed improvement. In this scenario, the work team improved _____.

A) manufacturing skills
B) customer satisfaction
C) design skills
D) product diversification

Question 78

Which of the following is a characteristic of cognitive conflict?

A) Reconciliation
B) Resentment
C) Cynicism
D) Hostility

Question 79

For most teams, the right size is somewhere between__________members.

A) ten and thirteen
B) three and five
C) six and nine
D) two and six

Question 80

In the context of team compensation and recognition,__________remunerate employees for acquiring expertise that they will need to perform multiple jobs within a team and for sharing knowledge with others within their work groups.

A) nonfinancial reward programs
B) skill-based pay programs
C) gainsharing programs
D) premium payment programs