Deck 11: Team Dynamics, Creativity and Problem Solving, and Decision Making

Question 1

The group's maintenance roles are the things group members do and say that directly aid in the accomplishment of its objectives.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Informal groups develop spontaneously when members get together voluntarily because of similar interests.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The storming stage of group development is characterized by moderate development level, lower commitment, and some competence.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The first group development stage, characterized by low development, high commitment, and low competence, uses the autocratic supervisory style.

Question 5

Synectics is the process of suggesting many alternatives, without evaluation, to solve a problem.

Question 6

Norms are shared expectations of how group members will fulfill the requirements of their position.

Question 7

The social loafer distracts the team from the agenda items and often likes to complain and criticize.

Question 8

People often have multiple roles within the same position.

Question 9

Decision making is the process of selecting an alternative course of action that will solve a problem.

Question 10

Group cohesiveness refers to the patterns of interactions that emerge as groups develop.

Question 11

The team performance model states that a team's performance is based on its structure, dynamics, and stage of development.

Question 12

The forming stage of team development is characterized by low development level, high commitment, and low competence.

Question 13

The smaller the group size, the greater the cohesiveness.

Question 14

Being a member of a task group is in addition to your job in a functional group.

Question 15

A reflexive decision maker procrastinates and wastes valuable time and other resources and loses out on opportunities.

Question 16

The standing committee is a formal, temporary team that discontinues when its purpose is accomplished.

Question 17

When people first form a group, they tend to come to the group with a low commitment to the group.

Question 18

The devil's advocate technique requires the individual to explain and defend his or her position before the group.

Question 19

The ad hoc committee is a formal, ongoing team that often has rotating members.

Question 20

The resolution stage of group development is characterized by outstanding development level, high commitment, and high competence.

Question 21

Which of the following groups has the highest level of productivity?

A) A group that sets and enforces its own level below that of management.
B) A highly cohesive group that rejects management's level of productivity.
C) A highly cohesive group that accepts management's level of productivity.
D) A low cohesive group, irrespective of its acceptance of management's level of productivity.

Question 22

_____ are the group's shared expectations of its members' behavior.

A) Roles
B) Norms
C) Codes
D) Titles

Question 23

Which of the following are task roles?

A) Consensus seekers
B) Involvers
C) Objective clarifiers
D) Harmonizers

Question 24

The _____ states that a team's output is based on its structure, dynamics, and stage of development.

A) team performance model
B) team structure standard
C) virtual team design
D) cross-functional theory

Question 25

_____ are official, ongoing teams that consist of managers and their employees.

A) Functional teams
B) Informal groups
C) Task teams
D) Temporary groups

Question 26

_____ is a formal, temporary team that discontinues when its purpose is accomplished.

A) Standing committee
B) Ad hoc committee
C) Functional team
D) Voluntary team

Question 27

"Take this thing apart. It is not what the customer asked for." Which of the following roles does this statement fulfill?

A) Task roles
B) Self-interest roles
C) Maintenance roles
D) Harmonizing roles

Question 28

_____ roles are the things group members do and say that directly aid in the accomplishment of its objectives.

A) Maintenance
B) Task
C) Self-interest
D) Harmonizing

Question 29

"Looking at the work pressure we are subjected to, I think we need to get a few extra pairs of hands." Which of the following components of group dynamics does this statement represent?

A) Status
B) Cohesiveness
C) Norms
D) Size

Question 30

_____ develop spontaneously when members get together voluntarily because of similar interests.

A) Formal groups
B) Functional teams
C) Task teams
D) Informal groups

Question 31

_____ is a formal, ongoing team that often has rotating members.

A) Functional team
B) Ad hoc committee
C) Standing committee
D) Voluntary team

Question 32

_____ are shared expectations of how group members will fulfill the requirements of their position.

A) Roles
B) Norms
C) Codes
D) Titles

Question 33

Group _____ is the attractiveness and closeness group members have for one another and for the group.

A) structure
B) adjacency
C) inducement
D) cohesiveness

Question 34

_____ refers to the patterns of interactions that emerge as groups develop.

A) Team performance
B) Team dynamics
C) Team development
D) Team structure

Question 35

"Our group members get along very well. Sometimes we get together on weekends too." Which of the following components of group dynamics does this statement represent?

A) Objectives
B) Status
C) Cohesiveness
D) Norms

Question 36

"Our group members do not share any racial jokes or talk negatively about any race." Which of the following components of group dynamics does this statement represent?

A) Objectives
B) Norms
C) Roles
D) Size

Question 37

Which of the following is a factor that enhances group cohesiveness?

A) Equal level of participation
B) Heterogeneity
C) Large size
D) Competition within team members

Question 38

Status _____ is the acceptance and satisfaction members receive from their group status.

A) cohesiveness
B) compliance
C) consistency
D) congruence

Question 39

_____ allows team members of any size to edit a document at the same time, or in sequence.

A) Hardware
B) Teamware
C) C-ware
D) Groupware

Question 40

Which of the following is a factor that adversely affects group cohesiveness?

A) Small size of the group
B) Competition with team members
C) Equal level of participation
D) Homogeneity

Question 41

You have taken over as the new manager of a department. The employees are interested in doing a good job and have potential. However, because they have not worked together, they do not have the competence to achieve the task. Which of the following stages of development is this group in?

A) Orientation
B) Dissatisfaction
C) Resolution
D) Production

Question 42

Which of the following supervisory styles is used during the resolution stage of group development?

A) Participative
B) Laissez-faire
C) Autocratic
D) Consultative

Question 43

Which of the following supervisory styles is used during the first stage of group development?

A) Participative
B) Consultative
C) Autocratic
D) Laissez-faire

Question 44

"Hang in there. You can do it!" Which of the following roles does this statement fulfill?

A) Task roles
B) Maintenance roles
C) Self-interest roles
D) Planning roles

Question 45

Which of the following is characteristic of the forming stage of group development?

A) Moderate development level, low commitment, and some competence
B) High development level, variable commitment, and high competence
C) Low development level, high commitment, and low competence
D) Outstanding development level, high commitment, and high competence

Question 46

_____ roles are the things group members do and say to meet their own needs or objectives at the expense of the team.

A) Self-interest
B) Task
C) Leading
D) Maintenance

Question 47

Which of the following is characteristic of the resolution stage of group development?

A) High development level, variable commitment, and high competence
B) Moderate development level, low commitment, and some competence
C) Low development level, high commitment, and low competence
D) Outstanding development level, high commitment, and high competence

Question 48

"My team is having some problems getting along. They are highly committed and are putting in a lot of effort but still do not have the competence to achieve the task." Which of the following group development stages are they in?

A) GDS1
B) GDS2
C) GDS3
D) GDS4

Question 49

You have taken over as the new manager of a department. The employees are interested in doing a good job and have potential. However, because they have not worked together, they do not have the competence to achieve the task. Which of the following supervisory styles is most appropriate in this stage?

A) Participative
B) Autocratic
C) Laissez-faire
D) Consultative

Question 50

Which of the following stages of group development is characterized by low development level, high commitment, and low competence?

A) Dissatisfaction
B) Orientation
C) Resolution
D) Production

Question 51

"The objective is to cut cost by 10%." Which of the following roles does this statement fulfill?

A) Compromising roles
B) Maintenance roles
C) Self-interest roles
D) Task roles

Question 52

The _____ stage is characterized by outstanding development level, high commitment, and high competence.

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

Question 53

Which of the following stages of group development is characterized by moderate development level, lower commitment, and some competence?

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

Question 54

"Joseph's team is having problems getting along. The team members doubt the productivity of the group. Although they have some competence, they aren't too happy with the group and like to complain." Which of the following stages of development is this group in?

A) GDS1
B) GDS2
C) GDS3
D) GDS4

Question 55

_____ roles are the things group members do and say to develop and sustain group dynamics.

A) Withdrawal
B) Task
C) Self-interest
D) Maintenance

Question 56

"My team is doing very well. The members have excellent skills and they get along very well." Which of the following stages of development is this group in?

A) GDS1
B) GDS2
C) GDS3
D) GDS4

Question 57

The group development stage 2, dissatisfaction-moderate development (lower commitment/some competence), uses the _____ supervisory style.

A) participative
B) laissez-faire
C) autocratic
D) consultative

Question 58

Which of the following stages of group development uses the laissez-faire supervisory style?

A) Dissatisfaction
B) Production
C) Resolution
D) Orientation

Question 59

"The members of my team seem more at ease with one another now. Some of them are dedicated to the tasks given to them, and a group structure with acceptable norms and cohesiveness is developing." Which of the following stages of development is this group in?

A) GDS1
B) GDS2
C) GDS3
D) GDS4

Question 60

"Most of the ideas in the report were mine, put my name first." Which of the following roles does this statement fulfill?

A) Task roles
B) Maintenance roles
C) Self-interest roles
D) Planning roles

Question 61

Is the group cohesive? How do the six factors listed previously influence the group's cohesiveness? How does the level of cohesiveness affect the group's performance? Explain your answers.

Question 62

Using your list from Work Application 11-5, identify the major roles played by each group member, including yourself.

Question 63

What can be done to improve the group's dynamics? Explain.

Question 64

"Why are we spending so much time discussing this? It's very simple and clear," thought Tony as he scribbled carelessly during the team meeting. Which of the following types of problem members does Tony belong to?

A) Bored member
B) Social loafer
C) Wanderer
D) Silent member

Question 65

Recall a specific meeting you attended. Did the group leader plan for the meeting by stating meeting objectives, identifying participants and their assignments, making an agenda, and stating the date, time, and place of the meeting? Did the leader provide a written meeting plan to the members prior to the meeting? Explain your answers and state what you would do differently if you were the leader.

Question 66

_____ is the process of selecting an alternative course of action that will solve a problem.

A) Allowance
B) Problem solving
C) Retribution
D) Decision making

Question 67

Identify the group's stage of development and the leader's situational supervisory style. Does the leader use the appropriate style?

Question 68

A _____ decision maker likes to make quick decisions.

A) reflexive
B) reflective
C) relative
D) consistent

Question 69

How large is the group? Is the size appropriate? Explain.

Question 70

Rachel is the last person to contribute anything during team meetings. She tends to shy away from conversations. Which of the following types of problem members does Rachel belong to?

A) Social loafer
B) Wanderer
C) Silent member
D) Bored member

Question 71

List each team member in order by status in the team, including yourself. What are some of the characteristics that lead to high or low status on the team?

Question 72

List at least three of the team's norms. Identify them as positive or negative. How does the team enforce these norms?

Question 73

Your department is one of the top producers in the company. They work as a team even in the absence of your supervision. However, lately you have realized there is a conflict within the group, but performance has not dropped due to the conflict. Which of the following stages of development is this group in?

A) Orientation
B) Dissatisfaction
C) Resolution
D) Production

Question 74

Identify group problem members at a meeting you attended. Was the leader effective in handling them? What would you have done to make them more productive members? Explain in detail.

Question 75

A firm needs novel ideas to make its office eco-friendly. Which of the following techniques should it use to generate alternative solutions?

A) Consensus mapping
B) Delphi technique
C) Nominal grouping
D) Synectics

Question 76

The leader of a labor union needs to put together a charter of demands for the upcoming union-management negotiations through a structured voting method. Which of the following techniques should he use to generate alternative solutions?

A) Nominal grouping
B) Delphi technique
C) Consensus mapping
D) Synectics

Question 77

_____ is the process of taking corrective action in order to meet objectives.

A) Decision making
B) Retribution
C) Problem solving
D) Allowance

Question 78

For Work Applications 11-1 through 11-8, recall a specific group to which you belong or have belonged. If you will be doing Skill-Building Exercise 11-1, do not use your class group for this specific group now. Does the group agree on, and are members committed to, clear objectives? Explain your answer.

Question 79

During a problem-solving discussion, Todd asked, "Why do we keep discussing these problems when they never go away? Don't we have a holiday on Friday?" Which of the following types of problem members does Todd belong to?

A) Social loafer
B) Wanderer
C) Arguer
D) Talker

Question 80

Your department is one of the top producers in the company. They work as a team even in the absence of your supervision. However, lately you have realized there is a conflict within the group, but performance has not dropped due to the conflict. Which of the following supervisory styles is most appropriate in this stage?

A) Laissez-faire
B) Autocratic
C) Consultative
D) Participative