Question 1

Team members get to know each other in the:
A) Adjourning stage of group development.
B) Storming stage of group development.
C) Performing stage of group development.
D) Forming stage of group development.

Accepted Answer

In the forming stage of group development, team members are introduced to one another and begin to establish relationships. This is the stage where members get to know each other and identify their roles and responsibilities within the group.

Question 2

Cletus thought they were draining the swamp, but Spike was convinced they were better off building a bridge across it. Their project team was doomed to failure owing to their:
A) Poorly defined team roles.
B) Unclear goals.
C) Lack of motivation.
D) Poorly defined team interdependencies.

Accepted Answer

The main problem with the project team is that they have unclear goals, which is causing confusion as to what the team is trying to accomplish. This has led to disagreement between Cletus and Spike about the best approach, and is likely contributing to the team's overall lack of success. The other options listed could also be contributing factors, but they are not as central to the main issue of unclear goals.

Question 3

How can project managers promote a sense of enthusiasm within the project team?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How can project managers promote a sense...

Question 4

The project team's office needed a revolving door to facilitate the influx and outflow of personnel. Team members needed name tags to keep track of who was who and what their duties were. The project was jeopardized by:
A) Poor leadership.
B) High turnover.
C) Lack of team motivation.
D) Poor communication among team members.

Accepted Answer

High turnover is indicated by the need for a revolving door to manage the frequent changes in personnel and the necessity for name tags to keep track of new team members and their responsibilities.

Question 5

All of the members of the ladies' circle were horrified when each of them arrived at the parish hall with 20 gallons of potato salad. It was all quite delicious but wasn't the well-balanced spread they customarily set out. The potato salad disaster of '89 was passed from generation to generation along with a stern warning to:
A) Make sure that every team member is motivated.
B) Make sure that project goals are clear.
C) Make sure that project team roles are clear.
D) Make sure that turnover is low.

Accepted Answer

The potato salad disaster could have been avoided if each member knew their role in terms of what dish or item to bring to the potluck, rather than everyone bringing the same dish. Therefore, it is important to make sure that project team roles and responsibilities are clear to prevent any misunderstandings or duplication of efforts. A, B, and D do not directly address or relate to the issue at hand.

Question 6

Conflict begins as team members begin to resist authority and demonstrate hidden agendas and prejudices in the:
A) Storming stage of group development.
B) Performing stage of group development.
C) Forming stage of group development.
D) Norming stage of group development.

Accepted Answer

The storming stage of group development is where conflicts arise as team members start to push against authority and expose any hidden biases or personal agendas. This is a natural stage in group development and can result in a stronger team if conflicts are resolved effectively.

Question 7

The semester project was due at 8:00 a.m. the next day and as the sun rose swiftly in the east, the team of four graduating seniors held their collective breath. If their database project worked (and why wouldn't it, they had begun early yesterday afternoon) they would complete their quest and graduate in a week with their shiny diplomas in MIS. Their drive to finish the project with A quality work was clear testament to their:
A) Results orientation.
B) Trust.
C) Cohesiveness.
D) Enthusiasm.

Accepted Answer

Results orientation refers to the degree to which a team focuses on achieving its goals and objectives. In this scenario, the team's drive to finish the project with high-quality work indicates that they were focused on achieving their goal of completing the project and graduating with their desired degree. Trust, cohesiveness, and enthusiasm are also important factors for team success, but they are not as directly related to the team's goal achievement in this specific scenario.

Question 8

What are three consequences of poorly designed or unclear goals?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are three consequences of poorly designed...

Question 9

It appeared that everyone on the project team was finally on board; Jim would bring the doughnuts to all team meetings and Jenny would make the coffee. Fully caffeinated and on a sugar high, the team was coming together and fully committed to the project development process. The team was now planted firmly in the:
A) Storming stage of group development.
B) Forming stage of group development.
C) Norming stage of group development.
D) Performing stage of group development.

Accepted Answer

The team is no longer in the storming stage where conflicts arise and disagreements occur. They are past the forming stage where they are getting to know each other and establishing their goals. They are also past the norming stage where they are establishing norms and communication patterns. They have reached the performing stage where they are fully committed to the project development process and working together.

Question 10

The department chair had allotted plenty of time for all department (and project) members to prepare sections of their five-year program review. Administration demanded no less than 50 pages be devoted to a thorough and thoughtful review of activities and goals. What happened to the report was anybody's guess; no one had actually seen one or ever heard back from administration once they had submitted it. Most of the project team members thought the report was immediately sent to the steam tunnels running underneath the campus or perhaps it would sit collecting dust as part of a make-work program to justify an assistant VP's job. No wonder that team meetings were poorly attended and that all the sections of the report were filled with trite phrases and wide margins. This team suffers from:
A) Tenure.
B) Poorly developed goals.
C) Poorly defined team interdependencies.
D) Lack of motivation.

Accepted Answer

The passage explicitly states that "team meetings were poorly attended" and that the report was filled with "trite phrases and wide margins," indicating a lack of motivation among team members.

Question 11

Disruptive acts of some project team members due to personality issues, hidden agendas, or interpersonal problems are categorized as:
A) Poor communication.
B) Lack of motivation.
C) Dysfunctional behavior.
D) Poor leadership.

Accepted Answer

Dysfunctional behavior refers to any disruption or negative behavior that affects the function of a team. This can be caused by personality conflicts, hidden agendas, or interpersonal issues. Poor communication, lack of motivation, and poor leadership can all contribute to dysfunctional behavior, but they are not the primary cause.

Question 12

You have assembled your project team, and as luck would have it, you added every person to your team that you wanted. Your team has a diverse set of skills, and each member has at least one skill that another doesn't have. This is why you chose each one; otherwise you couldn't hope to deliver the project. What is wrong with segmenting the team in terms of their specific duties?

Accepted Answer

The answer of You have assembled your project team, and...

Question 13

The Dean's laissez faire attitude hit its zenith when he had missed five department chair meetings in a row despite the pressing needs of the MBA Curriculum Revision Team. No one was sure what to do so they did nothing, and the MBA program remained as it had always been as the revision team slunk back to their offices. If only there had been:
A) Better leadership, the project might have succeeded.
B) Less turnover among project members, the project might have succeeded.
C) A clear goal, the project might have succeeded.
D) More motivation among team members, the project might have succeeded.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Dean's laissez faire attitude hit its...

Question 14

High turnover among project team members is a key element of success since new team members will bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the group.

Accepted Answer

High turnover among project team members can actually impede progress and create disruptions in the project. Continuity and stability can be important for achieving success in a project, and constant turnover can lead to confusion and delays. While new team members can bring fresh perspectives and ideas, it is also important to have a strong core team with a shared vision and sense of purpose.

Question 15

What are the characteristics of effective project teams?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the characteristics of effective project...

Question 16

Project managers are best able to promote a sense of enthusiasm within the project team when they create an environment that is challenging, supportive, and personally rewarding.

Accepted Answer

By creating a challenging environment, project managers can inspire their team to push themselves and think creatively to overcome obstacles. By providing support, project managers can help team members feel valued and encouraged to continue working towards project goals. Personal rewards, such as recognition and growth opportunities, can also motivate team members to work harder and feel a sense of accomplishment. All of these factors can contribute to a sense of enthusiasm within the project team.

Question 17

Everyone in the Tagi tribe agreed to vote out Gervasse at the next tribal council. Their 39-day project to make it to the final four together was two steps away from completion. This project group is in the:
A) Storming stage of group development.
B) Performing stage of group development.
C) Forming stage of group development.
D) Norming stage of group development.

Accepted Answer

The group is in the Performing stage of group development, as they are fully operational and working toward their goal with a clear strategy and unity, indicating high-functioning teamwork and task orientation.

Question 18

The author presents the need for a productive interdependency among project team members. What are the tradeoffs between differentiation and redundancy and how are these related to a productive interdependency?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The author presents the need for a...

Question 19

Which of the following phenomena would be most likely to occur if the project team did NOT have clear and commonly understood project goals?
A) The motivation level of team members would increase.
B) Conflict among team members would increase.
C) The level of trust among team members would increase.
D) The interdependency among team members would increase.

Accepted Answer

Without clear and commonly understood project goals, team members may have different interpretations of what is expected of them and what they need to achieve. This can lead to misunderstandings, confusion, and conflicting priorities, resulting in increased conflict among team members.

Question 20

What are the main three reasons why project teams fail?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the main three reasons why...

Quiz 6: Project Team Building, Conflict, and Negotiation

Team members get to know each other in the:

Cletus thought they were draining the swamp, but Spike was convinced they were better off building a bridge across it. Their project team was doomed to failure owing to their:

How can project managers promote a sense of enthusiasm within the project team?

The project team's office needed a revolving door to facilitate the influx and outflow of personnel. Team members needed name tags to keep track of who was who and what their duties were. The project was jeopardized by:

Conflict begins as team members begin to resist authority and demonstrate hidden agendas and prejudices in the:

What are three consequences of poorly designed or unclear goals?

Disruptive acts of some project team members due to personality issues, hidden agendas, or interpersonal problems are categorized as:

High turnover among project team members is a key element of success since new team members will bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the group.

What are the characteristics of effective project teams?

Project managers are best able to promote a sense of enthusiasm within the project team when they create an environment that is challenging, supportive, and personally rewarding.

Everyone in the Tagi tribe agreed to vote out Gervasse at the next tribal council. Their 39-day project to make it to the final four together was two steps away from completion. This project group is in the:

The author presents the need for a productive interdependency among project team members. What are the tradeoffs between differentiation and redundancy and how are these related to a productive interdependency?

Which of the following phenomena would be most likely to occur if the project team did NOT have clear and commonly understood project goals?

What are the main three reasons why project teams fail?