Question 1

Eddie's company is concerned about the recent decline in sales of one of its best-selling products. The company has decided to permanently put a group of people in charge of analyzing competitive products and determining new features that should be added to their products. All the people in this group work in the marketing department of the company. The people in this group will perform these new tasks in addition to the ones they already have. Which of the following terms would best describe the newly formed group?

Accepted Answer

This group is best described as a Committee because it is a permanent group formed within the marketing department to focus on specific ongoing tasks—in this case, analyzing competitive products and determining new features for their products. Unlike project teams or task forces, which are typically temporary, a committee is established for a longer duration to address ongoing issues or tasks. It is not a cross-functional team because all members are from the marketing department, and it does not represent the concept of a functional chimney, which refers to a lack of communication and cooperation between different departments.

Question 2

"There'll be a meeting to discuss issues related to the execution of new project. Please feel free to point out difficulties in carrying out tasks, suggest solutions, and voice doubts," said the team leader to the members of his team. Which of the following terms would best describe the meeting to be held?

Accepted Answer

The meeting described in the statement is focused on generating ideas and solutions, which fits the definition of brainstorming. The other options do not fit the description given. Groupthink refers to situations where group members prioritize agreement and harmony over critical evaluation of ideas. The centralized communication network and wheel communication structures refer to the flow of information within a group, but do not necessarily relate to problem-solving. Distributed leadership refers to a leadership model in which multiple people share leadership roles, but does not describe the format or focus of the meeting.

Question 3

Randall's team is strained. The team members differ in views and opinions that result in frequent conflicts within the team. But irrespective of the conflicts, things to be achieved are becoming clearer and people are beginning to understand one another's working styles. Which of the following stages of team development does this situation exemplify?

Accepted Answer

The situation described in the scenario exemplifies the storming stage of team development. This is characterized by conflicts and disagreements among team members as they start to understand each other's working styles and become clearer about what they want to achieve.

Question 4

_____ is a tendency for highly cohesive teams to lose their evaluative capabilities.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink refers to a phenomenon where a group of individuals prioritize unanimity and consensus over critical evaluation, often leading to flawed decision-making. Highly cohesive teams may succumb to groupthink as members prioritize maintaining positive relationships over evaluating the group's decision-making objectively.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon where highly cohesive teams prioritize agreement and harmony over critical thinking and evaluation of alternatives, leading to faulty decision-making. It often results in a loss of evaluative capabilities and can be detrimental to team performance.

Question 6

What do you understand by the term "team process"? What are the different stages of team development?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What do you understand by the term...

Question 7

Which of the following is likely to be most effective in checking groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Assigning the role of critical evaluator to each team member can effectively check groupthink by encouraging each member to speak their mind, express their concerns, and challenge the group's assumptions. This role distributes the responsibility of critical thinking and decision-making among all members, reducing the pressure on one person or the leader to make all the decisions. It also creates an environment where dissent is expected and valued, making it easier for members to voice their concerns without fear of being rejected or ostracized.

Question 8

Peter is the marketing head of AdSure, a renowned digital marketing company, known for its innovative marketing strategies. When being quizzed on his definition of a "perfect marketer," Peter responded with reference to his team members and stated that Roger's out of the box thinking, Steve's Written and oral communication, Jessica's innovative designs, and Jane's technical prowess would reflect the qualities of a "perfect marketer." Which of the following would best describe Peter's definition of a "perfect marketer"?

Accepted Answer

Peter's definition of a "perfect marketer" emphasizes the combination of various skills and strengths found in different team members to achieve a common goal. This concept of combining individual strengths to achieve better outcomes is known as synergy.

Question 9

In which of the following situations is groupthink most likely to occur?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink occurs when group members prioritize reaching consensus over thoroughly considering alternative ideas. Choosing consensus prematurely is a common symptom of groupthink.

Question 10

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of team decisions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of team...

Question 11

Which of the following is a symptom of groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Illusions of invulnerability, or the belief that the group is invincible and cannot fail, is a symptom of groupthink. The other options (A, B, C, E) are not symptoms of groupthink.

Question 12

What is a virtual team? What are the potential advantages of a virtual team?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a virtual team? What are...

Question 13

John works in a software services company. He is currently a member of a large team working on a project. John generally tries to avoid taking responsibilities and works as less as possible because he knows that there are other team members who will complete the work. Which of the following terms best represents John's behavior?

Accepted Answer

John's behavior of avoiding responsibilities and working less because he knows others will complete the work is an example of social loafing. This is a phenomenon where individuals reduce their effort when working in a group because they expect others to carry the burden of the work.

Question 14

What are the advantages and disadvantages associated with team work?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the advantages and disadvantages associated...

Question 15

Melony Inc., a supermarket chain, utilizes the expertise of its employees from the marketing, design, product outlay, supply management, and inventory management teams to attract customers and drive sales. This is an example of a _____.

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes a cross-functional team where employees from different functional areas work together to achieve a common business goal.

Question 16

Frederick's team is highly cohesive and the members of the team find it difficult to disapprove the ideas and opinions expressed by their teammates. Which of the following terms would best describe this situation?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon where individuals in a group tend to conform to the group's norms and values, resulting in decision-making that may not be optimal. In such a situation, members may feel pressure to agree with their teammates and avoid conflict. This can lead to poor decisions and a lack of creativity.

Question 17

The sales team of June Electronics comprises members who collectively decide if a member should focus on indoor or outdoor sales. The team also decides the strategies to be adopted apart from evaluating each other's performances. This is an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

The sales team of June Electronics consists of members who collectively decide on various aspects of their sales efforts, such as which member should focus on indoor or outdoor sales, what strategies to adopt, and evaluating each other's performances. This indicates that the team is self-managing, meaning that they have the autonomy to make decisions about their work without a manager or supervisor.

Question 18

The members of the Research & Development team of TechlicLabs have developed an understanding among themselves, thereby reducing the possibilities of interpersonal hostilities or disintegration. The team members also occupy key leadership positions thereby evoking a sense of leadership. Which of the following stages of team development does this situation exemplify?

Accepted Answer

The norming stage is characterized by the development of cohesion and unity within the team, reducing interpersonal conflicts and establishing roles, which aligns with the situation described.

Question 19

Jacob, the customer relationship manager of SimplyBuyz.com, an e-commerce retailer, calls for a meeting of his team to discuss strategies to handle customer grievances effectively. Jacob seeks inputs from all his team members who come up with amicable solutions to certain grievances without being evaluated or criticized by the other team members. Which of the following approaches does Jacob adopt to invoke creativity in the process of team decision-making?

Accepted Answer

Jacob has adopted the Nominal Group Technique to enhance team decision-making. It involves providing team members with an opportunity to suggest as many ideas as possible without any fear of evaluation or criticism. The ideas are then discussed and evaluated by the team, and the most appropriate solution is adopted.

Question 20

Which of the following best describes a devil's advocate?

Accepted Answer

A devil's advocate is someone who is intentionally tasked with presenting arguments against a decision or proposal in order to identify potential weaknesses and address them before moving forward. This technique is often used in meetings where important decisions are being made to ensure that all viewpoints are considered and that the decision made is the best one possible. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Quiz 17: Teams and Teamwork