Question 1

Groupthink is a phenomenon found in highly cohesive groups when team members strive to maintain harmony at the expense of quality decision making.

Accepted Answer

This is the correct definition of groupthink, as identified by social psychologist Irving Janis.

Question 2

The norming stage of team development is the point at which a group begins to come together as a coordinated unit.

Accepted Answer

The norming stage is characterized by developing a sense of unity and establishing norms of how the team will work together. This marks an important shift from the storming stage where there may be internal conflict and disagreements.

Question 3

When people are in groups, they make decisions that have more risk than when they are alone.

Accepted Answer

This is known as Groupthink, which occurs when people prioritize conformity to the group over critical thinking and decision-making. It often leads to high-risk decisions due to a lack of diverse perspectives and dissenting opinions.

Question 4

Storming is the first stage of team development.

Accepted Answer

The first stage of team development is forming, not storming. Storming is actually the second stage.

Question 5

High-performance teams minimize status differences among team members.

Accepted Answer

High-performance teams value collaboration and cooperation among all team members, regardless of their status or position within the organization. By minimizing status differences, team members are more likely to feel equal and empowered in contributing to the team's goals and can more effectively communicate and share ideas. This creates a more positive and productive team dynamic, leading to better outcomes.

Question 6

A high-performance scorecard includes dimensions of production output, member satisfaction, and capacity for continued cooperation.

Accepted Answer

A high-performance scorecard typically includes dimensions such as production output, member satisfaction, and capacity for continued cooperation. These factors all contribute to the overall effectiveness and success of an organization.

Question 7

Cohesive groups do not always result in high performance.

Accepted Answer

While cohesive groups have a strong sense of unity and trust among members, other factors such as individual skills, role clarity, communication, and leadership also impact the group's performance. Therefore, a cohesive group does not guarantee high performance.

Question 8

An extreme state of escalation of commitment is known as the innocent bystander effect.

Accepted Answer

The innocent bystander effect is a phenomenon in which individuals do not take action or intervene in a situation because they believe someone else will, and it is not related to the escalation of commitment. Escalation of commitment refers to the tendency to continue investing in a course of action, even when it is no longer rational or beneficial, because of the time, money, or resources already invested.

Question 9

The more difficult it is to get into a group, the more cohesive the group typically becomes.

Accepted Answer

This is known as the "social identity theory" where individuals who go through a more difficult initiation process to become a part of a group tend to value their membership more highly and will work to maintain group cohesiveness.

Question 10

Minority viewpoints and tendencies to deviate from or question the group direction are discouraged in the performing stage of team development.

Accepted Answer

In the performing stage, the team is focused on achieving their goals and working together efficiently. While there may be less conflict and more cohesion in this stage, it is still encouraged for all team members to share their perspectives and challenge the group's assumptions if needed for the success of the task. Encouraging diverse perspectives can lead to better decision-making and higher quality outcomes.

Question 11

Technical expertise is the most important team skill.

Accepted Answer

While technical expertise is certainly important, a team's success also relies on communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and other soft skills. A team with only technical expertise but poor communication and collaboration can still struggle to achieve its goals.

Question 12

High-performing teams usually have between 8 and 12 members.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that high-performing teams typically have fewer members, often between 5 and 9, to maintain effective communication and coordination.

Question 13

The best strategy to counter social loafing is identifiability.

Accepted Answer

Identifiability refers to making individual efforts and contributions visible to a group, which can increase motivation and accountability, thereby reducing social loafing.

Question 14

A team is a group of people

Accepted Answer

A team is a group of people who share responsibility for producing something together. The other choices may describe a group of people in the workplace, but not necessarily a team. For example, choice A describes a group of people who have the same manager, but they may not necessarily work together as a team. Similarly, choices B and C describe physical proximity and personal interaction, but not necessarily teamwork. Choice E describes individual accountability, which is not necessarily a characteristic of a team.

Question 15

Teams are unique because each member cannot complete the work without the work of other members.

Accepted Answer

Teams are collaborative in nature and require each member to contribute their unique skills and efforts towards a common goal. Without the contribution of one or more members, the team's work may not be completed successfully.

Question 16

Stanley Milgram is famous for studying escalation of commitment.

Accepted Answer

Stanley Milgram is famous for his controversial study on obedience to authority, not escalation of commitment.

Question 17

The first team skill is the ability to assess whether or not a team will be cohesive.

Accepted Answer

The first team skill is typically considered to be effective communication, not the ability to assess team cohesion. Effective communication is foundational for building understanding, trust, and collaboration within a team.

Question 18

Outcome-based goals are more important than activity-based goals in team performance.

Accepted Answer

Outcome-based goals focus on the results or end product of team performance, whereas activity-based goals focus on the tasks or behaviors required to achieve those results. Prioritizing outcome-based goals ensures that the team is working towards a common goal and achieving desired results, rather than just completing activities without a clear understanding of their purpose or impact.

Question 19

"Make this company the best place to work" is an example of an outcome goal.

Accepted Answer

The answer of "Make this company the best place to...

Question 20

Norms are generally unwritten rules or standards of behavior that apply to team members.

Accepted Answer

Norms are indeed generally unwritten rules or standards of behavior that apply to team members.

Quiz 12: Team Effectiveness