Question 1

Members of high-performance teams have the right mix of technical, problem-solving, decision-making, and interpersonal skills.

Accepted Answer

High-performance teams require a combination of technical skills, problem-solving abilities, decision-making capabilities, and strong interpersonal skills in order to work effectively together and achieve their goals.

Question 2

The willingness of a team to disband when the job is done and to work well together in future responsibilities is an important long-run test of team success.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true. A successful team should be able to disband when the job is done and work well together in future tasks. This shows that the team was able to accomplish their goal and maintain positive relationships for future endeavors.

Question 3

During the norming stage of team development, coalitions or cliques may form as individuals compete to impose their preferences on the team and to achieve a desired status position.

Accepted Answer

During the norming stage of team development, the team begins to come together and establish a sense of unity and harmony, rather than forming coalitions or cliques to compete for status or preferences. This stage is characterized by increased cooperation and the beginning of strong team cohesion.

Question 4

The status congruence dilemma is the tendency for diversity in groups to make working together more difficult, even though diversity itself expands the skills and perspectives available for problem solving.

Accepted Answer

The status congruence dilemma refers to the tension that arises when individuals' social status outside a group does not match their status within the group, potentially leading to conflict or dissatisfaction, rather than specifically addressing the challenges of diversity in teamwork.

Question 5

A general sense of purpose gives general direction to a team, and clearly identified performance objectives make that purpose more attainable.

Accepted Answer

A general sense of purpose provides a team with direction, and having clearly identified performance objectives helps in making that purpose more attainable by setting specific goals and benchmarks for success.

Question 6

Synergy is a small group of people with complementary skills, who work actively together to achieve a common purpose for which they hold themselves collectively accountable.

Accepted Answer

Synergy refers to the concept where the combined effect of a group or system is greater than the sum of their individual effects. It does not specifically define a group size or the aspect of complementary skills, although these can be factors in creating synergy.

Question 7

Social loafing occurs when a person's position within the group is equivalent in status to positions held outside of the group.

Accepted Answer

Social loafing occurs when a person reduces their effort when working in a group, feeling that their contribution is not needed or recognized. The status of a person outside the group is not relevant to this phenomenon.

Question 8

An essential criterion of a true team is that the team members feel collectively accountable for what they accomplish.

Accepted Answer

Collective accountability is a hallmark of a true team, where members share responsibility for the team's objectives and outcomes, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose.

Question 9

High-performance teams have strong core values that help the team members guide their attitudes and behaviors in directions consistent with the team's purpose.

Accepted Answer

Strong core values act as a compass for high-performance teams and help them stay on track with their goals. They provide a moral and ethical foundation for decision-making, communication, and collaboration within the team.

Question 10

It is interesting to note that heart surgeons have higher death rates for similar procedures when performed in hospitals where they do more operations.

Accepted Answer

Heart surgeons typically have lower death rates for similar procedures when performed in hospitals where they do more operations, as higher volumes of specific procedures are associated with increased experience and improved outcomes.

Question 11

Even though homogeneous teams may struggle in the short run to resolve issues, they are also likely to develop enhanced performance potential once things are worked out.

Accepted Answer

Homogeneous teams may have less conflict initially due to similar backgrounds and viewpoints, but diverse teams, despite potential initial struggles, tend to outperform homogeneous teams in the long run due to a wider range of perspectives, ideas, and problem-solving approaches.

Question 12

The social demands of a task involve the degree to which relationships, ego involvement, controversies over goals, and the like come into play.

Accepted Answer

The social demands of a task refer to the extent to which interpersonal interactions, concerns about self-image, disagreements about objectives, and similar social dynamics are involved in the execution of a task.

Question 13

Research finds that, in teams, male-dominated individual intelligence, as opposed to collective intelligence, provides a clear focus for solving problems and resolving conflicts.

Accepted Answer

Research actually suggests the opposite - that teams with a more balanced representation of genders tend to have higher levels of collective intelligence, which leads to better problem-solving and conflict resolution. Gender diversity can bring a range of perspectives and approaches to the table, ultimately leading to better outcomes.

Question 14

Tasks that are complex in social demands require unique solutions and more information processing, whereas tasks that are complex in technical demands involve difficulties in reaching agreement on goals or methods for accomplishing them.

Accepted Answer

Tasks that are complex in social demands involve difficulties in reaching agreement on goals or methods for accomplishing them, whereas tasks that are complex in technical demands require unique solutions and more information processing.

Question 15

An effective team is one that achieves high levels of task performance, member satisfaction, and team viability.

Accepted Answer

An effective team indeed achieves high levels of task performance, ensuring that goals are met efficiently; member satisfaction, meaning that team members feel fulfilled and valued; and team viability, indicating that the team is capable of continuing to work together successfully in the future.

Question 16

CEO and founder of Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos's simple rule when it comes to the size of a product development team is "No team should be larger than two pizzas can feed."

Accepted Answer

Jeff Bezos is known for the "Two Pizza Rule," which suggests that teams should be small enough that they can be fed with two pizzas, aiming to enhance productivity and communication.

Question 17

The member satisfaction criterion of team effectiveness means that members continue to work well together on an ongoing basis and look forward to working together again in the future.

Accepted Answer

The member satisfaction criterion of team effectiveness indeed reflects the idea that team members are content with their team experiences, indicating they work well together and are open to collaborating again, which is essential for sustained team performance and cohesion.

Question 18

In the norming stage of team development, holding the team together may become more important to some members than working on the team's tasks.

Accepted Answer

During the norming stage, team members start to establish close relationships with each other and become more committed to the team's goals. However, some members may prioritize maintaining positive relationships over making progress on tasks. This can be a natural part of the team's development process, but it is important for team leaders to ensure that both relationships and tasks are being addressed.

Question 19

During the forming stage of the team development process, members begin to focus on one another's interpersonal styles.

Accepted Answer

During the forming stage, team members are primarily focused on understanding the team's purpose, structure, and leadership, rather than on each other's interpersonal styles. This focus on interpersonal styles typically occurs in later stages, such as norming and performing.

Question 20

Homogeneous teams have members who are diverse in demography, experiences, lifestyles, and cultures, among other variables.

Accepted Answer

Homogeneous teams have members who are similar in demography, experiences, lifestyles, and cultures, among other variables. Heterogeneous teams, on the other hand, have members who are diverse in these aspects.

Quiz 6: Work Well in Teams