Question 1

Once a role responsibilities matrix has been shared with the team's members and stakeholders, it should be linked to the team's charter and ___.

Accepted Answer

Gantt chart

Question 2

Briefly discuss four guidelines for using a Gantt chart.

Accepted Answer

1. Distribute the Gantt chart to the team and its stakeholders; this helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page with the planned timeline. It is also helpful for the team leader to walk through the chart with the team.
2. Include the chart with all meeting agendas. This helps to promote a process focus on the team and maintains a high level of awareness of the team's plan for completing its objectives.
3. Conduct PvA (Planned versus Actual) comparisons of planned tasks completions versus actual levels of achievement. If a team has successfully completed an entire task the cell for that task should be shaded in to reflect this fact. If less than 100% of the task was completed, then only that portion of the cell should be filled in.
4. Update the chart as necessary. A Gantt chart should be evaluated, revised, and updated by the team as necessary. It is not intended to be set in stone.

Question 3

The Team Scholar for this chapter, Professor Greg Stewart, discussed what he considers to be three critical aspects to team design. What are they? Briefly discuss each.

Accepted Answer

According to Professor Stewart, the three critical aspects are:
1. How teams approach their work tasks. Teams working on creative tasks benefit from having members work together closely, coupled with substantial freedom for the its course of action. Teams working on routine tasks are more effective when they have limited autonomy and moderate interdependence, as on an assembly line.
2. Team composition. You have to get the right people on the team. Some traits such as conscientiousness are universally important, suggesting that teams are best when all members are conscientious. The effect of other traits, such as extraversion, depend on teammates. Having all team members be extraverts results in too many members trying to take charge. Having to few extraverts results in problems getting organized and setting goals. Teams with a mix of extraverts and introverts perform best.
3. Formal and informal influence. Although it can initially be difficult, teams benefit over time from having empowering leaders who guide and assist rather than direct and control.

Question 4

Identify four key principles for guiding development of a team dashboard.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify four key principles for guiding development...

Question 5

Discuss three guidelines for using a team dashboard.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss three guidelines for using a team...

Question 6

List and briefly discuss four practical guidelines for using a team charter.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List and briefly discuss four practical guidelines...

Question 7

Discuss steps in the procedure for developing a role responsibilities matrix.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss steps in the procedure for developing...

Question 8

Briefly discuss three guidelines for using a role responsibilities matrix.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Briefly discuss three guidelines for using a...

Question 9

List and briefly discuss the three basic steps in developing a Gantt chart.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List and briefly discuss the three basic...

Question 10

People sometimes express the concern that use of the formal procedures suggested in this chapter is constraining, may restrict needed flexibility and creativity, and is overly bureaucratic. Take a position for or against such concerns.

Accepted Answer

The answer of People sometimes express the concern that use...

Question 11

This chapter stresses the importance of incorporating all four key elements of the team system. Briefly discuss why each of those elements is necessary for team success.

Accepted Answer

The answer of This chapter stresses the importance of incorporating...

Question 12

On a team dashboard a score in the ___ zone reflects an area of concern: performance on that matrix should be monitored carefully for potential action in the future.

Accepted Answer

The answer of On a team dashboard a score in...

Question 13

The team charter, a Gantt chart, a role responsibilities matrix, and a team dashboard comprise a team ___.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The team charter, a Gantt chart, a...

Question 14

A ___ enables checks of planned versus actual progress of the team.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A ___ enables checks of planned versus...

Question 15

The first step in developing a team charter is to define the ___ of the project.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The first step in developing a team...

Question 16

___ are useful in that they show the relationship between tasks to be performed and time, typically measured in weeks or months.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ___ are useful in that they show...

Question 17

Together, the team charter, Gantt chart, role responsibilities matrix, and team dashboard, along with process clarity, have been shown to enhance team ___ and team performance.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Together, the team charter, Gantt chart, role...

Question 18

A ___ shows which tasks that need to be completed have been assigned to various team members.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A ___ shows which tasks that need...

Question 19

When a consultant suggests that the team consider using a team charter, Gantt chart, role responsibilities matrix, and team dashboard, a team leader says, "We've always done pretty well without all those sorts of things. It also seems to me that these would take a lot of time and effort and draw our attention from our primary responsibilities." How might you respond?

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a consultant suggests that the team...

Question 20

What are eight (of the 14) elements of a team charter?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are eight (of the 14) elements...

Quiz 2: Designing the Team System