Question 1

Under stressful or dangerous conditions, people are more likely to congregate than disperse, even when doing so serves no protective purpose.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as the "bystander effect" and has been observed in various emergency situations, where people tend to wait for someone else to take action rather than act individually. It is believed to be caused by a diffusion of responsibility and a fear of committing a faux pas.

Question 2

Teams typically provide better customer service.

Accepted Answer

Teams can provide better customer service because they can handle high volumes of requests efficiently, share knowledge and expertise, and provide backup coverage if someone is absent or unavailable. They can also collaborate to solve complex issues and provide a personalized and consistent experience for customers.

Question 3

Social loafing is least common in situations where team members work alone towards a common output.

Accepted Answer

Social loafing is least common in situations where team members have a clear individual responsibility for a specific output, rather than when working alone towards a common output. Working alone may still result in social loafing if there is no clear accountability or incentive for individual performance.

Question 4

Social loafing is more common among people with collectivist values

Accepted Answer

Social loafing is a phenomenon where people tend to exert less effort when they work in a group as compared to when they work alone. It is not necessarily more common among people with collectivist values but can occur in people from any culture or value system. However, some studies suggest that social loafing may be less prevalent in collectivist cultures where group harmony and cooperation are highly valued.

Question 5

Teams are groups of two or more people who have equal influence over each other regarding the team's goals and means of achieving those goals.

Accepted Answer

Teams often have a designated leader or hierarchy, and members may have different levels of influence and responsibility regarding the team's goals and the means of achieving those goals.

Question 6

Employees are more motivated in teams, because they are motivated to fulfill the goals of the groups to which they belong.

Accepted Answer

When employees work in teams, they are more motivated because they have a sense of belonging and a shared goal. They feel accountable not just for their own work, but also for the work of their colleagues, which motivates them to work harder towards the achievement of their common objectives. Thus, working in teams enhances employee motivation.

Question 7

All teams exist to fulfill some purpose, either for the organization or for its members.

Accepted Answer

All teams are formed with a specific purpose in mind, whether it is to achieve organizational goals or to fulfill the needs and desires of its members.

Question 8

All groups are teams, but some types of teams are not groups.

Accepted Answer

All teams are a type of group specifically organized around achieving a common goal, but not all groups form a team since a group can simply be a collection of individuals without a shared objective.

Question 9

Process losses are the resources expended to develop and maintain an effective team.

Accepted Answer

Process losses refer to the resources that are expended to develop and maintain an effective team. These include time, energy, and costs associated with training, coaching, communication, and other activities aimed at enhancing team performance. Process losses may also result from conflicts, misunderstandings, and other obstacles that impede the team's ability to work together effectively.

Question 10

Some informal groups exist primarily to satisfy the drive to bond

Accepted Answer

Informal groups are often formed for social reasons and the desire to connect with others. The drive to bond is a fundamental human need, and many informal groups fulfill this need by providing opportunities for social interaction and support.

Question 11

All teams are groups, but some types of groups are not teams.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. While all teams are groups that work together towards a common goal, not all groups are specifically structured as teams. For example, a social group or a study group may not have a clear designated leader or shared objective, and therefore would not be considered a team.

Question 12

Informal groups exist primarily to complete tasks for the organization that management doesn't know about.

Accepted Answer

Informal groups may exist for social purposes or to address issues that management is aware of but has not addressed effectively. They can also arise spontaneously without any connection to organizational tasks.

Question 13

Teams are groups with some degree of task interdependence and a common objective.

Accepted Answer

This definition of teams is accurate and true.

Question 14

Social identity theory partly explains why people join informal groups.

Accepted Answer

Social identity theory proposes that individuals seek to improve their self-esteem and social status by identifying with successful and desirable groups. This can motivate them to join and participate in informal groups that they perceive as aligning with their personal identity and values.

Question 15

Task forces are temporary groups that typically investigate a particular problem and disband when the decision is made.

Accepted Answer

Task forces are established for a specific purpose or problem and are disbanded once their task is complete.

Question 16

Team members are held together by their interdependence and need for collaboration to achieve common goals.

Accepted Answer

Team members work together towards a common goal and rely on each other to achieve it. Therefore, interdependence and collaboration are crucial factors in team success.

Question 17

Organizational behaviour scholars have concluded that employees always work better in teams than alone.

Accepted Answer

Organizational behavior scholars recognize that whether employees work better in teams or alone depends on various factors including the nature of the task, individual preferences, team dynamics, and organizational culture.

Question 18

Brooks's law states that, "whatever can go wrong in groups will, so one should be prepared for it."

Accepted Answer

Brooks's law actually states, "Adding manpower to a late software project makes it later."

Question 19

Employees in a department are considered a team only when they directly interact and coordinate work activities with each other.

Accepted Answer

A team is a group of individuals who collaborate and work together towards a common goal. Therefore, employees in a department are considered a team only when they directly interact and coordinate work activities with each other. If they work independently without any collaboration, then they are not considered a team.

Question 20

Our desire for informal groups is mostly influenced by our drive to defend.

Accepted Answer

Our desire for informal groups is primarily driven by our need for social interaction, belonging, and support, rather than solely by a drive to defend.

Quiz 8: Team Dynamics