Question 1

A team was formed to coordinate the impending ISO accreditation process for a company over a period of six months. The team members are drawn from various departments. Which of the following types of teams does this most exemplify?

Accepted Answer

Project teams are formed to take on one-time tasks that are generally complex and require a lot of input from members with different types of training and expertise. They exist only as long as it takes to finish a project.

Question 2

While ________ teams focus on the accomplishment of core operational-level production and service tasks, ________ teams focus on integrating the activities of subunits across business functions.

Accepted Answer

Whereas work teams focus on the accomplishment of core operational-level production and service tasks, management teams participate in managerial-level tasks that affect the entire organization. Specifically, management teams focus on integrating the activities of subunits across business functions.

Question 3

Management teams are similar to work teams because they

Accepted Answer

Management teams are similar to work teams in that they are designed to be relatively permanent.

Question 4

A musical group and a surgical team are examples of ________ teams.

Accepted Answer

Action teams take up complex tasks that are either highly visible to an audience or of a highly challenging nature. Musical groups, surgical teams, and sports teams are examples of action teams.

Question 5

Which of the following examples demonstrates the midway point of the punctuated equilibrium development pattern?

Accepted Answer

Certain types of project teams follow a pattern of development called punctuated equilibrium. At the initial team meeting, members make assumptions and establish a pattern of behavior that lasts for the first half of its life. That pattern of behavior becomes a matter of habit for members and creates an inertia that continues until roughly the midway point of the project. Then something remarkable happens: Members realize that they have to change their approach to the task to complete it on time. Teams that take this opportunity to plan a new approach during this transition tend to do well, and the new framework dominates their behavior until task completion.

Question 6

Which of the following teams focuses on providing recommendations and resolving issues?

Accepted Answer

Parallel teams are composed of members from various jobs who provide recommendations to managers about important issues that run "parallel" to the organization's production process.

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of a function of an action team?

Accepted Answer

An action team is a group of people brought together for a specific, often urgent task that requires specialized skills and coordination. Art and Raul leading a rescue effort is an example of an action team because it involves a critical, time-sensitive task requiring specialized skills.

Question 8

An example of a work team would be a

Accepted Answer

Work teams are designed to be relatively permanent. Their purpose is to produce goods or provide services, and they generally require a full-time commitment from their members.

Question 9

Teams differ from groups because

Accepted Answer

A team consists of two or more people who work interdependently over some time period to accomplish common goals related to some task-oriented purpose. Interactions among members within teams revolve around a deeper dependence on one another than the interactions within groups and occur with a specific task-related purpose in mind.

Question 10

An example of a management team would be a

Accepted Answer

Management teams participate in managerial-level tasks that affect the entire organization. Specifically, they are responsible for coordinating the activities of organizational subunits to help the organization achieve its long-term goals.

Question 11

Willie's Beverage Bottlers formed several teams to plan and execute the 150^th anniversary celebrations of the company. Over a period of two months, the teams organized events, oversaw logistics, and coordinated employee activities. The events that were planned were on a large scale and required a lot of input from the managers and production workers. These are examples of ________ teams.

Accepted Answer

Project teams are formed to take on "one-time" tasks that are generally complex and require a lot of input from members with different types of training and expertise.

Question 12

Unlike other types of teams, the purpose of work teams is to

Accepted Answer

Work teams are designed to be relatively permanent. Their purpose is to produce goods or provide services, and they generally require a full-time commitment from their members.

Question 13

Quality circles, which consist of individuals who normally perform core production tasks but also meet regularly to identify production-related problems and opportunities for improvement, are an example of ________ teams.

Accepted Answer

Parallel teams require only part-time commitment from members, and they can be permanent or temporary, depending on their aim. Quality circles, for example, consist of individuals who normally perform core production tasks but also meet regularly to identify production-related problems and opportunities for improvement.

Question 14

Sandy, Lori, and Piper work on different teams at Martin Manufactured Homes. Sandy's team ensures that all the raw materials, machinery, tools, and other production equipment are available to employees around the clock. Any procurement needs have to be addressed to Sandy, who also takes part in high-level decisions regarding the number of units to be produced, exported, and so on. Lori works as part of a team of eight members who concentrate on the day-to-day production; they also ensure that quality checks are done and inspect each other's work. Piper is the operations manager, who works for five hours in the production department and spends the rest of her time assisting management as an internal consultant on manufacturing issues. Her input is crucial in improving the production process. Piper is part of the ________ team.

Accepted Answer

Parallel teams are composed of members from various jobs who provide recommendations to managers about important issues that run "parallel" to the organization's production process. Parallel teams require only part-time commitment from members, and they can be permanent or temporary, depending on their aim. Quality circles, for example, consist of individuals who normally perform core production tasks, but who also meet regularly with individuals from other work groups to identify production-related problems and opportunities for improvement.

Question 15

Amy, Allyson, and Kelly work in different teams at Oaktown Powersports. Amy's team ensures that all the raw materials, machinery, tools, and other production equipment are available to employees around the clock. Any procurement needs have to be addressed to Amy, who also takes part in high-level decisions regarding the number of units to be produced, exported, and so on. Allyson works as part of a team of eight members who concentrate on the day-to-day production; they also ensure that quality checks are done and inspect each other's work. Kelly is the operations manager, who works for five hours in the production department and spends the rest of her time assisting management as an internal consultant on manufacturing issues. Her input is crucial in improving the production process. Allyson's contribution is toward the ________ team.

Accepted Answer

Work teams are designed to be relatively permanent. Their purpose is to produce goods or provide services, and they generally require a full-time commitment from their members. Teams are composed of four to eight members who do the physical work, and a leader who supports the team and coordinates with other teams. Although the teams are responsible for the work involved in the assembly of the vehicles, they are also responsible for quality control and developing ideas for improvements in the production process. Team members inspect each other's work, and when they see a problem, they stop the line until they are able to resolve the problem.

Question 16

A planning team composed of engineers, architects, designers, and builders that is charged with designing a suburban town center is a(n) ________ team.

Accepted Answer

Project teams take up one-time issues and exist only as long as the project takes to complete. A planning team composed of engineers, architects, designers, and builders that is charged with designing a suburban town center is a project team.

Question 17

Alyssa works for an engineering firm that has been hired to design and supervise the construction of a highway bridge over a major river. The bridge will be a unique design, incorporating complex designs that will likely never be duplicated. How should Alyssa deal with designing and overseeing the building of the bridge?

Accepted Answer

Project teams are formed to take on "one-time" tasks that are generally complex and require a lot of input from members with different types of training and expertise.

Question 18

Which of the following is True of teams?

Accepted Answer

A team consists of two or more people who work interdependently over some time period to accomplish common goals related to some task-oriented purpose.

Question 19

An action team could take the form of a

Accepted Answer

Action teams perform tasks that are normally limited in duration. However, those tasks are quite complex and take place in contexts that are either highly visible to an audience or of a highly challenging nature.

Question 20

Paul, Brian, and Jeff work in different teams at Lake Mattresses. Paul's team ensures that all the raw materials, machinery, tools, and other production equipment are available to employees around the clock. Any procurement needs have to be addressed to Paul, who also takes part in high-level decisions regarding the number of units to be produced, exported, and so on. Brian works as part of a team of eight members who concentrate on the day-to-day production; they also ensure that quality checks are done and inspect each other's work. Jeff is the operations manager, who works for five hours in the production department and spends the rest of his time assisting management as an internal consultant on manufacturing issues. His input is crucial in improving the production process. Paul is part of a(n) ________ team.

Accepted Answer

Management teams are responsible for coordinating the activities of organizational subunits (typically departments or functional areas) to help the organization achieve its long-term goals. Members of management teams are heads of departments, and their commitment to the team is offset by the responsibilities they have in leading their unit.

Quiz 11: Teams: Characteristics and Diversity