Question 1

One of the guidelines for making self-managed teams more effective include:

Accepted Answer

Insuring that the organization's culture, structure and climate supports the SMT concept is crucial to making self-managed teams more effective. Teams need to feel supported, encouraged and empowered by the organization in order to function at their highest level. The other options may be helpful in certain situations, but they do not address the overall effectiveness of the self-managed team.

Question 2

To enhance the success rate of an SMT,top management should do all of the following,EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Disbanding the SMT at the hint of crisis can undermine trust and belief in the process, which can impede effective functioning of the team. Therefore, it is not a good choice for enhancing the success rate of an SMT. Instead, the SMT should be given support and resources to work through the crisis and emerge stronger. A, B, and C are all good choices as they support the team-building process and ensure the right team members are in place with the necessary resources.

Question 3

The three parts of conducting effective meetings include all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Reading the minutes is not one of the three essential parts of conducting effective meetings. While minutes are important for documenting what was discussed and decided in the meeting, they are not essential to the actual conducting of the meeting. The three essential parts are identifying objectives, covering agenda items, and summarizing and reviewing assignments.

Question 4

The ____ during meetings may be preoccupied with other issues,not pay attention or participate in the group meeting,or feel superior and wonder why the group is spending so much time on the obvious.

Accepted Answer

The bored person is not engaged in the meeting and may be thinking about other things.

Question 5

Each team member's role in a SMT is ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Each team member's role in a SMT...

Question 6

____ distract the group during a meeting from the agenda items,tend to change the subject,and often like to complain.

Accepted Answer

Wanderers tend to distract from the agenda items by changing the subject and can be easily bored during a meeting, leading them to complain or go off-topic. Talkers may also contribute to the distraction, but they may not necessarily complain or go off-topic. Arguers are more likely to engage in heated debates or disagreements rather than distracting from the agenda.

Question 7

All of the following are potential problem members you may encounter in a meeting EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The negotiator is not necessarily a problem member in a meeting, but rather someone who may bring a valuable perspective and help reach a resolution or agreement. The silent person, bored person, and wanderer are all potential problem members as they may not actively contribute to the meeting and can become distractions.

Question 8

Many of the drawbacks associated with SMTs stem from:

Accepted Answer

The difficulties of transitioning from a traditional command-and-control work environment to self-managed teams can result in many of the drawbacks associated with SMTs, such as resistance to change, lack of clarity in role expectations, and difficulty in decision-making. While personality and behavior conflicts can also arise, they are secondary to the challenge of changing the organizational culture to support SMTs. Coordination within teams might also be challenging, but it is not a primary drawback of SMTs. The cost of implementing SMTs can be high, but it is not necessarily a drawback if the benefits outweigh the costs.

Question 9

The self-managed team ____ is the external leader of a self-managed team,whose job is to create optimal working conditions so team members take on responsibilities to work productively and solve complex problems on their own.

Accepted Answer

A facilitator is a key role in self-managed teams, responsible for creating an environment that fosters teamwork, communication, and productivity. They provide guidance and support to team members, but do not impose decisions or solutions. The role is crucial as it allows team members to take ownership of their work and decision-making, leading to mutual accountability and increased efficiency. A leader (B) is not an appropriate choice as a self-managed team operates without a single person in charge. A champion (C) is a term used to describe someone who advocates for a cause or initiative but does not necessarily have a role in managing a team. A director (D) is a hierarchical position that may not be necessary or relevant in a self-managed team.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of self-managed teams?

Accepted Answer

Self-managed teams can actually increase the risk of social loafing and groupthink because of the lack of formal supervision and the strong desire for consensus within the team, respectively.

Question 11

The part of a meeting that covers agenda items:

Accepted Answer

The part of the meeting that covers agenda items should allow for some flexibility of time to ensure that each item is properly discussed and addressed. It is important to ensure that all necessary information is shared and all concerns are addressed before moving on to the next item. However, it is still important to keep the meeting timely and efficient.

Question 12

A self-managed team ____ is an advocate of the self-managed team concept whose responsibility is to help the team obtain necessary resources,gain political support from top management and other stakeholders of the organization,and defend it from enemy attacks.

Accepted Answer

A champion is a person who actively supports and promotes the concept of the self-managed team. They help the team gain necessary resources, political support, and defend it from any opposition. This role requires a person with strong leadership skills, but they are not responsible for directing or managing the team. Therefore, option C is the best choice.

Question 13

The job of a self-managed team champion includes:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The job of a self-managed team champion...

Question 14

During meetings,the team leader should focus on all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The answer of During meetings,the team leader should focus on...

Question 15

All of the following are SMT facilitator team-building activities EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Maintaining a top-down efficiency-driven communication policy is not a team-building activity. This type of communication may actually hinder teamwork and collaboration among team members. The other choices, (A) creating opportunities for social interaction, (B) using team-oriented incentives to foster teamwork, and (D) increasing cohesiveness and cooperation among team members, are all examples of team-building activities that can enhance collaboration, communication and teamwork within the team.

Question 16

Discuss the benefits and limitations of working in teams.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the benefits and limitations of working...

Question 17

____ is when multiple leaders take complementary leadership roles in rotation within the same SMT,according to their area of expertise or interest.

Accepted Answer

Distributed leadership is a model where multiple leaders take complementary leadership roles in rotation within the same SMT, according to their area of expertise or interest. This model allows for a more democratic and inclusive decision-making process, as well as the development of leadership skills among all members of the team. The other answer choices do not accurately describe distributed leadership.

Question 18

All of the following are potential problems in SMTs,EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The lack of middle managers is not a potential problem in SMTs as there can still be middle managers in SMTs, although they may have different roles and responsibilities. The other options (A, B, and C) are potential problems as team members may need time to adjust to the new structure and routines, as well as their team responsibilities.

Question 19

Which of the following does NOT describe a self-managed team?

Accepted Answer

Self-managed teams are characterized by features such as team accountability, multiskilled members, and leadership within the team. However, a fixed team design, where the composition of the team and its roles remain constant, is not a defining feature of a self-managed team.

Question 20

In a self-managed team:

Accepted Answer

In a self-managed team, members take responsibility for outlining how they will achieve the team's objectives, rather than relying on a leader to provide direction and maintain control over work-related issues. Individual accountability is also typically a significant responsibility in self-managed teams, and members may develop specialized skills as they take on different roles within the team.

Quiz 8: Team Leadership and Self-Managed Teams