Question 1

The term "group" is synonymous with the term "team".

Accepted Answer

While groups and teams share similarities, they are not always synonymous. A group typically refers to a collection of individuals who may work together but do not necessarily share a common goal or have interdependent roles. A team, on the other hand, is a group of people who work together interdependently towards a common goal or objective.

Question 2

Teams that have higher levels of technical expertise are usually more successful than teams with high levels of interpersonal skills.

Accepted Answer

While technical expertise is important for certain tasks, interpersonal skills such as communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence are equally important for building strong and effective teams. A balance of both technical and interpersonal skills is typically necessary for long-term success.

Question 3

_____ are expected to coordinate their work by setting their own norms and planning their own schedules without ongoing direction from a supervisor or manager.
A) Cross-functional teams
B) Self-maintained teams
C) Task force teams
D) Process improvement teams

Accepted Answer

Self-maintained teams are expected to manage their own work, coordinate with each other, set their own standards, and establish their schedules without the need for a supervisor or manager to constantly oversee them. They are entrusted with high levels of autonomy and responsibility for reaching their goals.

Question 4

A technology company formed a temporary project team to study the next wave in software development,while other teams maintain and service existing software programs.This is an example of a:
A) task force.
B) cross-functional team.
C) process improvement team.
D) self-maintained team.

Accepted Answer

A task force is a temporary team formed for a specific purpose, such as studying a particular issue or problem, which aligns with the scenario described.

Question 5

In a situation where there is no interdependence among team members on the one hand and direct competition on the other,teamwork is going to be difficult,if not impossible.

Accepted Answer

Without interdependence among team members, there is no motivation for individuals to work together and without direct competition, there is no external pressure to perform. Thus, without either of these factors, effective teamwork can be difficult to achieve.

Question 6

Teamwork usually results in organized approaches and systematic processes for problem solving and task completion.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. When individuals work together in a team, they can pool their skills and knowledge to create more effective approaches for solving problems and completing tasks. Teamwork also helps ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals, which promotes organization and systematic processes.

Question 7

It is always important to hold team members mutually accountable than individually accountable.

Accepted Answer

While mutual accountability is important for fostering team cohesion and collective responsibility, individual accountability is also crucial for recognizing personal contributions and addressing specific performance issues. Balancing both types of accountability is key to effective team management.

Question 8

Teams are effective when tasks are complex and task interdependence is high.

Accepted Answer

Teams are most effective when they are faced with complex tasks that require the skills and input of multiple people. When there is a high level of task interdependence, it means that each team member's work is closely linked to the work of others, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and communication within the team.

Question 9

Ron,as a manager,can reinforce the idea that collaboration in his team will be highly valued by using individual reward structures.

Accepted Answer

Using individual reward structures typically reinforces competition rather than collaboration, as it focuses on individual achievements rather than team success.

Question 10

Vivian's group is in the storming stage.As leader,Vivian can help by taking sides in order to push the group in one direction.

Accepted Answer

In the storming stage, it is not helpful for the leader to take sides and push the group in one direction as it can cause further conflicts and may prevent the group from reaching a consensus. The leader's role in the storming stage is to facilitate communication, encourage participation, and help the group work through conflicts in a constructive manner.

Question 11

Focusing on both process and content is essential for teams to be effective.

Accepted Answer

Focusing on both process and content is important for teams to be effective. Process refers to the way tasks are carried out, including communication, decision-making, and problem-solving. Content refers to the actual tasks and goals that the team is trying to accomplish. By paying attention to both process and content, teams can ensure that they are working efficiently and effectively towards their goals. Ignoring either one can lead to problems, such as misunderstandings or confusion about roles, that can hinder team performance.

Question 12

All groups must move through all the stages of development in order to evolve into teams.

Accepted Answer

Groups can evolve into teams through various paths and may not necessarily experience all the classical stages of development (forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning) in a linear or prescribed order. Evolution into a team can depend on many factors including the group's purpose, the individuals involved, and external circumstances.

Question 13

The increase in organizational hierarchy and managerial layers has led to the evolution of self-managed teams.

Accepted Answer

The evolution of self-managed teams is typically a response to reduce hierarchical layers and promote autonomy, not an increase in organizational hierarchy.

Question 14

Which of the following statements is true of a task force?
A) They are more expensive to form than hiring outside consultants.
B) They allow for management to allocate resources at will to various projects as the needs of the company change.
C) They are expected to coordinate work without ongoing direction from a supervisor or manager.
D) They operate across time,space,and organizational boundaries using means other than face-to-face meetings.

Accepted Answer

Task forces allow for management to allocate resources at will to various projects as the needs of the company change.

Question 15

A product design team consisting of members from marketing,finance,research and development,planning,and operations would best be described as a:
A) managed group.
B) task force.
C) cross-functional team.
D) process improvement team.

Accepted Answer

A cross-functional team is composed of members from different functional areas of an organization who work together to achieve a common goal or complete a specific project or product development. In this case, the product design team consists of members from marketing, finance, research and development, planning, and operations, making it a cross-functional team.

Question 16

Social loafing promotes synergy among team members.

Accepted Answer

Social loafing is the phenomenon where individuals in a group tend to put in less effort when working on a group task compared to when working individually. This can lead to a decrease in synergy and productivity among team members as the overall effort put in by the team is reduced.

Question 17

Since Kellie and four others are together trying to design a new product for their company,her group can be referred to as a team.

Accepted Answer

A team is a group of individuals working together towards a common goal or objective, and Kellie and her group are working together towards designing a new product for their company, hence they can be referred to as a team.

Question 18

Debbie's team members are learning to incorporate new methods of working together.This implies that they are in the norming stage of team development.

Accepted Answer

The norming stage is characterized by members learning to work together and establish a sense of cohesion and common goals. Therefore, if Debbie's team members are incorporating new methods of working together, they are likely in the norming stage.

Question 19

Which of the following statements is true of a group?
A) It is a collection of people who work together but are not necessarily working collectively toward the same goal.
B) It has a higher degree of cohesiveness and accomplishment than a team.
C) It is composed of three or more interdependent individuals who consciously work together to achieve a common objective.
D) It becomes a team when members demonstrate a commitment to each other rather than to the end goal.

Accepted Answer

A group is a collection of people who work together but are not necessarily working collectively toward the same goal. This distinguishes it from a team, which is more focused on a common objective.

Question 20

Team leaders who function more like coaches than managers help to facilitate the development of more effective teams.

Accepted Answer

Team leaders who act as coaches focus on empowering their team members and fostering their growth and success, rather than simply telling them what to do. This approach can lead to greater team cohesiveness, enhanced communication, and improved performance.

Quiz 10: Building Teams and Work Groups