Question 1

It appeared that everyone on the project team was finally on board; Jim would bring the doughnuts to all team meetings and Jenny would make the coffee.Fully caffeinated and on a sugar high,the team was coming together and fully committed to the project development process.The team was now planted firmly in the:
A) Storming stage of group development.
B) Forming stage of group development.
C) Norming stage of group development.
D) Performing stage of group development.

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes that the team is now fully committed and coming together, which indicates that they have passed the storming and forming stages. The mention of bringing doughnuts and making coffee shows that the team has established norms and roles, hence they are in the norming stage of group development.

Question 2

Team members get to know each other in the:
A) Adjourning stage of group development.
B) Storming stage of group development.
C) Performing stage of group development.
D) Forming stage of group development.

Accepted Answer

In the forming stage of group development, team members are introduced to one another and begin to establish initial relationships. They are focused on clarifying goals and objectives, and members are trying to understand their roles and responsibilities within the group. Therefore, it is in the forming stage that team members get to know each other.

Question 3

Disruptive acts of some project team members due to personality issues,hidden agendas,or interpersonal problems are categorized as:
A) Poor communication.
B) Lack of motivation.
C) Dysfunctional behavior.
D) Poor leadership.

Accepted Answer

Disruptive acts of project team members due to personality issues, hidden agendas, or interpersonal problems are categorized as dysfunctional behavior. This behavior can lead to conflicts, delays, and negative impacts on project outcomes. It is important to address and manage such behavior to ensure project success.

Question 4

The department chair had allotted plenty of time for all department (and project)members to prepare sections of their five-year program review.Administration demanded no less than 50 pages be devoted to a thorough and thoughtful review of activities and goals.What happened to the report was anybody's guess; no one had actually seen one or ever heard back from administration once they had submitted it.Most of the project team members thought the report was immediately sent to the steam tunnels running underneath the campus or perhaps it would sit collecting dust as part of a make-work program to justify an assistant VP's job.No wonder that team meetings were poorly attended and that all the sections of the report were filled with trite phrases and wide margins.This team suffers from:
A) Tenure.
B) Poorly developed goals.
C) Poorly defined team interdependencies.
D) Lack of motivation.

Accepted Answer

The team suffers from a lack of motivation, as evidenced by their poor attendance at meetings and the trite phrases used in the report. The lack of feedback from administration may also contribute to this lack of motivation.

Question 5

The author presents the need for a productive interdependency among project team members.What are the tradeoffs between differentiation and redundancy and how are these related to a productive interdependency?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The author presents the need for a...

Question 6

What are three consequences of poorly designed or unclear goals?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are three consequences of poorly designed...

Question 7

How can project managers promote a sense of enthusiasm within the project team?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How can project managers promote a sense...

Question 8

The semester project was due at 8:00 a.m.the next day and as the sun rose swiftly in the east,the team of four graduating seniors held their collective breath.If their database project worked (and why wouldn't it,they had begun early yesterday afternoon)they would complete their quest and graduate in a week with their shiny diplomas in MIS.Their drive to finish the project with A quality work was clear testament to their:
A) Results orientation.
B) Trust.
C) Cohesiveness.
D) Enthusiasm.

Accepted Answer

The team's drive to complete the project with A quality work indicates a strong focus on results orientation, which is the ability to prioritize achieving goals and accomplishing tasks. Trust, cohesiveness, and enthusiasm may also be present, but the emphasis on achieving high-quality results suggests that A is the most appropriate answer.

Question 9

What are the characteristics of effective project teams?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the characteristics of effective project...

Question 10

Cletus thought they were draining the swamp,but Spike was convinced they were better off building a bridge across it.Their project team was doomed to failure owing to their:
A) Poorly defined team roles.
B) Unclear goals.
C) Lack of motivation.
D) Poorly defined team interdependencies.

Accepted Answer

The issue with Cletus and Spike's project team is that they have unclear goals. Cletus believes that they are draining the swamp, while Spike thinks they should build a bridge across it. Without a clear understanding of what their ultimate goal is, the project team is likely to struggle to achieve anything meaningful.

Question 11

The project team's office needed a revolving door to facilitate the influx and outflow of personnel.Team members needed name tags to keep track of who was who and what their duties were.The project was jeopardized by:
A) Poor leadership.
B) High turnover.
C) Lack of team motivation.
D) Poor communication among team members.

Accepted Answer

High turnover is indicated by the need for a revolving door to manage the frequent changes in personnel and the necessity for name tags to keep track of new team members and their responsibilities.

Question 12

All of the members of the ladies' circle were horrified when each of them arrived at the parish hall with 20 gallons of potato salad.It was all quite delicious but wasn't the well-balanced spread they customarily set out.The potato salad disaster of '89 was passed from generation to generation along with a stern warning to:
A) Make sure that every team member is motivated.
B) Make sure that project goals are clear.
C) Make sure that project team roles are clear.
D) Make sure that turnover is low.

Accepted Answer

The potato salad disaster can be attributed to a lack of clarity in the roles of the project team members. If they had clearly defined who would be bringing what dishes, such a mishap could have been avoided. Thus, it is important to ensure that project team roles are clear.

Question 13

What are the main three reasons why project teams fail?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the main three reasons why...

Question 14

You have assembled your project team,and as luck would have it,you added every person to your team that you wanted.Your team has a diverse set of skills,and each member has at least one skill that another doesn't have.This is why you chose each one; otherwise you couldn't hope to deliver the project.What is wrong with segmenting the team in terms of their specific duties?

Accepted Answer

The answer of You have assembled your project team,and as...

Question 15

Conflict begins as team members begin to resist authority and demonstrate hidden agendas and prejudices in the:
A) Storming stage of group development.
B) Performing stage of group development.
C) Forming stage of group development.
D) Norming stage of group development.

Accepted Answer

The storming stage of group development is characterized by conflict as team members may resist authority, display hidden agendas, and show prejudices as they compete with each other for status and acceptance within the group. The other stages (forming, norming, and performing) do not typically involve such conflict.

Question 16

Everyone in the Tagi tribe agreed to vote out Gervasse at the next tribal council.Their 39-day project to make it to the final four together was two steps away from completion.This project group is in the:
A) Storming stage of group development.
B) Performing stage of group development.
C) Forming stage of group development.
D) Norming stage of group development.

Accepted Answer

The group is in the Performing stage of group development, as they are fully operational and working toward their goal with a clear strategy and unity, indicating high-functioning teamwork and task orientation.

Question 17

High turnover among project team members is a key element of success since new team members will bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the group.

Accepted Answer

High turnover among project team members can lead to disruptions, loss of momentum, and delays in project completion. Continuity and stability are essential for project success, and a consistent team can build trust and effective communication, which are critical for achieving project goals. While new members can bring new ideas and perspectives, too much turnover can be detrimental to a project's success.

Question 18

Which of the following phenomena would be most likely to occur if the project team did NOT have clear and commonly understood project goals?
A) The motivation level of team members would increase.
B) Conflict among team members would increase.
C) The level of trust among team members would increase.
D) The interdependency among team members would increase.

Accepted Answer

If the project team does not have clear and commonly understood project goals, there is a high risk of confusion and misunderstandings among team members. This can lead to conflicting opinions on the direction of the project, which can ultimately result in increased conflict among team members.

Question 19

Project managers are best able to promote a sense of enthusiasm within the project team when they create an environment that is challenging,supportive,and personally rewarding.

Accepted Answer

By creating a challenging and supportive environment, project managers can inspire their team to take on tasks with enthusiasm, and by providing personal rewards, they can increase motivation and engagement.

Question 20

The Dean's laissez faire attitude hit its zenith when he had missed five department chair meetings in a row despite the pressing needs of the MBA Curriculum Revision Team.No one was sure what to do so they did nothing,and the MBA program remained as it had always been as the revision team slunk back to their offices.If only there had been:
A) Better leadership, the project might have succeeded.
B) Less turnover among project members, the project might have succeeded.
C) A clear goal, the project might have succeeded.
D) More motivation among team members, the project might have succeeded.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Dean's laissez faire attitude hit its...

Quiz 6: Project Team Building,Conflict,and Negotiation

Team members get to know each other in the:

Disruptive acts of some project team members due to personality issues,hidden agendas,or interpersonal problems are categorized as:

The author presents the need for a productive interdependency among project team members.What are the tradeoffs between differentiation and redundancy and how are these related to a productive interdependency?

What are three consequences of poorly designed or unclear goals?

How can project managers promote a sense of enthusiasm within the project team?

What are the characteristics of effective project teams?

Cletus thought they were draining the swamp,but Spike was convinced they were better off building a bridge across it.Their project team was doomed to failure owing to their:

The project team's office needed a revolving door to facilitate the influx and outflow of personnel.Team members needed name tags to keep track of who was who and what their duties were.The project was jeopardized by:

What are the main three reasons why project teams fail?

Conflict begins as team members begin to resist authority and demonstrate hidden agendas and prejudices in the:

Everyone in the Tagi tribe agreed to vote out Gervasse at the next tribal council.Their 39-day project to make it to the final four together was two steps away from completion.This project group is in the:

High turnover among project team members is a key element of success since new team members will bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the group.

Which of the following phenomena would be most likely to occur if the project team did NOT have clear and commonly understood project goals?

Project managers are best able to promote a sense of enthusiasm within the project team when they create an environment that is challenging,supportive,and personally rewarding.