Question 1

Once Sean and Chloe finish their discussion of loss, Karen pipes up and says, "Now that we know where our needs are, I think our goal should be to submit a comprehensive strategic plan by the end of the month." What type of relational role is Karen filling?

Accepted Answer

Karen is taking on the role of standard setter by proposing a specific goal and timeline for the group to work towards.

Question 2

Sean continues his leadership of the meeting by asking Chloe, the company's accountant, to indicate the areas of loss for the company in the prior quarter. What specific task role is he taking on here?

Accepted Answer

Sean is taking on the task role of an information seeker by asking Chloe to provide specific details about the areas of loss for the company in the prior quarter.

Question 3

Amara owns her own textile company. She makes an effort to lead her employees by being aware of what is going on in the company and fostering teamwork. This includes listening to her employees' concerns and helping them to grow. Amara is exemplifying ________ leadership theory.

Accepted Answer

Servant leadership theory emphasizes the leader's role in serving their employees, focusing on listening to their concerns, helping them grow, and fostering teamwork, which aligns with Amara's leadership style.

Question 4

A cancer survivor's support group is an example of a primary group.

Accepted Answer

A cancer survivor's support group is considered a secondary group because it is typically larger and more impersonal than a primary group, focusing on a specific purpose or goal rather than personal, emotional connections.

Question 5

When one suggests that a leader can acquire communication skills and leadership behavior over time, one is following the ________ theory of leadership.

Accepted Answer

The functional theory of leadership suggests that leadership skills and behaviors can be learned and developed over time, rather than being innate traits.

Question 6

The shared expectations group members have regarding each individual's communication behavior in the group are known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Group roles are the shared expectations of communication behavior within a group, including how members should listen, speak, and interact. Group styles refer to the overall approach or tone of the group's communication, while task roles relate specifically to each member's contributions to achieving the group's goals. Task management involves the coordination and organization of the group's efforts to complete a project or task.

Question 7

Wilona continually encourages her team to work independently from her -- the group leader. She does this by encouraging group cohesion. Wilona is an example of a ________ leader.

Accepted Answer

Transformational leaders inspire and motivate their team members to work towards a common goal. By encouraging group cohesion and independence, Wilona is empowering her team members to take ownership of their work and contribute to the overall success of the group, which is a characteristic of transformational leadership. Servant leaders prioritize the needs of their team members, authoritarian leaders exert tight control over their group, and charismatic leaders rely on their personal charisma and charm to inspire others.

Question 8

A major disadvantage to small groups is that they stifle creativity.

Accepted Answer

Small groups can actually be conducive to creativity as they allow for close collaboration and sharing of ideas among members. It is larger groups or rigid organizational structures that may stifle creativity.

Question 9

Sean checked his clock and saw that it was 10:00, which was the time the group had agreed upon to start the meeting. Clearing his throat to get the attention of his coworkers, he jumped right into explaining the project. Sean is taking on which type of role?

Accepted Answer

Sean is taking on a task role, as he is immediately beginning to explain the project and get the meeting started on track.

Question 10

Small group communication is communication among a small number of people who share a common goal, who feel connected to each other, and who coordinate their behavior.

Accepted Answer

Small group communication involves interaction among a small number of individuals who share a common purpose, goal or objective, have a sense of belonging or connection to one another, and coordinate their actions towards achieving their goal.

Question 11

Trait theory suggests that leaders are made. The socialization and education of an individual makes them a leader.

Accepted Answer

Trait theory suggests that leaders are born with certain innate qualities and characteristics that make them effective leaders. It does not believe that leaders are made through socialization and education.

Question 12

One function of secondary groups is to ________.

Accepted Answer

While secondary groups can also provide socialization and a sense of belonging, their primary function is to solve problems or achieve specific goals. They tend to be more temporary and task-oriented than primary groups. The idea of assimilating family members does not make sense in this context.

Question 13

Luna hates group projects in school because she always ends up doing most of the work. Luna is experiencing ________.

Accepted Answer

Luna is experiencing "grouphate," which is a term used to describe negative feelings towards group projects or teamwork, often due to uneven work distribution or past negative experiences.

Question 14

Chloe agrees with Karen, stating, "I think that's a great idea." What type of relational role is Chloe filling?

Accepted Answer

Chloe is fulfilling the encourager role by expressing support for Karen's idea.

Question 15

While Sean and Chloe are discussing loss from the prior quarter, Ryder notices that some people are fishing through purses and pockets for pens. He jumps up, grabs a coffee mug full of pens and a stack of legal pads from the cabinet and begins to distribute them. Ryder's role is ________.

Accepted Answer

Ryder is acting as a procedural technician because he is taking care of the logistical needs of the group by providing pens and legal pads, which are necessary for the meeting to proceed smoothly.

Question 16

Which stage of the problem-solving agenda involves brainstorming to generate as many ideas as possible without critiquing those ideas?

Accepted Answer

The stage that involves brainstorming to generate as many ideas as possible without critiquing those ideas is step 3: Identify alternative solutions.

Question 17

The two dimensions of small group communication include task communication and production communication.

Accepted Answer

The two dimensions of small group communication are task communication and social communication, not production communication. Task communication focuses on the specific goals or objectives of the group, while social communication refers to the relational and emotional aspects of group dynamics.

Question 18

In the _____ phase of the decision making process, the group has worked through primary and secondary tensions and members express a cooperative attitude.

Accepted Answer

The emergence phase is characterized by the group overcoming primary and secondary tensions and achieving a sense of cooperation and group identity. By this phase, the group has worked through any conflicts or disagreements and is able to communicate effectively towards achieving a common goal.

Question 19

________ communication directs everyone's attention toward the leader's vision, values, and desired outcomes and motivates people to take action to help achieve the vision.

Accepted Answer

Strategic communication is focused on achieving specific goals and objectives, such as promoting a leader's vision and values. This type of communication is designed to motivate people to take action in support of the leader's goals, and to ensure that everyone is working towards the same outcomes. Strategic communication is especially important in leadership, as it helps to build trust and loyalty among team members, and creates a sense of shared purpose and commitment to the leader's vision.

Question 20

It has been shown that a group can produce more innovative ideas than individuals working alone. This creativity may be due to social ________.

Accepted Answer

Social facilitation refers to the tendency for people to perform differently when in the presence of others than when alone. In the context of creativity and idea generation, being in a group can stimulate individuals to produce more innovative ideas, as they are influenced by the dynamics and interactions within the group.

Quiz 10: Small Group Communication