Chapter 7: Work Teams

Two coworkers are having a dispute about how to achieve the goal of their company, which is to introduce the most competitive product in the smart phones industry. In the heat of the argument, one of the workers calls the other a lazy good-for-nothing. Why is this an example of a people conflict? A. Because it was a personal insult not relevant to the task. B. Because such situations often happen in the IT industry. C. Because only two of them were working, and they could not agree on how to achieve a strategic goal of the company. D. Because all conflicts are people conflicts.

A. Because it was a personal insult not relevant to the task.

Howard is vice president of media relations. Keisha is a senior web developer in marketing. Both are part of a team of high-level employees from various departments that will determine how best to present the company's new line of products to the public. Although each team member has authority over company policy, there is no designated group leader. Why is this a cross-functional team? A. Each member lends expertise in their particular field and is empowered to make decisions for the company B. It is not cross functional; marketing should be the only department making decisions on new products C. Each member is expected to cross train in the others' areas of expertise D. Each member lends expertise in their particular field and is required to choose a leader to make company decisions

A. Each member lends expertise in their particular field and is empowered to make decisions for the company

How does the lack of any conflict impact the work environment? A. It may expose conformity and lack of diversity. B. It doesn't, conflict is not an important factor in the business environment. C. It displays that the team leader has excellent management skills. D. It is, without a doubt, great for the work environment as it can be highly productive.

A. It may expose conformity and lack of diversity.

How do functional teams differ from self-directed teams? A. Members of self-directed teams have significantly more authority than those in functional teams B. Members of functional teams are all from the same department, while self-directed teams are a group of outside consultants C. Members of self-directed teams have significantly more discipline than those in functional teams D. There is no significant difference, but working in functional teams generally occurs in less formal environments

A. Members of self-directed teams have significantly more authority than those in functional teams

Why do organizations use work teams? A. Work teams offer the benefit of combined experiences, ideas and opinions B. Work teams make the members collectively accountable as opposed to just one department taking responsibility C. Work teams are beneficial in rooting out potential problems likely caused by unhappy employees D. Work teams of 50-60 members are preferred for their efficiency compared to small groups of 5-6 employees

A. Work teams offer the benefit of combined experiences, ideas and opinions

Which type of team building is aimed at improving the specific teamwork skills which group members need to accomplish their goal and can be immediately applied in the workplace? A. skills-based team building B. activity-based team building C. all of these D. problem-solving team building E. personality-based team building

A. skills-based team building

Which of these terms is used to describe a sequence of planned activities aimed at improving teamwork to increase group cohesion and effectiveness? A. team building B. group development C. focus group D. group enlargement E. team restructuring

A. team building

Thomas and Jane are working on a proposal for a new PR strategy for their company. Thomas believes that they should focus on TV ads, while Jane believes they should focus on the world of social media because most other forms of communication are outdated. Identify the kind of conflict in this situation and the reason behind it. A. It is a task conflict because they are working together on a specific project. B. It is a task conflict, because they are proposing alternative methods to achieving the same goal. C. It is a people conflict because only two people are involved. D. It is a people conflict because Jane called him outdated.

B. It is a task conflict, because they are proposing alternative methods to achieving the same goal.

Which of the following describes the likely outcome of decisions shaped by groupthink? A. They have a moderate probability of success B. They have a low probability of success C. They have a high probability of success D. They have no probability of success

B. They have a low probability of success

Groups that experience groupthink disregard _____ in order to maintain harmony in the group. A. consensus B. alternatives C. authority D. brainstorming

B. alternatives

The king of a small country wants to go to war. Everyone agrees with him in an attempt to gain his favor, even though they would be attacking a much larger nation. This an example of: A. alternatives B. groupthink C. discovery D. authority

B. groupthink

How does a perceptual set of beliefs, values and attitudes influence the behavior of people? A. Most people easily conform to what society expects of them. B. Each individual is used to modifying his/her views to those of his/her team's, and values don't really have an impact on the business environment. C. Each individual interprets factual situations in a different manner, which can lead to conflict. D. Most people in business today are detached from their emotions and values, and therefore are not influenced by them.

C. Each individual interprets factual situations in a different manner, which can lead to conflict.

Which of these terms describes the degree to which group members come together as one unit to reach a common goal? A. group synergy B. group collaboration C. group cohesion D. group respect E. group focus

C. group cohesion

What is a preventative measure that can be taken to reduce the chances of groupthink? A. Support debate and productive conflict in the group. B. Encourage full participation by every group member. C. Divide group members up into smaller brainstorming groups before sharing ideas with the larger group. D. All the answers are correct.

D. All the answers are correct.

Which of the following is NOT a type of work team common in contemporary organizations? A. Self-directed team B. Functional team C. Cross-functional team D. Culturally-diverse team

D. Culturally-diverse team

Vivian works in housekeeping at a resort hotel. She manages the laundry division and has three dozen valets and laundry attendants reporting directly to her, in addition to six contracted tailors and furniture upholsterers. Why is this a functional work team? A. The hotel cannot function without laundry services B. The team members all perform tasks related to the hotel's guest services C. Each team member understands what their role is in relation to the overall operations of the business D. The team members all perform tasks specific to the function of the department

D. The team members all perform tasks specific to the function of the department

Groupthink occurs: A. When a group does not think alike in an organization. B. When a group makes correct decisions for the sake of reaching a consensus C. When a group brainstorms ideas for a work project. D. When a group makes faulty or ineffective decisions for the sake of reaching a consensus.

D. When a group makes faulty or ineffective decisions for the sake of reaching a consensus.

Which of these is not considered a characteristic of cohesive groups? A. members have a feeling of deep loyalty and togetherness B. members make the group's goal their own C. members have a positive regard for one another and get along well D. members hold hidden agendas E. members see themselves as one entity rather than a collection of individuals

D. members hold hidden agendas

Which type of team building is used to increase the understanding of who each group member is and how to better communicate with one another? A. activity-based team building B. skills-based team building C. all of these D. personality-based team building E. problem-solving team building

D. personality-based team building

Which of the following is a major source of people conflict in teams? Jealousy Perceived inequality Good management Group cohesion

Perceived inequality

STUDY CARD: Group Development Scheme by Bruce Tuckman (1965) Five stages of group development: 1. FORMING: The forming stage represents a time where the group is just getting started and coming together and is characterized with anxiety and uncertainty. Members are cautious with their behavior and avoid conflict, controversy and personal opinions. The focus for group members during the forming stage is to become familiar with each other and their purpose. 2. STORMING: The storming stage is where conflict and competition are at its greatest because group members feel confident and begin to address some of the more important issues surrounding the group. During the storming phase, all members have an increased need for clarification before they are able to move on to the next stage. 3. NORMING: The norming stage is a time where group members become a cohesive unit. Morale is high as group members actively acknowledge the talents, skills and experience that each member brings to the group. A sense of community is established, and the group remains focused on the group's purpose and goal.

STUDY CARD: CONTINUED Five stages of group development (4&5) 4. PERFORMING: The performing stage is marked by high productivity. The overall objective of the group during the performing stage is to complete their mission and fulfill their purpose though goal achievement. After a group has completed their task they must dissolve and disband from both the task and group members. 5. ADJOURNING: This adjourning stage is used to wrap up activities of the group and provide a sense of closure to its members. This stage can be difficult for some, but members are encouraged to take what they learn from each group they are part of to aid future groups in the progression towards the performing stage.

STUDY CARD: Group Cohesion is the degree to which group members come together as one unit to reach a common goal. Members of a cohesive group: -See themselves as one entity rather than a collection of individuals -Have a positive regard for one another and get along well -Listen to and trust one another -Respect each other's opinion, even if they disagree -Have a feeling of deep loyalty and togetherness -Make the group's goal their own

STUDY CARD: Team building refers to a sequence of planned activities aimed at improving teamwork to increase group cohesion and effectiveness. 3 types of team building include: 1. Personality-based team building is used to increase the understanding of who each group member is and how to better communicate with one another. 2. Activity-based team building is used to provide a group with challenging tasks aimed at problem-solving, risk-taking, trust-building and paradigm-breaking. 3. Skills-based team building is aimed at improving specific teamwork skills that group members need to accomplish their goal and can be immediately applied in the workplace.

Which of these stages is used to wrap up activities of the group and provide a sense of closure to its members? forming norming performing storming adjourning

adjourning

Which of these stages represent the time characterized with anxiety and uncertainty when the group is just starting to come together? forming performing adjourning storming norming

forming

Which of these stages represents the time when the group becomes a cohesive unit, morale is high and members actively acknowledge the talents, skills and experience that each member brings to the group? adjourning performing norming storming forming

norming

Jennifer, Eric, Gabriel and Maria are working together to develop a marketing plan for one of their company's newest product lines. After some initial conflict, the group started to really come together. Now, the group is highly unified and very productive. The marketing plan is practically writing itself! Which stage of development is this group in? performing adjourning storming forming norming

performing

Jamal, Antonio, Lorraine and Sasha have been assigned to work together on a software development project. Their first few meetings went well. They established a rough schedule for the project and assigned responsibilities for the key tasks. Now, however, their meetings seem to be unproductive and filled with conflict. Sasha and Jamal are continually arguing about which part of the software should be developed first, and Lorraine keeps asking about who is going to present the project plan. Which stage of development is this group in? adjourning storming norming performing forming

storming