WK5 Group Behavior, Conflict, and Negotiations

Identify the true statements about reciprocal interdependence.

- the conflict potential is at its maximum -management should effectively use the organizational processes of decision-making -management should skillfully use the organizational processes of communication

The sales department of a car manufacturing company is engaged in a dysfunctional conflict with the company's accounts department. In the context of changes within groups, which of the following instances are likely to occur within these group?

-Concern for individual member satisfaction is low. -The groups become more task-oriented.

Groups suffering from groupthink display:

-Illusion of invulnerability -Tendency to moralize -Felling of unanimity -Pressure to conform -Opposing ideas dismissed

Which of the following are the important characteristics of groups?

-Leadership -Roles -Norms

Which of the following are highly desirable in effective team members?

-accountability -open-mindedness

Effective group characteristics

-composition -norms - leadership -cohesion

Identify the important characteristics of groups.

-composition -status hierarchy -cohesiveness

Identify the features of the norming stage of the group development.

-cooperation and collaboration -group cohesion begins -establish and accept behavioral rules

Identify the impact of conflict, competition, or perceived external threat on a group.

-group members become even more faithful to their groups -internal disagreements within group members are suppressed

Identify the true statements about cohesiveness in a group.

-it is stronger than the forces pulling group members away from a group -it is indicative of the degree of attraction that group members have for one another

Identify the negative consequences of excessive conflict in an organization

-it needs a significant amount of time and resources to manage the conflict -it diverts energy that could more productively be used elsewhere

Identify the true statements about sequential interdependence in an organization.

-it requires the effective use of the management function of planning - conflict between different groups is likely to take place

Identify the reasons that cause employees to conform to group norms

-personal characteristics -situational factors -intergroup relationships

Perceptual Difference

-status incongruency -inaccurate perceptions -different perspectives

identify the characteristics shared by high-performing teams

-strong leadership -team cohesion -line of sight

Identify the true statements about norms

-they are accepted in varying degrees by group members -they sometimes apply only to certain group members -they are formed solely with respect to issues that are important to a group

Identify the true statements about informal group leaders.

-they are usually focused on maintaining the group as a functioning unit -they embody the group's values and help members fulfill their needs

Team effectiveness

-training -communication -empowerment -rewards

In which of the following cases are groups most likely to engage in a conflict?

-when groups have mutually exclusive goals -when limited resources have to be distributed between groups -when groups require different time horizons to meet their goals

In the context of Irving Janis's suggestions for groups to guard against groupthink, members of a group can be encouraged to raise important objections by _____.

1. encourage the group to state objections and doubts 2. leader should avoid taking sides or endorsing a particular course of action 3. break the group into subgroups to work on the same problem and then share the proposed solution with the group 4. invite in outside experts to give feedback on group processes and proposed solutions 5. assign a group member to play devil's advocate so that the important objections are raised

In the context of the criteria of group effectiveness identified by Richard Hackman, a group is ineffective when Blank______.

1. extent to which the group's productive output meets the standards of quantity, quality, and timelines of the users of the output 2. extent to which the group process of actually doing the work enhances the capability of group members to work together 3. extent to which the group experience contributes to the growth and well-being of its members answer: -it produces a product that meets users' standards in a manner destructive to the future working relationships of its members

Stages of group development

1. forming 2. storming 3. norming 4. performing 5. adjourning

functional conflict

A confrontation between groups that enhances and benefits the organization's performance.

dysfunctional conflict

A confrontation or interaction between groups that harms the organization or hinders the achievement of organizational goals.

Informal group

A group formed by individuals and developed around common interests and friendships rather than around an organizational goal.

Interest group

A group of individuals who are working as a unit to complete a project or job task.

Task group

A group of individuals who are working as a unit to complete a project or job task.

Command group

A group of subordinates who report to one particular manager. The command group is specified by the formal organization chart.

Friendship group

An informal group that is established in the workplace because of some common characteristic of its members and that may extend the interaction of its members to include activities outside the workplace.

Which of the following is true of the groups engaged in an extremely dysfunctional conflict?

Autocratic methods of leadership are likely to become more popular.

Groups requiring different time horizons

Conflict among these groups take place when problems deemed serious by one group is dismissed as insignificant by another.

Groups with limited resources

Conflicts among these groups occur especially when money is not distributed equitably between them.

a ________ is best described as a group formed by management to achieve the goals of an organization.

Formal group

Which of the following groups refers to natural groupings of individuals in workplaces in response to social needs?

Informal groups

Sequential interdependence

Interdependence requires one group to complete its task before another group can complete its task.

Reciprocal interdependence

Interdependence that requires the output of each group in an organization to serve as input to other groups in the organization.

different perspective

It occurs when different groups of an organization view the importance of a particular event in dissimilar manners.

status incongruency

It occurs when members of a particular group observe themselves as having a higher position than those of another.

inaccurate perception

It often leads the members of a particular group to develop stereotypes about members of other groups.

In an organization, reciprocal interdependence requires that ________.

Notes: -conflict is much higher -effective coordination involves management's skillful use of organizational processes of communication and decision making Answer: -the output of each group should serve as input to other groups

Identify a feature of the storming stage of group development.

Notes: -marked with conflict and confrontation -generally emotionally intense stage may involve competition among members for desired assignments and disagreements over appropriate task-related behavior Answer: it sometimes involves dispute over appropriate task-related behaviors and responsibilities

Low or no conflict = dysfunctional: effects

Notes: -slow adaptation to environmental changes -few changes -little stimulation of ideas -apathy -stagnation Answer: -it can provide little impetus for innovation and change -it can make employees apathetic and lethargic

Identify a similarity between teams and groups.

Notes: -they can be formed when two or more people interact -provide structure for the work and interaction of their members -members can perform specific technical, leadership, problem-solving, and emotional roles -share a common goal Answer: - Members of both teams and groups can perform specific problem-solving and leadership roles

In the context of the stages of group development, which of the following is true of the forming stage?

Notes: characterized by uncertainty about the purpose, structure, and leadership of the group Answer: It is marked by uncertainty about the leadership, structure, and purpose of a group

Which of the following statements are true of functional conflict in an organization?

Notes: -positive movement toward goals -innovation and change -Search for problem solutions -creativity and quick adaptation to environmental changes Answer: -it can cause increased awareness of issues that need to be addressed -it can result in comprehensive and productive searches for resolutions

Identify the true statements about pooled interdependence.

Notes: Interdependence that requires no interaction between groups because each group, in effect, performs separately Answer: -management can use standard procedures and rules formulated at the head office for coordination -the potential for conflict in pooled interdependence is comparatively low

Intergroup conflict

Occurs in interactions between two or more individuals in which there are incompatible goals, scarce resources, or different viewpoints.

Social Loafers

Produce below group norm acceptance

________ are mature groups that have a common purpose, accountability, and responsibility for achieving performance goals.

Team

Identify a feature of informal groups.

They are not created deliberately

Identify a feature of groups.

They are often randomly formed and are accountable to managers

Norms

are the standards of behavior shared by members of a group

In the context of the reasons that cause employees to conform to group norms, research shows that _______.

authoritarian personalities are more likely to conform than nonauthoritarians

During the storming stage of group development, group members ____.

begin to decide their degree of commitment to the group tasks

Enacted role

behavior that a person carries - behaviors actually performed by group members

a ________ is detailed by an organization and comprises the subordinates who are directly accountable to a specific manager.

command group

Heterogeneous group

composed of individuals who have few or no similar characteristics

Expected role

consist of the behaviors expected by the occupant -the behaviors deemed necessary by group members

a _______ is best described as a team that is comprised of members from various operating departments

cross-functional team

In the context of the stages of group development, the forming stage is generally complete when the group structure is set. true or false

false

Normally, the point at which a functional conflict becomes dysfunctional is precisely identifiable. True false question.TrueFalse

false

The objectives of interest groups are related to the objectives of their organization and are not specific to each group. true or false

false

Unlike social loafers, rate-busters are group members who _____.

far exceed group norms of acceptable behavior

a ____ _____ is a group created because of some common characteristics of its members, who may extend their interactions to include activities outside the workplace.

friendship group

a ______ ______ is a confrontation between groups that enhances and benefits an organization's performance.

functional conflict

A ________ is two or more people interacting with one another to achieve a common goal.

group

What happens when a group is highly cohesive but has goals that are incongruent with those of a formal organization?

group behavior will be negative from the formal organizations standpoint

In the context of the stages of group development, norming is the stage in which ________.

group cohesion begins to increase significantly

According to Irving Janis, _____________ is the deterioration of the mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment of the individual members of a group in the interest of group solidarity.

groupthink

In the context of group composition, a ________ group is composed of individuals who have few or no similar attributes.

heterogeneous

In the context of group composition _________ groups have a number of characteristics in common.

homogenous

Identify a true statement about the adjourning stage of group development

it can be marked by positive feelings centering on successful task achievement

Why is the leadership role a very important feature of groups?

it exerts influence over the other members of the group -leaders in formal groups can offer rewards or mete out punishment -leaders exercise influence over the group members

Identify a true statement about the performing stage of group development

it is characterized by a focus on the accomplishment of accepted tasks

In the context of problem-solving teams, identify a feature of quality circles.

notes: A small group of employees who meet on a regular basis, usually on company time, to recommend improvements and solve quality-related problems. Frequently a part of total quality management efforts. Answer: -They are comprised of employees who carry out related tasks

Rate-busters

over-producing workers

Interdependence that requires no interaction between groups because each group, in effect, performs separately is called _____ _______

pooled interdependence

Perceived role

set of behaviors that a person in a position believes he or she should enact -the behaviors that group members believe are necessary

Homogenous group

share a number of similar characteristics

_________is the tendency for individuals to exert lesser effort in groups than when working on their own.

social loafing

There are ten guards on duty at a museum of natural history. Their duties are to watch for intruders, guard the museum's entrances, and protect the museum's exhibits. The guards form a ___________.

task group

a ______ consists of employees who work together to complete a specific project

task group

Identify a difference between teams and groups.

team members are internally accountable to one another, whereas group members are accountable to managers

identify a true statement about cross-functional teams

team members are often from different organizational levels.

Training

team members should be aware of the organization's philosophy regarding the team mission and new responsibilities and roles that individuals will have as a result of being part of the team.

Rewards

teams should be recompensed when they perform well

Communication

teams should have complete access to information that was formerly restricted if they are to be effective

Empowerment

teams should have the authority to make decisions and take action autonomously

identify a feature of the performing stage of group development.

the group is completely functional

Attraction

the motivational, performance, attitudinal, or perceptual similarities that draw people together

Proximity

the physical distance between employees performing a task

Identify an example of a command group

the relationship between a senior manager and the junior managers who report to him or her

For an organization, the consequences of a conflict depend on ______

the way the conflict is managed

Identify a feature of informal groups.

their activities may differ from those required by an organization

Employees become members of formal groups in organizations based on __________.

their position in the organization

Which of the following is true of self-managed teams?

their use in multinational firms' foreign affiliates has increased due to global competition

In the context of research and development teams, identify a true statement about skunkworks teams.

they often have facilities that are away from the rest of the organization

Identify a true statement about virtual teams

they use communication` links to complete their tasks

Identify a characteristic of teams.

they work and perform in a synergistic manner

One of the strongest reasons for people to form groups is that they believe that membership in a certain group will help them satisfy important needs. true or false

true