Ch. 8: Team Building and Working with Effective Groups

Any collection of interconnected individuals working together for the same purpose is known as a(n): a. club. b. group. c. meeting. d. organization

ANS: B Any collection of interconnected individuals working together for the same purpose is known as a group.

The critical care unit of a hospital utilizes team huddles at change of shift. This is an opportunity for the clinical supervisors to connect with team members and review the upcoming shift or any quick topics that need to be communicated. This is an example of a(n) _____ meeting. a. information-sharing b. opinion-seeking c. problem-solving d. strategy

ANS: A An information-sharing meeting occurs when a group is gathered to disseminate information.

Why is an interdisciplinary, team-based approach essential in health care? (Select all that apply.) a. Reimbursement protocols and government regulations require them. b. Diverse team's enhanced ability to adapt to continuous or sudden change. c. A collective pool of thinking styles allows for greater exchange of information, ideas, and problem solving. d. Rapid information dissemination is most efficient with multidisciplinary teams. e. Engaging teams in this process allows for diverse points of view, creativity, and innovation.

ANS: B, C, E Health care leaders recognize that an interdisciplinary, team-based approach is essential for high-quality, patient-centered, coordinated, and effective health care. Teamwork allows for greater exchange of information, ideas, and problem solving to address the complex issues of health care. Engaging teams in this process allows for diverse points of view, creativity, innovation, and an enhanced ability to adapt to continuous or sudden change.

A temporary group of individuals formed to carry out a specific mission or project is known as a: a. club. b. group. c. meeting. d. task force.

ANS: D A task force is a temporary group of individuals formed to carry out a specific mission or project. Task forces may solve a problem that requires a multidisciplinary approach.

Team building is the process of _____ a group. a. forming b. identifying c. organizing d. unifying

ANS: D Team building is the process of deliberately creating and unifying a group into a functioning work unit so that specific goals are accomplished.

A multidisciplinary committee meets monthly to discuss medication safety issues within the acute care areas. The quality director consistently arrives late for meetings and spends her time in the meeting answering e-mails on her smart phone. What type of disruptive behavior does this exhibit? a. Compulsive talker b. Interrupter c. Squasher d. Unreliable

ANS: D Unreliable members are not committed to the work of the group and frequently arrive late, leave early, spend time checking e-mail or texting, and simply want to show up for the purpose of appearance.

Effective groups will have a variety of roles. Which of the following are examples of group-building roles? (Select all that apply.) a. Encourager b. Listener c. Summarizer d. Compromiser e. Recorder

ANS: A, B, C Group-building roles include initiator, encourager, opinion giver, clarifier, listener, and summarizer.

The hospital's regulatory department is experiencing The Joint Commission survey. The surveyors want to review hospital policies for infection control before they leave for the evening. The regulatory team leader states that she can stay past her regular hours to wait for them and acknowledges that there will be a need for a policy change before the surveyors return the following day. All of the department managers stay to assist the regulatory team leader with the required documentation. This is an example of a: a. work group. b. committee. c. true team. d. group.

ANS: C A true team is a group where there are collective work products. There is group as well as individual accountability. If one member is having a problem, it is not only that person's problem but that of the whole team to resolve.

A collection of individuals who are led by a strong, clearly focused leader and who come together to share information and ideas and possibly make decisions is known as a: a. committee. b. pseudoteam. c. team. d. work group.

ANS: D A collection of individuals who are led by a strong, clearly focused leader and who come together to share information and ideas and possibly to make decisions is known as a work group. In a work group, there is little or no collective accountability.

A group of tenured nursing faculty at a major university votes on whether a faculty member should receive tenured status. This type of decision making is referred to as: a. autocratic decision procedure. b. consultative decision procedure. c. delegated decision procedure. d. joint decision making.

ANS: D Joint decision making occurs when the entire group makes the decision by two-thirds vote, a simple majority, consensus, or some other process. In this process, the group members have as much power as the leader.

A nursing professional practice council is being formulated within an organization. Nurses from the three acute settings will meet monthly to discuss safety, policy, and practice needs within the organization. What are some of the reasons for this group formation? (Select all that apply.) a. To provide professional socialization b. To provide an exchange forum c. To provide a mechanism for independent work accomplishment d. To allow members to test a theory e. To create a sense of status and esteem

ANS: A, B, E In nursing, formation of groups occurs primarily to provide a personal or professional socialization and exchange forum, or to provide a mechanism for interdependent work accomplishment. Groups are established within organizations to create a sense of status and esteem, they allow an individual to test and establish reality, and they function as a mechanism for getting a job done.

What are some of the positive aspects of utilizing teams in a professional setting such as health care? (Select all that apply.) a. Teams have the potential to perform at higher levels than individuals on their own. b. Teams are a way to keep decision making at the management level. c. Teams may contribute to constraints within the budget. d. Teams can motivate individual members and provide encouragement, constructive criticism, and praise. e. Teams can make individuals feel more connected to the larger organization

ANS: A, D, E Groups have the potential for being a driving force for change in an organization. Ronco (2005) identified the potential positive impact groups can have on an organization: 1. Synergy: Groups have the potential to perform at higher levels than an individual would on his or her own. 2. Positive individual impacts: Groups have the potential to improve every member of the group or at least help each one reach his or her highest potential. 3. Motivation: Groups have the potential to motivate their individual members and provide encouragement, constructive criticism, and praise. 4. Diverse thinking: Groups have the potential to engage in diverse thinking, thereby identifying problems that might otherwise go unnoticed or ignored and exploring solutions. 5. Linkage to the larger organization: Groups have the potential to make individuals feel more connected to the larger organization

Group as well as individual accountability exists within a: a. work group. b. true team. c. pseudoteam. d. committee.

ANS: B A true team occurs when there is a collective entity in which leadership rotates and is shared by various members of the team. There is group as well as individual accountability.

In planning for an effective committee meeting, what are some of the roles of the leader? (Select all that apply.) a. Allowing the group to set the agenda during the meeting b. Speaking for every member to ensure all opinions are heard c. Identifying the purpose of the meeting d. Ensuring that the meeting starts and ends on time e. Keeping the meeting directed toward accomplishing objectives

ANS: C, D, E An effective meeting checklist for leaders includes preparing an agenda and related materials, listen carefully and summarize discussion and assignments at the end of the meeting, ensure balanced dialogue by all members, identifying the purpose of the meeting, ensuring that the meeting starts and ends on time, and keeping the meeting directed toward established goals.

Work group disruption has been shown to be linked to negative outcomes. What are some factors that can contribute to work group disruptions? (Select all that apply.) a. Budget constraints b. Multidisciplinary attendance c. Reorganization d. Absenteeism e. Turnover

ANS: C, D, E Work groups can be disrupted by factors such as downsizing, reorganization, absenteeism, and turnover

In nursing, the reason groups form is: a. monetary rewards. b. mandatory obligations. c. physical needs. d. professional socialization

ANS: D In nursing, the formation of groups occurs primarily for one of two reasons: (1) to provide a personal or professional socialization and exchange forum, or (2) to provide a mechanism for interdependent work accomplishment.

The stage of group development where control issues arise and disputes or disagreements begin to emerge is the _____ stage. a. orientation b. adaptation c. emergence d. working

ANS: C Emergence is the third stage of group development and occurs as control issues arise. Disputes, disagreements, confrontations, alliances, and power struggles mark this stage of determining control over the group in order to emerge with a more consolidated identity.

When teams are assigned, but not designed, dysfunction can occur. What are some characteristics of a dysfunctional team? (Select all that apply.) a. Confusion over the purpose of the team b. Lacks real authority c. Effective interpersonal communication patterns d. Team needs placed above individual needs e. Lack of evaluation criteria

ANS: A, B, E Perils and pitfalls can occur when teams are assigned—not designed—including confusion about the team's work, the team lacks real authority, structural team building is not done, dysfunctional behavior occurs and team members don't know how to constructively deal with it, and team-based outcome measures and coaching are lacking.

Group interactions are composed of which of the following elements? (Select all that apply.) a. The unique way the group interrelates and begins to work together b. The values and norms of each individual c. The process of problem solving d. The communication that occurs among group members e. The roles played by each member

ANS: A, C, D, E Group interactions are composed of the unique way the group interrelates and begins to work together, the standards that regulate the group's behavior, the process of problem solving and decision making, the communication patterns that occur among group members, and the roles played by each member.

What are some of the advantages to group work related to problem solving? (Select all that apply.) a. There is greater sharing of knowledge and information. b. Individuals are less likely to accept a solution. c. Complex problems are more manageable in a group. d. Groups discourage individual expression. e. Group decision making is cost-effective.

ANS: A, C, E The major advantages of group problem solving over individual problem solving are greater sharing of knowledge and information, increased acceptance of solutions, complex problems are more manageable, groups allow for individual expression, and group functioning is less expensive.

A type of group that is stable, meets periodically, has an identified purpose, and is part of the organizational structure is called a: a. club. b. committee. c. group. d. meeting.

ANS: B A committee is a type of group that is stable, meets periodically, has an identified purpose, and is part of the organizational structure. An example of a committee is a policy and procedure committee.

Group problem solving is known to be more effective over individual problem solving because of a larger knowledge and information base, increased acceptance of solutions, more approaches to a problem, lower economic costs, and the ability for: a. group development. b. individual expression. c. hierarchical bonding. d. organizational team building

ANS: B Individual expression is one of the major advantages of group problem solving

Some of the major disadvantages to group decision making are negativity, individual focus, and: a. autonomous conclusion. b. disruptive conflicts. c. group synergy. d. inaccurate data interpretation.

ANS: B Ronco (2005) identified the six potential negative impacts groups can have on an organization, including negativity, passivity, individual focus, groupthink, vocal minority, and the ethical dark side. Veninga (1982) also suggested a seventh: disruptive conflicts.

Team dynamics can become dysfunctional over time. What are some factors that can contribute to team dysfunction? (Select all that apply.) a. Taking accountability b. Absence of trust c. Negotiating expectations d. Fear of conflict e. Lack of commitment

ANS: B, D, E Dysfunctional team behaviors can occur related to an absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoiding accountability, and inattention to results. Articulating and negotiating expectations for healthy interpersonal behavior benefits team development.

A small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable and whose membership should be consistent is known as a: a. committee. b. group. c. team. d. unit.

ANS: C A team is a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable and whose membership should be consisten

The nurse manager within a small department has requested that the staff decide department coverage over the holidays. The department is not associated with patient care and serves as a supportive role to the organization. The staff is to present the manager with the coverage plan during the month of December. This is an example of which type of decision? a. Autocratic decision procedure b. Consultative decision procedure c. Joint decision making d. Delegated decision procedure

ANS: D A delegated decision procedure occurs when the leader allows participants to make the final decision. An autocratic decision procedure occurs when the leader makes all of the decisions. A consultative decision procedure occurs when decisions involve employee participation but the leader still makes the decision. Joint decision making occurs when the entire group decides by vote or consensus.