Chapter 9 Understanding Work Teams
3 47) When teams are under acute stress, they are particularly likely to have ________. A) inaccurate mental models B) high team efficacy C) goal congruence D) a self-serving bias E) high reflexivity
Answer: A Explanation: A) Effective teams share accurate mental models, or knowledge and beliefs (a "psychological map") about how the work gets done. If team members have the wrong mental models, which is particularly likely with teams under acute stress, their performance suffers. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 131 Objective: Mental Models Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 27) Team members with good listening, feedback, and conflict resolution skills are examples of ________ skills. A) technical B) problem-solving C) decision-making D) interpersonal E) cognitive appraisal
Answer: D Explanation: D) Team members with good listening, feedback, and conflict resolution skills are examples of interpersonal skills. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 127 AACSB: Communication Objective: Skills of Team Members Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
6 You are vice-president of a division of a large, multi-national company that makes electronic equipment for consumers and the military. Your company has several teams and there are several managers managing those teams. 63) Joan, your director of accounting, has created a team of seven employees from the accounts payable department who meet for three hours a week to discuss ways of improving quality, efficiency and the work environment. This is an example of a ________ team. A) problem-solving B) self-managed C) cross-functional D) virtual E) task-resolution
Answer: A Explanation: A) Problem-solving teams share ideas or suggest how work processes and methods (such as quality, efficiency, and the work environment), can be improved. They rarely have the authority to unilaterally implement any of their suggestions. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 124 AACSB: Analytic Skills Objective: Problem-Solving Teams Quest. Category: Application
1 2) Which of the following statements best defines a work group? A) The performance of a work group is generally greater than the sum of its inputs from individual members. B) A work group interacts primarily to share information, rather than to engage in work that requires joint effort. C) A work group consists of 3 or more people who take on self-supervising responsibilities. D) A work group consists of 3 or more people from across departmental or functional lines. E) A work group is a group comprised of 10 or more people who belong to the same department.
Answer: B Explanation: B) A group consists of two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to achieve particular objectives. A work group is defined as a group that interacts primarily to share information and to make decisions to help each group member perform within his or her area of responsibility. They have no need or opportunity to engage in collective work that requires joint effort. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 123 Objective: Work Groups Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 21) According to the team effectiveness model, which of the following is a process variable that influences effectiveness of a team? A) leadership and structure B) team efficacy C) member flexibility D) performance evaluation and reward systems E) abilities of members
Answer: B Explanation: B) Process variables are events within the team that influence effectiveness. Team efficacy is a process variable that influences effectiveness of a team. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 126 Objective: Adequate Resources Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 32) ________suggests that attributes such as age or the date of joining should help us predict turnover. A) Employee mobility B) Organizational demography C) Residential mobility D) Demographic environment E) Population dynamics
Answer: B Explanation: B) The degree to which members of a work unit (group, team, or department) share a common demographic attribute, such as age, sex, race, educational level, or length of service in the organization, is the subject of organizational demography. Diff: 3 Page Ref: 129 Objective: Key Roles of Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 13) ________ teams are an effective way to allow people from diverse areas within an organization to exchange information, develop new ideas and solve problems, and coordinate complex projects. A) Self-managed B) Problem-solving C) Cross-functional D) Task E) Command
Answer: C Explanation: C) Cross-functional teams are teams made up of employees from about the same hierarchical level but different work areas, who come together to accomplish a task. They are an effective means of allowing people from diverse areas to exchange information, develop new ideas, solve problems, and coordinate complex projects. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 125 Objective: Cross-Functional Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 24) Leadership is especially important in ________, in which different teams coordinate their efforts to produce a desired outcome. A) technical teams B) self-managed teams C) problem-solving teams D) management teams E) multi-team systems
Answer: E Explanation: E) Leadership is especially important in multi-team systems. Here, leaders need to empower teams by delegating responsibility to them, and then play the role of facilitator, making sure the teams work together rather than against one another. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 127 Objective: Leadership and Structure Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 20) With reference to the team effectiveness model, which of the following is one of the key components of an effective team, included under the category of contextual factors? A) team efficacy B) climate of trust C) common purpose D) social loafing E) specific goals
Answer: B Explanation: B) Climate of trust is a contextual factor that affects the effectiveness of teams. Team efficacy, social loafing, specific goals, and common purpose are process related factors that affect the effectiveness of the team. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 126 Objective: Contextual Factors of Effective Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 64) Jack, your director of manufacturing, has created a team of eleven employees from quality control. Jack gives the team members the responsibility of planning and scheduling their own work, and making operating decisions. Also, members of this team evaluate each other's performance. This is an example of a ________ team. A) problem-solving B) self-managed C) cross-functional D) virtual E) task-resolution
Answer: B Explanation: B) Self-managed work teams are groups of employees who perform highly related or interdependent jobs and take on many of the responsibilities of their former supervisors. These tasks are planning, assigning tasks to members, making operating decisions, taking action on problems, and working with suppliers and customers. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 124 AACSB: Analytic Skills Objective: Self-Managed Teams Quest. Category: Application
3 52) Teams fit well in countries that score ________. A) high on power distance B) high on collectivism C) low on uncertainty avoidance D) high on long term orientation E) low on restraint
Answer: B Explanation: B) Teams fit well in countries that score high on collectivism. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 131 AACSB: Analytic Skills Objective: Training Quest. Category: Application
4 58) As compared to individual work, teamwork ________. A) involves fewer meetings B) takes more time C) needs less resources D) decreases communication demands E) decreases the need for conflict management
Answer: B Explanation: B) Teamwork takes more time and often more resources than individual work. Teams have increased communication demands, conflicts to manage, and meetings to run. So the benefits of using teams have to exceed the costs, and that's not always the case. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 133 Objective: Costs of Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 17) Which of the following statements is true regarding virtual teams? A) Virtual teams are less task oriented than face-to-face teams. B) In the case of virtual teams there is less social rapport and direct interaction among members. C) Virtual teams report more satisfaction with the group interaction process than do face-to-face teams. D) Virtual teams exchange more social-emotional information than face-to-face teams do. E) For increasing the efficiency of a virtual team, managers should empower the team and avoid monitoring its progress closely.
Answer: B Explanation: B) Virtual teams tend to be more task oriented and exchange less social-emotional information than face-to-face teams do. Not surprisingly, their members report less satisfaction with the group interaction process than do face-to-face teams. In the case of virtual teams there is less social rapport and direct interaction among members. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 125 Objective: Virtual Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
1 5) Which of the following statements is true regarding a work group? A) Individuals working in a workgroup are dependent on each other. B) Work groups primarily engage in collective work that requires joint effort. C) Work groups do not generate any positive synergy through coordinated effort. D) Information sharing is not the primary function of a work group. E) The performance level of the workgroup is greater than the summation of each group member's individual contribution.
Answer: C Explanation: C) A work group consists of two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to achieve particular objectives. The primary function of workgroup is sharing information. Work groups have no need or opportunity to engage in collective work that requires joint effort. So their performance is merely the summation of each group member's individual contribution. There is no positive synergy that would create an overall level of performance greater than the sum of the inputs. Diff: 3 Page Ref: 123 Objective: Work Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
6 61) Which of the following statements is true regarding a culturally diverse team? A) Elements of diversity do not interfere with team processes. B) Culturally homogeneous teams have more difficulty learning to work with each other and solving problems than culturally heterogeneous teams. C) Generally, newly formed culturally diverse teams underperform when compared to newly formed culturally homogeneous teams. D) Cultural diversity within a team is not advisable for those tasks that call for a variety of viewpoints. E) Solving problems is more difficult for culturally homogeneous teams than it is for culturally heterogeneous teams.
Answer: C Explanation: C) Evidence indicates these elements of diversity interfere with team processes, at least in the short term. Cultural diversity does seem to be an asset for tasks that call for a variety of viewpoints. But culturally heterogeneous teams have more difficulty learning to work with each other and solving problems. Although newly formed culturally diverse teams underperform as compared to newly formed culturally homogeneous teams, the differences disappear after about 3 months. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 134 Objective: Extent of Teamwork Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 18) Eva is not getting the results she needs from her data base administration team. She believes that this problem is occurring because the administration team is a virtual team. Which of the following is one of the things that Eva should do to create an effective virtual team? A) Conduct training for improving interpersonal skills B) Allow more independence among members. C) Monitor progress of the team closely. D) Include peer evaluation in the appraisal system. E) Avoid publicizing team successes company wide.
Answer: C Explanation: C) For virtual teams to be effective, management should ensure that (1) trust is established among members; (2) team progress is monitored closely; and (3) the efforts and products of the team are publicized throughout the organization (so the team does not become invisible). The members should be highly monitored, and less independent. Training related to interpersonal skills will not be very effective in the case of a virtual team. Peer evaluation is not related to improving effectiveness of a virtual team. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 125 Objective: Virtual Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 37) Generally speaking, the most effective teams have ________ members. A) two to four B) three to five C) five to nine D) ten to fifteen E) fifteen to twenty
Answer: C Explanation: C) Generally speaking, the most effective teams have five to nine members. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 129 Objective: Size of Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 28) A high-ability team is composed of mostly intelligent members. Which of the following statements is true regarding a high-ability team? A) High-ability teams are also less adaptable to changing situations as compared to low-ability teams. B) When tasks are simple, high-ability teams perform better than low-ability teams. C) High-ability teams should be reserved for tackling the tough problems. D) Low-ability teams can more effectively apply existing knowledge to new problems than high-ability teams. E) When the task entails considerable thought, lower-ability teams perform better than high-ability teams.
Answer: C Explanation: C) High-ability teams are more adaptable to changing situations; they can more effectively apply existing knowledge to new problems. When tasks are simple, high-ability teams do not perform as well, perhaps because members become bored and turn their attention to other activities that are more stimulating, whereas low-ability teams stay on task. High-ability teams should be reserved for tackling the tough problems. When the task entails considerable thought, high-ability teams perform better than lower-ability teams. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 128 Objective: Skills of Team Members Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 50) Coasting on the group effort is termed ________. A) emotional labor B) cognitive dissonance C) social loafing D) positivity offset E) self-concordance
Answer: C Explanation: C) Individuals can engage in social loafing and coast on the group's effort because their particular contributions can't be identified. Effective teams undermine this tendency by making members individually and jointly accountable for the team's purpose, goals, and approach. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 131 Objective: Social Loafing Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 43) Members of successful teams put a tremendous amount of time and effort into discussing, shaping, and agreeing on ________ which then provides direction and guidance under any and all conditions. A) the level of individual contribution B) allocation of resources C) a common purpose D) allocation of roles E) developing team efficacy
Answer: C Explanation: C) Members of successful teams put a tremendous amount of time and effort into discussing, shaping, and agreeing on a purpose that belongs to them both collectively and individually. This common purpose, when accepted by the team provides direction and guidance under any and all conditions. Diff: 3 Page Ref: 130 Objective: Turning Individuals into Team Players Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 34) Which of the following factors typically improves the creativity of a diverse team? A) specific goals B) team size C) proper leadership D) member flexibility E) team efficacy
Answer: C Explanation: C) Proper leadership can improve the performance of diverse teams. When leaders provide an inspirational common goal for members with varying types of education and knowledge, teams are very creative. When leaders don't provide such goals, diverse teams fail to take advantage of their unique skills and are actually less creative than teams with homogeneous skills. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 129 Objective: Key Roles of Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 30) Teams that are composed of people who score high on ________ are more creative and innovative. A) emotional stability B) agreeableness C) openness to experience D) extraversion E) conscientiousness
Answer: C Explanation: C) Team members scoring high on openness to experience communicate better with one another and throw out more ideas, which makes teams composed of open people more creative and innovative. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 128 Objective: Personality Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
4 55) Evidence shows that teams that switch from a competitive to a cooperative system do not ________. A) make poor decisions B) make rushed decisions C) share information D) have conflicts E) distrust each other
Answer: C Explanation: C) Teams that switch from a competitive to a cooperative system do not share information and they tend to make rushed, poor-quality decisions. The low trust typical of the competitive group will not be readily replaced by high trust. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 132 Objective: Training Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 36) Which of the following terms indicates the degree to which members of a work unit (group, team, or department) share a common attribute, such as age, sex, race, or educational level? A) demographic environment B) residential mobility C) organizational demography D) population dynamics E) employee mobility
Answer: C Explanation: C) The degree to which members of a work unit (group, team, or department) share a common demographic attribute, such as age, sex, race, educational level, or length of service in the organization, is the subject of organizational demography. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 129 Objective: Diversity Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
1 3) Which of the following statements is true regarding a work team? A) Today teams are rarely used in organizations. B) Teams are less flexible than traditional departments. C) A work team generates positive synergy through coordinated effort. D) Work teams are less responsive to changing events than traditional departments. E) Teams impedes employee participation in decision making.
Answer: C Explanation: C) Today most of the organizations use teams. Teams are more flexible and responsive to changing events than traditional departments or other forms of permanent groupings. A work team generates positive synergy through coordinated effort. Teams facilitate employee participation in operating decisions. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 123 Objective: Work Groups Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 45) Effective teams have confidence in themselves and believe they can succeed. This confidence is called ________. A) social facilitation B) goal congruence C) social loafing D) team efficacy E) self serving bias
Answer: D Explanation: D) Efficacy means that a team believes it can succeed in the job and goal that is placed before them. There are two ways to increasing efficacy: 1) provide training to improve skills and increase confidence and 2) help the team achieve small, incremental successes. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 131 Objective: Team Efficacy Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 66) Janice is your director of sales. Since her team members are located in Europe, Asia, and North America, she has decided to use instant messaging to tie her team members together in order to develop a marketing strategy for a new product line. This is an example of a ________ team. A) problem-solving B) self-managed C) cross-functional D) virtual E) task-resolution
Answer: D Explanation: D) Virtual teams use computer technology to unite physically dispersed members and achieve a common goal. Janice has created a virtual team. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 125 AACSB: Analytic Skills; Multicultural and Diversity Objective: Virtual Teams Quest. Category: Application
3 You work for an international company that has offices around the world. You have been asked to pull together a global virtual team to handle a specific project. The project is expected to take 3 to 5 years to complete. You are free to include individuals from any of the company's offices, which are located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Britain, Australia, and Japan. 69) Provided that all of the team members are equally qualified, which of the following teams is likely to be the least challenging to manage? A) A team comprised of members drawn equally from all of the company's offices, because culturally diverse teams tend to operate with minimal conflict. B) A team comprised primarily of members from the United States, because employees from countries with individualistic values tend to function well in teams. C) A team comprised primarily of members from Canada, Britain, and Australia, because cultures of these countries are characterized by high power distance. D) A team comprised of members from both Japan and Mexico, because employees from these countries tend to focus on individual accomplishments. E) A team comprised primarily of members from either Japan or another Asian-Pacific country, because employees from countries with collectivist values tend to adjust easily to team structures.
Answer: E Explanation: E) Teams fit well in countries that score high on collectivism. In one study, employees from Asian-Pacific countries reported the highest level of team participation, compared to the United States and Canada, with the United States ranking the lowest. Diff: 3 Page Ref: 133 AACSB: Analytic Skills Objective: Collectivist Societies Quest. Category: Application
1 4) ________ results in a level of performance that is greater than the sum of the individual inputs. A) Synergy B) Positive affect C) Emotional labor D) Cognitive dissonance E) Emotional dissonance
Answer: A Explanation: A) A work team generates positive synergy through coordinated effort. The individual efforts result in a level of performance greater than the sum of those individual inputs. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 123 Objective: Synergy Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
4 54) Exercises that help individuals become team players include workshops on ________. A) negotiation B) individualism C) goal setting D) event planning E) recruiting
Answer: A Explanation: A) Communication and negotiation are important team necessities. Workshops help employees improve their problem solving, communication, negotiation, conflict-management, and coaching skills. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 132 Objective: Training Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 29) People scoring high on ________ are valuable in teams because they're good at backing up fellow team members and at sensing when that support is truly needed. A) conscientiousness B) positivity C) emotional stability D) agreeableness E) openness to experience
Answer: A Explanation: A) Conscientious people are valuable in teams because they're good at backing up other team members, and they're also good at sensing when that support is truly needed. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 128 Objective: Personality Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
6 62) Diversity is an asset for teams where tasks ________. A) require a variety of viewpoints B) are simple C) involve emotional labor D) are highly technical E) required for completing the work are highly interdependent
Answer: A Explanation: A) Cultural diversity does seem to be an asset for tasks that call for a variety of viewpoints. However, in other circumstances, diversity seems to interfere with team processes in the short term. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 134 Objective: Global Implications Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 19) Which of the following is not one of the key components of effective teams? A) team efficacy B) a well-established company identity C) adequate resources D) member flexibility E) leadership and structure
Answer: B Explanation: B) A well-established company identity is not one of the key components of effective teams. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 126 Objective: Components of Effective Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 25) Araceli is a team member in a large corporation. She never speaks in team meetings because she has seen members talk behind each others' backs after the meetings. Members are constantly monitoring the other members' work, looking for a mistakes to point out in a meeting. According to the information provided, which contextual factor is most likely hindering the success of Araceli's team? A) adequate resources B) climate of trust C) team structure D) performance evaluations E) leadership
Answer: B Explanation: B) Araceli doesn't contribute because she does not feel like the group has a climate of trust. Interpersonal trust facilitates cooperation, reduces the need to monitor each others' behavior, and bonds members around the belief that others on the team won't take advantage of them. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 127 AACSB: Analytic Skills Objective: Trust Quest. Category: Application
1) Which of the following helps explain the current popularity of teams? Teams ________. A) are easier to manage B) better utilize employee talents C) are less expensive D) promote socialization and cohesion E) increase the speed of decision making.
Answer: B Explanation: B) As organizations have restructured themselves to compete more effectively and efficiently, they have turned to teams as a better way to use employee talents. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 122 Objective: Popularity of Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 14) The Boeing Company created a team made up of employees from production, planning, quality control, tooling, design engineering, and information systems to automate shims on the company's C-17 program. This team is most likely to be an example of a ________ team. A) command B) cross-functional C) self-managed D) problem-solving E) task
Answer: B Explanation: B) Cross-functional teams are teams made up of employees from about the same hierarchical level but different work areas, who come together to accomplish a task. They are an effective means of allowing people from diverse areas to exchange information, develop new ideas, solve problems, and coordinate complex projects. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 125 Objective: Cross-Functional Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 40) Effective teams begin their work by ________. A) allocating roles to team members according to their personalities and preferences B) analyzing the team's mission C) developing a climate of trust among team members D) developing team efficacy E) designing specific goals
Answer: B Explanation: B) Effective teams begin by analyzing the team's mission, developing goals to achieve that mission, and creating strategies for achieving the goals. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 130 Objective: Adequate Resources Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 46) Which of the following is most likely to increase team efficacy? A) providing measurable goals B) helping the team achieve small successes C) improving the reflexivity of the team D) ensuring that team goals are challenging E) reducing the number of members on a team
Answer: B Explanation: B) Efficacy means that a team believes it can succeed in the job and goal that is placed before them. There are two ways to increasing efficacy: 1) provide training to improve skills and increase confidence and 2) help the team achieve small, incremental successes. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 131 Objective: Team Efficacy Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
5 60) Evidence suggests self-managed teams have not fared well in Mexico because ________. A) the culture in Mexico has high tolerance for ambiguity B) the employees in Mexico strongly respect hierarchical authority C) the culture in Mexico is characterized by low power distance D) the culture of Mexico is individualistic in nature E) the culture in Mexico has short term orientation
Answer: B Explanation: B) Evidence suggests self-managed teams have not fared well in Mexico, largely due to that culture's low tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty and employees' strong respect for hierarchical authority. Thus, in countries relatively high in power distance a team may need to be structured so leadership roles are spelled out and power relationships identified. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 134 Objective: Global Implications Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 12) Which of the following teams are more likely to be made up of employees from about the same hierarchical level but different work areas? A) problem-solving B) self-managed C) cross-functional D) task E) rapid action
Answer: C Explanation: C) Cross-functional teams are teams made up of employees from about the same hierarchical level but different work areas, who come together to accomplish a task. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 124 Objective: Cross-Functional Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 38) Which of the following statements is true regarding size of teams? A) Generally speaking, the most effective teams have twelve to fifteen members. B) When teams have excess members, cohesiveness declines. C) As team size increases, social loafing decreases. D) When teams have excess members mutual accountability increases. E) As team size increases, coordination problems tend to decrease.
Answer: B Explanation: B) Generally speaking, the most effective teams have five to nine members. When teams have excess members, cohesiveness and mutual accountability decline, social loafing increases, and more people communicate less. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 129 Objective: Process Variables Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 23) In a ________ team, the manager's job becomes more about managing outside the team. A) technical B) self-managed C) problem-solving D) task E) virtual
Answer: B Explanation: B) In a self-managed team, team members absorb many of the duties typically assumed by managers. A manager's job then becomes managing outside (rather than inside) the team. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 127 Objective: Leadership and Structure Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 9) Which of the following types of teams is most likely to be assembled to improve the efficiency of a company's production process? A) cross-functional B) problem-solving C) self-managed D) critical E) task
Answer: B Explanation: B) Problem-solving teams share ideas or suggest how work processes and methods (such as quality, efficiency, and the work environment), can be improved. They rarely have the authority to unilaterally implement any of their suggestions. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 124 Objective: Problem-Solving Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 10) ________ teams are groups of employees who perform highly related or interdependent jobs and take on many of the responsibilities of their former supervisors. A) Critical B) Self-managed work C) Cross-functional D) Problem-solving E) Task
Answer: B Explanation: B) Self-managed work teams are groups of employees who perform highly related or interdependent jobs and take on many of the responsibilities of their former supervisors. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 124 Objective: Self-Managed Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 You are the manager of a software design firm that develops software programs for clients using teams of specialists. One of your most successful teams has been together for nearly 5 years. In the past, this team has performed effectively, and you have been very satisfied with the team's output. Recently, however, you have noticed a marked decrease in the team's performance. You investigate to determine the problem. 67) After interviewing all 7 team members, you determine that one of the team members performs routine administrative tasks that are rarely visible to any of the other team members. You suspect that this team member may be loafing off and lagging in his duties. You could most likely improve that team member's output by ________. A) encouraging him to work more independently B) making his work clearly visible to the other team members C) empowering the team member to make decisions D) providing him with administrative training E) giving him additional assignments to complete
Answer: B Explanation: B) This team member is engaging in social loafing. Effective teams undermine this tendency by making members individually and jointly accountable for the team's purpose, goals, and approach. Therefore, members should be clear on what they are individually responsible for and what they are jointly responsible for on the team. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 129 AACSB: Analytic Skills Objective: Process Quest. Category: Application
3 49) Which type of conflict is almost always dysfunctional? A) task conflict B) efficacy conflict C) relationship conflict D) resource conflict E) goal conflict
Answer: C Explanation: C) Conflict on a team isn't necessarily bad and can actually improve team effectiveness. Relationship conflicts, those based on interpersonal incompatibilities, tension, and animosity toward others, are almost always dysfunctional. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 131 Objective: Conflict Levels Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 65) Your company has recently landed a contract to design and manufacture a new state-of-the-art electronic device for the military. This will be a very complex project, requiring many different types of skills. Which of the following types of teams is most suited for the project? A) problem-solving B) self-managed C) cross-functional D) virtual E) task-resolution
Answer: C Explanation: C) Cross-functional teams are teams made up of employees from about the same hierarchical level but different work areas, who come together to accomplish a task. They are an effective means of allowing people from diverse areas to exchange information, develop new ideas, solve problems, and coordinate complex projects such as this one. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 124 AACSB: Analytic Skills Objective: Cross-Functional Teams Quest. Category: Application
3 42) ________ illustrates a process loss from using teams. A) Emotional contagion B) Cognitive dissonance C) Social loafing D) Positivity offset E) Emotional dissonance
Answer: C Explanation: C) In the case of a team, when each member's contribution is not clearly visible, individuals tend to decrease their effort. This is known as social loafing. Social loafing illustrates a process loss from using teams. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 130 Objective: Popularity of Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 8) Self-managed teams typically consist of ________ employees. A) two to four B) four to eight C) ten to fifteen D) twenty to thirty E) forty to fifty
Answer: C Explanation: C) Self-managed teams typically consist of ten to fifteen employees. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 124 Objective: Problem-Solving Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
4 59) Work should be performed by an individual if ________. A) the work is complex and requires different perspectives B) the work creates a common purpose or set of goals for the people in the group that is more than the aggregate of individual goals C) the work is simple and does not require diverse input D) several tasks that are interdependent are to be performed for completing the work E) performing the work requires learning a new technology or understanding a new system
Answer: C Explanation: C) Simple tasks that don't require diverse input are better left to individuals, whereas complex tasks that require diverse input are best accomplished by teams. A successful team identifies a common goal; together, members of the team work to accomplish more than they could had they worked individually. Using teams makes sense when there is interdependence between tasks-the success of the whole depends on the success of the individual parts. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 133 Objective: Costs of Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
1 6) Which of the following is not a difference between work groups and work teams? Work groups ________, and work teams ________. A) shave neutral synergy, have positive synergy B) rely on independent accountability, rely on mutual and independent accountability C) require joint efforts, are the summation of the individual contribution D) have random and varied skills, have complimentary skills E) share information, rely on collective performance
Answer: C Explanation: C) Work groups have no need or opportunity to engage in collective work that requires joint effort. Work group performance is merely the summation of each group member's individual contribution making (C) the false @Answer. All other @Answer choices accurately describe the difference between work groups and work teams. Diff: 3 Page Ref: 123 Objective: Work Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 44) Alberto's team is evaluating and developing the data base for the water pollution data of three cities. He wants to improve the team efficacy of his team. Which of the following actions can Alberto take to increase team efficacy before the project starts? A) plan a team outing for the team members B) make sure that his team is not comprised of more than nine people C) spend considerable time evaluating team members and allocating proper roles for each D) provide client's software and database training for all the team members E) create team goals that are very challenging
Answer: D Explanation: D) Efficacy means that a team believes it can succeed in the job and goal that is placed before them. There are two ways of increasing efficacy: 1) provide training to improve skills and increase confidence and 2) help the team achieve small, incremental successes. Diff: 3 Page Ref: 131 AACSB: Analytic Skills Objective: Team Efficacy Quest. Category: Application
1 7) A team consists of employees from the same department who meet for a few hours each week to discuss ways of improving the work environment but they do not have the authority to unilaterally implement any of their suggestions. This is most likely to be a ________ team. A) cross-functional B) virtual C) self-managed D) problem-solving E) task
Answer: D Explanation: D) In a problem-solving team, members share ideas or suggest how work processes and methods can be improved; they rarely have the authority to unilaterally implement any of their suggestions. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 124 Objective: Types of Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
4 56) Which of following statements is true regarding a reward system that attempts to create good team players? A) The reward system should encourage competitive efforts. B) Rewards given to individuals should be based on peer evaluation. C) The reward system should ignore individual contributions. D) Performance-based rewards could include a bonus based on achievement of team goals. E) The reward system should discourage cooperative efforts.
Answer: D Explanation: D) In order to create good team players, an organization's reward system must be reworked to encourage cooperative efforts rather than competitive ones. This doesn't mean individual contributions should be ignored; rather, they should be balanced with selfless contributions to the team. In order to encourage cooperative efforts, the reward system can include a bonus based on achievement of team goals. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 132 Objective: Training Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
4 57) Which of the following techniques can be used for increasing effectiveness of teams? A) Implement a reward system that encourages competitive efforts. B) The appraisal system should take into consideration peer evaluation. C) Avoid giving promotions and pay raises for individual contributions. D) Training should be provided to those candidates who lack team skills. E) The reward system should discourage cooperative efforts.
Answer: D Explanation: D) In order to create good team players, an organization's reward system must be reworked to encourage cooperative efforts rather than competitive ones. This doesn't mean individual contributions should be ignored; rather, they should be balanced with selfless contributions to the team. Training should be provided to those candidates who lack team skills. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 132 Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
4 41) In the case of a team, when each member's contribution is not clearly visible, ________. A) team efficacy tends to increase B) team cohesiveness tends to decrease C) motivation of the team members tends to increase D) team members tend to decrease their efforts E) mutual accountability of the team members tends to decrease
Answer: D Explanation: D) In the case of a team, when each member's contribution is not clearly visible, individuals tend to decrease their effort. This illustrates a process loss from using teams. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 130 Objective: Use of Work Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 68) During an interview with one team member, you learn that several members of the team have had conflicts regarding the content of a task to which the team was recently assigned. Are these conflicts likely to be reducing the group's productivity? A) Yes, because interpersonal conflicts always hurt a team's performance. B) No, because conflicts based on personal animosity rarely affect team operations. C) Yes, because task-related conflicts lead to poor team decisions. D) No, because task-related conflicts usually benefit the performance of a team. E) Yes, because disagreements about tasks usually lessen groupthink.
Answer: D Explanation: D) Interpersonal conflicts are almost always dysfunctional but the conflict involved in this case is a task conflict. Conflict on a team isn't necessarily bad. On teams performing nonroutine activities, disagreements among members about task content (called task conflicts) stimulate discussion, promote critical assessment of problems and options, and can lead to better team decisions. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 131 AACSB: Analytic Skills Objective: Conflict Levels Quest. Category: Application
3 48) If team members have similar mental models then it means that the team members have similar ________. A) roles within the team B) self-efficacy C) knowledge and skills D) beliefs about how the work gets done E) attitude towards social loafing
Answer: D Explanation: D) Mental models indicate knowledge and beliefs of team members about how the work gets done. If team members have different ideas about how to do things, the team will fight over how to do things rather than focus on what needs to be done. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 131 Objective: Mental Models Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 51) On teams performing nonroutine activities, ________ conflicts stimulate discussion, promote critical assessment of problems and options, and can lead to better team decisions. A) relationship B) efficacy C) resource D) task E) social
Answer: D Explanation: D) On teams performing nonroutine activities, disagreements among members about task content (called task conflicts) stimulate discussion, promote critical assessment of problems and options, and can lead to better team decisions. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 131 Objective: Collectivist Societies Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 35) According to the concept of organizational demography, if team members have dissimilar experiences, it will lead to ________. A) increased employee satisfaction B) decreased level of conflicts C) higher employee motivation D) higher employee turnover E) higher team efficacy
Answer: D Explanation: D) Organizational demography suggests that attributes such as age or the date of joining should help us predict turnover. The logic goes like this: Turnover will be greater among those with dissimilar experiences because communication is more difficult. Conflict and power struggles are more likely and are more severe when they occur. Increased conflict makes membership less attractive, so employees are more likely to quit. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 129 Objective: Key Roles of Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
4 53) You need to hire an analyst for an important project team. It is essential that the new employee work well on the already established team in order to meet the project's challenging deadlines. The most talented candidate doesn't have any team experience and when asked in the interview about his team experience he replied, "I prefer to work alone. I'm much more efficient alone." What should you do? A) Hire him and train him. B) Hire him and hope that he learns. C) Hire him and redesign the job. D) Look for a different candidate. E) Hire him and assign him a mentor.
Answer: D Explanation: D) The candidate should not be hired. Creating teams often means resisting the urge to hire the best talent no matter what. The project has looming deadlines, so training isn't an option. Hoping that he'll learn is too much of a risk to the project, and not fair to the existing team. Redesigning the job is not an option. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 132 AACSB: Analytic Skills Objective: Selection Quest. Category: Application
3 33) To realize their creative potential, diverse teams need to focus on their ________. A) similarities B) resources C) role allocation D) differences E) team efficacy
Answer: D Explanation: D) To realize their creative potential, diverse teams need to focus not on their similarities but on their differences. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 129 Objective: Key Roles of Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 16) Which of the following types of teams allows for collaboration between team members who are physically dispersed? A) problem-solving teams B) self-managed teams C) task teams D) virtual teams E) command teams
Answer: D Explanation: D) Virtual teams use computer technology to unite physically dispersed members and achieve a common goal. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 125 Objective: Virtual Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 15) Which of the following statements is true regarding a cross-functional team? A) A cross-functional team is made up of employees from different hierarchical levels. B) A cross-functional team is made up of employees from the same department. C) Today cross-functional teams are rarely used in well established organizations. D) In the case of a cross-functional team, the early stages of development are typically very short. E) Cross-functional teams are used for developing new ideas and coordinating complex projects.
Answer: E Explanation: E) Cross-functional teams are made up of employees from about the same hierarchical level but different work areas. Today cross-functional teams are widely used in several organizations. Cross-functional teams are an effective means of developing new ideas and coordinating complex projects. Their early stages of development are often long, as members learn to work with diversity and complexity. Diff: 3 Page Ref: 125 Objective: Cross-Functional Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 26) In addition to evaluating and rewarding employees for their individual contributions, management should consider using ________ to reinforce team effort and commitment. A) personalized incentives B) consistent wages for all team members C) individual performance evaluations D) fixed hourly wages E) profit sharing
Answer: E Explanation: E) In addition to evaluating and rewarding employees for their individual contributions, management should modify the traditional, individually oriented evaluation and reward system to reflect team performance. Group-based appraisals, profit sharing, gainsharing are examples of team reward systems. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 127 Objective: Reward Systems Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 39) A team that has a good plan, but is also willing to adjust their master plan and adapt when conditions call for it demonstrates high ________, an important variable in successful team processes. A) goal specificity B) goal congruency C) social loafing D) diversity E) reflexivity
Answer: E Explanation: E) Reflexivity is the team characteristic of reflecting on and adjusting the master plan when necessary. It is considered part of the process variables. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 130 Objective: Common Plan and Purpose Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
2 11) Which of the following statements is true regarding self-managed work teams? A) Self-managed work teams typically consist of forty to fifty employees. B) Self-managed work teams typically manage conflicts well. C) Members of self-managed work teams typically report lower job satisfaction. D) Self-managed work teams are typically composed of employees from different departments who work independent of each other. E) In the case of self-managed work teams, supervisory positions take on decreased importance.
Answer: E Explanation: E) Self-managed work teams are groups of employees (typically ten to fifteen in number) who perform highly related or interdependent jobs and take on many of the responsibilities of their former supervisors. Supervisory positions take on decreased importance and are sometimes even eliminated. Self-managed teams do not typically manage conflicts well. Members of this team report higher levels of job satisfaction than other individuals. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 124 Objective: Self-Managed Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 31) Teams that consist of team members that score ________ are more likely to perform poorly. A) high on conscientiousness B) low on openness to experience C) high on emotional stability D) low on extraversion E) low on agreeableness
Answer: E Explanation: E) Teams that rate higher on mean levels of conscientiousness and openness to experience tend to perform better, and the minimum level of team member agreeableness also matters; teams perform poorly when they have one or more highly disagreeable members. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 128 Objective: Key Roles of Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
3 22) The team effectiveness model classifies the key components of effective teams into three general categories; context, composition, and process. Which of the following variables belongs to the composition category? A) adequate resources B) conflict level C) team efficacy D) performance evaluation system E) personality of team members
Answer: E Explanation: E) The personality of team members is a key component that affects the effectiveness of teams and it belongs to the composition category. Diff: 2 Page Ref: 126 Objective: Popularity of Teams Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
