Comm Chapter 10: Members and Leaders in Small Group Communication

Which of the following is a guideline for effective small group communication? A) Be self-oriented. B) Center conflict on people. C) Be uncritically open-minded. D) Ensure understanding.

D) Ensure understanding.

During a departmental meeting, Zora listens to everyone's ideas and when it seems like everyone is on the same page, she adds, "This all sounds great to me. I'll go along with it." By making this remark, Zora appears to occupy which group role? A) compromiser B) recorder C) information giver D) follower

D) follower

The aggressor, blocker, self-confessor, and dominator are best defined as __________ roles. A) group task B) group building C) maintenance D) individual

D) individual

Group member's willingness to assume individual roles is crucial to the effectiveness of a group.

False

Groups do not necessarily require some members to perform group building and maintenance roles to be successful.

False

The concept of social loafing posits that people exert more effort when working in groups than when working alone.

False

The participating-style leader gives the group high levels of both task guidance and relationship support. This leader not only tells people what to do, but also tells them why they should do it.

False

Conflict over issues in small groups can lead to better decisions or outcomes.

True

During a group meeting, Sherry asks the recorder to read back the last statement that was made. Sherry is performing the role of information seeker.

True

During a group meeting, Tim questions the feasibility and logic of the solution that the group plans to propose, even though the solution appears to be an excellent one. Tim appears to be performing the role of blocker.

True

Groupthink is never beneficial to a group.

True

If group members seek to ensure understanding in group communication, they should work to make their statements clear and ask for clarification of ideas from other members.

True

In cultures with individualistic orientations, it is perfectly acceptable for group members to be singled out for praise or blame.

True

In general, cohesiveness is a positive quality, and cohesive groups seem to be more effective.

True

In high-power distance cultures, you are taught to have great respect for authority.

True

Leaders who are more concerned with their own personal interests than with the group task or the interpersonal needs of the members are acting unethically.

True

The delegating-style leader gives little task direction and little emotional support. This leadership style is most appropriate for a group that knows what to do and how to do it and also has the confidence, commitment, and motivation to accomplish the task.

True

The procedural technician is a group task role.

True

The situational approach to leadership holds that the effective leader shifts his or her emphasis between task accomplishment and member satisfaction.

True

Which of the following is true concerning high- and low-power-distance cultures and group membership? a) In high-power-distance cultures, power is concentrated in the hands of a few. b) In high-power-distance cultures, power is evenly distributed. c) In low-power-distance cultures, people are taught to have great respect for authority. d) In high-power-distance cultures, friends are chosen from outside your cultural class.

a) In high-power-distance cultures, power is concentrated in the hands of a few.

During weekly sales meetings, Annie makes a point to congratulate other members of the group for their accomplishments of the week and make positive comments about other's ideas to increase sales. One of the roles Annie plays at these meetings is _____________. a) encourager b) dominator c) evaluator-critic d) compromiser

a) encourager

During a recent meeting, Sue said, "Those were really good ideas; we're on a roll." Sue is acting in a __________ role. a) gatekeeper-expediter b) dominator c) standard setter d) compromiser

a) gatekeeper-expediter

The information seeker, opinion giver, and procedural technician are best defined as __________ roles. a) group task b) group building and maintenance c) individual d) special interest

a) group task

Members of the R&D department at GHI Drugs believe they have unanimous agreement concerning the benefits of Vidoxidin, a new drug to lower blood pressure, even though independent tests indicate it can have dangerous side effects. The members of R&D believe their own tests and opinion cannot be wrong. The R&D department has a problem concerning ____________. a) groupthink b) social loafing c) social facilitation d) trolling

a) groupthink

Functions of leadership in small group situations include __________. a) guiding members through the agreed-on agenda b) ignoring conflict among members c) discouraging ongoing evaluation and improvement d) promoting groupthink

a) guiding members through the agreed-on agenda

Eva's general style of leadership is to let her employees do what they want, although her door is always open if they have questions. Eva's style is best described as __________. a) laissez-faire b) transformational c) authoritarian d) telling

a) laissez-faire

Bella is in charge of leading a new team of firefighters who recently joined the force. In this situation, Bella is best advised to use the ____________ leadership style of the situational approach. a) telling b) laissez-faire c) participating d) delegating

a) telling

In an online chat room dedicated to discussing classic TV shows, Honor keeps trying to change the subject to the latest trends in reality TV because she is more interested in new shows than shows such as "Andy Griffith" and "Dr. Kildare." Honor's communication indicates little understanding of which guideline for member participation in groups? a) Beware of groupthink. b) Be group oriented. c) Ensure understanding. d) Be open-minded.

b) Be group oriented.

Which of the following statements is true concerning groupthink? a) Groupthink can have a positive or negative effect on a group depending on the context in which it occurs. b) Groupthink often shuts out realistic and logical analysis of a problem. c) Groupthink can lead to realistic analysis of a problem. d) Groupthink can bring out the best in group members.

b) Groupthink often shuts out realistic and logical analysis of a problem.

Which of the following statements about mentoring is true? a) Mentoring rarely occurs between a supervisor and subordinate. b) The mentoring relationship provides a supportive and trusting learning environment. c) Mentoring is far more beneficial to the mentee than the mentor. d) Mentoring can only take place in business relationships.

b) The mentoring relationship provides a supportive and trusting learning environment.

The encourager, compromiser, and standard setter are best defined as __________ roles. a) group task b) group building and maintenance c) individual d) task delegating

b) group building and maintenance

The traits approach to leadership posits that ___________. a) qualities for leadership are consistent in all situations b) leadership is a function of individual characteristics c) group members' personalities do not affect leadership d) the type of group never determines its leadership needs

b) leadership is a function of individual characteristics

John-David arrived 15 minutes late for study group. The others in the group were busy studying and asking questions when he arrived. John-David then proceeded to hold court for 10 minutes, interrupting everyone to boast about the promotion he just received at work. John-David's actions best as a(n) ___________. a) follower b) recognition seeker c) evaluator-critic d) blocker

b) recognition seeker

The theory that some people exert less effort when working in groups than when working alone is called _________. a) group orientation b) social loafing c) groupthink d) social bonding

b) social loafing

Julio's general style of leadership is to tell everyone in his work group exactly what to do and how to do it. Julio's general style is best described as _____________. a) laissez-faire b) democratic c) authoritarian d) transformational

c) authoritarian

During a departmental meeting, Donna questions Henry's suggestion concerning how to decrease turnover by saying, "That's an innovative approach to the problem, Henry, but I'm not sure how it would work for this specific work group." By making this comment, Donna is performing which member role? a) follower b) dominator c) evaluator-critic d) compromiser

c) evaluator-critic

Cara is in charge of leading a group of seasoned volunteers at a local charity. The volunteers know what needs to be done, but they seem to have lost their motivation. In this situation, Cara is best advised to use which leadership style of the situational approach? a) telling b) selling c) participating d) delegating

c) participating

The approach to leadership exemplified by Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and John F. Kennedy is best described as a _____________ approach. a) traits b) functional c) transformational d) situational

c) transformational

Larry never has anything good to say about any idea generated during group meetings. Because of Larry's negativity, the group has not made much progress toward its goal. In the group, Larry represents the ______________. a) follower b) recognition seeker c) evaluator-critic d) blocker

d) blocker

The ______________ style of the situation approach to leadership is characterized by giving little direction and little support. a) telling b) selling c) participating d) delegating

d) delegating

In a department meeting, Javier shares some research on new software he thinks the company should purchase. Roger agrees with Javier, and goes on to share his experience with the software and offer more insight into why the software would be the best option. In this scenario, Roger's behavior would best be classified as a(n) __________. a) encourager b) recognition seeker c) evaluator-critic d) elaborator

d) elaborator