HRM Ch. 10

20) Virtual teams are characterized by ________ in comparison to teams which interact face-to-face. A) low popularity among companies B) low social rapport and direct interaction C) low sharing of unique information D) low need for supervision E) low need for publicizing throughout the organization

Answer: B Explanation: B) Virtual teams tend to be more task oriented and exchange less socio-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. LO: 3 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

45) ________ illustrates a process loss from using teams. A) Organizational demography B) Role conflict C) Social loafing D) Multitasking E) Profit-sharing

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. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

4) The goal of work groups is ________. A) generating positive synergy B) improving collective performance C) inculcating a climate of trust D) sharing relevant information E) enhancing team efficacy

Answer: D Explanation: D) A work group is a group that interacts primarily to share information and make decisions to help each member perform within his or her area of responsibility. They are characterized by neutral synergy, individual accountability, and the presence of random and varied skill sets. LO: 2 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

51) The belief that effective teams have in their ability to succeed is called ________. A) goal specificity B) reflexivity C) mental model D) common purpose E) team efficacy

Answer: E Explanation: E) Effective teams have confidence in themselves; they believe they can succeed. This is called team efficacy. LO: 4 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

29) In which of the following teams is leadership of most importance to coordinate the efforts of various teams in order to produce a desired outcome? A) technical teams B) self-managed work teams C) problem-solving teams D) management teams E) multiteam systems

Answer: E Explanation: E) Leadership is especially important in multiteam 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. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

54) ________ are defined as organized mental representations of the key elements within a team's environment that team members share. A) Path-goal models B) Task models C) Mental models D) Individual models E) Specific models

Answer: C Explanation: C) Effective teams share accurate mental models which are organized mental representations of the key elements within a team's environment that team members share. LO: 4 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

50) Effective teams translate their common purpose into ________ goals. A) universal B) generic C) vast D) specific E) diverse

Answer: D Explanation: D) Successful teams translate their common purpose into specific, measurable, and realistic performance goals. Specific goals facilitate clear communication. They also help teams maintain their focus on getting results. LO: 4 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

47) A team that has a good plan but is also willing to adjust its 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) conformity 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. LO: 4 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

32) People scoring high on ________ are valuable in teams because they're good at backing up fellow team members and at sensing when their 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. LO: 4 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

41) Cultural diversity is an asset for teams where tasks ________. A) require a variety of viewpoints B) are simple and routine C) involve emotional labor D) are highly technical E) required for completing the work are highly independent

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. LO: 4 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Define diversity and describe the effects of diversity in the workforce 

58) When teams are performing nonroutine activities, ________ stimulate discussion, promote critical assessment of problems and options, and can lead to better team decisions. A) task conflicts B) disciplinary conflicts C) relationship conflicts D) resource allocation conflicts E) discriminatory conflicts

Answer: A Explanation: A) When teams are performing nonroutine activities, disagreements about task content stimulate discussion, promote critical assessment of problems and options, and can lead to better team decisions. Such conflicts are called task conflicts. LO: 4 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

2) Which of the following statements best defines a work group? A) A work group performs at a level 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 members who work together and generate positive synergy through coordinated effort. D) A work group consists of members having complementary skills that are applied in a coordinated fashion to the task at hand. E) A work group involves individual and mutual accountability regarding results and outcomes.

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. LO: 2 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

23) Which of the following is not one of the key components of effective teams? A) team efficacy B) company reputation C) adequate resources D) member flexibility E) leadership and structure

Answer: B Explanation: B) A well-established company reputation is not one of the key components of effective teams. LO: 4 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

3) Work groups are characterized by ________. A) the emphasis on generating positive synergy B) the goal of sharing information among members C) the mutual and team-based accountability for results D) the need to attain collective performance E) the availability of complementary skill sets

Answer: B Explanation: B) A work group is a group that interacts primarily to share information and make decisions to help each member perform within his or her area of responsibility. They are characterized by neutral synergy, individual accountability, and the presence of random and varied skill sets. LO: 2 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

28) Araceli is a team member in a large corporation. She never speaks in team meetings because she has seen members talk behind each other's backs after the meetings. Members are constantly monitoring the other members' work and looking for mistakes to point out in a meeting. According to the information provided, which contextual factor is lacking in 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 other's behavior, and bonds members around the belief that others on the team won't take advantage of them. LO: 4 AACSB: Analytic Skills Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Application Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

1) The current popularity of teams can be attributed to the fact that ________. A) they enable quicker accomplishment of goals than individuals B) they represent a better way to use employee talents C) they reduce the need for coordination and supervision D) they aid in the performance of simple tasks that do not require diverse inputs E) they strengthen the worth of individual teams players over the team

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. LO: 1 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

24) 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. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

17) GoAir, a low-cost airline, has created a team made up of employees from production, planning, quality control, tooling, design engineering, and information systems to automate 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 work 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. LO: 3 AACSB: Analytic Skills Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Application Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

44) Which of the following statements is true with regard to team processes? A) This category comprises variables that relate to how teams should be staffed. B) Effective teams invest time and effort to discuss and agree on a purpose that belongs to them both collectively and individually. C) Once a specific goal is chosen, effective teams resist making any changes in them so as to maintain the momentum of the team. D) Effective teams do not engage in task and relationship conflicts. E) Effective teams begin by selecting the right kind of people to be members of the team.

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. Teams that consistently perform better have established a clear sense of what needs to be done and how. 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. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

19) Which of the following types of teams allows for collaboration between team members who are physically dispersed? A) problem-solving teams B) self-managed work 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. LO: 3 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

56) With a deadline approaching, all seven members of Sharon's product development team were working round-the-clock and still the work was not completed in time. After the project was completed, Sharon spoke individually with the members to determine the cause for this delay. Many members complained, saying the work given to them was not in accordance with their roles. Some were unclear about which team member to approach when faced with a problem, and many underestimated the time and effort the project demanded. This team is characterized by ________. A) a clear role allocation for all team members B) dissimilar mental models C) high degree of role clarity D) excessively large team size E) a strong climate of trust

Answer: B Explanation: B) Effective teams share accurate mental models which are organized mental representations of the key elements within a team's environment that team members share. If team members have the wrong mental models, which is particularly likely with teams under acute stress, their performance suffers. LO: 4 AACSB: Analytic Skills Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Application Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

53) Which of the following is most likely to increase team efficacy? A) providing vast and generic goals B) helping the team achieve small successes C) creating a team such that it has diverse members D) ensuring that team goals are substantially difficult E) reducing the number of members on a team drastically

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. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

42) Which of the following statements is true regarding size of teams? A) 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) Members of large teams coordinate work better when pressed for time.

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. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

30) Which of the following reward systems is likely to reinforce team effort and commitment? A) job sharing B) gainsharing C) piece-rate pay D) merit-based pay E) skill-based pay

Answer: B Explanation: B) Group-based appraisals, profit sharing, gainsharing, small-group incentives, and other system modifications can reinforce team effort and commitment. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

26) 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. LO: 4 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

67) A software development firm has witnessed substantial growth and seeks to expand and reorganize its structure to meet the demands from clients in a better manner. HR has been given a clear directive that one of the major criteria for selection of recruits would be the candidate's ability to function as a team player. This is because the company is revamping all its major functions from the traditional departmental model to an arrangement of flexible teams. Joe Sanchez, one of the firm's oldest and most experienced employees, has demonstrated considerable ability in developing the best programs, but he prefers to work alone. The company does not wish to lose resources like Sanchez and others who lack the ability to work in groups, but teamwork is essential to its reorganization. Which of the following strategies will help rectify this problem? A) encouraging the formation of more diverse teams B) informing all employees that ability to work in teams will be a major determinant for promotions and bonuses C) increasing the size of teams so the contribution of people like Joe will not affect team performance overall D) applying merit-based compensation systems instead of gainsharing E) encouraging employees like Joe to work more independently

Answer: B Explanation: B) Promotions, pay raises, and other forms of recognition should be given to individuals who work effectively as team members by training new colleagues, sharing information, helping resolve team conflicts, and mastering needed new skills. LO: 5 AACSB: Analytic Skills Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Application Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

48) While discussing their marketing campaign for a new product, the members of the cross-functional team responsible for Carver Inc. realized that a couple of changes relating to their prior plan would be beneficial. The offer of a franchising that had earlier been brushed off by the company head was discussed thoroughly, and it was decided that it would be implemented on a trial basis initially and on full scale if found to work well. From the information provided, it can be concluded that this cross-functional team has a high degree of ________. A) demography B) reflexivity C) conformity D) diversity E) uncertainty

Answer: B Explanation: B) Reflexivity is the team characteristic of reflecting on and adjusting the master plan when necessary. It is considered part of the process variables. LO: 4 AACSB: Analytic Skills Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Application Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

12) ________ teams are defined as groups of employees who perform highly related or interdependent jobs and take on many of the responsibilities of their former supervisors. A) Independent B) Self-managed work C) Cross-functional D) Problem-solving E) Traditional

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. LO: 3 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

13) Nick, the director of manufacturing at a large electronics company, has created a team of eleven employees from quality control for working on high priority projects. Nick gives the team members the responsibility of planning and scheduling their own work and making all functional decisions. Also, members of this team evaluate each other's performance. This is an example of a ________ team. A) problem-solving B) self-managed work 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. LO: 3 AACSB: Analytic Skills Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Application Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

64) Jason Jones has been asked to assemble an eight-member self-managed work team of experienced employees to work on a project that combines the functional areas of research, production, marketing, and distribution. Jason is apprehensive about managing a team so large; he knows from prior experience that larger teams do not always result in greater productivity. Jason has also been informed by the management that this team is being established as the project must progress according to the predetermined timeline. The work lagging behind by one division will cause a cumulative delay in all the successive stages of the project's execution. Jason plans to implement a group-based incentive that he feels would motivate each of the team members to work efficiently. Which of the following is an assumption made by Jason in implementing this plan? A) Increasing the number of experienced employees in the team will reduce the need for supervision. B) Each employee in the team is motivated to work equally hard to ensure that the group's performance is satisfactory. C) Since the team is comprised of employees who are highly skilled in their respective areas, the output of the group will be of high quality. D) Each employee will work well within the boundaries of their divisional functions, and conflicts will be relatively fewer. E) Each employee will be committed to working within the resources allocated.

Answer: B Explanation: B) The assumption that increasing the number of experienced employees in the team will reduce the need for supervision does not have an impact on Jason's decision to implement a group-based incentive. The assumption that each employee in the team is motivated to work equally hard to ensure that the group's performance is satisfactory is implicit in Jason's belief that this group-based incentive plan will work. The assumption that since the team is comprised of employees who are highly skilled in their respective areas, the output of the group will be of high quality is not implicit in Jason's decision to implement a group-based incentive for the team. The assumption that each employee will work well within the boundaries of their divisional functions and conflicts will be relatively fewer is not implicit in Jason's decision to implement a group-based incentive for the team. The assumption that each employee will be committed to working within the resources allocated is not implicit in Jason's decision to implement a group-based incentive for the team. LO: 4 AACSB: Reflective Thinking Difficulty: Hard Quest. Category: Critical Thinking Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

34) The controller role in a team is responsible for ________. A) initiating creative ideas B) examining details and enforcing rules C) offering insightful analysis of options D) coordinating and integrating group tasks E) providing directions and following up with implementation

Answer: B Explanation: B) The controller role in a team is responsible for examining details and enforcing rules. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

62) Shane Dermott is a manager at a software design firm that develops software programs for clients using multiple teams of specialists. One of his most successful teams has been performing very well for years and so it came as a surprise to Shane when he noticed a sharp drop in the team's performance. He decided to speak with the team members individually and find a solution. After interviewing all 7 team members, he determined that one of the team members performed routine administrative tasks that were hardly visible to any of the other team members and understood that this was a case of social loafing which demotivated the entire group. Which of the following would most likely improve the performance of the employee who was social loafing? A) encouraging him to work more independently B) making him individually responsible for definite and crucial tasks C) empowering him to make decisions autonomously 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. LO: 4 AACSB: Analytic Skills Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Application Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

6) A work team is characterized by ________. A) the goal of sharing information B) the presence of neutral to negative synergy C) the availability of complementary skills among members D) the individual accountability for outcomes and results E) the mere accumulation of individual efforts

Answer: C Explanation: C) 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. Work teams aim at the goal of collective performance, apply complementary skills, and promote individual and mutual accountability for group results. LO: 2 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

16) To retain its edge in the organic health food market, Natura has established a high-priority team comprised of senior executives from the company's production, marketing, and research divisions. These employees work together closely to study consumer attitudes about organic health foods and come up with a closely monitored development and marketing strategy for new products. This ensures that each division is informed of the specific needs, timelines, and expected outcomes of the strategy. It also makes Natura a company that adapts to changes in market trends swiftly. The team Natura uses here is of the ________ type. A) problem-solving B) self-managed work C) cross-functional D) traditional E) departmental

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. LO: 3 AACSB: Analytic Skills Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Application Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

15) Which of the following teams is more likely to be made up of employees from about the same hierarchical level but different work areas? A) problem-solving B) self-managed work C) cross-functional D) traditional E) departmental

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. LO: 3 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

40) 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 as 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) Culturally diverse teams are more affected by surface-level diversity than by deep-level diversity.

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 compared to newly formed culturally homogeneous teams, the differences disappear after about 3 months. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Define diversity and describe the effects of diversity in the workforce

69) 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) If the tasks are simple and do not require diverse input, then individuals must be used to complete them. A team should be used when 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. Using teams makes sense when there is interdependence between tasks—the success of the whole depends on the success of each one, and the success of each one depends on the success of the others. LO: 6 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

11) The supervisors of the production division of one of the branches of Georgia Mills have been informed of some irregularities noticed in inventory of raw materials by some trusted subordinates. To get a clearer picture, the supervisors had a quick meeting with the subordinates who reported the matter over lunch. The subordinates recommended rotating the schedule of employees who account for the incoming and used up stock so as to pinpoint the defaulting employee. The supervisors agreed that this was a good strategy but admitted that the matter must be escalated to the production manager before such a change can be implemented. They followed up this meeting with subsequent sessions to evaluate how the change worked. The supervisors and subordinates form a(n) ________ team in this scenario. A) cross-functional B) independent C) problem-solving D) virtual E) self-managed

Answer: C Explanation: C) 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. LO: 3 AACSB: Analytic Skills Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Application Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

10) Problem-solving teams can ________. A) implement the recommended changes to resolve a problem B) assume responsibility for the outcomes of a solution they implemented C) provide recommendations after a discussion amongst department members D) resolve problems of different departments in an organization simultaneously E) combine the expertise of employees across different divisions and organizational levels

Answer: C Explanation: C) 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. Problem-solving teams only make recommendations. LO: 3 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

36) Which of the following terms describes the degree to which members of a work unit share a common demographic attribute, such as age, sex, race, educational level, or length of service? A) social conformity B) organizational value C) organizational demography D) diversity E) organizational multiculturalism

Answer: C Explanation: C) Organizational demography refers to the degree to which members of a work unit share a common demographic attribute, such as age, sex, race, educational level, or length of service in an organization, and the impact of this attribute on turnover. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

27) Jean Wills, a trainer with Leverage Inc., is infuriated because the conference hall that she had booked for her morning session with a new batch of trainees will be occupied by the HR team for the day. Jean feels that the company only superficially commits to training and that it is not a priority as this lack of facilities for training is a recurring phenomenon. Recently, she had asked the HR department to supply printed copies of her material for the orientation and training modules to the new trainees, and HR refused, saying the soft copies available on the systems would suffice. Which of the following contextual areas is the source of problem between the training department and the HR department in this scenario? A) performance evaluation B) reward systems C) adequate resources D) leadership E) structure

Answer: C Explanation: C) Teams are part of a larger organization system; every work team relies on resources outside the group to sustain it. A scarcity of resources directly reduces the ability of a team to perform its job effectively and achieve its goals. This support includes timely information, proper equipment, adequate staffing, encouragement, and administrative assistance. LO: 4 AACSB: Analytic Skills Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Application Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

49) Hank Murphy was selected to develop an advanced personal communication device with his own self-managed work team. Hank was assured that resource allocation and timelines were flexible for this project provided the work was a cut above that provided by the rest of the employees. As a part of the project guidelines, Hank included the demand that the device being developed by the team should also be marketed exclusively by them without resorting to franchising or cobranding. This was to ensure that customers recognized the product as reflecting the values of their company. Work on this project began with a lot of vigor and once the device was developed, Hank's team implemented their marketing strategy. However, even three months after the product's release, visibility remained low in the market and many reviewers did not consider the device to be much of an innovation. Which of the following statements, if true, would indicate a lack of reflexivity in Hank's self-managed work team? A) Hank's team members developed multiple blueprints of the device, which were thoroughly discussed, improvised, and synthesized into the final plan for the product. B) In the first few weeks of the project, Hank had witnessed a moderate level of conflict between the team members as each one had his own idea about how best to go about this high-priority project. C) The device was later marketed as a part of a national level tie-up with E-store outlets and did remarkably well in its second stint in the market. D) In Hank's team, the members took accountability for the group's performance as a whole and reported their individual progress to him as well. E) Hank's team used e-mail and instant messaging to communicate unique information when some of the team members were not available for face-to-face interactions.

Answer: C Explanation: C) The fact that Hank's team members developed multiple blueprints of the device, which were thoroughly discussed, improvised, and synthesized, shows that the team was flexible in its approach, which in turn shows high reflexivity. The fact that Hank initially witnessed a moderate level of conflict among the team members on this project shows healthy task conflict, which is good for teams and encourages reflexivity. The fact that the device was later marketed as a part of a national level tie-up with E-store outlets and did remarkably well in its second stint in the market shows that Hank's team lacked reflexivity. This is because the team did not deviate from its own marketing strategy, which ultimately proved unsuccessful for them. The fact that Hank's team members reflected accountability at group and individual levels is a sign of efficiency in group performance and does not indicate a lack of reflexivity. The fact that Hank's team used e-mail and instant messaging to communicate unique information when some of the team members were not available for face-to-face interactions does not reflect the lack of reflexivity. LO: 4 AACSB: Reflective Thinking Difficulty: Hard Quest. Category: Critical Thinking Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

66) Diane Fielding, owner of the famous Mint chain of restaurants, planned to revamp the whole concept and structure of her outlets. With this purpose in mind, she selected five managers from her existing outlets based on their performance in relation to targets, experience, and motivation. Each manager was asked to take up an aspect of the restaurant's functioning like menu, décor, and customer service measures. Diane was sure that this group of high performers possessed a clear understanding of the ground realities, which made them the best candidates to contemplate and implement the required changes. In order to reward them, she announced a hefty bonus for their collective performance. Six months later, after the changes were implemented, Diane realized that the group had made many questionable decisions, which were resulting in problems. Which of the following, if true, would best explain this outcome? A) The team members had skills that were complementary to each other and added value to the project. B) The team members had high levels of affective commitment to their jobs as Diane was a good leader. C) Typically, these managers viewed each other as competition as Diane only rewarded the highest earning outlet with incentives. D) Two of the branches of Mint were located in the suburbs, while the other three outlets were located in busy areas and witnessed more customers. E) The team members were clear about their duties, and role ambiguity was minimal.

Answer: C Explanation: C) The fact that the team members had skills that were complementary to each other and added value to the project would not explain the problems encountered by Diane. The fact that the team members had high levels of affective commitment to their jobs as Diane was a good leader would not explain the poor implementation of the changes Diane sought. The fact that these managers typically viewed each other as competition as Diane only rewarded the highest earning outlet with incentives would explain the failure of this project. This is because the low trust typical of the competitive group is not readily replaced by high trust with a quick change in reward systems. The fact that two branches of Mint were located in suburbs, while the others were located in busy areas, does not explain the failure of Diane's move to revamp her restaurant chain. The fact that the team members were clear about their duties and role ambiguity was minimal does not explain their failure. LO: 5 AACSB: Reflective Thinking Difficulty: Hard Quest. Category: Critical Thinking Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

5) Which of the following statements is true regarding a work team? A) Work teams are rarely used in organizations today. B) Work teams are generally less flexible than traditional departments. C) Work teams generate positive synergy through coordinated effort. D) Work teams are less responsive to changes in the internal and external environment of the company. E) Work teams involve members of random and varied skill sets.

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. LO: 2 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

59) Which of the following is an example of a task conflict? A) Will and Hilda have been removed from the team they worked with after they were overheard making derogatory comments about one of their colleague's racial origin. B) Henry and Solomon have been reprimanded by their project lead for spending too much time using the Internet for personal use at work. C) Linda and Dorothy had a disagreement over which of their employees should be assigned to work on a high-priority project. D) Sally and her manager have just had a heated argument because Sally feels she has been overlooked for a promotion that was her rightful due. E) The company head has resigned after longstanding conflict between him and his top management employees.

Answer: C Explanation: C) When teams are performing nonroutine activities, disagreements about task content stimulate discussion, promote critical assessment of problems and options, and can lead to better team decisions. Such conflicts are called task conflicts. LO: 4 AACSB: Analytic Skills Difficulty: Hard Quest. Category: Application Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

7) Which of the following accurately differentiates between work groups and work teams? A) Work groups are used by top-management employees, while work teams are used by lower-level workers. B) Work groups are used for functions relating to areas of the external environment, while work teams are exclusively used for departmental problems and issues. C) Work groups involve members who have complementary skills, while work teams use employees who have random and varied skills. D) Work teams generate a potential for an organization to generate greater outputs with no increase in inputs, while work groups cannot perform this function. E) Work teams represent the mere accumulation of individual efforts, while work groups generate a positive synergy within the organization.

Answer: D Explanation: D) 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. Work teams aim at the goal of collective performance, apply complementary skills, and promote individual and mutual accountability for group results. LO: 2 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

52) Alberto's team is developing a database for the water pollution data of three cities. Before he begins on this intensive project, 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. LO: 4 AACSB: Analytic Skills Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Application Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

21) Which of the following is desirable when a crucial project is delegated to a virtual team? A) encouraging less interaction among members so they completely focus on the project B) avoiding publicity of the team's progress and success in the organization C) promoting a sense of independence over group spirit to encourage competition D) engaging in close monitoring of the work being done by the team throughout the project E) discouraging the sharing of unique information as it benefits some employees unfairly

Answer: D Explanation: D) 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. LO: 3 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

63) Jason Jones has been asked to assemble an eight-member self-managed work team of experienced employees to work on a project that combines the functional areas of research, production, marketing, and distribution. Jason is apprehensive about managing a team so large; he knows from prior experience that larger teams do not always result in greater productivity. Jason has also been informed by the management that this team is being established as the project must progress according to the predetermined timeline. The work lagging behind by one division will cause a cumulative delay in all the successive stages of the project's execution. Which of the following measures, if adopted by Jason, would best ensure that the team members are working efficiently? A) implementing a training program to provide the team members with the necessary technical and human relations skills for the project B) discouraging team members from restricting themselves to their own functional areas by experimenting with and learning the jobs done by other members of the team C) instructing the team members to finalize the plan for the project right at the beginning and ensuring that it is implemented without any changes D) assigning the specific tasks of the project to each team member by keeping in mind their preferences and abilities E) implementing a group-based incentive he has planned for this team

Answer: D Explanation: D) Implementing a training program for experienced employees is not directly going to help ensure efficiency. Discouraging team members from restricting themselves to their own functional areas is not going to contribute to team efficiency directly; it may reduce efficiency in actuality. Instructing the team members to finalize the plan for the project right at the beginning and ensuring that it is implemented without any changes may actually hamper team efficiency because of the lack of reflexivity. Assigning the specific tasks of the project to each team member by keeping in mind their preferences and abilities is likely to ensure that team members are working efficiently. Implementing a group-based incentive for this team is likely to provide greater opportunity for some employees of the group to coast on the group's effort because of the lack of individual roles and accountability. LO: 4 AACSB: Reflective Thinking Difficulty: Hard Quest. Category: Critical Thinking Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

9) 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(n) ________ team. A) cross-functional B) virtual C) self-managed work D) problem-solving E) independent

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. LO: 3 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

31) Which of the following pairs of personality dimensions contribute to high team effectiveness? A) introversion and reflexivity B) type A and type B C) reflexivity and submissiveness D) conscientiousness and openness to experience E) perfectionism and rule consciousness

Answer: D Explanation: D) Many of the dimensions identified in the Big Five personality model are also relevant to team effectiveness; a review of the literature identified three. Specifically, 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. LO: 4 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

38) 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. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

8) The extensive use of work teams benefits organizations by ________. A) generating neutral synergy among all employees of the team B) eliminating the need for mutual accountability for results C) developing the various team member's skills such that they are random and varied D) generating a potential for creating greater outputs without increasing inputs E) ensuring that the mere accumulation of individual efforts is used for group work

Answer: D Explanation: D) Organizations are looking for positive synergy that will allow the organizations to increase performance. The extensive use of teams creates the potential for an organization to generate greater outputs with no increase in inputs. LO: 2 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

60) Which of the following must be avoided if one wants to create and maintain an effective team? A) task conflicts B) reflexivity C) specific goals D) relationship conflicts E) congruent mental models

Answer: D Explanation: D) Relationship conflicts are those based on interpersonal incompatibilities, tension, and animosity toward others; these are almost always dysfunctional. However, when teams are performing nonroutine activities, disagreements about task content (called task conflicts) stimulate discussion, promote critical assessment of problems and options, and can lead to better team decisions. LO: 4 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

33) Which of the following statements is true regarding team composition? A) A team's performance is merely the summation of its individual members' abilities. B) High-ability teams find it hard to adapt to changing situations. C) Agreeableness is the only personality dimension that aids the ability to work in groups. D) In successful teams, members should be selected to ensure all the various roles are filled. E) A high-ability team will function well irrespective of the deficits in the abilities of the leader.

Answer: D Explanation: D) Teams have different needs, and members should be selected to ensure all the various roles are filled. Successful work teams have selected people to play all these roles based on their skills and preferences. On many teams, individuals will play multiple roles. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

70) The work of your group would be better done in teams if the members of the team are ________. A) independent B) autonomous C) individualistic D) interdependent E) reflexive

Answer: D Explanation: D) The work of your group would be better done in teams if the members of the team are interdependent. Using teams makes sense when there is interdependence among tasks such that the success of the whole depends on the success of each one, and the success of each one depends on the success of the others. LO: 6 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

55) Managers facing job candidates who lack team skills should do all of the following except ________. A) avoid hiring the job candidate B) hire the candidate, but assign them to tasks where teamwork is not important C) provide the candidate with the type of training that can help improve his or her ability to be a successful member of a team D) choose the individual with the best technical skills regardless of his or her ability to perform as a member of a team E) bring the candidate on board, but assign the individual to an area where teamwork is not a priority

Answer: D Explanation: D) When faced with job candidates who lack team skills, managers have three options. First, don't hire them. If you have to hire them, assign them to tasks or positions that don't require teamwork. If that's not feasible, the candidates can undergo training to make them into team players. LO: 4 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

22) Which of the following statements is not true regarding multiteam systems? A) They are used to offset the problems associated with adding more members to an existing team. B) They are collections of two or more independent teams that share a superordinate goal. C) They are effectively teams of teams. D) They are more successful when they have boundary spanners. E) They perform better when lines of communication are restricted.

Answer: E Explanation: E) As tasks become more complex, teams are often made bigger. However, increases in team size are accompanied by higher coordination demands, creating a tipping point at which the addition of another member does more harm than good. To solve this problem, organizations are employing multiteam systems, collections of two or more interdependent teams that share a superordinate goal. In other words, multiteam systems are a "team of teams." Research shows that multiteam systems performed better when they had boundary spanners whose job was to coordinate with other members of the other subteams. This reduced the need for some team member communication. Restricting lines of communication was helpful because it reduced coordination demands. LO: 3 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

18) 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) Cross-functional teams have decreased in popularity in the last few decades. 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. LO: 3 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

39) Which of the following is true with regard to the impact of diversity on team effectiveness? A) High levels of diversity among team members benefit the group from the stage of forming. B) Race and gender diversity bear the highest positive impact on team performance. C) Leadership has a negligible role to play in diverse teams because the members manage themselves autonomously. D) Elements of diversity are undesirable as they interfere with team processes in the long run. E) Cultural diversity serves as an asset for tasks that call for a variety of viewpoints once the team has worked out its differences.

Answer: E Explanation: E) 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. The good news is that these difficulties seem to dissipate with time. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Define diversity and describe the effects of diversity in the workforce 

57) Which of the following is not a common characteristic of an effective team? A) The team has adequate resources. B) The team has effective leadership. C) The team has a climate of trust. D) The team has a performance and evaluation system that reflects team contributions. E) The team is the right size for the task—about 15-20 people.

Answer: E Explanation: E) Effective teams have common characteristics. They have adequate resources, effective leadership, a climate of trust, and a performance evaluation and reward system that reflects team contributions. Effective teams also tend to be small—with fewer than 10 people, preferably of diverse backgrounds. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

46) Gerald Murphy is a manager at Wright & Wayner, a publishing house which is a very employee-friendly company. The demarcation between managers and subordinates is flexible and the nature of these reporting relationships is flexible and informal. Gerald recently assigned five of eight of his subordinates to work on a new publication project with a fairly tight deadline because he believed that these efficient employees would function even better with each other's support. A week before the deadline, however, Gerald realized that the group had been shirking work as each of the members thought that the project was not just his or her responsibility. Additionally, under the guise of working together, the team was actually doing their personal work, surfing the Internet, or just socializing. This scenario reflects ________. A) gainsharing B) high process gains C) reflexive goal-setting D) job sharing E) social loafing

Answer: E Explanation: E) 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. LO: 4 AACSB: Analytic Skills Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Application Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

43) Which of the following statements represents a strategy that is desirable for making effective teams? A) Combining people with extremely high and extremely low abilities helps make a balanced team. B) Individuals should ideally have one role in a team as multiple roles reduce their effectiveness and efficiency. C) Diversity should be avoided as diverse teams involve a lot of conflict in day-to-day functioning. D) If a natural work unit is larger, its size must be maintained for the nature of the job requires large teams. E) The preference of individual members to work as a part of groups must be considered when forming teams.

Answer: E Explanation: E) Not every employee is a team player. When people who prefer to work alone are required to team up, there is a direct threat to the team's morale and to individual member satisfaction. When selecting team members, managers should consider individual preferences along with abilities, personalities, and skills. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

37) Organizational demography suggests that attributes such as age or the date of joining should help the organization in ________. A) promoting diversity and multiculturalism B) reducing discrimination in the workplace C) determining appropriate compensation packages D) assessing the training needs at an occupational level E) predicting employee turnover in the company

Answer: E Explanation: E) Organizational demography refers to the degree to which members of a work unit share a common demographic attribute, such as age, sex, race, educational level, or length of service in an organization, and the impact of this attribute on turnover. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

14) 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. LO: 3 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

68) Which of the following is true with regard to use of individuals and teams? A) Teams and individuals can be used interchangeably for all kinds of jobs without any significant impact seen on effectiveness. B) Teamwork requires less time and resources when compared to individual work. C) Individuals have increased communication, supervision, and conflict-management demands when compared to teams. D) Individuals are bound by a collective common purpose that is organizationally determined, and this typically reduces their performance. E) Task complexity and requirement of different perspectives must be used as criteria when assigning work to teams over individuals and vice versa.

Answer: E Explanation: E) Teamwork takes more time and often more resources than individual work. Teams have increased communication demands, conflicts to manage, and meetings to run. A good indicator is the complexity of the work and the need for different perspectives. Simple tasks that don't require diverse input are probably better left to individuals. LO: 6 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

35) The adviser role in a team is responsible for ________. A) providing structure B) fighting external battles C) offering insightful analysis of options D) coordinating and integrating group tasks E) encouraging the search for more information

Answer: E Explanation: E) The adviser role in a team is responsible for encouraging the search for more information. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

25) 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. LO: 4 Difficulty: Moderate Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations

65) Which of the following will be useful in creating team players? A) technical training B) academic training C) job rotation D) cross-training E) negotiation training

Answer: E Explanation: E) Training specialists conduct exercises that allow employees to experience the satisfaction teamwork can provide. Workshops help employees improve their problem-solving, communication, negotiation, conflict-management, and coaching skills. LO: 5 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations 

61) When individuals engage in ________, they coast on the group's effort because their particular contributions cannot be identified. A) task conflicts B) gainsharing C) retaliating D) process gains E) social loafing

Answer: E Explanation: E) When individuals engage in social loafing, they coast on the group's effort because their particular contributions cannot be identified. Effective teams undermine this tendency by making members individually and jointly accountable for the team's purpose, goals, and approach. LO: 4 Difficulty: Easy Quest. Category: Concept Learning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations