MG 417 Project Management - Ch. 11

Lump-sum cash bonuses are the most effective group reward for project teams. True10 False10

false10

The norming stage of team development is one in which close relationships develop and the group demonstrates cohesiveness. True5 False5

true5

Which of the following would be an appropriate situation to require facilitating group decision making? a. When strong group commitment is needed to decide methods to reduce project scope b. Expectations are unclear regarding a specific task c. Materials needed to finish a custom kitchen have not been determined d. A mechanical engineer is stuck trying to meet performance criteria for a prototype e. Dysfunctional conflict between two project team members needs to be resolved

a. When strong group commitment is needed to decide methods to reduce project scope

The essential qualities of an effective vision include all of the following EXCEPT a. All team members have the same vision. b. There should be a passion for the vision. c. The vision should be a source of inspiration to others. d. The vision has to make strategic sense. e. The vision should be communicated to all.

a. all teams should have the same vision

Roger is new-product project manager for a retail company. Recently the team has exhibited a high degree of conflict over who will control the group and how decisions will be made. Which stage of development is the team in? a. Norming b. Storming c. Adjourning d. Performing e. Forming

b. storming

Individual rewards for outstanding work would NOT include a. Public recognition. b. Letters of commendation. c. All of these are examples of individual rewards for outstanding work. d. Desirable job assignments. e. Judiciously making exceptions to the rules.

c. All of these are examples of individual rewards for outstanding work.

Which of the following is commonly associated with high-performing project teams? a. A degree of competition among team members is encouraged b. Team members are selected with similar talents to enhance cohesion c. Roles and specific responsibilities are well-defined d. Mistakes are viewed as opportunities for learning e. Risk taking is controlled and not allowed to jeopardize the overall project

d. mistakes are viewed as opportunities for learning

The biggest challenge to managing a virtual project team is a. Getting reports and technical information communicated. b. Dealing with team members in different time zones. c. Being able to contact team members immediately when there is a problem. d. Enforcing deadlines. e. Developing trust and establishing effective patterns of communication.

e. Developing trust and establishing effective patterns of communication.

The performing stage of team development is characterized by the development of close relationships and group cohesiveness. True1 False1

false1

A project vision is an image a project team holds about how the project will look upon completion, how they will work together, and how customers will accept the project. It is important that everyone have the same vision. True13 False13

false13

Every project has the same potential to evolve into a high-performance team. True14 False14

false14

When facilitating group decision making, a project manager should identify a problem in terms of its alternate solutions so that team members can more easily reach a decision on how to solve the problem. True3 False3

false3

Research indicates that high-performance teams are much more likely to develop when the manager hand-selects team members. True4 False4

false4

Conflict is inevitable and can be a desirable part of project work. True15 False15

true15

Most project managers advocate the use of group rewards rather than individual rewards. True16 False16

true16

Team members can be upset and dissatisfied with conflict, but as long as the disagreement furthers the objectives of the project, then the conflict is functional. True2 False2

true2

A project manager should be wary of people who know too much about a specific technology. True6 False6

true6

Two of the biggest challenges involved in managing a virtual project team are developing trust and effective patterns of communication. True7 False7

true7

A general guideline for running effective meetings includes starting the meeting on time regardless of whether everyone is present. True8 False8

true8

Groupthink refers to the tendency of members in highly cohesive groups to lose their critical evaluative capabilities resulting in quick decision making with little consideration of alternatives. True9 False9

true9

One important factor that a project manager must acknowledge when recruiting project members is the management structure being used to complete the project. True11 False11

true11

The first team meeting sets the tone for how the team will work together. True12 False12

true12

Which of the following is NOT one of the tips for alleviating communication problems of virtual teams? a. Insist team members travel at least once during the project for a face-to-face meeting b. Share the pain when team members reside in different time zones c. Keep team members informed on how well the overall project is going d. Establish a code of conduct to avoid delays e. Establish clear norms and protocols for surfacing assumptions and conflicts

a. Insist team members travel at least once during the project for a face-to-face meeting

During which stage of team development is the team fully functional and accomplishing project goals? a. Performing b. Norming c. Forming d. Storming e. Adjourning

a. Performing

The project manager must quickly establish operational ground rules for how the team will work together. These include planning, tracking, managing change, and relationship decisions. Which of the following is an example of a planning decision? a. What are the specific roles and responsibilities of all the participants? b. What departments will the team need to interact with during the project? c. How will progress be assessed? d. Who will generate and distribute reports? e. How will changes be documented and evaluated?

a. What are the specific roles and responsibilities of all the participants?

Researchers have found that high-performance teams have norms for team interaction. Which of the following is NOT one of those norms? a. When a decision has to be made, everyone should agree before moving forward b. It is acceptable to be in trouble, but not to surprise others c. Hard work does not get in the way of having fun d. No information is shared outside the team unless all agree to it e. There is no tolerance for bullying a way through a problem or issue

a. When a decision has to be made, everyone should agree before moving forward

The essence of positive synergy can be found in the phrase a. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. b. Two heads are better than one. c. There is no "I" in team. d. If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger. e. Front of ship sink—back of ship sink.

a. the whole is greater than the sum of the parts

The first project meeting is critical to the early functioning of the project team. Which of the following is NOT true regarding this meeting? a. The meeting should be productive, well-organized and realistic b. The meeting will need to be as long as necessary to cover the main objectives of a first meeting c. An overview of the project's scope and objectives should be addressed d. Interpersonal interaction concerns should be addressed e. The project manager must model how the team will work together

b. The meeting will need to be as long as necessary to cover the main objectives of a first meeting

When project managers reduce the intensity of the conflict by smoothing over differences or interjecting humor when dysfunctional conflict arises, they are attempting to _________ the conflict. a. Mediate b. Control c. Arbitrate d. Encourage e. Eliminate

b. control

Symptoms of groupthink include a. Failed projects. b. Negative stereotypes of outsiders. c. Encouraged functional conflict. d. Optimized critical thinking. e. Positive synergy.

b. negative stereotypes of outsiders

During the delivery phase of a project's life cycle, the most significant source of conflict is a. Technical. b. Schedules. c. Procedures. d. Priorities. e. Costs.

b. schedules

During which stage of team development do close relationships develop and the group demonstrates cohesiveness? a. Adjourning b. Forming c. Norming d. Storming e. Performing

c. norming

All of the following have been found to be good for running effective project meetings EXCEPT a. Prepare and distribute an agenda prior to the meeting. b. Thoroughly document all decisions. c. Start meetings on time regardless of whether everyone is present. d. Allow a time period for socializing to support the development of a team identity. e. Identify an adjournment time.

d. Allow a time period for socializing to support the development of a team identity.

During which stage of team development do members accept that they are part of a project group but resist the constraints that the project and the group put on their individuality? a. Norming b. Adjourning c. Forming d. Storming e. Performing

d. Storming

During which stage of team development do team members establish ground rules and try to find out what behaviors are acceptable and what performance expectations are?. a. Storming b. Adjourning c. Performing d. Forming e. Norming

d. forming

The first step in facilitating group decision making is to a. Call a meeting to discuss the problem. b. Agree that there is a problem. c. Generate alternatives. d. Identify the problem. e. Quantify the problem.

d. identify the problem

During which stage of team development is high performance not a top priority and attention is devoted to wrapping up the project? a. Norming b. Forming c. Performing d. Storming e. Adjourning

e. Adjourning

How can a project manager support and encourage functional conflict? a. Conflict should not be encouraged or supported b. By negotiating a resolution by reasoning and persuasion c. By imposing a solution to the conflict after listening to each party d. As soon as emotions flare, he or she can intervene and attempt to control conflict because it has become dysfunctional e. By asking tough questions and by challenging the rationale behind recommendations

e. By asking tough questions and by challenging the rationale behind recommendations

Strategies to manage dysfunctional conflict do NOT include _____ the conflict. a. Mediate b. Accept c. Control d. Arbitrate e. Encourage

e. encourage

Sam is the coach of a high school soccer team and has noticed that some close relationships have formed as well as feelings of camaraderie and shared responsibilities for the team's success. Which stage of development is the team in? a. Forming b. Storming c. Performing d. Adjourning e. Norming

e. norming

When recruiting project team members, which of the following factors is NOT something a project manager might consider? a. The political connections the potential team member may have b. Their problem-solving ability c. Their availability d. Their ambition, initiative, and energy e. Their skillset as it compares to the project manager

e. their skillset as it compares to the project manager