OBC1 ch10

A group member who says _____ is acting in a task role.

"last week we decided to table this agenda item. are we rady to address it again?" Explanation: Maintenance roles foster supportive and constructive interpersonal relationships whereas task roles assist the group in defining and clarifying their common purpose.

A group member serving in the harmonizer maintenance role:

mediates conflicts using reconciliation or humor. Explanation: The description of the harmonizer roles is that this role mediates conflict using reconciliation or humor.

The four sociological criteria of a group include: two or more freely interacting individuals, collective norms, collective goals, and common identity.

true. Explanation: The field of sociology and define a group as two or more freely interacting individuals who share collective norms and goals and have a common identity.

According to Tuckman's five-stage theory of group development, during the "storming" stage subgroups form and power politics may erupt into open rebellion.

true.Explanation: During this stage of group development, individuals test the leader's policies and assumptions as they try to determine how they fit into the power structure. Subgroups take shape, and subtle forms of rebellion, such as procrastination, occur.

An organizational function of formal groups is to increase an individual's self-esteem and sense of identity.

false. Explanation: Individuals join groups, or are assigned to groups, to accomplish various purposes. If the group is formed by a manager to help the organization accomplish its goals, then it qualifies as a formal group. Formal groups typically wear such labels as work group, project team, committee, corporate board, or task force

Role conflict occurs when the expectations of the role sender exceeds what the focal person is able to do.

false. Explanation: Role conflict is experienced when "different members of the role set expect different things of the focal person."

Which of the following is an example of an organizational function of a formal group?

generate new or creative ideas and solutions. Explanation: One of the functions of a social group is to generate new or creative ideas and solutions. All of the answer selections except selection "D" are individual functions.

Self-censorship is a symptom of:

groupthink. Explanation: According to research by Janis, there are 8 symptoms of groupthink. Among these symptoms is self-censorship.

Laboratory studies have shown that social loafing occurred when group members expected their co-workers to loaf.

true. Explanation: Laboratory studies have shown that social loafing occurred when group members expected their co-workers to loaf. Also, research suggests that self-reliant "individualists" are more prone to social loafing than are group-oriented "collectivists."

One way to prevent groupthink is to:

use different groups with different leaders to examine the same policy questions. Explanation: Janis recommends being proactive in dealing with groupthink rather than being reactive. One way to prevent groupthink is to use different groups with different leaders to examine the same policy questions.