Chapter 11: Managing Project Teams

What title best describes the role of the project manager in the group decision making process?

Facilitator

When a conflict will outlive the project, the best strategy for the project manager may be to ______ that conflict

accept

For conventional work groups, performing is the last stage of their development, However, for project teams, there is a completion phase. During this stage, the team prepares for its own disbandment. High performance is no longer a top priority. Instead, attention is devoted to wrapping up the project. The members' responses vary in this stage. Some members are upbeat, basking in the project team's accomplishments. Other may be depressed over the loss of camaraderie and friendships gain during the project's life.

adjourning

In the ______ approach to managing conflict, the project manager imposes a solution to the conflict after listening to each party.

arbitrate

During _________, the team generates a list of possible solutions on a flipchart or blackboard.

brainstorming

When a project team is licensed to gets things done without having to go through normal protocols of the parent organization, it may experience the pathology of ______.

bureaucratic bypass syndrome

A team ______ goes beyond the scope statement of the project and states in explicit terms the norms and values of the team.

charter

During the course of the discussion to reach a decision, the project manager attempts to build ______ among the group.

consensus

Trust in virtual project grows through team members what?

consistency, responsiveness, and reliability

When the project manager reduces the intensity of the conflict by smoothing over differences, that is an attempt to _______ conflict.

control

Project managers need to try to make the project team as tangible as possible to the participants by developing a unique team identity to which team members can become emotionally attached. Common vehicles for establishing a team identity include:

creation of a team name, establish team rituals, effective team meetings, and co-location of team members

One of the biggest challenges in managing a virtual team is ______.

developing trust

norming (group process)

development of group cohesion

adjourning (project activity)

dissolution of the group

performing (project activty)

emergence of a solution

storming (project activity)

emotional response to the demands of the project

T or F: Conflict is detrimental to the success of the project and should be avoided in all cases.

false

T or F: On high-priority projects, senior management will often tell a project manager who will be on the team

false

During this initial stage the members get acquainted with each other and understand the scope of the project. They begin establish ground rules by trying to find out what behaviors are acceptable with respect to both the project (what role they will play, what performance expectations are) and interpersonal relations (who's really in chage). This stage is complete once members begin to think of themselves as part of a group.

forming

in the _______ stage of team development, team members try to find out what behaviors are acceptable and what performance expectations are.

forming

The _____ stage of team development ends once team members begin to think of themselves as part of a group and the team moves to the _____ stage.

forming; storming

performing (group process)

functional roles emerge

In what step of group decision making does the team brainstorm possible solutions?

generating alternatives

Most project managers we talk to advocate the use of _____ rewards for project performance.

group

When complex problems require input from multiple specialist, ______ decision making should be used.

group

When strong commitment to a decision is needed, ________ should be used.

group decision making

Which of the following are the most important factors affecting the recruitment process when a new project team member is recruited?

importance of the project; management structure for the project

In more cases than not, shared visions emerged _______.

informally

storming (group process)

intragroup conflict

The first project meeting comes in a variety of shapes and forms and is often held off-site over one or two days. This meeting is called a project ____ meeting.

kick-off

When a project manager intervenes to negotiate a resolution by using reasoning and persuasion, suggesting alternatives, and other like actions, the project manager is trying to _______ the conflict.

mediate

As indicated by experience and research, identify the condition under which high-performance project teams are much more likely to develop.

members are assigned to a project full time, members serve on the project from the beginning to end, the organization culture fosters cooperation and trust, and there are 10 or fewer members per team

There are typically three objective project managers try to achieve during the first meeting the project team. Which of the following are the objectives of the first project team meeting?

model how the team will work together, address interpersonal concerns captured in the team development model, and provide an overview of the project's scope and objectives

What is a true statement about reward systems on projects?

most project managers advocate group rewards

The statement, "the whole is less than the sum of its parts" describes ________.

negative synergy

The third stage is one in which close relationships develop and the group demonstrates cohesiveness. Feeling of camaraderie and shared responsibility for the project are heightened. This phase is complete when the group structure solidifies and the group establishes a common set of expectations about how members should work together.

norming

The _______ stage of team development ends when the group structure solidifies and the group establishes a common set of exceptions about how members should work together and the team moves to the _______ stage.

norming; performing

norming (project activity)

open exchange of relevant information

forming (project activity)

orientation to project

Project teams are often licensed to get things done without having to go through normal protocols of the ______ _______.

parent organization

The team operating structure at this point is fully functional and accepted. Group energy has moved from getting to know each other and how the group will work together to accomplishing the project goals.

performing

The _____ stage of team development ends when the goals of the project are achieved and then the team moves to the ______ stage.

performing; adjourning

For conventional work groups, _____ is the last stage of their development. However, for project teams, there is a _______ phase where attention is devoted to wrapping up the project.

performing; completion

If defensive posturing is detected during the problem-identification discussion, then it may be wise to ________ the problem-solving step if possible.

postpone

In what step of group decision making does the project manager identify the underlying issues?

problem identification

_______ managers play a key role in developing high-performance project teams.

project

When a project team loses momentum, it is the job of the _____ to realign the team with project objectives and get the team moving forward.

project manager

Disagreements and conflicts naturally emerge within a project team during the life-cycle of the project. Participants will disagree over _____.

project priorities, allocation of resources, and quality of work

In what step of group decision making does the team assess the merits of alternative solutions?

reaching a decision

During the project definition phase ______, ______, and ______ are the most significant sources of conflict.

schedules, priorities, and administrative procedures

Identify the most significant source of conflict which occurs in all the project phases, i.e. defining, planning, executing, and delivery.

scheduling

Project managers play a key role in developing high-performance project teams. Which of the following is NOT one of the activities the project manager performs to build a high-performance team?

select project goals

This stage is marked by a high degree of internal conflict. Members accept that they are part of a project group by resist the constraints that the project and group put on their individuality. There is conflict over who will control the group and how decisions will be made. As these conflicts are resolved, the project manager's leadership becomes accepted, and the group moves to the next stage.

storming

What are the essential qualities of an effective vision?

strategic sense, communicate, passion, and inspire others

Consultants use a wide variety of _______ ________ techniques to elevate team performance.

team building

Symbolic actions at the project level that contribute to a unique team subculture are called _____.

team rituals

forming (group process)

testing and dependence

Too often when constrained by time, project managers try to accomplish too much during the first meeting, rather than use _____ and create information overload.

the keep it simple stupid (KISS) principle

What is the phrase that best describes the concept of positive synergy?

the whole is greater than the sum of the parts

Project managers play a major role in establishing team norms _____.

through word and deed

T or F: A virtual project team is one in which the team members are geographically situated so that they may seldom, if ever, meet face-to-face as a team.

true

T or F: Groupthink refers to the tendency of members in highly cohesive groups to make decisions quickly without adequate consideration of alternatives.

true

A project _______ is an image project team members hold in common about how the project will look upon completion, how they will work together, and how customers will accept the project.

vision

Under what circumstance is a high-performance team more likely to develop?

when team members are located within conversational distance of one another

The symptoms of groupthink include ______.

whitewash of critical thinking, negative stereotypes of outsiders, and illusion of invulnerability

The team synergy, which is derived from the Greek word sunergos, means "______ ______"

working together