Exam 10: Understanding Groups and Managing Work Teams

The Retreat (Scenario) The first-line managers of ELH Inc. were sent on a retreat to Silver Falls for their inaugural strategic planning meeting. Few people knew each other, but their task was clear: design a new performance appraisal system for subordinates that would be effective and usable. The first day, little was accomplished except for the jockeying to see who would be the official leader. Finally, Jim seemed to wrangle control and helped provide the first real direction for the group. By the second day, the group seemed to begin working well. They spent the morning determining group standards with respect to how they would make decisions within the group and how to manage the idea-generation process. On the third and fourth days, the managers got down to work and moved amazingly quickly, with ideas flowing freely. By the end of the fourth day, they had a workable system developed, and they felt satisfied. That night they all signed off on a new document to be presented to the regional manager the next day. They all felt a twinge of regret at having to break up the group and return to normal work life. -When the management team left Silver Falls to return to their own teams and departments, they had just completed the ________ stage of group development.

Rewards for team members should be distributed strictly on team performance.

The ________ stage of the group development process is complete when members begin to think of themselves as part of a group.

There is no way to reduce social loafing within a team.

Managers should especially try to avoid conflict during the storming stage of group development.

Which of the following identifies the most common reason for a manager deciding not to assemble a team?

Research shows that a great deal of tension and difficulty arises in global teams due to ________.

Effective teams should avoid conflict at all costs.

Teams composed of individuals with skills that are highly complementary to one another are called ________.

Individuals within a group ________.

A Latin American team member would be more likely than a North American team member to afford status to an individual who comes from a powerful family.

In a brief essay, discuss how managers can use training to shape team behavior.

A certain amount of this is usually required for effective teams.

Team skills ________.

Selection is important in the success of a team.

A self-managed team is responsible for both completing tasks and managing itself.

Teams composed of individuals who function without a supervisor are called ________.

In a short essay, describe the characteristics of a self-managed team.

A self-managed work team would be likely to have the authority to ________.

Disruptive effects of diversity on team performance can decline over time.