Exam 15: Managing Groups and Teams

Refer to the scenario below to answer the following questions. Group Development at MagPie Inc. As a consultant who specializes in group dynamics, you are observing MagPie Inc.'s self-managing teams and work groups which are in different stages of development. MagPie is a medium-sized manufacturing business and has recently started using teams in all of their operations. Team training is lacking and you have been asked to evaluate the teams and suggest actions for better cohesiveness among the team members. You have labelled the teams A, B, C, D and E, in order to conceal their names. Group D has resolved its issues of leadership and is devoting all of its energy to getting the job done. Team C, on the other hand, shows significant resistance to its appointed leader's guidance and there is a lot of argument over roles within the group. The members of Group A are getting acquainted in their meeting. The team is made up of employees from different divisions and departments and they are still getting to know each other. Team E is in the process of setting their formal rules, roles, and clarifying expectations. Everyone seems to be in agreement as to how these are done. Team B is full of hostility. At least one group member has withdrawn by sitting quietly away from the others, and is no longer participating in the discussions. -Team B is at which stage?

Formal groups occur naturally in the workplace in response to the need for social contact.

Which of the following refers to a prestige grading, position, or rank within a group?

The __________ stage is complete when the group structure solidifies and the group has assimilated a common set of expectations of what defines correct member behaviour.

Studies demonstrate that a low-to-moderate level of __________ conflict consistently demonstrates a positive effect on group performance because it stimulates discussions of ideas that help groups perform better.

A self-managed team is a formal group of employees who operate without a manager and are responsible for a complete work process or segment.

A group that interacts primarily to share information and to make decisions that will help each group member perform within his or her area of responsibility is a __________.

Temporary groups created to accomplish a specific task are termed _____.

The willingness of effective team members to do anything that has to be done to help the team succeed is known as __________.

In a short essay explain the various views regarding conflict and conflict resolution in organizations. In addition describe the effect of conflict on the organizational success or failure giving examples.

Virtual teams use computer technology to link physically dispersed members in order to achieve a common goal.

Refer to the scenario below to answer the following questions. Group Development at MagPie Inc. As a consultant who specializes in group dynamics, you are observing MagPie Inc.'s self-managing teams and work groups which are in different stages of development. MagPie is a medium-sized manufacturing business and has recently started using teams in all of their operations. Team training is lacking and you have been asked to evaluate the teams and suggest actions for better cohesiveness among the team members. You have labelled the teams A, B, C, D and E, in order to conceal their names. Group D has resolved its issues of leadership and is devoting all of its energy to getting the job done. Team C, on the other hand, shows significant resistance to its appointed leader's guidance and there is a lot of argument over roles within the group. The members of Group A are getting acquainted in their meeting. The team is made up of employees from different divisions and departments and they are still getting to know each other. Team E is in the process of setting their formal rules, roles, and clarifying expectations. Everyone seems to be in agreement as to how these are done. Team B is full of hostility. At least one group member has withdrawn by sitting quietly away from the others, and is no longer participating in the discussions. -Group E is at which stage?

Conformity to social norms tends to be higher in individualistic cultures than in collectivist cultures.

Refer to the scenario below to answer the following questions. A New Group (Scenario) David had been away from his old company, Control Tech, for a while. He remembered that when he worked there 10 years ago, the company was very traditional and conservative. The lines of authority and responsibility were established and clear. Now, it felt ironic that he was managing the consulting team that was going to help bring a group orientation into being. In addition to the traditional hierarchy, with a manager and subordinates, he saw a need to introduce teams comprised of individuals from various work areas to help solve operational problems. He also felt that for certain projects, there could be groups that could function essentially independently, even taking on traditional management responsibilities such as hiring, planning, and scheduling. Plus, he also saw real potential for special, temporary projects to be handled by groups that would disband once the task was completed. -David recognized that __________ are characterized with the traditional hierarchy of a manager and subordinates.

Providing a reward system that appropriately recognizes team activities relates to which characteristic of effective teams?

Which of the following is a negative aspect of group norms?

describe the four most common types of teams likely to be found in today's organizations.

Effective teams are characterized by high __________ , which means that the members believe in one another's integrity, character, and ability.

Alejandra's work team does its own hiring and scheduling and is even responsible for evaluating each other's performance. Alejandra is part of a __________ team.

Social loafing is a greater problem in collectivist societies.