Exam 9: Foundations of Group Behavior

The HR department at Bailey Services is considering offering telecommuting as an option to some experienced employees. At a meeting to formalize the move, the heads of the different departments met with Laura Watson, the HR manager. Laura, who thought this meeting would be a short one, was proven wrong when all the members, who had previously agreed that telecommuting would work in their company, began coming up with divergent views. By the end, two divisions claimed having major concerns about allowing employees to telecommute, and those in favor of it were equally vocal. This scenario depicts the operation of ________.

Which of the following statements is true regarding the effect of size of the group has on the performance of the group?

Joe Sullivan and Mark Holland, members of the top management at EuAir, an European airlines, were preparing for a meeting to discuss strategies to combat the recent rise in fuel prices. Before the meeting began, Joe and Mark were discussing how oil prices significantly impact the health of the world economy. Joe spoke of how higher oil prices since 1999, partly the result of OPEC supply management policies, contributed to the global economic downturn in 2000-2001. Mark agreed but added that the right kind of strategy can help them overcome and even profitably use this opportunity for hiking fares. Which of the following statements, if true, would weaken the argument that Joe experienced groupshift during the meeting?

Describe the nominal group technique.

Similarity is a characteristic under the social identity theory that manifests itself in the ________.

What is the relationship between performance norms, cohesiveness, and group productivity?

Group decision making has a disadvantage in the area of ________, when compared to individual decision making.

Electronic meetings minimize social pressures and conflicts.

List and briefly describe the stages in the five-stage model of group development.

If a group is highly cohesive then it will be highly productive even with low performance norms.