Deck 10: Understanding Work Teams

Question 1

A work team is characterized by ________.

A) the presence of neutral to negative synergy
B) the goal of sharing information
C) the availability of complementary skills among members
D) the mere accumulation of individual efforts
E) the individual accountability for outcomes and results

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The extensive use of work teams benefits organizations by ________.

A) developing the various team member's skills such that they are random and varied
B) generating neutral synergy among all employees of the team
C) generating a potential for creating greater outputs without increasing inputs
D) eliminating the need for mutual accountability for results
E) ensuring that the mere accumulation of individual efforts is used for group work

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Problem-solving teams can ________.

A) resolve problems of different departments in an organization simultaneously
B) implement the recommended changes to resolve a problem
C) assume responsibility for the outcomes of a solution they implemented
D) combine the expertise of employees across different divisions and organizational levels
E) provide recommendations after a discussion amongst department members

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Which of the following accurately differentiates between work groups and work teams?

A) Work groups involve members who have complementary skills, while work teams use employees who have random and varied skills.
B) Work teams generate a potential for an organization to generate greater outputs with no increase in inputs, while work groups cannot perform this function.
C) Work groups are used by top-management employees, while work teams are used by lower-level workers.
D) Work groups are used for functions relating to areas of the external environment, while work teams are exclusively used for departmental problems and issues.
E) Work teams represent the mere accumulation of individual efforts, while work groups generate a positive synergy within the organization.

Question 5

The current popularity of teams can be attributed to the fact that ________.

A) they reduce the need for coordination and supervision
B) they aid the performance of simple tasks that do not require diverse inputs
C) they represent a better way to use employee talents
D) they strengthen the worth of individual teams players over the team
E) they enable quicker accomplishment of goals than individuals

Question 6

To retain its edge in the organic health food market, Natura has established a high-priority team comprised of senior executives from the company's production, marketing, and research divisions. These employees work together closely to study consumer attitudes about organic health foods and come up with a closely monitored development and marketing strategy for new products. This ensures that each division is informed of the specific needs, timelines, and expected outcomes of the strategy. It also makes Natura a company that adapts to changes in market trends swiftly. The team Natura uses here is of the ________ type.

A) traditional
B) self-managed work
C) cross-functional
D) departmental
E) problem-solving

Question 7

Work groups are characterized by ________.

A) the need to attain collective performance
B) the availability of complementary skill sets
C) the goal of sharing information among members
D) the emphasis on generating positive synergy
E) the mutual and team-based accountability for results

Question 8

The goal of work groups is ________.

A) generating positive synergy
B) enhancing team efficacy
C) sharing relevant information
D) improving collective performance
E) inculcating a climate of trust

Question 9

Nick, the director of manufacturing at a large electronics company, has created a team of eleven employees from quality control for working on high priority projects. Nick gives the team members the responsibility of planning and scheduling their own work, and making all functional decisions. Also, members of this team evaluate each other's performance. This is an example of a ________ team.

A) virtual
B) problem-solving
C) cross-functional
D) self-managed work
E) task-resolution

Question 10

The supervisors of the production division of one of the branches of Georgia Mills have been informed of some irregularities noticed in inventory of raw materials by some trusted subordinates. To get a clearer picture, the supervisors had a quick meeting with the subordinates who reported the matter over lunch. The subordinates recommended rotating the schedule of employees who account for the incoming and used up stock so as to pinpoint the defaulting employee. The supervisors agreed that this was a good strategy but admitted that the matter must be escalated to the production manager before such a change can be implemented. They followed up this meeting with subsequent sessions to evaluate how the change worked. The supervisors and subordinates form a(n) ________ team in this scenario.

A) cross-functional
B) self-managed
C) independent
D) problem-solving
E) virtual

Question 11

Which of the following types of teams allows for collaboration between team members who are physically dispersed?

A) self-managed work teams
B) virtual teams
C) problem-solving teams
D) command teams
E) task teams

Question 12

Virtual teams are characterized by ________ in comparison to teams which interact face-to-face.

A) low need for supervision
B) low sharing of unique information
C) low popularity among companies
D) low social rapport and direct interaction
E) low need for publicizing throughout the organization

Question 13

A team consists of employees from the same department who meet for a few hours each week to discuss ways of improving the work environment but they do not have the authority to unilaterally implement any of their suggestions. This is most likely to be a(n) ________ team.

A) self-managed work
B) independent
C) cross-functional
D) virtual
E) problem-solving

Question 14

Which of the following teams is more likely to be made up of employees from about the same hierarchical level but different work areas?

A) self-managed work
B) departmental
C) traditional
D) problem-solving
E) cross-functional

Question 15

Which of the following statements is true regarding a work team?

A) Work teams involve members of random and varied skill sets.
B) Work teams are generally less flexible than traditional departments.
C) Work teams are rarely used in organizations today.
D) Work teams generate positive synergy through coordinated effort.
E) Work teams are less responsive to changes in the internal and external environment of the company.

Question 16

Which of the following statements best defines a work group?

A) A work group involves individual and mutual accountability regarding results and outcomes.
B) A work group interacts primarily to share information, rather than to engage in work that requires joint effort.
C) A work group consists of members having complementary skills that are applied in a coordinated fashion to the task at hand.
D) A work group performs at a level greater than the sum of its inputs from individual members.
E) A work group consists of members who work together and generate positive synergy through coordinated effort.

Question 17

GoAir, a low-cost airline, has created a team made up of employees from production, planning, quality control, tooling, design engineering, and information systems to automate the company's C-17 program. This team is most likely to be an example of a ________ team.

A) problem-solving
B) self-managed work
C) cross-functional
D) command
E) task

Question 18

Which of the following statements is true regarding self-managed work teams?

A) Members of self-managed work teams typically report lower job satisfaction.
B) Self-managed work teams typically manage conflicts well.
C) In the case of self-managed work teams, supervisory positions take on decreased importance.
D) Self-managed work teams are typically composed of employees from different departments who work independent of each other.
E) Self-managed work teams typically consist of forty to fifty employees.

Question 19

Which of the following statements is true regarding a cross-functional team?

A) Cross-functional teams are used for developing new ideas and coordinating complex projects.
B) Cross-functional teams have decreased in popularity in the last few decades.
C) In the case of a cross-functional team, the early stages of development are typically very short.
D) A cross-functional team is made up of employees from the same department.
E) A cross-functional team is made up of employees from different hierarchical levels.

Question 20

________ teams are defined as groups of employees who perform highly related or interdependent jobs and take on many of the responsibilities of their former supervisors.

A) Cross-functional
B) Traditional
C) Independent
D) Problem-solving
E) Self-managed work

Question 21

According to the concept of organizational demography, if team members have dissimilar experiences, it will lead to ________.

A) decreased level of conflicts
B) higher team efficacy
C) higher employee motivation
D) higher employee turnover
E) increased employee satisfaction

Question 22

Organizational demography suggests that attributes such as age or the date of joining should help the organization in ________.

A) assessing the training needs at an occupational level
B) determining appropriate compensation packages
C) reducing discrimination in the workplace
D) promoting diversity and multiculturalism
E) predicting employee turnover in the company

Question 23

Which of the following statements is true regarding a culturally diverse team?

A) Generally, newly formed culturally diverse teams underperform as compared to newly formed culturally homogeneous teams.
B) Cultural diversity within a team is not advisable for those tasks that call for a variety of viewpoints.
C) Culturally homogeneous teams have more difficulty learning to work with each other and solving problems than culturally heterogeneous teams.
D) Elements of diversity do not interfere with team processes.
E) Culturally diverse teams are more affected by surface-level diversity than by deep-level diversity.

Question 24

People scoring high on ________ are valuable in teams because they're good at backing up fellow team members and at sensing when their support is truly needed.

A) openness to experience
B) agreeableness
C) emotional stability
D) conscientiousness
E) positivity

Question 25

With reference to the team effectiveness model, which of the following is one of the key components of an effective team, included under the category of contextual factors?

A) team efficacy
B) social loafing
C) climate of trust
D) common purpose
E) specific goals

Question 26

Jean Wills, a trainer with Leverage Inc., is infuriated because the conference hall that she had booked for her morning session with a new batch of trainees will be occupied by the HR team for the day. Jean feels that the company only superficially commits to training and that it is not a priority as this lack of facilities for training is a recurring phenomenon. Recently, she had asked the HR department to supply printed copies of her material for the orientation and training modules to the new trainees, and HR refused, saying the soft copies available on the systems would suffice. Which of the following contextual areas is the source of problem between the training department and the HR department in this scenario?

A) structure
B) adequate resources
C) reward systems
D) leadership
E) performance evaluation

Question 27

Which of the following reward systems is likely to reinforce team effort and commitment?

A) gainsharing
B) skill-based pay
C) piece-rate pay
D) job sharing
E) merit-based pay

Question 28

Which of the following pairs of personality dimensions contribute to high team effectiveness?

A) type A and type B
B) conscientiousness and openness to experience
C) reflexivity and submissiveness
D) perfectionism and rule consciousness
E) introversion and reflexivity

Question 29

The team effectiveness model classifies the key components of effective teams into three general categories: context, composition, and process. Which of the following variables belongs to the composition category?

A) conflict level
B) adequate resources
C) personality of team members
D) team efficacy
E) performance evaluation system

Question 30

Which of the following terms describes the degree to which members of a work unit share a common demographic attribute, such as age, sex, race, educational level, or length of service?

A) organizational value
B) organizational multiculturalism
C) diversity
D) organizational demography
E) social conformity

Question 31

The controller role in a team is responsible for ________.

A) examining details and enforcing rules
B) offering insightful analysis of options
C) initiating creative ideas
D) coordinating and integrating group tasks
E) providing directions and following up with implementation

Question 32

According to the team effectiveness model, which of the following is a process variable that influences effectiveness of a team?

A) member flexibility
B) leadership and structure
C) team efficacy
D) performance evaluation and reward systems
E) abilities of members

Question 33

Which of the following statements is true regarding team composition?

A) A high-ability team will function well irrespective of the deficits in the abilities of the leader.
B) A team's performance is merely the summation of its individual members' abilities.
C) Agreeableness is the only personality dimension that aids the ability to work in groups.
D) In successful teams, members should be selected to ensure all the various roles are filled.
E) High-ability teams find it hard to adapt to changing situations.

Question 34

The adviser role in a team is responsible for ________.

A) providing structure
B) encouraging the search for more information
C) offering insightful analysis of options
D) fighting external battles
E) coordinating and integrating group tasks

Question 35

In which of the following teams is leadership of most importance to coordinate the efforts of various teams in order to produce a desired outcome?

A) technical teams
B) multiteam systems
C) self-managed work teams
D) management teams
E) problem-solving teams

Question 36

Which of the following represents the three general categories into which the key components of effective teams are grouped?

A) internal, external, and peripheral factors
B) basic, functional, and strategic factors
C) standard, segregated, and advanced factors
D) context, composition, and process factors
E) cardinal, central, and secondary factors

Question 37

Which of the following is not one of the key components of effective teams?

A) member flexibility
B) leadership and structure
C) adequate resources
D) team efficacy
E) company reputation

Question 38

Araceli is a team member in a large corporation. She never speaks in team meetings because she has seen members talk behind each others' backs after the meetings. Members are constantly monitoring the other members' work and looking for mistakes to point out in a meeting. According to the information provided, which contextual factor is lacking in Araceli's team?

A) climate of trust
B) leadership
C) performance evaluations
D) adequate resources
E) team structure

Question 39

Which of the following is desirable when a crucial project is delegated to a virtual team?

A) promoting a sense of independence over group spirit to encourage competition
B) discouraging the sharing of unique information as it benefits some employees unfairly
C) engaging in close monitoring of the work being done by the team throughout the project
D) avoiding publicity of the team's progress and success in the organization
E) encouraging less interaction among members so they completely focus on the project

Question 40

Which of the following is true with regard to the impact of diversity on team effectiveness?

A) Elements of diversity are undesirable as they interfere with team processes in the long run.
B) Race and gender diversity bear the highest positive impact on team performance.
C) Leadership has a negligible role to play in diverse teams because the members manage themselves autonomously.
D) Cultural diversity serves as an asset for tasks that call for a variety of viewpoints once the team has worked out its differences.
E) High levels of diversity among team members benefit the group from the stage of forming.

Question 41

The existence of dissimilar mental models is likely to lead to ________.

A) specific and accurate goals being pursued by all team members
B) disagreements over the methods to be applied for task completion
C) decisions being made on the basis of unanimous judgments
D) higher levels of objectively rated performance
E) diverse but appropriate decisions being made by the team

Question 42

Alberto's team is developing a database for the water pollution data of three cities. Before he begins on this intensive project, he wants to improve the team efficacy of his team. Which of the following actions can Alberto take to increase team efficacy before the project starts?

A) make sure that his team is not comprised of more than nine people
B) create team goals that are very challenging
C) spend considerable time evaluating team members and allocating proper roles for each
D) plan a team outing for the team members
E) provide client's software and database training for all the team members

Question 43

________ are defined as organized cognitive representations of the key elements within a team's environment that team members share.

A) Path-goal models
B) Specific models
C) Individual models
D) Mental models
E) Task models

Question 44

________ illustrates a process loss from using teams.

A) Profit-sharing
B) Role conflict
C) Multitasking
D) Organizational demography
E) Social loafing

Question 45

Which of the following must be avoided if one wants to create and maintain an effective team?

A) relationship conflicts
B) task conflicts
C) reflexivity
D) specific goals
E) congruent mental models

Question 46

Hank Murphy was selected to develop an advanced personal communication device with his own self-managed work team. Hank was assured that resource allocation and timelines were flexible for this project provided the work was a cut above that provided by the rest of the employees. As a part of the project guidelines, Hank included the demand that the device being developed by the team should also be marketed exclusively by them without resorting to franchising or cobranding. This was to ensure that customers recognized the product as reflecting the values of their company. Work on this project began with a lot of vigor and once the device was developed, Hank's team implemented their marketing strategy. However, even three months after the product's release, visibility remained low in the market and many reviewers did not consider the device to be much of an innovation. Which of the following statements, if true, would indicate a lack of reflexivity in Hank's self-managed work team?

A) In the first few weeks of the project, Hank had witnessed a moderate level of conflict between the team members as each one had his own idea about how best to go about this high-priority project.
B) Hank's team used e-mail and instant messaging to communicate unique information when some of the team members were not available for face-to-face interactions.
C) In Hank's team, the members took accountability for the group's performance as a whole and reported their individual progress to him as well.
D) The device was later marketed as a part of a national level tie-up with E-store outlets and did remarkably well in its second stint in the market.
E) Hank's team members developed multiple blueprints of the device which were thoroughly discussed, improvised, and synthesized into the final plan for the product.

Question 47

Elle Appliances has recently released its "Elite" cooking range. The cooking appliances were advertised extensively with offers for early-bird buyers and assured refunds if the goods were found defective. This resulted in a lot of hype surrounding the goods and high levels of projected demand in the market. However, after its release in the market, the products failed to substantially add to the company's profits. When the venture failed to recover even the minimum projected returns, the marketing manager blamed the production department for the delays in production, while the production manager claimed that he was doing his best to dispatch stock on the predetermined days. Which of the following best explains the failure of this venture by Elle?

A) The company followed a low inventory system.
B) Elle was a reputed company which enjoyed the loyalty of customers.
C) Elle had recently acquired one its major rival firms.
D) The company minimized its operating costs by using efficient production techniques.
E) The company priced the "Elite" cooking range at relatively low rates.

Question 48

Which of the following statements is true regarding size of teams?

A) As team size increases, social loafing decreases.
B) Members of large teams coordinate work better when pressed for time.
C) The most effective teams have twelve to fifteen members.
D) When teams have excess members, mutual accountability increases.
E) When teams have excess members, cohesiveness declines.

Question 49

When teams are performing nonroutine activities, ________ stimulate discussion, promote critical assessment of problems and options, and can lead to better team decisions.

A) task conflicts
B) relationship conflicts
C) discriminatory conflicts
D) resource allocation conflicts
E) disciplinary conflicts

Question 50

With a deadline approaching, all seven members of Sharon's product development team were working round-the-clock and still the work was not completed in time. After the project was completed, Sharon spoke individually with the members to determine the cause for this delay. Many members complained saying the work given to them was not in accordance with their roles, some were unclear about which team member to approach when faced with a problem, and many underestimated the time and effort the project demanded. This team is characterized by ________.

A) high degree of role clarity
B) a strong climate of trust
C) a clear role allocation for all team members
D) excessively large team size
E) dissimilar mental models

Question 51

Gerald Murphy is a manager at Wright & Wayner, a publishing house which is a very employee-friendly company. The demarcation between managers and subordinates is flexible and the nature of these reporting relationships is flexible and informal. Gerald recently assigned five of eight of his subordinates to work on a new publication project with a fairly tight deadline because he believed that these efficient employees would function even better with each other's support. A week before the deadline, however, Gerald realized that the group had been shirking work as each of the members thought that the project was not just his/her responsibility. Additionally, under the guise of working together, the team was actually doing their personal work, surfing the Internet, or just socializing. This scenario reflects ________.

A) reflexive goal-setting
B) high process gains
C) jobsharing
D) gainsharing
E) social loafing

Question 52

Which of the following statements is true with regard to team processes?

A) Effective teams invest time and effort to discuss and agree on a purpose that belongs to them
Both collectively and individually.
B) Effective teams begin by selecting the right kind of people to be members of the team.
C) Effective teams do not engage in task and relationship conflicts.
D) This category comprises variables that relate to how teams should be staffed.
E) Once a specific goal is chosen, effective teams resist making any changes in them so as to maintain the momentum of the team.

Question 53

Which of the following is an example of a task conflict?

A) Linda and Dorothy had a disagreement over which of their employees should be assigned to work on a high-priority project.
B) Will and Hilda have been removed from the team they worked with after they were overheard making derogatory comments about one of their colleague's racial origin.
C) The company head has resigned after longstanding conflict between him and his top management employees.
D) Sally and her manager have just had a heated argument because Sally feels she has been overlooked for a promotion that was her rightful due.
E) Henry and Solomon have been reprimanded by their project lead for spending too much time using the Internet for personal use at work.

Question 54

A team that has a good plan, but is also willing to adjust their master plan and adapt when conditions call for it demonstrates high ________, an important variable in successful team processes.

A) diversity
B) reflexivity
C) goal congruency
D) goal specificity
E) conformity

Question 55

Which of the following is most likely to increase team efficacy?

A) reducing the number of members on a team drastically
B) helping the team achieve small successes
C) ensuring that team goals are substantially difficult
D) providing vast and generic goals
E) creating a team such that it has diverse members

Question 56

Effective teams translate their common purpose into ________ goals.

A) generic
B) specific
C) diverse
D) vast
E) universal

Question 57

Which of the following statements represents a strategy that is desirable for making effective teams?

A) Combining people with extremely high and extremely low abilities helps make a balanced team.
B) Diversity should be avoided as diverse teams involve a lot of conflict in day-to-day functioning.
C) If a natural work unit is larger, its size must be maintained for the nature of the job requires large teams.
D) Individuals should ideally have one role in a team as multiple roles reduce their effectiveness and efficiency.
E) The preference of individual members to work as a part of groups must be considered when forming teams.

Question 58

While discussing their marketing campaign for a new product, the members of the cross-functional team responsible for Carver Inc. realized that a couple of changes relating to their prior plan would be beneficial. The offer of a franchising that had earlier been brushed off by the company head was discussed thoroughly and it was decided that it would be implemented on a trial basis initially, and on full scale if found to work well. From the information provided, it can be concluded that this cross-functional team has a high degree of ________.

A) uncertainty
B) reflexivity
C) diversity
D) conformity
E) demography

Question 59

The belief that effective teams have in their ability to succeed is called ________.

A) team efficacy
B) reflexivity
C) mental model
D) goal specificity
E) common purpose

Question 60

Diversity is an asset for teams where tasks ________.

A) are highly technical
B) are simple and routine
C) required for completing the work are highly independent
D) involve emotional labor
E) require a variety of viewpoints

Question 61

Diane Fielding, owner of the famous "Mint" chain of restaurants, planned to revamp the whole concept and structure of her outlets. With this purpose in mind, she selected five managers from her existing outlets based on their performance in relation to targets, experience, and motivation. Each manager was asked to take up an aspect of the restaurant's functioning like menu, décor, and customer service measures. Diane was sure that this group of high performers possessed a clear understanding of the ground realities which made them the best candidates to contemplate and implement the required changes. In order to reward them, she announced a hefty bonus for their collective performance. Six months later, after the changes were implemented, Diane realized that the group had made many questionable decisions which were resulting in problems. Which of the following, if true, would best explain this outcome?

A) The team members were clear about their duties and role ambiguity was minimal.
B) Two of the branches of "Mint" were located in the suburbs, while the other three outlets were located in busy areas and witnessed more customers.
C) The team members had skills that were complementary to each other and added value to the project.
D) The team members had high levels of affective commitment to their jobs as Diane was a good leader.
E) Typically, these managers viewed each other as competition as Diane only rewarded the highest earning outlet with incentives.

Question 62

Problem-solving teams discuss a problem, generate potential solutions, and implement them successfully.

Question 63

A climate of trust among team members is a contextual factor relating to team effectiveness.

Question 64

In self-managed teams, supervisory positions may be eliminated.

Question 65

Low levels of virtuality in teams result in higher levels of information sharing.

Question 66

FDS is a government agency which holds its yearly appraisals in December and provides employees with merit-based incentives based on their individual performance ratings. Merit is the only criterion for incentives at FDS and this is likely to have a strong positive impact on group performance.

Question 67

Which of the following is true with regard to use of individuals and teams?

A) Individuals have increased communication, supervision, and conflict-management demands when compared to teams.
B) Individuals are bound by a collective common purpose that is organizationally determined and this typically reduces their performance.
C) Teams and individuals can be used interchangeably for all kinds of jobs without any significant impact seen on effectiveness.
D) Task complexity and requirement of different perspectives must be used as criteria when assigning work to teams over individuals and vice versa.
E) Team work requires less time and resources when compared to individual work.

Question 68

Shane Dermott is a manager at a software design firm that develops software programs for clients using multiple teams of specialists. One of his most successful teams has been performing very well for years and so it came as a surprise to Shane when he noticed a sharp drop in the team's performance. He decided to speak with the team individually and find a solution. After interviewing all 7 team members, he determined that one of the team members performed routine administrative tasks that were hardly visible to any of the other team members and understood that this was a case of social loafing which demotivated the entire group. Which of the following would most likely improve the performance of the employee who was social loafing?

A) encouraging him to work more independently
B) making him individually responsible for definite and crucial tasks
C) providing him with administrative training
D) giving him additional assignments to complete
E) empowering him to make decisions autonomously

Question 69

More and more organizations are resorting to teams as they represent a better way to use employee talents.

Question 70

The work of your group would be better done in teams if the members of the team are ________.

A) reflexive
B) independent
C) individualistic
D) autonomous
E) interdependent

Question 71

Teams and traditional departments have the same level of flexibility and responsiveness to external changes.

Question 72

When individuals engage in ________, they coast on the group's effort because their particular contributions cannot be identified.

A) process gains
B) gainsharing
C) task conflicts
D) retaliating
E) social loafing

Question 73

The goal of a work group is to share information.

Question 74

Jason Jones has been asked to assemble an eight-member self-managed work team of experienced employees to work on a project that combines the functional areas of research, production, marketing, and distribution. Jason is apprehensive about managing a team so large; he knows from prior experience that larger teams do not always result in greater productivity. Jason has also been informed by the management that this team is being established as the project must progress according to the predetermined timeline. The work lagging behind by one division will cause a cumulative delay in all the successive stages of the project's execution. Jason plans to implement a group-based incentive that he feels would motivate each of the team members to work efficiently. Which of the following is an assumption made by Jason in implementing this plan?

A) Each employee in the team is motivated to work equally hard to ensure that the group's performance is satisfactory.
B) Increasing the number of experienced employees in the team will reduce the need for supervision.
C) Each employee will be committed to working within the resources allocated.
D) Each employee will work well within the boundaries of their divisional functions and conflicts will be relatively fewer.
E) Since the team is comprised of employees who are highly skilled in their respective areas, the output of the group will be of high quality.

Question 75

Work should be performed by an individual if ________.

A) the work is simple and does not require diverse input
B) the work creates a common purpose or set of goals for the people in the group that is more than the aggregate of individual goals
C) performing the work requires learning a new technology or understanding a new system
D) several tasks that are interdependent are to be performed for completing the work
E) the work is complex and requires different perspectives

Question 76

A software development firm has witnessed substantial growth and seeks to expand and reorganize its structure to meet the demands from clients in a better manner. HR has been given a clear directive that one of the major criteria for selection of recruits would be the candidate's ability to function as a team player. This is because the company is revamping all its major functions from the traditional departmental model to an arrangement of flexible teams. Joe Sanchez is one of their oldest and most experienced employees who demonstrated considerable ability in developing the best programs but the problem with him is that he prefers to work alone. The company does not wish to lose resources like him and others who lack the ability to work in groups but team work is essential in their reorganization. Which of the following strategies will help rectify this problem?

A) applying merit-based compensation systems instead of gainsharing
B) informing all employees that ability to work in teams will be major determinant for promotions and bonuses
C) encouraging the formation of more diverse teams
D) encouraging employees like Joe to work more independently
E) increasing the size of teams so the contribution of people like Joe will not affect team performance overall

Question 77

Which of the following will be useful in creating team players?

A) negotiation training
B) professional training
C) technical training
D) job rotation
E) cross-training

Question 78

Jason Jones has been asked to assemble an eight-member self-managed work team of experienced employees to work on a project that combines the functional areas of research, production, marketing, and distribution. Jason is apprehensive about managing a team so large; he knows from prior experience that larger teams do not always result in greater productivity. Jason has also been informed by the management that this team is being established as the project must progress according to the predetermined timeline. The work lagging behind by one division will cause a cumulative delay in all the successive stages of the project's execution. Which of the following measures, if adopted by Jason, would best ensure that the team members are working efficiently?

A) assigning the specific tasks of the project to each team member by keeping in mind their preference and abilities
B) discouraging team members from restricting themselves to their own functional areas by experimenting with and learning the job done by other members of the team
C) implementing a training program to provide the team members with the necessary technical and human relations skills for the project
D) implementing a group-based incentive he has planned for this team
E) instructing the team members to finalize the plan for the project right at the beginning and ensuring that it is implemented without any changes

Question 79

Nancy is a part of a group at work which stresses a lot on collective goals and performance. Nancy is amazed at how well the members of the team use their skills to benefit themselves and their team members. Whenever a problem arises, the team, as a whole, provides reasons and solutions for the same. She enjoys working in this group as there is a lot of positive energy. This group that Nancy is a part of is a work group.

Question 80

Cross-functional teams consist of employees from about the same hierarchical level, but from different work areas, who come together to accomplish a task.