Deck 11: Task Groups: Foundation Methods

Question 1

Group factors that inhibit ideas and creativity do not include

A) Norms for conformity
B) Groups that censor controversial opinions
C) Judgments and opinions that are expressed openly in the group
D) Status conscious members

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Principles for developing goals during problem solving do not include

A) Goals should be attractive enough to gain the commitment, cooperation and investment of all group members
B) Goals should be time-limited
C) Goals should be directed by the concerns of at least a few members
D) Goals should be consistent with the group's mandate

Answer 2

C

Question 3

During meetings of task groups it is recommended that

A) The leader work on easier items first
B) The leader work on harder items first
C) The order of working on items does not matter
D) Work on special agenda items first

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In large task groups the round robin

A) Should never be used
B) Is a good procedure to use
C) Can be used if the large group is broken up into subgroups
D) Is a good alternative to parliamentary procedure

Question 5

Ending a session of a task group does not usually include

A) Summarizing the meeting's accomplishments
B) Summarizing the issues that were not handled well
C) Mentioning where the meeting has placed the group in terms of its overall schedule
D) Summarizing the tasks members have agreed to accomplish before the next meeting

Question 6

Consensus

A) Is often considered the ideal way to select among alternatives
B) Is often too hard to achieve in groups
C) Means that everyone is fully in agreement with the decision made by the group
D) Increases conflict and can makes the group less effective

Question 7

Which is not a true statement regarding individual and group decision making

A) The best decision maker in a group usually cannot make a better decision alone than with the entire group
B) Group decisions can be more costly in terms of staff time than individual decisions
C) When the group solves intellectual tasks, members' rational, information-processing orientation may be impeded by socioemotional concerns
D) Part of the superiority of group problem solving results from the pooling of individual judgments to converge on a group norm.

Question 8

The conflicts that are most difficult to resolve in groups are

A) Task conflicts
B) Relationship conflicts
C) Content conflicts
D) Conflicts over procedures

Question 9

When helping members to share information, which of the following steps is not recommended

A) Ensure that all members have a clear understanding of the topic
B) Develop clear procedural steps
C) Let the high status members speak first
D) Focus by discussing one issue at a time

Question 10

To enhance member involvement and commitment in task groups the worker should not

A) Assign members specific roles
B) Invite members' input into the agenda
C) Be honest with members and let them know that their decisions are not binding
D) Encourage members to participate in decision making

Question 11

A power-oriented analysis of task groups does not usually include

A) The physical setting where the group meets
B) The membership of the group
C) The agenda and procedural rules
D) The indigenous leadership of the group

Question 12

Leading task groups during the middle phase does not usually include

A) Facilitating fact finding about issue and concerns facing the group
B) Dealing with conflict
C) Making effective decisions
D) Helping members share personal problems that may affect their work in the group

Question 13

To develop new approaches to problems during problem solving the worker should not

A) Focus on the problem as it is defined and consider each aspect of it
B) Use lateral and vertical thinking
C) Recognize gaps in information
D) View problems from alternative perspectives

Question 14

Problem solving in task groups usually does not include

A) Identifying the problem
B) Developing ideas
C) Collecting data
D) Implementing the plan

Question 15

Principles for sharing information during problem solving do not include

A) Refrain from evaluation
B) Encourage a search for information that is focused on a few key areas
C) Encourage all members to present their ideas
D) Demonstrate genuine appreciation for differences

Question 16

Potential disadvantages of giving members decision making authority do not include

A) The amount of time spent in group decision making
B) Expectations that future decisions will also be made through group participation
C) The possibility that group decisions could cause conflict among members who have to work together every day
D) The fact that group decisions could be better than individual decisions

Question 17

Identifying a problem during problem solving does not include

A) Not getting too specific
B) Defining a solvable problem
C) Understanding members' perceptions and experiences
D) Clarifying boundaries

Question 18

The risky shift phenomenon is when groups make

A) Riskier decisions than individuals
B) Make less risky decisions than individuals
C) Make decisions that are either more risky or less risky than individuals
D) When groups fail to consider the risky shift they may be making

Question 19

When handling information generated by the group during problem solving the worker should generally not

A) Identify discrepancies
B) Combine disparate facts
C) Look for patterns
D) Rank facts from most to least important

Question 20

Ways to handle conflicts in the group do not include

A) View conflicts as detrimental to the group process
B) Help members to recognize conflict
C) Encourage group norms of openness and respect for other's viewpoints
D) Be sensitive to members' personal concerns

Question 21

Observe a task group meeting. After the meeting, evaluate the effectiveness of the leader. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this individual's leadership style? Did the leader appear to be well-prepared for the meeting? What changes would have helped make the meeting more productive?

Question 22

You are leading an organizational decision making group charged with deciding how to expand its services to an underserved minority community. As the deliberations of the group proceed, there appear to be wide differences of opinion and conflict among the members. As the group's leader, what strategies could you employ to help the members of the group resolve their conflicts and decide on a plan?

Question 23

Handling conflicts does not usually include

A) As a leader taking a stance in the conflict but ask questions and seek clarification of members who are taking a different stance
B) Follow orderly preplanned steps for considering alternatives
C) Help members express facts and preferences underlying their points of views and opinions
D) Clarify and summarize the discussion frequently so that all members have a similar understanding of what is being discussed

Question 24

To improve the sharing of information a worker should not

A) Let everyone freely communicate
B) Ensure that all members have a clear understanding of the topic
C) Promote task relevant discussions
D) Summarize and focus after the discussion is over

Question 25

Between task group meetings it is generally not recommended that leaders generally

A) Wait until the group has made a decision to be in close contact with administrative staff or governing bodies that gave the group its mandate
B) Monitor and ensure that tasks and assignments are being completed for the next meeting
C) Read the minutes and any notes they have taken about actions taken and tasks assigned
D) Send a memo to members about any items they may have for the next meeting agenda

Question 26

Which statement is true?

A) Rarely involve social workers in most agency settings
B) In many agencies social workers spend a lot of time in task groups meetings
C) When they occur social workers are often involved in task groups but don't spend much time in them compared to their other roles
D) Task groups are mainly the purview of supervisors and administrators

Question 27

You have been asked to chair a committee charged with the task of making recommendations about whether it would be feasible for the large social service agency in which you work to provide child care for employees. Describe how you would prepare for the first meeting of the committee. Prepare a written agenda.

Question 28

When selecting the best plan during problem solving

A) Members should consider costs
B) Members should consider the overall likelihood that the plan will resolve the problem without regard to individual members' values
C) Members should develop specific criteria for decision making
D) Ensure that each member understands all the alternatives

Question 29

Conduct separate interviews with the leader and a member of an interdisciplinary team. Ask them to describe how well members of the team get along with each other. Ask specifically about role boundaries and role ambiguity among the members of the team. Also, ask about how conflicts and professional rivalries are handled. Compare and contrast the responses of the two individuals you interviewed.

Question 30

Observe a meeting of a social action group. How did the group leader(s) involve the members in the work of the group? What methods did the group use to solve problems and make decisions? What did the group leader(s) do well, and what could be improved? What steps could the group take to improve its image in community organization or the community as a whole?