Deck 3: Groups, Teams, and Powerful Meetings

Question 1

Task groups are best defined as

A) permanent groups set up to fulfill ongoing needs in an organization.
B) groups that form when the individuals in an organization develop relationships to meet personal goals.
C) groups set up to carry out a specific activity and are disbanded when the activity is completed.
D) groups which appear on a company's organization chart.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A hospital's permanent accounting department and customer service department are examples of ________ groups.

A) project
B) functional
C) task
D) informal

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Shannon is a supervisor at Florenz Inc. She joined Florenz Inc. because two of her friends from college were working at the firm. In the context of the reasons for joining groups, which of the following is the primary reason for Shannon joining Florenz Inc.?

A) Strength in numbers
B) Common goals
C) Achievement as objective
D) Closeness

Answer 3

D

Question 4

John is a new employee at IronMakers Inc. He wants to be a supervisor. Therefore, he socializes with the supervisors of the organization. He feels important when he is with them. In the context of the reasons for joining groups, which of the following is the reason why John likes to associate with the supervisors in his company?

A) Closeness
B) Achievement of personal objectives
C) Common goals
D) Strength in numbers

Question 5

Which of the following is true about an organic organization?

A) An organic organization focuses on the centralization of authority.
B) Employees of an organic organization have limited skills.
C) The procedures in an organic organization are rigid.
D) An organic organization has very little hierarchy.

Question 6

Formal groups are best defined as groups that are

A) set up by management to meet organizational objectives.
B) formed when individuals in an organization develop relationships to meet personal needs.
C) bound together by common interests such as political beliefs and social activities.
D) created by members who are prone to social loafing and groupthink.

Question 7

A task group is

A) formed to carry out a particular function, such as producing or selling goods.
B) often disbanded once the objective of the group is achieved.
C) set up to satisfy the informal needs of the members in a group.
D) also called an organic group.

Question 8

Groups that form when individuals in an organization develop relationships to meet personal needs are called ________ groups.

A) informal
B) formal
C) task
D) functional

Question 9

Salman is a new employee at a quarry. Being a new employee, he feels lonely at work. However, he finds a group of people who share jokes and speak informally with each other to reduce work-related stress. Salman feels confident being with them and joins their group. In the context of the reasons for joining groups, which of the following is the reason why Salman joined the group?

A) Closeness
B) Achievement as objective
C) Common goals
D) Strength in numbers

Question 10

In the U.S. division of Nine Inc., employees from different functional departments are brought together to work on the development of a new computer operating system. After the successful completion of the project, this group is broken up. This group is an example of a(n) ________ group.

A) functional
B) virtual
C) informal
D) task

Question 11

A(n) ________ organization can be best defined as one in which there is very little hierarchy, and each employee is multitalented and has the diverse skills and flexibility to perform a variety of tasks.

A) graded
B) organic
C) functional
D) vertical

Question 12

Which of the following is a weakness of an organic organization?

A) It is an informal structure that lacks authority.
B) It is good only for functional tasks.
C) It requires cooperation from all its members.
D) It requires a tall organizational structure to function effectively.

Question 13

Lawrence manages the legal department of a manufacturing company. The legal department has the continuing responsibility of dealing with all legal issues related to the company. In the context of the different types of groups, Lawrence is a member of a(n) ________ group.

A) project
B) functional
C) informal
D) task

Question 14

Most employees welcome the opportunity to be part of informal groups primarily because these groups

A) help in enhancing productivity.
B) improve technical skills.
C) satisfy formal needs.
D) satisfy social needs.

Question 15

Which of the following is a characteristic of organic organizations?

A) All workers tend to be on the same level.
B) Employees cooperate efficiently without any leadership.
C) Communication structures are rigid and formal.
D) Organizational hierarchies are based on skills rather than experience.

Question 16

In the context of today's business world, a(n) ________ is two or more people who interact with one another, are aware of one another, and think of themselves as a unit.

A) gathering
B) audience
C) group
D) assembly

Question 17

Timothy and his teamwork on an animal rescue project. Anna, an animal lover, asks Timothy if she can join his team, and he agrees. In the context of the reasons for joining groups, for which of the following reasons did Anna join Timothy's team?

A) Closeness
B) Achievement of objectives
C) Common goals
D) Strength in numbers

Question 18

Functional and task groups are types of ________ groups.

A) cohesive
B) formal
C) informal
D) homogenous

Question 19

Which of the following statements is true about groups in a workplace?

A) Working in groups often leads to members losing their confidence.
B) Groups are formed to reduce the occurrence of social loafing.
C) Most employees of large organizations cluster into smaller groups such as task groups.
D) Not all employees of an organization form or join groups.

Question 20

Which of the following best defines functional groups?

A) Groups that fulfill ongoing needs in an organization by carrying out a particular function
B) Groups that are set up to carry out a specific function and then disbanded when it is completed
C) Groups that work together and solve functional problems through computer-based interactions
D) Groups that are formed for the purpose of bringing together employees with similar non-work-related interests

Question 21

In the context of the characteristics of groups, norms refer to

A) the efforts made by group leaders to support their groups.
B) the organizational rules that all employees are expected to adhere to.
C) the previous achievements and successes that are used as benchmarks for individual group performance.
D) the standards for appropriate or acceptable behavior in groups.

Question 22

In the context of the characteristics of groups, a supervisor who wants to foster cohesiveness in a group should

A) increase the group's size so that multiple members work together on each task.
B) encourage group members to be competitive with each other in completing tasks.
C) discourage the group from competing with other groups in the organization.
D) encourage less-active members to participate equally in all tasks.

Question 23

Rita, a supervisor at MindThoughts Corp., was assigned the task of training new recruits as well as monitoring her subordinates. She found that these roles clashed with each other and that they needed her to act in two different ways. In the context of roles, this is an example of ________.

A) role conflict
B) role overload
C) role-playing
D) role ambiguity

Question 24

In the context of the characteristics of groups, roles are best defined as

A) patterns of behavior related to employees' positions in a group.
B) group standards for appropriate or acceptable behavior.
C) the degree to which group members stick together.
D) group members' positions relative to others in an organization.

Question 25

The degree to which group members stick together is called

A) integrity.
B) cohesiveness.
C) status.
D) homogeneity.

Question 26

Awareness of roles is important because it helps

A) employees avoid informal behavior.
B) supervisors dictate their orders effectively.
C) supervisors encourage desirable behavior.
D) employees adopt an "us versus them" attitude toward management.

Question 27

A situation in which a person has two different roles that call for incompatible types of behavior is known as

A) role-playing.
B) role ambiguity.
C) role conflict.
D) role overload.

Question 28

A supervisor who wants to reinforce or change group norms will have the greatest success by

A) enforcing strict rules against group norms.
B) involving top management in dealing with undesirable group norms.
C) focusing on the high-status members whom other group members tend to mimic.
D) trying to increase the cohesiveness of the group by promoting new activities.

Question 29

Brandon, Ravi, and Li work in the same group at Creltz Inc. They are also in a music band together, and they hold concerts during weekends. Their group often outperforms all other groups at Creltz Inc. They are known to complete their projects within planned time limits even when their work is challenging. In the context of the characteristics of groups, their group is a(n) ________ group.

A) egocentric
B) cohesive
C) status-oriented
D) self-managing

Question 30

A group member's position in relation to others in the group is referred to as

A) status.
B) role ambiguity.
C) cohesiveness.
D) norm.

Question 31

Groups tend to be more cohesive when

A) their norms are determined by the supervisor.
B) there is one group leader who guides the other members.
C) the status of the group is high.
D) everybody participates equally.

Question 32

In the context of the characteristics of group, why is determining the status of group members important to supervisors?

A) Because a group's cohesiveness depends on the working relationship of high-status group members
B) Because group members with the highest status have the most effect on the development of group norms
C) Because group members with the lowest status are the easiest to influence into changing informal group norms
D) Because groups with very few high-status members tend to be more beneficial for organizational productivity than groups with many high-status members

Question 33

Mark supervises a group of employees who are always at odds with one another. Which of the following steps should Mark take to foster group cohesiveness?

A) Make the group members aware of their individual contributions to the group
B) Help the members set their personal goals rather than focusing on a common goal
C) Try to keep the group size large
D) Encourage competition with other groups

Question 34

To reap the benefits of working with groups, a supervisor should

A) create an informal atmosphere within the organization.
B) treat all employees fairly and impartially.
C) prevent group concerns from reaching higher management.
D) keep the groups big in order to prevent undesirable behavior.

Question 35

Alice, Noah, and Isaac are colleagues at Faxotell Inc. They meet every Saturday morning at the gym for workout sessions. In the context of the different types of groups, the gym group of Alice, Noah, and Isaac is a(n) ________ group.

A) informal
B) formal
C) homogenous
D) task

Question 36

Which of the following are most likely to develop among the members of a formal group when the formal group fails to meet certain personal needs?

A) Functional subgroups
B) Informal subgroups
C) Reference groups
D) Task groups

Question 37

John, Damon, and Roxanne work at Digizel Inc. They have been working together for two years. They meet their targets every day. However, they never do more than what is expected of them. Salma, a new employee, joins their group. Within the first week, she starts exceeding her targets and performing exceptionally well. This angers John, Damon, and Roxanne. In this scenario, Salma broke the group's ________.

A) norms
B) cohesiveness
C) status
D) homogeneity

Question 38

Alex is an employee at FinStance Inc., and he is part of a small team that plans the organization's extracurricular activities. The other group members tend to seek his advice, and many of them mirror the way he talks and dresses. In the context of the characteristics of groups, Alex has a relatively higher ________ than his group members.

A) integrity
B) competitiveness
C) status
D) motivation

Question 39

A supervisor can receive his group's support by

A) dictating terms and guidelines.
B) establishing norms for group behavior.
C) encouraging the group to participate in solving problems.
D) giving out the industry secrets of competitors.

Question 40

Which of the following is true of cohesive groups?

A) They are always exceptionally good at conceptual skills.
B) They have formal norms because of which they have better human relations skills.
C) They work harder than others and are more likely to accomplish their objectives.
D) They are disbanded once their objectives are accomplished.

Question 41

Ameen, Amir, and Ehsan work at Fenzel Inc. They are from the Middle East. They all love soccer, the same genres of music, and the same TV shows. They also hold informal music performances during breaks at work. In the context of the characteristics of a group, Ameen, Amir, and Ehsan belong to a ________ group.

A) heterogeneous
B) task force
C) conflicting
D) homogenous

Question 42

In the context of the stages of team development, storming is often perceived as a stressful period because group members

A) undergo many formal training sessions.
B) try to delineate exactly what each member's specific role will be.
C) try to understand conceptual issues that affect their performance.
D) are very concerned about their productivity.

Question 43

Which of the following is true of self-managing work teams?

A) These teams disband once their objective is accomplished.
B) Members of these teams collaborate with each other to produce an entire product.
C) Members of these teams compete with each other to improve the team's productivity.
D) These teams are formed when individuals in an organization develop relationships to meet personal needs.

Question 44

The web design team at FirstNet Corp. has five members: Sasha, Megha, Margaret, Shen, and Zahra. They were selected from different teams for a pilot project, which they completed in six months. Their team manager informs them that they will be reassigned to their respective teams soon. In the context of the stages of team development, the design team is currently in the ________ stage.

A) adjourning
B) performing
C) storming
D) norming

Question 45

The quality assurance team at Fern Automobiles has three members: Brenda, Claude, and Stefan, who completed their training as associate automobile engineers. After forming the new team, they went through a period of conflicts. However, they now understand their roles and work together to achieve their department's goals. In the context of the stages of team development, the quality assurance team is in the ________ stage.

A) adjourning
B) norming
C) storming
D) performing

Question 46

The lobbying department at Forma Pharmaceuticals is very productive. Though the team had many problems when it formed, it has managed to develop strong relations between the company and various hospitals. Each member of the team contributes equally to achieving the goals of the department. In the context of the stages of team development, the lobbying team is in the ________ stage.

A) forming
B) norming
C) performing
D) storming

Question 47

To meet the demands of a growing customer base, Cora Heights, a clothing company, forms a new product development team. The members of the team have many heated disagreements over creative decisions. However, they also try to understand each other's talents and shortcomings so that they can work together more effectively. In this scenario, the new team of at Cora Heights is in the ________ stage of team development.

A) norming
B) performing
C) forming
D) storming

Question 48

________ is the stage of the team development process in which the team members become acquainted with one another and oriented to the idea that they are part of a team.

A) Performing
B) Norming
C) Forming
D) Storming

Question 49

Steve manages a group of employees consisting of 12 women and 8 men. Ten members of his group are Hispanic, five are African, and five are Asian. This group is a

A) dysfunctional group.
B) heterogeneous group.
C) homogeneous group.
D) cohesive group.

Question 50

Which of the following statements is true about the storming stage of team development?

A) It is a period of conflict in which group members assert their different roles on the team.
B) This is the stage in which the team decides to disband after having achieved its goals.
C) In this stage, supervisors are encouraged to advise team members to be discreet about their opinions related to their roles in the group.
D) This stage of team development is not required for every team, given that some teams meet for indefinite periods of time.

Question 51

Identify the stage of team development in which a team decides to disband after having achieved its goals.

A) Norming
B) Storming
C) Performing
D) Adjourning

Question 52

At Max Construction Company, over 50 permanent work groups consisting of diverse members work together to build an entire construction plant. These groups have the authority to hire new employees, decide how to run their own projects, and establish budgets. These groups are examples of

A) informal groups.
B) self-managing work teams.
C) task groups.
D) homogeneous teams.

Question 53

Solving organizational problems and meeting assigned challenges are part of the ________ stage of team development.

A) norming
B) storming
C) performing
D) adjourning

Question 54

Which is the first stage of the team development process?

A) Forming
B) Storming
C) Performing
D) Norming

Question 55

Identify a true statement about self-managing teams.

A) They are responsible for making decisions that affect their areas of responsibility.
B) They are disbanded immediately after completing their objectives and tasks.
C) They are formed of people who share common interests, such as political beliefs and social activities.
D) They are large teams that handle the marketing aspects of an organization's products.

Question 56

A new research team is formed at Tezel Inc. The group members are all new recruits, and they spend the first few months getting to know each other and understanding their roles in the company. They learn to coordinate their work by understanding each other's strengths and weaknesses. In the context of the stages of team development, the team is in the ________ stage.

A) performing
B) norming
C) forming
D) storming

Question 57

Which of the following is true of homogeneous groups?

A) Homogeneous groups are most suitable for complex and creative tasks.
B) Homogeneous groups have broader skills and knowledge than heterogeneous groups.
C) The members of homogeneous groups have a lot in common.
D) The members of homogeneous groups can examine problems from different points of view.

Question 58

In the context of the characteristics of groups, a heterogeneous group is better suited to creative tasks than a homogenous group because the members of a

A) heterogeneous group have higher conceptual skills than the members of a homogenous group.
B) heterogeneous group offer a greater variety of skills, experience, and viewpoints than the members of a homogenous group.
C) homogenous group have broader skills and knowledge than members of a heterogeneous group.
D) homogenous group often engage in more undesirable behavior than the members of a heterogeneous group.

Question 59

A ________ is a small group whose members share goals, commitment, and accountability for results.

A) congregation
B) cluster
C) team
D) group

Question 60

Abhi and Jack are the only two members of the newly formed social media team at Senfer Co. They are being trained together. During training, Abhi and Jack find that they have significant differences in opinions about their work. This results in a heated argument between the two. They discuss this with their supervisor, who helps them resolve the argument and sort out their differences. In the context of the stages of team development, the social media team is in the ________ stage.

A) forming
B) norming
C) performing
D) storming

Question 61

Successful teamwork requires ________ communication among team members.

A) stereotypical
B) open
C) assumed
D) biased

Question 62

In the context of the characteristics associated with team productivity, openness and honesty build ________ between team members.

A) status
B) trust
C) norms
D) homogeneity

Question 63

The leader of a team will sometimes have to make a decision alone or reject suggestions. However, all team members should have a voice in making many decisions, rather than simply a vote without the full opportunity to be heard. This is a dimension of quality of team productivity referred to as ________.

A) assessment of progress and results
B) decisions made by consensus
C) debate and discussion
D) openness and honesty

Question 64

In the context of coaching employees, which of the following tips is most likely to help a supervisor stimulate high-quality performance?

A) Criticize team members who are not performing well, preferably during team meetings.
B) Be authoritative and dominate meetings so that the team members do not stray from their agenda.
C) Tell employees what to do, because enabling them to handle a situation is a waste of time.
D) Encourage team members by expressing understanding and appreciation of their ideas and feelings.

Question 65

In the context of coaching a team, enabling is best defined as the process of

A) providing employees with the resources they need to do their job and removing obstacles that interfere with their work.
B) forming small groups in which the members share goals, commitment, and accountability for results.
C) making the transition after adjournment as seamless as possible for the team members by assuring them that new challenges await.
D) giving each team member the absolute authority to take decisions related to achieving organizational goals.

Question 66

Jim and Nancy are managers at Zensol Inc. Jim proposes a plan for improving customer satisfaction, but Nancy disagrees with his plan. However, she asks him to speak about his plan at the quarterly meeting to see if the other members of her department like it. In the context of the characteristics associated with team productivity, which of the following most accurately highlights the characteristic that Nancy made sure was present in their department?

A) Honesty and integrity
B) Comfortable environment
C) Atmosphere of listening
D) Access to information

Question 67

Which of the following best describes the process of team building?

A) It is the process of developing the ability of members to work together to achieve common objectives.
B) It is the process of making transitions after adjournment as seamless as possible for team members by assuring them that new challenges await.
C) It is the process of giving each team member the absolute authority to take decisions related to achieving organizational goals.
D) It is the process of bringing together individuals in an organization who share common interests and forming groups to meet personal needs.

Question 68

The graphics design team at TelDesign willingly takes on new projects and always completes them on time. The team members work together on all projects and help each other out as needed. In the context of the characteristics of team productivity, the dimension of quality described in this scenario is known as ________.

A) assessment of progress and results
B) acceptance of assignments
C) comfortable atmosphere
D) relatively low turnover

Question 69

José, a supervisor at Stay-A-Day Hotels, provides his subordinates with all the resources they need to do their job properly. He also ensures that he helps them in removing all obstacles that hinder their ability to perform well at work. In the context of coaching the team, José is ________ his subordinates.

A) storming
B) adjourning
C) enabling
D) norming

Question 70

Small organizations are sometimes unable to afford an expert consultant to carry out their team-building processes. In such cases, the ________ carries out this responsibility at regular team meetings.

A) human resource manager
B) supervisor
C) top management
D) production manager

Question 71

All team members need to know what is happening. In the context of the characteristics associated with team productivity, to which of the following characteristics does this statement correspond?

A) Access to information
B) Debate and discussion
C) Atmosphere of listening
D) Honesty and integrity

Question 72

When a team member is reluctant to speak up at meetings, the leader should seek his or her input during or outside the meeting. Identify the team characteristic associated with team productivity that deals with the significance of this issue.

A) Assessment of progress and results
B) Involvement and participation
C) Relatively low turnover
D) Acceptance of assignments

Question 73

In the context of the characteristics of team productivity, members of a team must have close relationships, which is impossible when the team's membership keeps changing. This is a dimension of quality known as ________.

A) access to information
B) decisions made by consensus
C) openness and honesty
D) relatively low turnover

Question 74

"Team members should view accomplishing objectives as the team's primary purpose because it gives them direction and purpose." Which of the following characteristics associated with team productivity best corresponds to this statement?

A) Acceptance of assignments
B) Goals that are understood and accepted
C) Assessment of progress and results
D) Involvement and participation

Question 75

Choose the team characteristic associated with team productivity that deals with the importance of team members focusing on outcomes and effects.

A) Decisions made by consensus
B) Debate and discussion
C) Assessment of progress and results
D) Involvement and participation

Question 76

In the context of the characteristics associated with team productivity, a(n) ________ leader is most likely to have a leadership style that does not dominate.

A) flexible
B) authoritarian
C) extrovert
D) orthodox

Question 77

The characteristic of successful teams that emphasizes the importance of team members working to resolve differences in ways that let everyone come out on top is known as ________.

A) the win-win approach to conflict
B) debate and discussion
C) comfortable atmosphere
D) the assessment of progress and results

Question 78

Activities like setting goals, analyzing what needs to be done and allocating work, examining how well the group is working, and examining the relationships among the team members are part of the process of ________.

A) enabling
B) biofeedback
C) team building
D) appraisal

Question 79

Ronnie and Ming are the only members of the electricals team at Zolaten Inc. They have an argument with their supervisor when they are informed that their targets will be increased the following month. This results in a minor conflict. However, they eventually agree to cooperate, and they go on to achieve their department's objectives. Which of the following team characteristics associated with team productivity is depicted by the electricals team in this scenario?

A) Accountability
B) Honesty
C) Comfortable atmosphere
D) Access to information

Question 80

If everyone in a team agrees all the time, it may signify that the team members are unable or unwilling to contribute. Which of the following team characteristics associated with team productivity mostly deals with the significance of this issue?

A) Win-win approach to conflict
B) Debate and discussion
C) Openness and honesty
D) Atmosphere of listening