Deck 11: Leadership in Teams and Decision Groups

Question 1

Which is an example of an interacting group?

A) chess team
B) diving team
C) bowling team
D) soccer team

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following is LEAST likely to build collective identification and mutual trust among team members?

A) Emphasize common interests and shared objectives.
B) Encourage and facilitate social interaction among members.
C) Use more rewards that are contingent on individual performance.
D) Use ceremonies and rituals to emphasize shared values and achievements.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which type of team is MOST likely to be given the task of designing a new product and bringing it into production?

A) traditional work team
B) self-managed operational team
C) cross-functional project team
D) quality circle

Answer 3

C

Question 4

What was found in research on the effectiveness of self-managed teams?

A) Productivity and quality improved substantially.
B) Organizational commitment usually increased.
C) Turnover and absenteeism were usually lower.
D) The results were not consistent across studies.

Question 5

Which of the following was NOT recommended for leaders of decision groups?

A) Focus the group discussion on the best two solutions.
B) Encourage members to look for integrative solutions.
C) Describe the problem without implying the cause or solution.
D) Allow ample time for systematic evaluation of ideas.

Question 6

What is the MOST useful role for the external leader of a self-managed team?

A) Select new members of the group when they are needed.
B) Mediate internal conflicts and encourage cooperation.
C) Monitor the group to ensure it does not become a social club.
D) Serve as a coach, facilitator, and advocate for the group.

Question 7

Which type of activity is LEAST likely to be delegated to a self-managed team?

A) evaluating each team member's task performance
B) determining strategic objectives and priorities
C) determining the work procedures to be used by the team
D) determining which team member will carry out each task

Question 8

A ________ team has low to moderate stability of its membership.

A) cross-functional
B) self-managed operating
C) top executive
D) characteristic

Question 9

The GREATEST amount of shared leadership is likely to be found in a ________.

A) self-managed operational team
B) quality circle
C) cross-functional project team
D) virtual team

Question 10

Which process was NOT a suggested method for team building?

A) Keep members informed about the group's achievements.
B) Use symbols and slogans to create a unique identity for the team.
C) Conduct sessions to analyze group processes that need improvement.
D) Ask members to elect an informal leader to represent the team.

Question 11

The word "team" is correctly used to describe an interacting group that has all of the following characteristics EXCEPT ________.

A) small size
B) common purpose
C) independent roles
D) identical skills

Question 12

Which of the following was NOT mentioned as a primary determinant of performance for a functional team?

A) how long the current leader has been in that position
B) trust and cooperation among the team members
C) the organization and coordination of activities
D) member agreement about objectives and strategies

Question 13

Which leader action is MOST likely to improve a group decision?

A) Ask judgmental questions to stimulate more creative solutions.
B) Separate solution generation from solution evaluation.
C) Identify someone who is responsible for causing the problem.
D) Insist that the person who suggests a solution must defend it.

Question 14

Which is an example of a co-acting group?

A) baseball team
B) football team
C) wrestling team
D) volleyball team

Question 15

Which process is MOST likely to occur in an after-activity review?

A) determination of responsibility for errors and mistakes
B) recognition of members for their contributions to the team
C) analysis of what was done well and what needs to be changed
D) selection of the most qualified team leader for the next activity

Question 16

Which of the following is a task-oriented leadership function in decision groups?

A) supporting
B) process analyzing
C) summarizing
D) harmonizing

Question 17

Which is NOT likely to improve the effectiveness of a self-managed team?

A) Let members share in financial gains from improved performance.
B) Change the membership frequently to give the team fresh ideas.
C) Provide accurate, timely information relevant to team activities.
D) Give members training in interpersonal and problem-solving skills.

Question 18

Which of the following was NOT mentioned as a reason for high team performance?

A) high collective efficacy for team members
B) diverse mental models for team members
C) collective identification of members with the team
D) high level of member skills relevant to the task

Question 19

The primary responsibility of the leader of a decision group is to ________.

A) suggest good ideas for solving the problem
B) ensure that everybody has equal influence
C) encourage group members to reach an agreement quickly
D) structure the discussion in a systematic manner

Question 20

Members are MOST likely to experience role conflict and divided loyalties in a ________.

A) cross-functional project team
B) self-managed operational team
C) traditional work team
D) team with a new leader

Question 21

The importance of external coordination ________.

A) increases as interdependence increases
B) decreases as interdependence increases
C) increases as interdependence decreases
D) is unrelated to the level of interdependence

Question 22

A team will usually perform a new task better if ________.

A) members have an explicit strategy
B) members have an ambiguous plan
C) plans ignore potential problems
D) strategies omit foreseeable obstacles

Question 23

A ________ team's autonomy to determine work procedures has low to moderate stability of its membership.

A) cross-functional
B) self-managed operating
C) top executive
D) characteristic

Question 24

High cohesiveness can provide ________ for group decisions.

A) only benefits
B) only risks
C) neither benefits nor risks
D) both benefits and risks

Question 25

Resource acquisition is less important for a group that ________.

A) cannot work without the materials
B) needs materials for which no substitute can be found
C) requires many resources to do the work
D) has its own ample supply of resources

Question 26

Member skills and clear role expectations are more important ________.

A) when the task is simple
B) when the task is easy to learn
C) during a period of change in team membership
D) when turnover is low and the workforce is stable

Question 27

It is more difficult to have a high level of cohesiveness and group identification in ________.

A) well-established teams
B) teams with stable membership
C) teams with cultural diversity
D) teams with emotionally mature members

Question 28

Group performance will be ________ when members have the knowledge and skills necessary to do the work, and they understand what to do, how to do it, when it must be done, and by whom.

A) higher
B) lower
C) unaffected
D) undone

Question 29

Developing member skills about how to work together as a team is facilitated by ________.

A) ensuring members understand how their roles are interrelated
B) infrequent rehearsals
C) spontaneous performance of roles
D) ensuring members understand how their roles are independent

Question 30

Maintaining a network of contacts who can provide relevant information, encouraging members to develop their own networks of useful contacts, and consulting with other subunits about plans and decisions that affect them are leadership behaviors that can be used to improve ________.

A) internal organization
B) external coordination
C) member skills and role clarity
D) commitment to task objectives and strategies

Question 31

The increased importance of cooperation and coordination among interdependent members of interacting groups makes leadership ________ in co-acting work groups.

A) less challenging than
B) equally as hard as
C) more difficult than
D) not as important as

Question 32

Collective efficacy is likely to be higher for a team with all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A) strong member skills
B) high level trust/cooperation
C) ample resources
D) an unrelated performance strategy

Question 33

There is a strong relationship between intra-team trust and team performance, especially in teams characterized by ________.

A) high levels of task independence
B) decentralized authority
C) generalized member knowledge
D) specialized member skills

Question 34

If a team has talented people it ________.

A) cannot fail
B) won't succeed unless it uses a performance strategy inconsistent with member skills
C) may not perform well if people are given tasks for which their skills are irrelevant
D) cannot succeed

Question 35

A self-managed operating team has high ________.

A) autonomy to determine mission and objectives
B) duration of existence for the team
C) authority of the internal leader
D) diversity of members in functional background

Question 36

The performance of a team depends ________.

A) only on the motivation and skills of members
B) only on how members are organized to use their skills
C) on both the motivation and skills of members, and on how members are organized to use their skills
D) on neither the motivation and skills of members, nor on how members are organized to use their skills

Question 37

A cross-functional team has high ________.

A) autonomy to determine mission and objectives
B) autonomy to determine work procedures
C) authority of the internal leader
D) diversity of members in functional background

Question 38

A top executive team has low to moderate ________.

A) stability of its membership
B) duration of existence for the team
C) autonomy to determine work procedures
D) autonomy to determine mission and objectives

Question 39

A high level of coordination is ________.

A) irrelevant when conditions are changing rapidly
B) most important when the situation is static
C) unnecessary for a challenging assignment
D) especially important for a complex task

Question 40

A leader can do ________ to improve member skills.

A) nothing at all
B) little
C) exactly one thing
D) several things

Question 41

The term ________ is commonly used to describe conscious beliefs and implicit assumptions about the causes of performance and the best way to improve it.

A) mental model
B) cohesiveness
C) group potency
D) groupthink

Question 42

Research on teams found that they are likely to have higher performance if members have a shared mental model that is ________.

A) ambitious
B) easily achievable
C) unattainable
D) accurate

Question 43

Team members from different ________-based subgroups typically employ unique technical jargon and symbols and possess shared mental models about their work.

A) identity
B) geography
C) resource
D) knowledge

Question 44

The performance phase involves all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A) implementing and executing performance strategies
B) deciding on the mission, objectives, and formal leadership roles
C) monitoring and assessing performance
D) resolving any problems in the work

Question 45

External processes involve ________.

A) decisions about work procedures
B) decisions about member roles
C) interactions with clients
D) relationships among the group members

Question 46

Functional work teams ________.

A) are typically of short duration
B) have erratic, ever-changing membership
C) usually do not have formal leaders
D) may have group members perform specific leadership functions

Question 47

Processes within ________-based subgroups often revolve around unbalanced perceptions of fairness and the centralization of power within the team.

A) identity
B) geography
C) resource
D) knowledge

Question 48

Most cross-functional teams ________.

A) have a formal leader who is selected by higher management
B) use self-management
C) elect a formal leader from among their membership
D) don't need a strong leader

Question 49

________-based subgroups have members united by common demographic or value-based attributes.

A) Identity
B) Geography
C) Resource
D) Knowledge

Question 50

Groups with diverse membership ________.

A) are likely to be more cohesive
B) have better communication
C) find more creative solutions to problems
D) are more accepting of others with different beliefs and values

Question 51

Cross-functional teams ________.

A) are no longer being used in organizations to improve coordination of interdependent activities among specialized subunits
B) cannot include representatives from outside organizations
C) plan and conduct a complex activity that requires considerable coordination, cooperation, and joint problem solving
D) are usually permanent additions to the formal structure of the organization

Question 52

Groupthink ________.

A) is less likely in a highly cohesive group
B) describes a state of complete harmony in joint decision making
C) occurs when members of a cohesive group are afraid to dissent
D) is encouraged by strong leaders to yield more creativity

Question 53

Which is NOT a difficulty associated with cross-functional teams?

A) conflicting loyalties
B) prioritization of functional turf over team objectives
C) inefficient deployment of personnel and resources
D) time-consuming decision making

Question 54

Which is NOT one of the basic types of subgroups, according to the typology developed by Carton and Cummings?

A) identity-based
B) geography-based
C) resource-based
D) knowledge-based

Question 55

Which is NOT a leader behavior to improve collective efficacy?

A) expressing optimism and confidence in the team
B) setting realistic goals to provide an opportunity to experience early success
C) adding obstacles to force the team to work together to overcome them
D) celebrating progress and important achievements

Question 56

Which is NOT an advantage of cross-functional teams?

A) flexible, efficient deployment of personnel and resources to solve problems as they are discovered
B) improved coordination when people from different functions come together to work on a project at the same time, rather than working on it sequentially
C) decrease in communication barriers, due to the functional diversity of the members, because each function usually has its own jargon and ways of thinking about things
D) ability to view a problem or challenge from different perspectives, rather than from only a narrow functional viewpoint

Question 57

Knowledge-based subgroups emerge ________.

A) because organizations develop specialized units to address management information systems, human resource management, and accounting
B) from efforts to protect the subgroup's identity, and may fragment the team's overall identity
C) when a clear hierarchy among subgroups is apparent
D) when members attempt to create a hierarchy among subgroups

Question 58

The shared belief of members that the team is capable of successfully carrying out its mission and achieving specific task objectives is called ________.

A) impotency
B) collective efficacy
C) groupthink
D) consensus

Question 59

The ________ phase involves determining who will be members of the group and making initial decisions about performance strategies, work assignments, and member roles in the group.

A) transition
B) performance
C) implementation
D) execution

Question 60

In a functional operating team, the members are likely to have jobs that are ________.

A) unspecialized, with interchangeable roles
B) somewhat specialized but still part of the same basic function
C) completely specialized and unrelated to one another
D) unspecialized and unrelated to one another

Question 61

In the context of leading decision groups, an effective leader ________.

A) ensures that the group uses a systematic decision process
B) dominates the discussion
C) should be very passive
D) does not take primary responsibility for leading the decision meeting

Question 62

Whenever feasible a leader should encourage the group to try to reach a consensus rather than deciding on the basis of a simple majority.

Question 63

Functional operating teams that are stable over a long duration and have members with similar jobs are usually led by an elected leader with little authority for internal operations.

Question 64

Groupthink helps members collectively find the best way to deal with a problem.

Question 65

A cohesive group of people with similar values and attitudes may overestimate the probability of success for a risky course of action.

Question 66

It is typical for self-managed teams to have an internal team leader who is elected by the members, and the position may be rotated among different members on a regular basis.

Question 67

As part of facilitating participation in meetings, leaders should encourage members to ________.

A) dominate the discussion
B) express concerns
C) make derogatory comments
D) intimidate people who disagree with them

Question 68

At a meeting, the problem should be ________.

A) described in a way that assigns blame
B) stated objectively
C) introduced in a way that implies the cause
D) introduced in a way that implies the solution

Question 69

Group maintenance behavior improves interpersonal relations, aids resolution of conflict, and satisfies the needs of members for acceptance, respect, and involvement.

Question 70

Even in teams with a formal leader, it is often beneficial for other members to share some of the leadership roles.

Question 71

Collective efficacy is when team members have a shared belief that the team is capable of successfully carrying out its mission and achieving specific task objectives.

Question 72

Which is an example of a political skill?

A) resolving conflicts
B) building cohesiveness
C) developing coalitions
D) solving complex problems with systems thinking

Question 73

Which is NOT one of the three themes describing essential processes as cited by Mumford et al?

A) idea generation
B) idea structuring
C) idea promotion
D) idea recycling

Question 74

Cross-functional teams generally have a high degree of autonomy to determine work and their mission and objectives.

Question 75

Which is an advantage of group decision making?

A) usually take less time to make
B) process issues bolster the quality of decisions
C) increased member commitment to implement
D) ease of reaching agreement increases with incompatible objectives

Question 76

The leader behavior "stimulating conversation" has which specific objective?

A) Guide and sequence discussion.
B) Increase information exchange.
C) Increase comprehension.
D) Check on agreement.

Question 77

The leader behavior "gatekeeping" has which specific objective?

A) Increase and equalize participation.
B) Reduce tension and hostility.
C) Prevent withdrawal and reduce tension.
D) Regulate behavior.

Question 78

Which is NOT a common process problem that reduces the quality of group decisions?

A) member inhibition
B) groupthink
C) false consensus
D) collective efficacy

Question 79

Brainstorming is an idea generation activity where members are encouraged to suggest ideas and the group quickly makes a positive or negative evaluation.

Question 80

Planning and organizing project activities, selecting qualified members of the team, and handling budgeting and financial responsibilities are related to which skill required for leading cross-functional project teams?

A) technical expertise
B) project management skills
C) cognitive skills
D) political skills