Deck 10: Effective Working Groups

Question 1

Which of the following refer to group characteristics that may influence group outcomes?

A) Group size and group stress.
B) Performance incentives and time pressure.
C) Group size and member diversity.
D) Performance incentives and goal setting.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following refer to group process variables that may influence group outcomes?

A) Group size and group stress.
B) Performance incentives and group size.
C) Group size and member diversity.
D) Planning and goal setting.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

According to the model of group productivity presented in Chapter 10, which of the following variables links group and member characteristics with group outcomes?

A) Social identity.
B) Group cohesion.
C) Group satisfaction.
D) Task performance.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Mary always prefers working with a group on class projects as opposed to working alone. Which of the following statements would best describe her?

A) Mary is naturally sociable.
B) Mary has a high need for affiliation.
C) Mary is a strong leader.
D) Mary is a social loafer.

Question 5

One benefit of working in a larger, rather than smaller, groups is

A) less free riding.
B) more cooperation and less conflict.
C) increased similarity and group cohesiveness.
D) an enhanced ability to fill specialized roles.

Question 6

One potential advantage for groups that are made up of diverse members is that they may

A) be able to reach a consensus more quickly.
B) be less likely to exhibit strong conformity pressures and groupthink.
C) have stronger and more coherent social norms.
D) experience more social identity.

Question 7

Bill is the leader of his sales team at work, and he wants to increase the amount of revenue the team generates. Which of the following would probably not be useful, according to research reported in the text?

A) Give a 10% bonus to the team member who brings in the most new business.
B) Give an equal bonus to each team member if the team surpasses its sales goal.
C) Reduce the pay of the team member who is performing the most poorly.
D) Organize a trip to a conference so that the team members can learn more about the business and get more interested in their tasks.

Question 8

In research reported by Richard Hackman, which of the following was found concerning the use of a planning session in working groups?

A) Planning was not generally useful.
B) Planning was always useful.
C) Planning was useful, but only if the groups were diverse.
D) Planning was useful for tasks in which information had to be shared among group members, but was not useful on tasks in which information did not need to be shared.

Question 9

The most useful kind of goals for social groups are

A) general, easy, and unattainable.
B) general, easy, and attainable.
C) specific, challenging, and attainable.
D) general, difficult, and committed.

Question 10

Which of the following represents an example of a potential outcome of the illusion of group effectivity?

A) A group runs out of time and consequently makes a poor decision.
B) A group makes a hasty decision before discussing all relevant information.
C) A group makes a poor decision as a result of social loafing.
D) A group makes the best decision possible under pressure to complete the task.

Question 11

In general, the more the group discusses and considers the issues at hand, the better the group's __________ will be.

A) cohesiveness
B) communication skills
C) final decision
D) information gathering strategies

Question 12

In a group setting where not all members have been given all information, the shared information is more likely to be _____ whereas the unshared information is more likely to be _____.

A) discussed; forgotten
B) forgotten; discussed
C) discredited; repeated
D) discounted; forgotten

Question 13

According to research using the hidden profile task, which of the following information is most likely to be shared in a group discussion?

A) Information that everyone in the group knows about.
B) Information that only some people in the group know about.
C) Information that is made available near the end of the discussion.
D) Information that is made available about half-way through the discussion.

Question 14

A good group leader might do which of the following to enhance group performance?

A) Appoint someone of higher social status to be the new leader.
B) End discussion once he or she believes members may be fatigued or bored.
C) Solicit unshared information from all members of the group.
D) Have the leader express his or her opinions at the start of the discussion.

Question 15

Based on the results of Van Zelst's study of bricklayers and carpenters, one might infer that a team of construction workers would be most productive when

A) they are of different genders.
B) they are from different socio-economic status.
C) they like each other.
D) the most productive workers receive most pay.

Question 16

Groups that are highly sociable and express a lot of emotion early on may be more likely to exhibit

A) an increase in aggression and conflict.
B) an increase in the amount of time needed to reach a decision.
C) a decreased sense of cohesiveness and similarity.
D) poorer decision making abilities.

Question 17

A jury that must reach a unanimous decision will

A) take less time to make their decision.
B) be less likely to reach a verdict.
C) be more likely to exhibit the leniency bias.
D) be less certain that the verdict is correct.

Question 18

Which statement is true of a six-member jury as opposed to a 12-member jury? The six-member group might be more likely to

A) encourage additional discussion of the evidence.
B) be comprised of members with similar values and beliefs.
C) exhibit less conformity bias.
D) return a split verdict.

Question 19

Which of the following describes a working group that is highly specialized and whose members are highly interdependent.

A) Jury.
B) Team.
C) Social network.
D) Group support system.

Question 20

Specialized knowledge may be particularly important for teams that

A) are working under time pressure and stress.
B) are working with advanced technology.
C) are comprised of only a small number of people.
D) do not have a clear leader or status hierarchy in place.

Question 21

Which of the following factors may lead members of electronic groups to be more egalitarian in comparison to members of face-to-face groups?

A) They have less access to physical cues about others.
B) They tend to be better educated than members of other types of working groups.
C) They are less socially anxious about working with others.
D) Their organizational structure tends to be more lateral.

Question 22

Deindividuation in electronic groups may be the result of

A) flaming or making anti-social comments.
B) an inability to monitor computer group members.
C) a lack of clearly defined goals.
D) group polarization toward a social norm.

Question 23

Which of the following has been found as a benefit of electronic, rather than face-to-face decision-making groups?

A) Increased participation and input from all group members.
B) Decreased conformity to social norms.
C) Faster decision-making.
D) Improved brainstorming.

Question 24

Which of the following is likely to produce flaming on an Internet chat group?

A) Increased deindividuation and a decrease in normative conformity.
B) Decreased deindividuation and an increase in informational conformity.
C) A lack of direct supervision by the group leader.
D) A decrease in group identity.

Question 25

Define member characteristics, group characteristics, and group process, and give some examples of each. How do these variables work together to influence group performance?

Question 26

Consider the potential advantages and disadvantages of diversity in groups and organizations. Would you prefer to work in a group that is similar or diverse? Why?

Question 27

Imagine that you are the director of a management team in a large corporation. What would you do to help get the most productivity out of your workers?

Question 28

Consider the ways that information is shared in groups, and the situations in which information is not adequately shared. How can leaders be sure that information is appropriately shared?

Question 29

Should we keep the jury system or get rid of it? Explain your answer.

Question 30

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of working in electronic working groups.