Deck 8: Communicating in Problem-Solving Groups

Question 1

Which of these characteristics makes a collection of people a "group?"

A) It has at least 8 members.
B) It has common goals.
C) It is a collection of people.
D) It functions in the same way in individualistic and collectivistic cultures.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

A team is

A) the same as a group.
B) not committed to productivity.
C) more cohesive than a group.
D) less productive than a group.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

In an online class, Abdul is assigned to a virtual team. To maximize his team's success, he should provide what advice to his team-mates?

A) The team does not need to meet face-to-face.
B) Face-to-face meetings are most important at the beginning of the project.
C) Face-to-face meetings are more important if the team-mates have worked together in the past.
D) Face-to-face meetings are most important at the end of the project.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following is most true of teams in the United States, as compared to teams in other countries?

A) Americans expect people to be task-oriented.
B) Americans do not approve when other members speak up to disagree.
C) Americans do not view male and female team-members as having equal status.
D) Americans are more concerned with face-saving.

Question 5

Workplace task forces are which type of group?

A) Learning
B) Self-maintenance
C) Problem-solving
D) Service-learning

Question 6

Individual decisions work best when

A) fast decisions are needed.
B) the decision is complex.
C) the decision will affect many people.
D) quality is essential.

Question 7

Which of the following is true about conflict in groups?

A) Relationships can avoid conflict.
B) Conflict can be productive if handled correctly.
C) Conflicts always waste time and energy.
D) Ignoring conflicts is the best way to make the problem disappear.

Question 8

When do group decisions work best?

A) When fast decisions are needed
B) When accuracy is crucial
C) When the decision will only affect a few people
D) When tasks are simple

Question 9

At your workplace, the management creates a team of employees from different departments to develop a new policy that will affect all employees. A team rather than individual decision is best here because

A) employees enjoy meetings.
B) employees like opportunities to vary their work routine.
C) a large group will need to accept the new policy.
D) the task is simple.

Question 10

Which of the following is most likely to be true of a group composed only of a dyad?

A) The group can quickly research a complicated problem.
B) Conflict will pit one-against-one.
C) Researching a complicated problem will happen more quickly.
D) Having three members provides a tie-breaking vote.

Question 11

Which decision-making method results in no member of a group getting a complete win?

A) Majority vote
B) Compromise
C) Consensus
D) Self-maintenance

Question 12

Your teacher assigns a team project and randomly assigns class members to teams. Your group spends much time in social loafing, which indicates that it

A) has high commitment.
B) lacks cohesiveness.
C) shares work evenly.
D) lacks diversity.

Question 13

Cohesiveness is most likely to develop in groups that have

A) diversity.
B) hidden agendas.
C) no competition from other groups.
D) internal power struggles.

Question 14

Which of the following is true in regard to cultural diversity in groups?

A) Overlooking cultural differences improves chances of success.
B) Mutual respect is not important.
C) Diversity makes the team more susceptible to groupthink.
D) Diversity often results in more creative solutions.

Question 15

Groupthink happens

A) when group members are comfortable expressing diverging opinions.
B) when group members are uncomfortable expressing diverging opinions.
C) when group members want to cause conflict.
D) when groups are diverse.

Question 16

Members of Keisha's book club are expected to read the chosen book before they attend a meeting. According to the group's bylaws, after neglecting to read the book two times, members will be asked to leave the club. This standard of expected behavior is a(n)

A) norm.
B) rule.
C) implicit standard.
D) reinforcement phase.

Question 17

During a meeting with his team, Haruki says, "Well, it looks like we all agree on the solution to this problem." Haruki's statement may indicate groupthink if it expresses

A) an illusion of invulnerability.
B) self-censorship of dissenting opinions.
C) mind guarding.
D) an illusion of unanimity.

Question 18

Which is the phase of group work in which members move to considering a limited number of ideas?

A) Orientation
B) Conflict
C) Emergence
D) Reinforcement

Question 19

A group of college professors is assembled to determine the winner of the school's annual "Outstanding Graduate Award." In choosing the winning student, the group is addressing a problem of

A) fact.
B) policy.
C) conjecture.
D) value.

Question 20

Listing the issues needing discussion is part of which step in the group process?

A) Identifying the problem
B) Analyzing the problem
C) Establishing criteria
D) Ranking criteria

Question 21

When establishing and ranking criteria, groups should

A) develop criteria after detailed investigation of possible solutions.
B) avoid confusing criteria with solutions.
C) develop "must" criteria but not "want" criteria.
D) discard alternatives that meet "must" criteria.

Question 22

Which of the following are part of effective brainstorming?

A) Positive and negative evaluation
B) Trying to make each idea unique
C) Including even "wacky" ideas
D) Focusing on quality over quantity

Question 23

A method of brainstorming that ensures equal participation, even from shy members, is called

A) force-field analysis.
B) groupthink.
C) question of conjecture.
D) nominal group technique.

Question 24

A group of managers is reviewing resumes from job applicants for a sales position. The group throws away the resumes of applicants who don't have sales experience. The group is

A) applying criteria to select the best solution.
B) brainstorming.
C) analyzing the problem.
D) identifying the problem.

Question 25

What happens in the final step in the group process?

A) Applying criteria
B) Implementing
C) Analyzing
D) Brainstorming

Question 26

When members work to maintain their understanding and use of communication skills (e.g. for grief recovery), this is a self-_________ group.

Question 27

The optimal size of a work group is _________ members.

Question 28

The quality of a group that causes members to endure despite challenge and to develop camaraderie is _______.

Question 29

When members of a group are afraid to express disagreement, giving an illusion of unity,_________ has occurred.

Question 30

Explicitly spelled out standards of conduct are group ___________.

Question 31

When group members try to understand the task at hand, they are in the __________ phase.

Question 32

Determining the course of action that should be taken in response to a problem is a question of_________.

Question 33

Developing a list of a decision's pros and cons is the process of _________ analysis.

Question 34

In the group process, follow-up occurs in step number ______.

Question 35

How are virtual teams different from teams that meet face-to-face? What are the strengths of the communication technologies groups can use, and what are the potential problems? What advice does the text provide for success in virtual teams?

Question 36

Under what conditions do individual decisions work best? Under what conditions do group decisions work best?

Question 37

Describe a situation in which you had to work with a small group to make a decision. This may have been at home, with friends, for a school or community project, or at work. Which characteristics of successful small groups did this group have, and which did it lack? For example, did the group make decisions by vote, compromise, or consensus?

Question 38

Define groupthink. Irving Janis's theory lists 8 signs or symptoms that groupthink is occurring. Explain 5 of these.

Question 39

List and explain the 6 steps in the group problem-solving process.