Deck 11: Managing Project Teams

Question 1

The essential qualities of an effective vision include all of the following except:

A)All team members have the same vision
B)The vision should be communicated to all
C)The vision has to make strategic sense
D)There should be a passion for the vision
E)The vision should be a source of inspiration to others

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following is an objective of the first project team meeting?

A)Overview the project's scope and objectives
B)Address interpersonal interaction concerns
C)Model how the team will work together
D)Both A and C are correct
E)A, B, and C are all correct

Answer 2

E
Explanation: There are typically three objectives project managers try to achieve during the first meeting of the project team.The first is to provide an overview of the project, including the scope and objectives, the general schedule, method, and procedures.The second is to begin to address some of the interpersonal concerns captured in the team development model: Who are the other team members? How will I fit in? Will I be able to work with these people? The third and most important objective is to begin to model how the team is going to work together to complete the project.

Question 3

Establishing a team identity is facilitated by:

A)Team members working in a common space
B)Creation of a project team name
C)Effective use of meetings
D)Both A and B are correct
E)A, B, and C are all correct

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Researchers have found that high performance teams will have which of the following norms?

A)Hard work does not get in the way of having fun
B)No information is shared outside the team unless all agree to it
C)It is acceptable to be in trouble, but not to surprise others
D)Both B and C are correct
E)A, B, and C are all correct

Question 5

During which stage of team development do team members try to find out what behaviors are acceptable and what performance expectations are?

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

Question 6

During which stage of team development do close relationships develop and the group demonstrates cohesiveness?

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

Question 7

Which of the following is not one of the major issues that successful project managers must address in the early stages of a project?

A)Relationship Decisions
B)Managing Change Decisions
C)Tracking Decisions
D)Planning Decisions
E)All of these need to be addressed

Question 8

During which stage of team development is high performance not a top priority and team member emotions run from upbeat to depressed?

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

Question 9

During which stage of team development do members accept that they are part of a project group but resist the constraints that the project and the group put on their individuality?

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

Question 10

Tom is managing a project team responsible for erecting a new office building.He notices that team members are trying out different behaviors to see what is acceptable to the project and personal relations.Which stage of development is the team in?

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

Question 11

The essence of positive synergy can be found in the phrase:

A)Front of ship sink---back of ship sink
B)There is no "I" in team
C)Two heads are better than one
D)The whole is greater than the sum of the parts
E)If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger

Question 12

Experience and research indicate that high-performance project teams are much more likely to develop under all the following conditions except:

A)Members are assigned to the project full time
B)Members report solely to the project manager
C)There are 10 or fewer members per team
D)Team members are selected by their managers
E)The project involves a compelling objective

Question 13

Which of the following is not one of the considerations that need to be factored into the project team recruitment process?

A)Political connections
B)Problem-solving ability
C)Ambition, initiative, and energy
D)High degree of technological expertise
E)Availability

Question 14

All of the following have been found to be good for running effective project meetings except:

A)Start meetings on time regardless of whether everyone is present
B)Identify an adjournment time
C)Thoroughly document all decisions
D)Prepare and distribute an agenda prior to the meeting
E)All of these are good for effective meetings

Question 15

In which of the following theories does the project group transition from a lower level to a higher level of performance about halfway through the project?

A)Nominal Group Technique
B)Five Stage Team Development Model
C)Punctuated Equilibrium Model of Group Development
D)Dysfunctional Transition Model
E)Synergistic Transition Development Model

Question 16

Which of the following is commonly associated with high-performing project teams?

A)Risk taking is controlled and not allowed to jeopardize the overall project
B)Roles and specific responsibilities are well-defined
C)A degree of competition among team members is encouraged
D)Mistakes are viewed as opportunities for learning
E)All of these are associated with high-performing teams

Question 17

Sam is the coach of a high school soccer team and has noticed that some close relationships have formed as well as feelings of camaraderie and shared responsibilities for the team's success.Which stage of development is the team in?

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

Question 18

Roger is new-product project manager for a retail company.Recently the team has exhibited a high degree of conflict over who will control the group and how decisions will be made.Which stage of development is the team in?

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

Question 19

During which stage of team development is the team fully functional and accepted?

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

Question 20

Which of the following are considered very important in the recruiting of project members?

A)The budget available
B)The importance of the project
C)The management structure for the project team
D)Both B and C are correct
E)A, B, and C are all correct

Question 21

________ occurs when the whole is less than the sum of its parts.

Question 22

Strategies to manage dysfunctional conflict do not include _____ the conflict.

A)Control
B)Arbitrate
C)Mediate
D)Accept
E)Encourage

Question 23

The biggest challenge to managing a virtual project team is:

A)Getting reports and technical information communicated
B)Developing trust
C)Establishing effective patterns of communication
D)Both B and C are correct
E)A, B, and C are all correct

Question 24

Which of the following is not one of the most significant sources of conflict during the project execution phase?

A)Priorities
B)Staff issues
C)Schedule slippage
D)Technical problems
E)All of these are significant sources of conflict

Question 25

Which of the following is not one of the most significant sources of conflict during the project planning phase?

A)Priorities
B)Procedures
C)Schedule
D)Technical requirements
E)Costs

Question 26

Which of the following are ways to improve the performance of low-priority projects?

A)Creating a large time investment in the form of a lengthy meeting
B)Interject as much fun as possible into the project
C)Make the benefits of the project as real as possible to the team members
D)Both B and C are correct
E)A, B, and C are all correct

Question 27

Symptoms of groupthink include:

A)The team thinking it is invincible
B)Opinions of those outside the team are considered to be irrelevant
C)Critical thinking disappears
D)Pressure is applied to any dissenter
E)All of these are symptoms of groupthink

Question 28

Which of the following is not one of the tips for alleviating communication problems of virtual teams?

A)Include face-to-face time if at all possible
B)Keep team members informed on how well the overall project is going
C)Share the pain
D)Establish clear norms and protocols for surfacing assumptions and conflicts
E)Establish a code of conduct to avoid delays

Question 29

Which of the following is not one of the steps in facilitating group decision making?

A)Identifying the problem
B)Analyzing the situation
C)Generating alternatives
D)Reaching a decision
E)Follow-up

Question 30

During the ________ stage of group development, close relationships develop and the group demonstrates cohesiveness.

Question 31

Which of the following would be considered the most effective project reward?

A)Individual member rewards
B)Lump-sum cash award
C)All-expenses-paid trip for team members and their families
D)Using negative reinforcement to motivate adequate performance
E)All of these are equally effective

Question 32

Two of the biggest challenges involved in managing a virtual project team are:

A)The language barriers and time management
B)Time management and developing trust
C)The language barriers and developing effective patterns of communication
D)Developing trust and effective patterns of communication
E)Time management and developing effective patterns of communication

Question 33

During the ________ stage of group development, the team prepares for its own disbandment.

Question 34

During the ________ stage of group development, the team is fully functional and working together to accomplishing the project goals.

Question 35

During the delivery phase of a project's life cycle, the most significant source of conflict is:

A)Schedules
B)Priorities
C)Technical
D)Procedures
E)Costs

Question 36

During the ________ stage of group development, the members try to find out what behaviors are acceptable to the team and individual team members.

Question 37

Which of the following is not one of the most significant sources of conflict during the project definition phase?

A)Priorities
B)Administrative procedures
C)Schedule
D)Workforce
E)Costs

Question 38

The first step in facilitating group decision making is to:

A)Call a meeting to discuss the problem
B)Identify the problem
C)Agree that there is a problem
D)Quantify the problem
E)Generate alternatives

Question 39

During the ________ stage of group development, there is conflict over who will control the group and how decisions will be made.

Question 40

Individual rewards for outstanding work would not include:

A)Letters of commendation
B)Public recognition
C)Desirable job assignments
D)Making exceptions to the rules
E)All of these can be used for individual rewards

Question 41

In a ________ project team the members are geographically situated so that they may seldom meet face-to-face as a team.

Question 42

Symbolic actions at the project level can contribute to a unique team subculture are called ________.

Question 43

Experienced project managers stress the importance of ________ rather than appointing team members.

Question 44

Synergy can be both negative as well as positive.

Question 45

In the ________ approach to managing conflict, the manager imposes a solution to the conflict after listening to each party.

Question 46

When the manager intervenes and tries to negotiate a resolution by using reasoning and persuasion, suggesting alternatives and the like the Project Manager is trying to ___________.

Question 47

The use of 6:30
A.M.The meetings continued for about two weeks until the project got back on schedule.At that time the project manager announced that the next meeting was canceled, and no further sunrise meetings were ever scheduled.
A.M.meetings to get a project back on schedule is an example of ______ reinforcement to motivate project performance.
The project manager does not have direct authority over many key people, especially the contractors from the other companies.They do, however, have the freedom to convene meetings at his convenience.So the project manager will institute daily "coordination meetings," which were required of all the principals involved, at 6:30

Question 48

___________ refers to whether a team has direct influence over the problem that needs to be resolved.

Question 49

The ________ suggests that about midway through a project the team transitions into a different behavior pattern more focused on the successful completion of the project.

Question 50

When a project team gets things done without having to go through normal protocols of the parent organization, it may fall into the ____________.

Question 51

_______ are often considered anathema to productivity, yet they are critical to the success of any project.

Question 52

Project managers should manage ___________ conflict.

Question 53

Project managers should encourage ___________ conflict.

Question 54

The development of _________________ is a common device for making a team more tangible.

Question 55

Project managers are responsible for managing the ________ that encourage team performance and extra effort.

Question 56

________ should be used when strong commitment to a decision is needed and there is a low probability of acceptance if the decision were to be made by one person.

Question 57

Expressing the design concept of a new car as a "pocket rocket" (a sports car in the mid-price range) is an example of a simplified ________.

Question 58

In the Snapshot from Practice involving the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper, the key turning point was the handling of an advertisement, eventually known as the ________ that had been sent to the newspaper over a fax machine.

Question 59

Too often when constrained by time, project managers try to accomplish too much during the first meeting, rather than use the ________ principle and not create information overload.

Question 60

In order to match technology to the communication need, 3M developed guidelines to be used on __________ projects.

Question 61

Co-location of team members, team names, and team rituals are common vehicles for establishing a team identity.

Question 62

There is a high degree of internal conflict in the forming stage of team development.

Question 63

Letters of commendation, public recognition for outstanding work, and desirable job assignments are the preferred types of individual rewards.

Question 64

The norming stage of team development is complete when the group establishes a common set of expectations about how members should work together.

Question 65

Groupthink refers to the tendency of members in highly cohesive groups to lose their critical evaluative capabilities resulting in quick decision making with little consideration of alternatives.

Question 66

Everyone on the project team should have the same vision of the project.

Question 67

Most project managers advocate the use of group rewards rather than individual rewards.

Question 68

The storming stage of team development is completed once members begin to think of themselves as part of a group.

Question 69

A project manager should identify a problem in terms of its alternate solutions so that team members can more easily reach a decision on how to solve the problem.

Question 70

Lump-sum cash bonuses are the preferred group reward for project teams.

Question 71

A project vision is an image a project team holds in common about how the project will look upon completion, how they will work together, and how customers will accept the project.

Question 72

Two of the biggest challenges involved in managing a virtual project team are developing trust and effective patterns of communication.

Question 73

A project manager should be wary of people who know too much about a specific technology.

Question 74

Team members can be upset and dissatisfied with conflict, but as long as the disagreement furthers the objectives of the project, then the conflict is functional.

Question 75

The performing stage of team development is characterized by the development of close relationships and group cohesiveness.

Question 76

A project manager arbitrates conflict by intervening and attempting to negotiate a resolution by using reasoning and persuasion, suggesting alternatives and the like.

Question 77

The Punctuated Equilibrium Model of group development has only two phases with a single transition joining them.

Question 78

Regardless of the type of work group, the adjourning stage of team development is the final stage.

Question 79

A project manager should always look for people with good problem-solving ability.

Question 80

Group decision making should be used when strong commitment to the decision is needed and there is a low probability of acceptance if only one person makes the decision.