Question 1

What is a group and how does a formal group differ from an informal group?

Accepted Answer

A group is defined as two or more interacting and interdependent individuals who come together to achieve particular objectives.Groups can be either formal or informal.
Formal groups are work groups established by the organization and have designated work assignments and established tasks.The behaviors in formal groups are stipulated by and directed toward organizational goals.Examples of formal groups are committees,group meetings,task forces and work teams.Formal groups may be permanent or temporary.
Informal groups are of a social nature.These groups are natural formations that appear in the work environment in response to the need for social contact.Informal groups tend to form around friendships and common interests.

Question 2

What can a supervisor do to overcome obstacles that face teams and help them reach their full potential?

Accepted Answer

Create a clear purpose and goals,encourage teams to go for small wins,build mutual trust,appraise both group and individual performance,provide the necessary external support,offer team-building training,and change the team's membership.

Question 3

One thing supervisors can do to overcome obstacles in creating teams and to help teams reach their full potential is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  micromanage
B)  macro-manage
C)  discourage small wins
D)  ignore skill gaps
E)  create a clear purpose E

Question 4

Effective teams contain a small number of people with complementary skills who are equally committed to a common purpose,goals,and working approach.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Nothing undermines enthusiasm for the team concept as quickly as the frustration of being an involuntary member of a team that has no focus.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Probably the most widespread norms in many organizations are related to levels of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  budget and control
B)  hierarchy
C)  employee wages
D)  effort and performance
E)  strategic planning

Question 7

The best way to describe a pseudo team is "going in the right direction but not there yet."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Cohesiveness is important because it has been found to be related to a group's ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  identity
B)  relationships
C)  purpose
D)  communication
E)  productivity

Question 9

Formal workgroups are not the same as teams because often they are comprised of individuals who sporadically interact but who have no ________ that requires joint efforts.

Accepted Answer

A)  technical skills
B)  common interest
C)  collective commitment
D)  responsibility
E)  mutual respect

Question 10

Affiliation with groups helps an individual to feel stronger,have fewer ________ and be more resistant to threats.

Accepted Answer

A)  personal issues
B)  arguments
C)  self-doubts
D)  emotional crises
E)  absences

Question 11

Supervisors are interested in the workings of informal groups because they can ________ and affect productivity in their departments.

Accepted Answer

A)  disrupt the flow of work
B)  complicate processes
C)  shape the behavior of employees
D)  cause work stoppages
E)  become assertive

Question 12

When supervisors consistently reiterate formal departmental goals and make clear which behaviors are consistent with achieving those goals,________ become more readily evident.

Accepted Answer

A)  personal associations
B)  cliques
C)  dysfunctional behaviors
D)  informal groups
E)  power alliances

Question 13

For individuals with a high power need,groups can be a vehicle for ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  commitment
B)  communication
C)  promotion
D)  fulfillment
E)  direct access

Question 14

Emergent leaders have influence over members of all groups.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Cohesive groups may create special challenges for supervisors because members are unified.In global teams,however,cohesiveness is often more difficult to achieve because of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  mistrust and miscommunication
B)  inaccuracies
C)  distance from parent organization
D)  cultural norms
E)  time zone distance

Question 16

Studies consistently show that a group's cohesiveness and productivity depend on the ________ they establish.

Accepted Answer

A)  rules
B)  attendance-related norms
C)  performance-related norms
D)  goals
E)  time commitments

Question 17

To understand and appreciate ________,three factors need to be considered: norms,cohesiveness,and emergent leadership.

Accepted Answer

A)  groups
B)  teams
C)  formal teams
D)  informal groups
E)  formal groups

Question 18

Formal groups are work groups established outside the organization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Describe how group norms impact the performance of a group and explain what a supervisor can do when those norms hinder performance.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how group norms impact the performance...

Question 20

Supervisors can work effectively with emergent leaders in workgroups if they ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  deny their influence
B)  delegate tedious tasks to them
C)  isolate them
D)  build ties with them
E)  reject their influence

Exam 11: Developing Groups

What is a group and how does a formal group differ from an informal group?

What can a supervisor do to overcome obstacles that face teams and help them reach their full potential?

One thing supervisors can do to overcome obstacles in creating teams and to help teams reach their full potential is ________.

Effective teams contain a small number of people with complementary skills who are equally committed to a common purpose,goals,and working approach.

Nothing undermines enthusiasm for the team concept as quickly as the frustration of being an involuntary member of a team that has no focus.

Probably the most widespread norms in many organizations are related to levels of ________.

The best way to describe a pseudo team is "going in the right direction but not there yet."

Cohesiveness is important because it has been found to be related to a group's ________.

Formal workgroups are not the same as teams because often they are comprised of individuals who sporadically interact but who have no ________ that requires joint efforts.

Affiliation with groups helps an individual to feel stronger,have fewer ________ and be more resistant to threats.

Supervisors are interested in the workings of informal groups because they can ________ and affect productivity in their departments.

When supervisors consistently reiterate formal departmental goals and make clear which behaviors are consistent with achieving those goals,________ become more readily evident.

For individuals with a high power need,groups can be a vehicle for ________.

Emergent leaders have influence over members of all groups.

Cohesive groups may create special challenges for supervisors because members are unified.In global teams,however,cohesiveness is often more difficult to achieve because of ________.

Studies consistently show that a group's cohesiveness and productivity depend on the ________ they establish.

To understand and appreciate ________,three factors need to be considered: norms,cohesiveness,and emergent leadership.

Formal groups are work groups established outside the organization.

Describe how group norms impact the performance of a group and explain what a supervisor can do when those norms hinder performance.

Supervisors can work effectively with emergent leaders in workgroups if they ________.