Question 1

Group decision making is usually superior to individual decision making because

Accepted Answer

A) a group of novices can outperform an expert. 
B) group members do not worry about having to please others in the group. 
C) subjective influences enhance group members' quality of decision making. 
D) the knowledge, abilities, and resources of each member are pooled.

Question 2

All of the following are considered barriers to effective problem solving except

Accepted Answer

A) lack of motivation. 
B) inadequate definitions. 
C) poor communication. 
D) lack of personality differences.

Question 3

When groupthink is occurring, members tend to re-examine selected courses of action when they learn of risks, drawbacks, and unintended consequences which they had not previously considered.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Conflicts in groups only produce negative results and should be avoided.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Which of the following statements about "groupthink" is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) Members have an illusion of being invulnerable, which leads them to take extraordinary risks. 
B) Members fail to respond to clear warnings of danger. 
C) Members tend to ignore the ethical consequences of their decisions. 
D) Members give careful consideration to members with dissenting views.

Question 6

Subjective influences can substantially reduce the quality of group decision making.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

______ is a technique for resolving conflicts in which each person expresses his or her opinions or views only after restating the ideas and feelings of the opposing person.

Accepted Answer

A) Role reversal 
B) Empathy 
C) Inquiry 
D) I-messages

Question 8

Which of the following is a characteristic of the win-lose strategy for resolving conflict?

Accepted Answer

A) Each person cooperates with others to find mutually acceptable compromises. 
B) Each person equalizes his power by emphasizing mutual interdependence. 
C) Third parties are sought to help in problem solving. 
D) Each side attempts to force the other side into submission.

Question 9

Blades developed a five-step model for mediating conflicts, in which _____ is the final stage.

Accepted Answer

A) agreement 
B) contracting 
C) deployment 
D) consensus

Question 10

The ground rules of brainstorming generally discourage the expression of unusual or poorly thought-out ideas.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

A committee that is a temporary creation instead of a more permanent part of an organization is called a(n)_____ committee.

Accepted Answer

A) standing 
B) ad hoc 
C) ad litum 
D) quorum

Question 12

Having an invalid hypothesis is a barrier to effective problem solving because the group acts on faulty theories about the causes of the problem.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Caucusing is a technique used by mediators to allow parties to vent intense emotions privately or to seek clarification of a party's interests.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 6: Task Groups

Group decision making is usually superior to individual decision making because

All of the following are considered barriers to effective problem solving except

When groupthink is occurring, members tend to re-examine selected courses of action when they learn of risks, drawbacks, and unintended consequences which they had not previously considered.

Conflicts in groups only produce negative results and should be avoided.

Which of the following statements about "groupthink" is not true?

Subjective influences can substantially reduce the quality of group decision making.

______ is a technique for resolving conflicts in which each person expresses his or her opinions or views only after restating the ideas and feelings of the opposing person.

Which of the following is a characteristic of the win-lose strategy for resolving conflict?

Blades developed a five-step model for mediating conflicts, in which _____ is the final stage.

The ground rules of brainstorming generally discourage the expression of unusual or poorly thought-out ideas.

A committee that is a temporary creation instead of a more permanent part of an organization is called a(n) _____ committee.

Having an invalid hypothesis is a barrier to effective problem solving because the group acts on faulty theories about the causes of the problem.

Caucusing is a technique used by mediators to allow parties to vent intense emotions privately or to seek clarification of a party's interests.