Deck 10: Group Dynamics

Question 1

According to Tuckman's five-stage theory of group development, during the "norming" stage, subgroups take shape and subtle forms of rebellion occur.

Answer 1

False
Explanation: According to Tuckman's five-stage theory of group development, during the "norming" stage, questions about authority and power are resolved through unemotional, matter-of-fact group discussion. A feeling of team spirit is experienced because members believe they have found their proper roles. During the "storming" stage, subgroups take shape and subtle forms of rebellion occur.

Question 2

The basis of an informal group is friendship.

Answer 2

True
Explanation: Individuals join groups, or are assigned to groups, to accomplish various purposes. An informal group exists when the members' overriding purpose of getting together is friendship or common interests.

Question 3

Modern managers need a solid understanding of groups and group processes to both avoid their pitfalls and tap their vast potential.

Answer 3

True
Explanation: Modern managers need a solid understanding of groups and group processes to both avoid their pitfalls and tap their vast potential. Moreover, the huge and growing presence of the Internet and modern communication technologies-with their own unique networks of informal and formal social relationships-is a major challenge for profit-minded business managers.

Question 4

Candor is imperative in any working relationship, but it's especially necessary when there's a social aspect involved.

Question 5

As the group develops, positive feedback typically decreases and negative feedback typically increases.

Question 6

Interpersonal feedback typically becomes more specific as the group develops.

Question 7

The last stage in Tuckman's five-stage theory of group development is called "performing."

Question 8

A social networking site is a web site that provides a virtual community for people interested in a particular subject or just to "hang out" together.

Question 9

Interpersonal feedback remains constant during the group development process.

Question 10

A formal group is formed by the organization to help accomplish organizational goals.

Question 11

Group cohesiveness is a major by-product of the performing stage of group development.

Question 12

An organizational function of formal groups is to develop, enhance, and confirm the individual's self-esteem and sense of identity.

Question 13

A crowd on a street corner watching a man play the tambourine fits the definition of a group.

Question 14

Individual goals are one of the sociological criteria of a group.

Question 15

An organizational function of formal groups is to coordinate interdepartmental efforts.

Question 16

De-norming, de-storming, and de-forming are all observed stages of group decay.

Question 17

An organizational function of formal groups is to reduce the individual's anxieties and feelings of insecurity and powerlessness.

Question 18

Socializing and training newcomers is an individual function of formal groups.

Question 19

A group is two or more freely interacting individuals who share collective norms and goals and have a common identity.

Question 20

The credibility of peer feedback typically increases as the group develops.

Question 21

Group goals are more effective if group members clearly understand them and are both individually and collectively committed to achieving them.

Question 22

The contingency management framework advocates a hard-and-fast rule about group size.

Question 23

A supportive, democratic, decentralized, and participative leadership style is most effective early in the group development process.

Question 24

Norms tend to be enforced by group members when they help individuals avoid embarrassing situations.

Question 25

The initiator, orienter, and energizer are goal-oriented task roles.

Question 26

A group member who says, "The key issue here is performance," is functioning in a maintenance role.

Question 27

Roles are more encompassing than norms.

Question 28

The opinion seeker/giver clarifies key issues.

Question 29

A group member who says, "Let's stop wasting time and get down to business. How do we solve this problem?" is performing a task role.

Question 30

Role ambiguity occurs when others have inconsistent or conflicting expectations from the focal person.

Question 31

Positive and negative peer pressure powerfully influence role performance.

Question 32

People in collectivist cultures tend to have higher role ambiguity than people in individualistic cultures.

Question 33

Obscene gestures not directed at target are examples of sexual propositions.

Question 34

Nonconformists experience criticism and even ostracism.

Question 35

The content and delivery of interpersonal feedback among work group or committee members can be used as a gauge of whether the group is developing properly.

Question 36

Women tend to experience greater work-versus-family role conflict than men because they typically shoulder more of the household, child care, and elder care duties.

Question 37

Tara, who is in charge of handing out pertinent materials and arranging seats during group meetings, is performing a procedural technician task role.

Question 38

When group members accurately perceive important deadlines, the pacing of work and timing of interdependent tasks tend to be more efficient.

Question 39

Norms develop from critical events in the group's history.

Question 40

Odd-numbered groups are recommended if an issue is to be settled by a majority vote.

Question 41

According to Tuckman's five-stage theory of group development, members tend to be uncertain and anxious about their roles, who is in charge and the group's goals in the _____ stage.

A)storming
B)norming
C)adjourning
D)forming
E)performing

Question 42

Inherent morality, a belief that encourages the group to ignore ethical implications, is one symptom of groupthink.

Question 43

Sexual bribery is an example of sexual coercion.

Question 44

When trying to prevent groupthink, there should only be one group member assigned the role of critical evaluator.

Question 45

Social loafing is an inevitable part of group effort.

Question 46

Men and women generally agree on what constitutes sexual harassment.

Question 47

As a manager Laurel has established a new work group to tackle a particular project. She has introduced all the members to each other and the group has elected a leader. However, lately Laurel has noticed that some group members are procrastinating on their duties. Two cliques have formed within the group and they are frequently arguing with and challenging the group leader's opinions. Which of the following stages of the group development process is Laurel observing?

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

Question 48

_____, defined as the "we feeling" that binds members of a group together, is the principal by-product of the "norming" stage of group development.

A)The Asch effect
B)Social loafing
C)Groupthink
D)Social pressure
E)Group cohesiveness

Question 49

According to Tuckman's five-stage theory of group development, in the _____ stage, questions about authority and power are resolved through unemotional, matter-of-fact group discussion.

A)forming
B)norming
C)storming
D)performing
E)adjourning

Question 50

Managers can prevent social loafing by holding group members personally accountable for identifiable portions of the group's task.

Question 51

Sex-stereotypes jokes are examples of sexual propositions.

Question 52

Which of the following is an example of an individual function of a formal group?

A)Give individuals an opportunity to test and share their perceptions of social reality
B)Provide a problem-solving mechanism for complex problems
C)Generate new or creative ideas and solutions
D)Accomplish complex, interdependent tasks
E)Implement complex decisions

Question 53

Tracy has been part of a work group for some weeks now. She has slowly become well-acquainted with the other members and even made some new friends. Although in the beginning there were a few arguments and fights, they were resolved with time and Tracy feels a definite sense of team spirit that gets her excited about work. According to Tuckman's five-stage model of group development, which of the following stages is Tracy's group experiencing?

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

Question 54

Fair and just employee computer monitoring can be done to prevent cyberloafing.

Question 55

Peter is part of a newly formed work group. He has been introduced to all the group members, but he still feels like he cannot trust them. The group has not yet chosen a leader, and Peter feels unsure about his exact role within the group. According to Tuckman's five-stage model of group development, which of the following stages is Peter's group currently in?

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

Question 56

Which of the following is an example of an organizational function of a formal group?

A)Reduce anxieties and feelings of insecurity
B)Satisfy the individual's need for affiliation
C)Socialize and train newcomers
D)Give individuals an opportunity to test and share their perceptions of social reality
E)Provide a problem-solving mechanism for interpersonal problems

Question 57

Which of the following meets the four sociological criteria of a group?

A)A crowd on a street watching a parade
B)An audience in a theatre
C)People standing in line at the store
D)People waiting for a bus
E)A planning committee

Question 58

According to Tuckman's five-stage theory of group development, the _____ stage is a time of testing when group members test the leader's policies and assumptions as they try to determine how they fit into the power structure.

A)storming
B)norming
C)forming
D)adjourning
E)performing

Question 59

The Asch effect refers to the distortion of individual judgment by a unanimous but incorrect opposition.

Question 60

The difference between the Asch effect and groupthink is that victims of groupthink are strangers to each other while Asch's subjects are a friendly and tight-knit group.

Question 61

According to research, which of the following statements about group processes is true?

A)Role conflict tends to facilitates group development.
B)The credibility of peer feedback typically decreases as the group develops through successive stages.
C)Interpersonal feedback typically decreases as the group develops through successive stages.
D)A participative leadership style is most effective early in group development.
E)Uncertainty about group deadlines tends to disrupt group development.

Question 62

A group member who says _____ is performing a task role.

A)"Let's focus on the main goal here. What are we trying to accomplish?"
B)"Let's hear from those who oppose this plan."
C)"You two agree more than you realize."
D)"Bill, we haven't heard from you yet. What do you think?"
E)"Karen, you make a very good point."

Question 63

_____ occurs when the focal person doesn't know what's expected of him or her.

A)Role overload
B)Role clash
C)Role conflict
D)Role ambiguity
E)Social loafing

Question 64

According to Tuckman's five-stage theory of group development, the _____ stage is when activity is focused on solving task problems.

A)adjourning
B)norming
C)storming
D)forming
E)performing

Question 65

The task role of coordinator serves to _____.

A)mediate conflict through reconciliation or humor
B)pull together ideas and suggestions
C)keep the group headed toward its stated goal
D)encourage all group members to participate
E)evaluate the quality of group processes

Question 66

At the first group meeting, Brandon, who is the manager and group leader, severely berates a latecomer. As a result, all the group members perceive Brandon to be a tough, no-nonsense boss who does not tolerate people coming late to work. In all the subsequent group meetings, all the members are always on time. This is an example of _____, and it contributes to the evolution of group norms.

A)a carryover behavior
B)a role episode
C)primacy
D)an explicit statement by a supervisor
E)a critical event in the group's history

Question 67

Kelly is a full-time student at the university. To pay her tuition she works as a waitress at a bar every night after class. Her friends are constantly complaining that she has no time for them, but Kelly feels that there are simply not enough hours in the day to do all that is expected of her. Kelly is experiencing _____.

A)social loafing
B)role overload
C)role ambiguity
D)role conflict
E)role exchange

Question 68

According to the group decay process, the _____ stage occurs when an undercurrent of discontent slowly comes to the surface and individual resistance increases while cohesiveness declines.

A)de-storming
B)norming
C)de-forming
D)de-adjourning
E)de-norming

Question 69

According to the group decay process, during the _____ stage the work group falls apart as subgroups battle for control.

A)performing
B)de-norming
C)de-forming
D)adjourning
E)de-storming

Question 70

Role _____ occurs when the role sender's expectations exceed the abilities of the focal person.

A)overload
B)clash
C)conflict
D)ambiguity
E)avoidance

Question 71

Jill recently started working as a management trainee at the human resources department of a large government organization. She read the job description and attended the orientation for new employees, but she's still not really sure what her job responsibilities are. Jill is experiencing _____.

A)social loafing
B)role overload
C)role ambiguity
D)role conflict
E)role exchange

Question 72

_____ is an attitude, opinion, feeling, or action that is shared by two or more people and guides their behavior.

A)A role episode
B)Ostracism
C)A role
D)The Asch effect
E)A norm

Question 73

Alyssa is the leader a work team. She creates a new rule that cell phones will no longer be allowed during team meetings in order to prevent any unwanted interruptions. This is an example of _____ which contributes to the development of a norm.

A)a critical event in the group's history
B)an explicit statement by a supervisor
C)primacy
D)a role episode
E)a carryover behavior from a past situation

Question 74

A _____ leadership style is most beneficial in a group's early history.

A)decentralized and participative
B)supportive and democratic
C)directive and structured
D)process-oriented and passive
E)compliant and unstructured

Question 75

Michelle has recently started a new job as a middle school history teacher. She is relatively certain of what she can expect from her students since she was a high school history teacher last year. This situation is an example of _____ that contributes to the development of a norm.

A)a critical event in the group's history
B)an explicit statement by a supervisor
C)primacy
D)a role episode
E)a carryover behavior

Question 76

As a group proceeds through the development process:

A)the amount of interpersonal typically feedback decreases.
B)the amount of positive feedback usually does not change.
C)the amount of negative feedback generally remains constant.
D)the credibility of peer feedback typically increases.
E)interpersonal feedback usually becomes more generalized.

Question 77

A planning committee which consists of 10 members has been in existence for the past five years. The members are now dissatisfied with their place in the committee and with the leadership. A few members have their own projects that they want to promote which has led to the formation of sub-groups. As the level of performance declines, the committee is in danger of falling apart. Which of the following stages of group decay is the planning committee currently in?

A)Adjourning
B)De-norming
C)De-forming
D)Declining
E)De-storming

Question 78

According to the group decay process, the _____ stage involves a natural erosion of standards of conduct; group members drift in different directions as their interests and expectations change.

A)adjourning
B)de-norming
C)performing
D)de-storming
E)de-forming

Question 79

_____ occurs when others have contradictory or inconsistent expectations of the focal person.

A)Role overload
B)Role clash
C)Role conflict
D)Role ambiguity
E)Social loafing

Question 80

According to Tuckman's five-stage theory of group development, _____ (the last stage of the group development process) occurs when the work is done and it is time to move on to other things.

A)performing
B)forming
C)norming
D)adjourning
E)storming