Deck 9: Foundations of Group Behavior

Question 1

Tammy, Lisa, Bart, Madaline, and Roberto all work at Frink Electronics. Though they have not been working at the organization for terribly long, they recently went out for a drink after completing the first stage of a project. These five are in which stage of team development?

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

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What are the five stages of group development?

A) generation, implementation, construction, production, and termination
B) introduction, development, production, deterioration, and adjournment
C) initiation, evolution, maturation, degeneration, and termination
D) forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning
E) introducing, developing, performing, controlling, and terminating

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Tammy, Lisa, Bart, Madaline, and Roberto all work at Frink Electronics. After work, Tammy, Lisa, and Madaline all enjoy going to the Lux Lounge for Happy Hour. Tammy, Lisa, Bart, Madaline, and Roberto constitute a(n) ________ group.

A) task
B) formal
C) informal
D) performance
E) action

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Astro Inc. is reorganizing and you have started working with your new workgroup just a day ago. According to the five-stage group-development model, at present your work group is in the ________ stage.

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

Question 5

Temporary groups with deadlines have their own unique sequencing of actions. The first of these actions is ________.

A) forming
B) first meeting
C) norming
D) transitioning
E) performing

Question 6

When the group energy is focused on the task at hand, the group has moved to the ________ stage.

A) storming
B) norming
C) production
D) maturation
E) performing

Question 7

What happens during the adjourning stage of the five-stage group-development model?

A) wrapping up activities
B) assimilating a common set of expectations
C) solidifying the group structure
D) resisting the constraints of the group
E) dealing with uncertainty about leadership

Question 8

Julia, Bree, and David work in different departments but often eat lunch together. They are an example of a(n) ________ group.

A) formal
B) informal
C) command
D) task
E) interest

Question 9

Tammy, Lisa, Bart, Madaline, and Roberto all work at Frink Electronics. After work, Tammy, Lisa, and Madaline all enjoy going to the Lux Lounge for Happy Hour. Tammy, Lisa, and Madaline constitute a(n) ________ group.

A) task
B) formal
C) informal
D) performance
E) action

Question 10

During the second stage of group development, ________.

A) close relationships are developed
B) the group demonstrates cohesiveness
C) intragroup conflicts occur
D) the job task is performed
E) groups disband

Question 11

Which of the following stages of a five-stage group-development model is characterized by a great deal of uncertainty about the group's purpose, structure, and leadership?

A) introduction
B) storming
C) forming
D) evolution
E) norming

Question 12

Which one of the following characteristics is not necessarily true about groups?

A) Group members are interdependent.
B) Groups have two or more members.
C) Groups are determined by the organization chart.
D) Groups interact.
E) Groups have particular objectives.

Question 13

Which of the following is not a reason why people join groups?

A) to consume fewer hours in decision making
B) to fulfill social needs for affiliation
C) to feel stronger and have fewer self-doubts
D) to achieve something that cannot be individually achieved
E) to have increased feelings of worth

Question 14

Which stage of group development is characterized by the development of close relationships and cohesiveness?

A) bonding
B) norming
C) performing
D) initiating
E) forming

Question 15

Which of the following statements is most likely to be true regarding the performing stage?

A) The performing stage is characterized by a great deal of uncertainty about the group's purpose, structure, and leadership.
B) During the performing stage, there is conflict over who will control the group.
C) The performing stage is complete when members have begun to think of themselves as part of a group.
D) For permanent work groups, performing is the last stage in development.
E) During the performing stage, members accept the existence of the group but resist the constraints it imposes on individuality.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is true regarding informal groups?

A) Informal groups are defined by the organization's structure.
B) In informal groups, the behaviors team members should engage in are stipulated by and directed toward organizational goals.
C) A group of people who come together to protest against a new law is an informal group.
D) The six members of an airline flight crew are an informal group.
E) Command groups and task groups are examples of informal groups.

Question 17

Temporary groups with deadlines follow the five-stage group-development model of forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is most likely true regarding the norming stage of group development?

A) According to the five-stage group-development model, this is the second stage in the group development model.
B) This stage is characterized by a great deal of uncertainty about the group's purpose, structure, and leadership.
C) During this stage, members accept the existence of the group but resist the constraints it imposes on individuality.
D) During this stage, the group develops a common set of expectations of what defines correct member behavior.
E) During this stage, the group performs the task at hand.

Question 19

According to the five-stage group-development model, at this stage your group is most likely to be characterized by ________.

A) intragroup conflicts
B) high cohesiveness
C) a common set of expectations of what defines correct member behavior
D) a great deal of uncertainty
E) a strong sense of group identity and camaraderie

Question 20

During the ________ stage of group development, members accept the existence of the group but resist the constraints it imposes on individuality.

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

Question 21

Role expectations indicate our view of how we're supposed to act in a given situation.

Question 22

Which of the following types of norms are likely to be the most common?

A) appearance norms
B) social arrangement norms
C) resource allocation norms
D) performance norms
E) behavioral norms

Question 23

Zach is devout and very active in his church. He is also a very dedicated employee. His manager offers him a promotion but the new role will require him to work Sundays. Zach would like the promotion, but realizes that it would force him to miss some church activities. In such a situation, Zach is most likely to experience ________.

A) role conflict
B) emotional contagion
C) cognitive dissonance
D) emotional labor
E) self-concordance

Question 24

The ________ norms dictate behavior such as with whom group members eat lunch and friendships on and off the job.

A) appearance
B) social arrangement
C) performance
D) leisure
E) confluence

Question 25

Which term refers to a set of expected behavior patterns attributed to someone occupying a given position in a social unit?

A) norms
B) status
C) role
D) cohesiveness
E) diversity

Question 26

Differentiate between formal and informal groups.

Question 27

Which of the following terms best describes the acceptable standards of behavior that are shared by a group's members?

A) norms
B) rules
C) status
D) traditions
E) role perception

Question 28

A role indicates a set of expected behavior patterns attributed to someone occupying a given position in a social unit.

Question 29

When ________, the result is role conflict.

A) we lack the skills required for performing the role
B) we do not approve of the behavioral requirements of a role
C) our view of the role is different from others' expectations of that role
D) compliance with one role requirement may make it difficult to comply with another
E) different groups of people associate different norms with a role

Question 30

Explain the following terms: "role perception" and "role expectation."

Question 31

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

Question 32

Role ________ indicates the way others believe you should act in a given context.

A) perception
B) identity
C) expectation
D) criterion
E) style

Question 33

Rhoda is an executive assistant at a major medical center. Because she works directly with the head doctor, Rhoda feels that it is appropriate to council patients on their upcoming procedures. Marge, a recent graduate with a degree in Healthcare Administration, also works at the medical center and is responsible for new patients. Marge typically becomes irritated when Rhoda attempts to council new patients. Marge's irritation with Rhoda can be explained by ________.

A) role perception
B) role expectation
C) role norms
D) social norms
E) performance norm

Question 34

Rhoda is an executive assistant at a major medical center. Because she works directly with the head doctor, Rhoda feels that it is appropriate to council patients on their upcoming procedures. Marge, a recent graduate with a degree in Healthcare Administration, also works at the medical center and is responsible for new patients. Marge typically becomes irritated when Rhoda attempts to council new patients. Rhoda is struggling with her ________.

A) role perception
B) role expectation
C) role norms
D) social norms
E) performance norm

Question 35

Which of the following is not an example of a performance norm?

A) when an employee needs to look busy
B) how hard an employee should work
C) the appropriate levels of tardiness
D) the acceptable level of output
E) how to get the job done

Question 36

Role perception indicates ________.

A) others' belief regarding how you should act in a given situation
B) the skills required for performing the job
C) the social norms that are to be followed while performing the role
D) our view of how we're supposed to act in a given situation
E) acceptable standards of behavior shared by nongroup members

Question 37

A local government work crew cleans up parks and other public spaces. In this crew, the dirtiest jobs are generally given to the newest members, while the more senior members of the crew tend to do little except draw their pay. Which of the following classes of norms encompasses arrangements like this?

A) performance norms
B) appearance norms
C) resource allocation norms
D) leisure norms
E) confluence norms

Question 38

According to the five-stage group-development model, the storming stage is the first stage of group development.

Question 39

List and briefly describe the stages in the five-stage model of group development.

Question 40

During the group development process, when the storming stage is complete, there will be a relatively clear hierarchy of leadership within the group.

Question 41

As compared to collectivist cultures, conformity to social norms is higher in individualistic cultures.

Question 42

Which of the following statements is true regarding behavior in a group?

A) Group norms do not press us toward conformity.
B) A recent study suggests those working in a group were less likely to lie, cheat, and steal than individuals working alone.
C) Conformity to social norms is higher in individualistic cultures as compared to that in collectivist cultures.
D) Deviant workplace behavior is likely to flourish where it's supported by group norms.
E) The low-status people in the group speak more often as compared to the high-status people.

Question 43

Which of the following statements is true regarding the effect of status on group interaction?

A) Lower-status members state fewer commands than high status members.
B) Lower-status members tend to be more assertive group members as compared to high-status members.
C) Lower-status members speak more often as compared to high-status members.
D) Lower-status members interrupt others more often compared to high-status members.
E) As compared to high-status members, lower-status members tend to participate in group discussions more actively.

Question 44

What are four common classes of norms?

Question 45

Most likely, what would be the size of the group that is expected to implement a marketing plan?

A) two
B) five
C) seven
D) ten
E) over twelve

Question 46

Julio and Waylin both work at a trendy uptown clothing store and were hired at the same time. Julio was recently promoted over Waylin (who is balding), even though Julio often misses work. Which element of status explains this occurrence?

A) power a person wield over others
B) person's ability to contribute to group goals
C) an individual's personal characteristics.
D) group interactions
E) the size of the organization

Question 47

Milhouse, a classically trained violinist, recently joined a country band. The members of the band, though they like Milhouse, do not appreciate his attention to details and the preppy way he dresses. The band is pressuring Milhouse to change in order to fit into the group. Which of the following represents the most likely conformity expected of Milhouse?

A) for Milhouse to bathe less
B) for Milhouse to wear jeans and boots
C) for Milhouse to play the fiddle
D) both A and B
E) both A and C

Question 48

According to status characteristics theory, which of the following factors does not determine status?

A) control over the resources needed by the group
B) contribution to goals
C) ability to conform to group norms
D) personality
E) talent

Question 49

Which of the following statements is true regarding the effect of status on conformity pressure?

A) High-status individuals are often given less freedom to deviate from norms than are other group members.
B) People in high-status jobs have especially negative reactions to social pressure exerted by people in low-status jobs.
C) Lower-status people are better able to resist conformity pressures than their high-status peers.
D) Groups exert equal conformity pressure on all individuals regardless of their status.
E) As compared to high-status members, low-status members are given a wider range of discretion as long as their activities aren't severely detrimental to group goal achievement.

Question 50

High-status members of groups are often given less freedom to deviate from norms than are other group members.

Question 51

Which of the following terms indicates the tendency of individuals to spend less effort when working collectively?

A) groupthink
B) collective efficacy
C) social loafing
D) groupshift
E) clustering

Question 52

High-status group members interrupt others more often than low-status members.

Question 53

Which of the following is an effective means of countering social loafing?

A) increase the rewards the group is given if it succeeds
B) increase the amount by which the group's progress is monitored
C) ensure that individual contributions to the group's outcome are identified
D) increase the size of the group
E) increase the group's work load

Question 54

Joe is the manager of the marketing department of an organization. He is restructuring his department and is creating teams to increase the effectiveness of his department. He recognizes that the size of groups impacts their overall behavior and effectiveness. Joe is forming a fact-finding group. What would be the better group size to gain diverse input?

A) two
B) five
C) seven
D) ten
E) over twelve

Question 55

The important groups to which an individual belongs or hopes to belong are known as the ________ groups.

A) conformation
B) reference
C) status
D) power
E) appearance

Question 56

Which of the following terms refers to the process by which an individual's desire for acceptance by the group and the pressure by the group on individual members to match its standards results in a change in individual attitudes and behaviors?

A) conformity
B) coercion
C) commitment
D) convergence
E) confluence

Question 57

Which of the following terms best represents voluntary actions that violate significant organizational norms and, in doing so, threatens the well-being of the organization or its members?

A) negativity offset
B) deviant workplace behavior
C) self-concordance
D) emotional contagion
E) positivity offset

Question 58

What is deviant workplace behavior? How is deviant workplace behavior influenced by the group to which the individual belongs?

Question 59

Groups of approximately ________ members tend to be more effective for taking action.

A) two
B) seven
C) eleven
D) sixteen
E) twenty-one

Question 60

According to the status characteristics theory, what are the three sources of status?

Question 61

The phenomenon of ________ describes situations in which group pressures for conformity deter the group from critically appraising unusual, minority, or unpopular views.

A) social loafing
B) groupshift
C) groupthink
D) group polarization
E) satisficing

Question 62

Which is not a weakness of group decision making?

A) Group decision making is time consuming.
B) Group decisions tend to be less creative than individual decisions.
C) Group decisions suffer from ambiguous responsibility.
D) Group decisions can be dominated by one or a few members.
E) In a group decision, the responsibility of any single member is diluted.

Question 63

Sandy, Gale, and Marylou are on the board of directors for an area non-profit organization. At a recent meeting, guest David delivered a rousing speech on how group leadership is often too complex and that non-profits could often be better served by a CEO and no board of directors. Sandy emphatically disagreed with David stating that not having the board could open the organization up to massive levels of corruption. Gale agreed with David and feels that maybe the organization might do better if only one of the ladies were in charge, mainly herself. Marylou chose not to comment on the matter, thus leading Sandy to assume that she agreed with her. It could be said that Sandy is suffering from ________.

A) groupthink
B) groupshift
C) group polarization
D) both A and B
E) all, A, B, and C

Question 64

Since group results cannot be attributed to any single person, the relationship between an individual's input and the group's output is clouded and this increases the possibility of ________.

A) self-concordance
B) emotional contagion
C) negative offset
D) social loafing
E) emotional labor

Question 65

The idea of social loafing is most prominent in which country?

A) China
B) Israel
C) Serbia
D) Russia
E) Canada

Question 66

In discussing a given set of alternatives and arriving at a solution, group members tend to exaggerate the initial positions they hold. This phenomenon is called ________.

A) self-concordance
B) groupshift
C) satisficing
D) emotional labor
E) groupthink

Question 67

Which of the following is not likely to encourage group cohesiveness?

A) stimulating competition with other groups
B) increasing the size of the group
C) obtaining agreement upon the established goals
D) increasing the group's status and the perceived difficulty of attaining membership
E) physically isolating the group

Question 68

Increasing the group's status and the perceived difficulty of attaining membership encourages group cohesiveness.

Question 69

Which of the following statements is true regarding the effect of group cohesiveness and performance norms on group productivity?

A) When cohesiveness is low and performance norms are also low, productivity will be high.
B) The productivity of the group is affected by the performance norms but not by the cohesiveness of the group.
C) If cohesiveness is high and performance norms are low, productivity will be high.
D) If cohesiveness is low and performance norms are high, productivity will be low.
E) When both cohesiveness and performance norms are high, productivity will be high.

Question 70

Which of the following is not a characteristic of group diversity?

A) increased conflicts
B) lower group morale
C) higher dropout rates
D) decreased cohesiveness
E) greater factual errors

Question 71

If a group is highly cohesive then it will be highly productive even with low performance norms.

Question 72

Which of the following statements is true regarding group decision making?

A) If creativity is important then individuals tend to be more effective than groups.
B) Group decision making tends to decrease the acceptance of the solution.
C) Group decisions are typically less time consuming than individual decisions.
D) Group decisions are generally less accurate than the decisions of the average individual in a group.
E) Groups generate more complete information and knowledge than individuals.

Question 73

The degree to which members of the group are similar to, or different from, one another is considered as diversity.

Question 74

Describe the relationship between cohesiveness and productivity.

Question 75

Which of the following factors corresponds to deep-level diversity in groups?

A) national origin, race, and gender
B) roles, status, and power
C) ability, intelligence, and personality
D) underlying attitudes, values, and opinions
E) security, self-esteem, and affiliation

Question 76

How does group size affect a group's behavior?

Question 77

If you ever felt like speaking up in a meeting, a classroom, or an informal group but decided against it then the reason behind it could be ________.

A) self-efficacy
B) positivity offset
C) groupthink
D) self-concordance
E) groupshift

Question 78

Which of the following terms indicates the degree to which group members are attracted to one another and are motivated to stay in the group?

A) cohesiveness
B) integration
C) sociability
D) reliability
E) interdependence

Question 79

Alberto is working with a group of fifteen people to coordinate the merger of two corporations. Everyone in the group is highly qualified, offers relevant information, and has high norms. Still, the group seems to be slow at outlining a definitive plan for the merger. With the information provided, what would be the fastest and best way for Alberto to increase cohesiveness and productivity?

A) hold long meetings at a restaurant or in a social setting
B) stimulate competition within the group
C) decrease the time members spend together
D) decrease the size of the group
E) invite more members into the group

Question 80

Sandy, Gale, and Marylou are on the board of directors for an area non-profit organization. At a recent meeting, guest David delivered a rousing speech on how group leadership is often too complex and that non-profits could often be better served by a CEO and no board of directors. Sandy emphatically disagreed with David stating that not having the board could open the organization up to massive levels of corruption. Gale agreed with David and feels that maybe the organization might do better if only one of the ladies were in charge, mainly herself. Marylou chose not to comment on the matter, thus leading Sandy to assume that she agreed with her. It could be said that Sandy and Gale are suffering from ________.

A) groupthink
B) groupshift
C) group polarization
D) both A and B
E) all, A, B, and C