Question 1

According to a TEAMS IN THE NEWS box, Google is using the ___ to promote collaboration and cross-functional interaction among employees by having fun and creating a playground-like environment and as a reminder of its roots.

Accepted Answer

Google Garage

Question 2

The chapter notes that transition to a team-based organization represents a massive organizational change and may meet strong resistance for many reasons. Some of that resistance is likely to come from employees who have spent considerable time in the company. How might you respond to a disgruntled employee who says during the change, "This isn't what I signed up for. This place is turning into a circus and nobody knows what's going to be let loose in the next act."

Accepted Answer

It may be tempting to dismiss the employee as stuck in the past and unwilling to accept change. As such, students may point out the many general benefits of change and those specific to change to team-based organizations.Still, there is reason for skepticism. As discussed in Chapter 8, Managing Change, employees may have various reasons, personal or not, to resist change. For instance, they for instance, see the change as an unnecessary "flavor of the month," the company's attempt to blindly follow fads. In a Dilbert cartoon, the pointy-haired boss says, "… companies need to embrace change," to which all his employees think, "Uh-oh, it's another management fad. Will it pass quickly or will it linger like the stench of a dead woodchuck under the porch?" When the boss then says, "I think we should do a 'change' newsletter," his employees think together, "Woodchuck." So, it is always important to determine whether change is really appropriate before communicating and implementing it.Part of the reason for the employee's frustration may be that changes often take time for full and successful implementation. During the change process the benefits of change may not be evident at early stages, though problems and difficulties are seen everywhere. As noted by Rosabeth Moss Kanter in Chapter 7, "Facilitating Team Processes," "Everything looks like a failure in the middle." As such, careful attention to the principles for successful implementation of change that were discussed in Chapter 8 is critical. Further, as the employee suggested, the company seems to be (at least in his or her view) violating its "psychological contract." That is, the employee joined the organization to do a certain job in a certain work environment, structure, and organizational culture. Major change, such as to a team-based organization, deviates from that implicit contract, just as would be the case if the employee decided not do the job for which he or she was hired. Whatever the need for the change, the employee's perspective should be recognized and considered. Students may also point out that the disgruntled employee may actually learn to enjoy the new teams-based organization and the opportunities it offers. As noted in Chapter 4, Socializing, Building Trust, Training, Motivating, and Leading Teams, a finding contradicting Maslow's hypotheses regarding his need hierarchy is that the importance of higher order needs such as self actualization actually increases as employees are given chances to satisfy them; growth need strength actually increases with exposure to opportunities for personal growth.

Question 3

Models in the chapter stress the need for integration in team-based organizations. Identify five integrative mechanisms discussed in the chapter.

Accepted Answer

Some mechanisms discussed in the chapter include (with some overlap):
1. linking teams that facilitate interteam coordination
2. team coordinator roles
3. facilitators
4. overlapping team memberships
5. representative integrating teams
6. liaison roles
7. cross-team integrating teams

Question 4

Identify and define four types of teams in a team-based organization.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify and define four types of teams...

Question 5

Identify and define five critical issues that, according to the Forrester & Drexler Team-Based Organization Model, need to be addressed to successfully create a team-based organization.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify and define five critical issues that,...

Question 6

Identify and briefly discuss five challenges associated with implementing team-based organizations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify and briefly discuss five challenges associated...

Question 7

Models presented in this chapter provided many outcome measures. List and define any five such measures.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Models presented in this chapter provided many...

Question 8

Identify the five key design factors in the Mohrman, Cohen, and Mohrman Team-Based Organization Model.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the five key design factors in...

Question 9

Identify seven benefits of a team-based organization.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify seven benefits of a team-based organization....

Question 10

The chapter discussed several environmental factors that have contributed to the increased emphasis on team-based organizations. Do you think those factors will continue to play key roles in the future?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The chapter discussed several environmental factors that...

Question 11

If you were in a team-based organization, would you like to play the role of team coordinator? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of If you were in a team-based organization,...

Question 12

A TEAMS VIDEO box discusses a pet food manufacturing company's team-based organizational system - revolutionary at the time - that was based on cooperative systems, learning, flexibility, broad skills, cross-functional teams, and self recognition. This became known as the ___ System and caused many other organizations to adopt similar practices.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A TEAMS VIDEO box discusses a pet...

Question 13

In the sequence of phases of the Trent Model "assess organizational readiness" is the ___ phase.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the sequence of phases of the...

Question 14

A team-based organizational system requires workers who can make decisions without ___.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A team-based organizational system requires workers who...

Question 15

In a ___ design a financial analyst may have little interaction with, or knowledge of, people in marketing.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a ___ design a financial analyst...

Question 16

In the Shonk framework identifying best practices for the successful implementation of team-based organizations, the first stage begins with a ___ goal.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the Shonk framework identifying best practices...

Question 17

A key environmental factor contributing to the increasing emphasis on teams in organizations is the shift from a homogeneous to a ___ workforce.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A key environmental factor contributing to the...

Question 18

In the Trent model, "facilitate team interaction" is an element of the ___ phase.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the Trent model, "facilitate team interaction"...

Question 19

A formal assessment of whether a company is at a stage where it is ready for the transition to a team-based organization is called a ___ .

Accepted Answer

The answer of A formal assessment of whether a company...

Question 20

In the Forrester and Drexler model, which is useful in identifying critical issues teams-based organizations must address, the crucial factors required for success are termed keys and potential barriers or issues that may be encountered at various landmarks during the process are called ___.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the Forrester and Drexler model, which...

Quiz 12: Designing and Implementing Team-Based Organizations