Question 1

If you say that the information richness of a communication process is high, it means that:
A) the amount of noise in the communication process is high.
B) the amount and depth of information getting transmitted in the communication process is high.
C) the sender is encoding unnecessary information in the communication process.
D) the receiver is unable to decode the information encoded by the sender.
E) the receiver is transmitting an overload of feedback to the sender.

Accepted Answer

Information richness refers to the amount and depth of information getting transmitted in a communication process. It is not related to noise, encoding unnecessary information, or overload of feedback. The richness of information can also depend on the medium used for communication. For example, face-to-face communication is considered to be the richest medium as it allows for non-verbal cues and immediate feedback.

Question 2

Which two network structures fall between the extremes in terms of the level of centralization?
A) All channel and circle network
B) Circle and wheel network
C) Y and wheel network
D) Circle and Y network
E) All channel and wheel network

Accepted Answer

Circle and Y network structures fall between the extremes of all channel (fully decentralized) and wheel (fully centralized) structures. Both circle and Y networks have some level of centralization, but also allow for some degree of communication and collaboration among members.

Question 3

Which of the following refer(s) to the level of common understanding among team members with regard to important aspects of the team and its tasks?
A) Cohesion
B) Mental models
C) Groupthink
D) Potency
E) Boundary spanning

Accepted Answer

Mental models refer to the level of common understanding among team members with regard to important aspects of the team and its tasks. Cohesion refers to the degree to which group members are attracted to one another and share the group's goals. Groupthink is a phenomenon where group members prioritize consensus over critical thinking. Potency refers to a team's shared belief in its ability to perform tasks successfully. Boundary spanning refers to activities that connect the team with individuals or groups outside the team.

Question 4

Which type of network structure in communication has the lowest degree of centralization?
A) All channel network
B) Circle network
C) Y network
D) Wheel network
E) X network

Accepted Answer

In the all channel network structure, every node is connected to every other node, which creates a highly decentralized and distributed communication network. This means that there is no central hub or person controlling the flow of information, resulting in greater collaboration and transparency among all members.

Question 5

The more communication flows through fewer members of the team, the higher the degree of:
A) centralization.
B) socialization.
C) decentralization.
D) attribution error.
E) groupthink.

Accepted Answer

Centralization refers to the concentration of decision-making power and communication within a limited number of individuals or unit of the organization. Hence, the more communication flows through fewer members of the team, the higher the degree of centralization.

Question 6

One way to potentially prevent problems associated with too much cohesion is to formally institute the role of a(n) _____, who would be responsible for evaluating and challenging prevailing points of view in a constructive manner and also bringing in fresh perspectives and ideas to the team.
A) ambassador
B) scout
C) devil's advocate
D) advisor
E) coach

Accepted Answer

The role of a devil's advocate can be an effective way to prevent too much cohesion in a team. This person is tasked with challenging prevailing points of view in a constructive manner, which can lead to better decision-making and prevent groupthink. Additionally, a devil's advocate can bring in fresh perspectives and ideas that the team may not have considered otherwise.

Question 7

_____ memory refers to how specialized knowledge is distributed among members in a manner that results in an effective system of memory for the team.
A) Cohesive
B) Normative
C) Transactive
D) Potency
E) Bounded rational

Accepted Answer

Transactive memory is a type of group memory that results from information being distributed among group members based on specialization, creating an effective system of memory for the team. Each member of the team becomes an expert in a particular area and can share their knowledge with the rest of the team, resulting in a collective team memory. Cohesive, normative, potency, and bounded rational are not directly related to this concept of group memory distribution.

Question 8

Teamwork processes have a _____ effect on team commitment.
A) weak positive
B) weak negative
C) moderate negative
D) strong positive
E) strong negative

Accepted Answer

Teamwork processes have a strong positive effect on team commitment. When team members work together effectively, it leads to increased satisfaction, motivation, and commitment to the team and its goals. This, in turn, leads to better performance and improved outcomes.

Question 9

In a project team at Kaizen International, everyone focuses on his or her specialty and what they do best. Members know exactly where they can go to get information when there are gaps in their knowledge, and this team produces synergistic results. This shows that the project team at Kaizen has an effective:
A) staff validity.
B) mental model.
C) transactive memory.
D) potency.
E) hierarchical sensitivity.

Accepted Answer

Transactive memory means that members of a team know who has particular knowledge, expertise, or experience and are able to communicate and coordinate with their fellow members to access it. This is what is occurring in the Kaizen International project team, where members focus on their specialties and can readily access information from others with different areas of expertise.

Question 10

The highest level of information richness is achieved when messages are transmitted through _____.
A) personal notes
B) face-to-face channels
C) computer reports
D) the telephone
E) e-mails

Accepted Answer

Face-to-face channels allow for more information to be conveyed through nonverbal cues, tone of voice, and immediate feedback compared to other communication channels such as emails or computer reports.

Question 11

Which of the following refer(s) to the degree to which members believe that the team can be effective across a variety of situations and tasks?
A) Cohesion
B) Mental models
C) Groupthink
D) Potency
E) Boundary spanning

Accepted Answer

Potency refers to the degree to which members believe that the team can be effective across a variety of situations and tasks.

Question 12

Training that provides students or employees with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to be a high performing team member are considered ______ because they can be used in many different situations rather than in just one or two specific situations.
A) transportable competencies
B) detachable competencies
C) mental models
D) cross-training competencies
E) efficiencies

Accepted Answer

Transportable competencies refer to knowledge, skills, and abilities that can be used in multiple situations and contexts, making them valuable across different roles and industries. Cross-training competencies may also be relevant, but this term specifically refers to training individuals in multiple areas of expertise within one organization, rather than across different industry contexts. Mental models and efficiencies are not directly relevant to the concept of transferable skills.

Question 13

The idea behind _____ is that team members can develop shared mental models of what is involved in each of the roles in the team and how the roles fit together to form a system.
A) systems monitoring
B) goal setting and performance management
C) cross-training
D) boundary spanning
E) task coordination

Accepted Answer

Cross-training allows team members to learn about and experience each other's roles, helping to develop shared mental models of the roles and how they fit together. Systems monitoring, boundary spanning, and task coordination are important aspects of teamwork, but do not specifically focus on developing shared mental models of roles. Goal setting and performance management are important for individual motivation and accountability, but do not directly contribute to developing shared mental models of roles.

Question 14

In highly cohesive teams, when members try to maintain harmony by striving toward consensus on issues without ever offering, seeking, or seriously considering alternative viewpoints and perspectives, his is:
A) task conflict.
B) production blocking.
C) boundary spanning.
D) social loafing.
E) groupthink.

Accepted Answer

The scenario described is a classic example of groupthink, where the desire for harmony within the team leads to a lack of diversity in viewpoints and an overemphasis on consensus, even at the expense of considering alternative perspectives. This can result in flawed decision-making and a failure to fully explore all options.

Question 15

Which of the following refer(s) to the degree to which teams are capable of remaining together as ongoing entities?
A) Team states
B) Team viability
C) Team sensitivity
D) Groupthink
E) Transactive memory

Accepted Answer

Team viability refers to the degree to which teams are capable of staying together as ongoing entities.

Question 16

Navy Seals go through extremely difficult training. Those who succeed become members of one of the most elite fighting units in the world. They trust each other completely and form intense emotional bonds. These teams have high levels of ______.
A) cohesion
B) potency
C) boundary spanning prowess
D) transactive trust
E) reactive affinity

Accepted Answer

The passage states that Navy Seals form intense emotional bonds and trust each other completely, indicating high levels of cohesion within their teams. Choice B (potency) is not directly related to the passage, and choices C, D, and E do not accurately align with the context given.

Question 17

In communication, the _____ network is the most effective for teams handling complex tasks.
A) all channel
B) circle
C) Y
D) wheel
E) Y and wheel

Accepted Answer

When work is complex and difficult to understand, the team can benefit if members have the ability to communicate with anyone on the team, as in an all-channel network, to get assistance or resolve problems.

Question 18

_____ refer(s) to specific types of feelings and thoughts that coalesce in the minds of team members as a consequence of their experience working together.
A) Team processes
B) Team states
C) Relationship conflict
D) Team contingencies
E) Transportable competency

Accepted Answer

Team states refer to specific types of feelings and thoughts that coalesce in the minds of team members as a consequence of their experience working together. Team processes refer to the way in which team members work together to achieve their goals. Relationship conflict refers to interpersonal tensions or disagreements between team members. Team contingencies refer to situational factors that can impact team performance. Transportable competency refers to knowledge, skills, and abilities that can be applied in different contexts or settings.

Question 19

When members of a team develop strong emotional bonds to other members of the team and to the team itself, it refers to _____, which tends to foster high levels of motivation and commitment to the team.
A) cohesion
B) mental models
C) transactive memory
D) potency
E) boundary spanning

Accepted Answer

Cohesion refers to the emotional bonds that develop between team members and the team itself. When teams have high levels of cohesion, members are more motivated and committed to the team's goals and objectives. Mental models refer to the shared understanding and knowledge that team members develop about how to work together effectively. Transactive memory refers to the way that team members collectively encode, store, and retrieve information. Potency refers to the shared belief that the team can accomplish its goals. Boundary spanning refers to the way that teams interact with individuals or groups outside of the team itself.

Question 20

Many years ago, Sprint Telecommunications aired an advertisement intended to demonstrate the clarity of reception Sprint customers could expect. The ad showed a rancher, who had used a different company, complaining that he had ordered 100 oxen from his supplier and instead received 100 dachshunds. The mix-up was probably due to the presence of _____ in the communication process.
A) noise
B) poor encoding
C) poor medium choice
D) improper network choice
E) process loss

Accepted Answer

The mix-up in the advertisement is likely due to noise in the communication process, which refers to any interference or distortion that affects the message being transmitted. In this case, it may have been caused by poor reception, unclear language, or other factors that resulted in the rancher misunderstanding the order.

Quiz 12: Teams: Processes and Communication

If you say that the information richness of a communication process is high, it means that:

Which two network structures fall between the extremes in terms of the level of centralization?

Which of the following refer(s) to the level of common understanding among team members with regard to important aspects of the team and its tasks?

Which type of network structure in communication has the lowest degree of centralization?

The more communication flows through fewer members of the team, the higher the degree of:

One way to potentially prevent problems associated with too much cohesion is to formally institute the role of a(n) _____, who would be responsible for evaluating and challenging prevailing points of view in a constructive manner and also bringing in fresh perspectives and ideas to the team.

_____ memory refers to how specialized knowledge is distributed among members in a manner that results in an effective system of memory for the team.

Teamwork processes have a _____ effect on team commitment.

The highest level of information richness is achieved when messages are transmitted through _____.

Which of the following refer(s) to the degree to which members believe that the team can be effective across a variety of situations and tasks?

Training that provides students or employees with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to be a high performing team member are considered ______ because they can be used in many different situations rather than in just one or two specific situations.

The idea behind _____ is that team members can develop shared mental models of what is involved in each of the roles in the team and how the roles fit together to form a system.

In highly cohesive teams, when members try to maintain harmony by striving toward consensus on issues without ever offering, seeking, or seriously considering alternative viewpoints and perspectives, his is:

Which of the following refer(s) to the degree to which teams are capable of remaining together as ongoing entities?

Navy Seals go through extremely difficult training. Those who succeed become members of one of the most elite fighting units in the world. They trust each other completely and form intense emotional bonds. These teams have high levels of ______.

In communication, the _____ network is the most effective for teams handling complex tasks.

_____ refer(s) to specific types of feelings and thoughts that coalesce in the minds of team members as a consequence of their experience working together.

When members of a team develop strong emotional bonds to other members of the team and to the team itself, it refers to _____, which tends to foster high levels of motivation and commitment to the team.