Deck 11: Group Decision Making, Problem Solving and Conflict

Question 1

A company's recycling task force is composed of fifteen members. If the task force makes decisions based on a consensus, how many members must be in favor of the group decision?

A) 5
B) 7
C) 8
D) 10
E) 15

Answer 1

E

Question 2

When trying to achieve group consensus, use all of the following guidelines except

A) use "easy" ways of reaching a decision or solution such a flipping a coin, letting the majority rule or reaching a compromise.
B) try to be logical rather than emotional when there is disagreement.
C) if there is a deadlock, work to find the next best alternative that is acceptable to all.
D) get everyone involved in the discussion.
E) welcome differences of opinion.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which decision making style is illustrated in the following comment? "Let's do it now and worry about what happens later."

A) rational decision maker
B) intuitive decision maker
C) dependent decision maker
D) avoidant decision maker
E) spontaneous decision maker

Answer 3

E

Question 4

The key to becoming a well-informed group lies in the ability of members to

A) assess the group's current knowledge.
B) identify areas needing research.
C) assign research responsibilities and deadlines.
D) determine how to share information effectively.
E) do all of the above.

Question 5

Which decision making style is illustrated in the following comment? "If all of you think it's a good idea, then I'll vote to do it too."

A) rational decision maker
B) intuitive decision maker
C) dependent decision maker
D) avoidant decision maker
E) spontaneous decision maker

Question 6

Which of the following strategies should be used when seeking consensus?

A) Stubbornly argue only for your own position.
B) Change your mind in order to avoid conflict or reach a quick decision.
C) Welcome differences of opinion.
D) Agree to a decision or solution you can't support.
E) Use "easy" ways of reaching a solution such as flipping a coin, letting the majority rule, or trading one decision for another.

Question 7

Which symptom of groupthink is expressed when a group member confronts another by saying: "Why aren't you in favor of this? You're the only one who's against it. Give it up!"

A) rationalization
B) self-censorship
C) mindguarding
D) pressure on dissent
E) illusion of invulnerability

Question 8

Which ethical responsibility functions when group members promise to reveal their sources of information so others can evaluate them?

A) The Research Responsibility
B) The Common Good Responsibility
C) The Reasoning Responsibility
D) The Social Code Responsibility
E) The Freedom of Speech Responsibility

Question 9

Problem solving occurs when a group

A) reaches a conclusion or makes a decision.
B) passes judgment on an issue under consideration.
C) develops and agrees to a plan that reduces or eliminates the harmful effects of a problem.
D) chooses among alternatives.
E) analyzes the background, causes, and effects of an immediate problem.

Question 10

All of the following methods are appropriate for minimizing the potential for groupthink except

A) ask each member to serve in the role of critical evaluator.
B) if possible, have more than one group work on the same problem independently.
C) avoid asking questions and do not demand justifications from others.
D) discuss the potential negative consequences of any decision or action.
E) before finalizing the decision, give members a second chance to express doubts.

Question 11

"What causes acid rain?" is an example of a question of

A) fact.
B) conjecture.
C) value.
D) policy.
E) all of the above.

Question 12

Which decision making style is demonstrated by a group member who says, "When making a decision, I usually trust feelings or gut instincts."?

A) rational decision maker
B) intuitive decision maker
C) dependent decision maker
D) avoidant decision maker
E) spontaneous decision maker

Question 13

Which ethical responsibility functions when group members consider the interests of those affected by their decisions?

A) The Research Responsibility
B) The Common Good Responsibility
C) The Reasoning Responsibility
D) The Social Code Responsibility
E) The Freedom of Speech Responsibility

Question 14

Which symptom of groupthink is expressed when a group member says "Of course, we're right. We have a perfect safety record, have done this many times, and nothing's gone wrong."?

A) morality
B) stereotyping Outsiders
C) mindguarding
D) illusion of unanimity
E) illusion of invulnerability

Question 15

"Which candidate should we support as president of the student government association?" is an example of a question of

A) fact.
B) conjecture.
C) value.
D) policy.
E) all of the above.

Question 16

As a group decision-making tool, voting works best when

A) a group is pressed for time.
B) the issue is not highly controversial.
C) a group is too large to use any other decision-making method.
D) there is no other way to break a deadlock.
E) any of the above occurs.

Question 17

_______________ occurs when group members reluctantly give in to group pressures or to an external authority.

A) Majority rule
B) Groupthink
C) Dependent decision making
D) False consensus
E) Authority rule

Question 18

According to your textbook, the following three prerequisites should be in place whenever a group seeks to make an important decision or solve a significant problem:

A) skilled chairperson, conscientious members, clear structure
B) clear goal, quality content, structured procedures
C) questions of fact, value, and policy
D) voting, seeking consensus, authority rule
E) quantity, quality, and validity of research

Question 19

According to Irving Janis, groupthink is the deterioration of group effectiveness caused by

A) group disagreement and conflict.
B) lack of appropriate group roles.
C) failure to get beyond the storming stage of group development.
D) in-group pressure to conform.
E) lack of a structured procedure for problem solving.

Question 20

Groupthink has been implicated in all of the following policy-making fiascos except

A) the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba.
B) the Challenger space shuttle disaster.
C) George W. Bush's decision to invade Iraq in 2003.
D) the decision of Americans to send money to help Hurricane Katrina victims.
E) all of the above were caused by groupthink.

Question 21

Which of the following is not an effective guideline for successful brainstorming?

A) Evaluate ideas only at the end of the brainstorming session.
B) Post the ideas for all to see.
C) Wait for members to think awhile before starting the brainstorming.
D) Avoid combining ideas.
E) Avoid praising or criticizing another member's ideas.

Question 22

Effectively motivating group members from different cultures can be difficult. Members from low-context cultures are motivated by

A) subtle, nonverbal acknowledgment from other group members.
B) competition and opportunities for leadership.
C) opportunities to work on multiple tasks with flexible deadlines.
D) recognizing members who follow instructions accurately and efficiently.
E) words of praise and tangible rewards.

Question 23

Which step in the six-step model of conflict resolution involves talking to the other person about the conflict and the need to resolve it?

A) confrontation
B) consideration
C) initiation
D) preparation
E) resolution

Question 24

Which conflict style would be appropriate if the issue is very important to others but is not very important to you? In other words, you believe it is more important to preserve harmony than resolve the issue.

A) accommodation
B) collaboration
C) competition
D) avoidance
E) compromise

Question 25

Some club members want to increase membership dues by $7.00. Other club members want to increase them by $3.00. They have reached an impasse on the issue so they decide to split the difference and raise the dues by $5.00. What type of conflict style did the group use?

A) accommodation
B) collaboration
C) competition
D) avoidance
E) compromise

Question 26

In what order should the four steps in the DOT problem-solving process occur?

A) generate ideas, sort ideas, prioritize ideas, post ideas.
B) problem identification, problem analysis, solution suggestions, solution implementation
C) generate ideas, post ideas, sort ideas, prioritize ideas
D) information sharing, discussion, decision making, solution implementation
E) task clarification, problem identification, fact finding, solution selection

Question 27

In which step of The Standard Agenda process would group members ask "How serious or widespread is the problem?" and "What are the causes of the problem?"

A) task clarification
B) solution suggestions
C) solution implementation
D) fact finding and analysis
E) problem identification

Question 28

The Decreasing Options Technique (DOT)

A) helps groups reduce and refine a large number of suggestions and ideas into a manageable set of options.
B) follow a practical set of steps that begins with the problem itself and then moves to a systematic consideration of possible solutions and their implementation.
C) simple method for generating as many ideas as possible in a short period of time.
D) is a process for reaching consensus.
E) is designed to help groups avoid or reduce the chance of groupthink.

Question 29

Which step in the A-E-I-O-U Model of Conflict Resolution is represented in the following statement: "I want to share the responsibility and the work with you?"

A) assume the other person means well
B) express your feelings
C) identify what you would like to happen
D) outcomes you expect should be made
E) Understanding on a mutual basis is achieved

Question 30

Which conflict style has a high concern for others and a low concern for self?

A) accommodation
B) collaboration
C) competition
D) avoidance
E) compromise

Question 31

Effectively motivating group members from different cultures can be difficult. Members from high power distance cultures are motivated by

A) subtle, nonverbal acknowledgment from other group members.
B) competition and opportunities for leadership.
C) opportunities to work on multiple tasks with flexible deadlines.
D) recognition for following instructions accurately and efficiently.
E) words of praise and tangible rewards.

Question 32

The meeting planning questions in your textbook include all of the following except:

A) Why are we meeting?
B) Who should attend the meeting?
C) How shall we write the agenda?
D) When and where should we meet?
E) What materials do we need?

Question 33

Which of the following problem-solving procedures is based on John Dewey's Reflective Thinking Process?

A) the Functional Approach to Problem Solving
B) the DOT Method
C) brainstorming
D) consensus seeking
E) The Standard Agenda

Question 34

All of the following guidelines help a group brainstorm effectively except

A) analyze, oppose, or praise other members' ideas as they suggest them.
B) welcome wild and crazy ideas.
C) emphasize quantity rather than the quality of ideas.
D) combine two or more ideas into a new idea.
E) jump back to an earlier idea or jump forward to a completely different line of thinking

Question 35

What is the correct order of steps in the six-step model of conflict resolution?

A) initiation, preparation, consideration, confrontation, reevaluation, resolution
B) reevaluation, resolution, consideration, confrontation, preparation, initiation
C) confrontation, consideration, initiation, preparation, resolution, reevaluation
D) consideration, preparation, initiation, reevaluation, confrontation, resolution
E) preparation, initiation, confrontation, consideration, resolution, reevaluation

Question 36

All of the following guidelines work to ensure an effective brainstorming session except

A) begin with a clear question or statement of the problem.
B) announce that the quality of ideas is more important than the quantity.
C) assign someone to write down the group's ideas
D) evaluate ideas only after the brainstorming session is over.
E) build on, modify, or combine ideas offered by others to create new ideas.

Question 37

Karla tries to change the subject when her friends begin to argue. She also refuses to share her beliefs about controversial issues. What conflict style does Karla use?

A) accommodation
B) collaboration
C) competition
D) avoidance
E) compromise

Question 38

When managers are more concerned with their own personal goals rather than meeting the needs of their staff, which conflict style are they using?

A) accommodation
B) collaboration
C) competition
D) avoidance
E) compromise

Question 39

Which of the following steps is not part of The Standard Agenda format?

A) ask clarification
B) establishment of procedure
C) problem identification
D) fact finding
E) solution suggestions

Question 40

Your group needs to come up with a discussion topic for a class assignment. Group members work together suggesting as many topics as they can. Members invite all ideas and do not criticize the suggestions of other members. Which decision-making method is the group using?

A) the Functional Approach
B) the Single Question Format
C) brainstorming
D) consensus seeking
E) The Standard Agenda

Question 41

A question of policy asks whether something will or will not happen.

Question 42

Voting works best when a group is too large to use any other decision-making method.

Question 43

Consensus works best when group members trust one another and expect honesty, directness, and candor.

Question 44

Groupthink most often occurs in groups that are highly cohesive and whose members conform to group norms.

Question 45

The groupthink symptom of self-censorship would be evident if one member said to another: "Why are you holding us up on this issue?"

Question 46

Consensus occurs when members give in to group pressure or an external authority in order to make an important decision.

Question 47

Hidden agendas have been implicated as a significant factor in major policy decisions including the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, the escalation of both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and the Challenger space shuttle disaster.

Question 48

"Are community colleges a better place to begin higher education than a prestigious university?" is a question of value.

Question 49

The groupthink symptom of rationalization would be evident if one member said to another: "What does she know? She only read the report and I doubt that she keeps track of the issues."

Question 50

The minutes of a meeting should conform to all of the following guidelines except

A) the format of the minutes should follow the format of the agenda.
B) the more formal the meeting the more information should be included in the minutes.
C) the minutes should be accurate and impartial.
D) the minutes should be a word-for-word record of everything that members say.
E) the chair should delegate the task of taking minutes to another member.

Question 51

_______________ is the outline of items to be discussed and the tasks to be accomplished at a meeting.

A) A set of minutes
B) An action item
C) An agenda
D) A report
E) A call to order

Question 52

Consensus is reached when at least twice as many group members vote for a proposal as against it.

Question 53

Decision making refers to passing of judgment on an issue and the act of reaching a conclusion or making up your mind.

Question 54

Voting is always the best and fairest way to make group decisions.

Question 55

In a group setting, problem solving results in a position, opinion, judgment, conclusion, or action.

Question 56

The chairperson of a meeting should

A) notify everyone who should attend.
B) prepare for participation in the discussion.
C) distribute minutes and reports after the meeting.
D) keep the group focused on the task.
E) do all of the above.

Question 57

The first and most important task for all decision-making and problem-solving groups is to make sure everyone understands and supports the group's goal.

Question 58

The groupthink symptom of morality would be evident if one member said to another: "Look, sometimes the end justifies the means. Only results count."

Question 59

In a standard business meeting agenda, which of the following items should come after the chair has called the meeting to order?

A) review and approve the minutes and agenda
B) reports by officers and committees
C) unfinished business
D) new business
E) announcements

Question 60

Groups that pursue complete consensus accept the fact that disagreement and conflict are usually unavoidable.

Question 61

A group member who solicits advice and opinions from others before making a decision ("If you think it's okay, that's fine with me.") probably uses an avoidance decision making style.

Question 62

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator identifies two traits-thinking and feeling-that affect how we make decisions.

Question 63

In the Six-Step Model of Conflict Resolution, the Confrontation step involves asking yourself who is involved; what happened; and where, when, and why the conflict occurred.

Question 64

In terms of ethical group decision making, considering the interests of those affected by group decisions represents the common good responsibility.

Question 65

The compromise conflict style is considered the best win-win approach to problem solving.

Question 66

The correct order of steps in the Six-Step Model of Conflict Resolution is: Preparation, Initiation, Confrontation, Consideration, Resolution, and Reevaluation.

Question 67

The collaborative style of conflict works best in all situations.

Question 68

A group member who makes impulsive and quick decisions on the spur of the moment probably uses an intuitive decision making style.

Question 69

If you are unable or unwilling to stand up for your own needs or the needs of others, you may be most comfortable relying on the avoidance conflict style.

Question 70

In the A-E-I-O-U model of conflict resolution, the A stands for: Assume the other person means well.

Question 71

The strategies in the Six-Step Model of Conflict Resolution recommend what to do and what not to do when confronting someone in a conflict situation.

Question 72

The compromise conflict style is characterized by a high concern for others and a low concern for yourself.

Question 73

A group member who says "I can't explain why-it just feels like the right thing to do," probably uses an intuitive decision making style.

Question 74

In terms of ethical group decision making, revealing the sources of information and evidence so everyone can evaluate them represents the social code responsibility.

Question 75

In the A-E-I-O-U model of conflict resolution, the E stands for: Evaluate persuasive strategies for winning the argument.

Question 76

All group members should take notes during a brainstorming session.

Question 77

According to psychologists Thomas and Kilmann, most of us use all five conflict styles in most situations.

Question 78

In term of ethical group decision making, respecting established group norms represents the social code responsibility.

Question 79

Thomas and Kilmann's five conflict styles represent the extent to which you focus on achieving your own needs and/or the needs of others.

Question 80

The accommodation conflict style may be appropriate when you have strong feelings about an important issue or when immediate action is needed in an urgent situation.