Deck 10: Solving Problems Using Small Groups

Question 1

The Hanashi Oral History Program's mission is to preserve the stories of Japanese American veterans who served in the U.S. military during World War II. This group's goal is to interview and record the life stories of the veterans from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the 100th Infantry Battalion, and Military Intelligence Service. These interviews are considered ________ sources.

A) primary
B) elder
C) secondary
D) virtual

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Choose the best example of a neutral question.

A) Should city officials condemn the banking industry's corrupt policies?
B) What steps should city officials take to ensure banks are held accountable?
C) Can city officials admonish dishonesty when they've been dishonest themselves?
D) Why should we vote for public servants who openly support fraudulent business practices?

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Although a prolific letter writer, there does not seem to be any existing written correspondence between Thomas and Martha Jefferson. Because these letters are not available for historians to study, they must then depend on ________ sources to interpret the relationship between the third president and his wife.

A) primary sources
B) historical annotations
C) oral footnotes
D) secondary sources

Answer 3

D

Question 4

What is the first step a small group must take in order to adequately prepare to solve the assigned problem?

A) Gather material
B) Generate solutions
C) Assess the question
D) Develop an agenda

Question 5

Nikki felt it necessary to interject a little humor into the discussion because the committee meeting became tense. A little later she took the lead and said, "Let's take a break for a few minutes." Nikki is carrying out the important function of a(n)

A) gatekeeper.
B) laissez-faire leader.
C) agenda setter.
D) democratic leader.

Question 6

Before he can make an arrest, Officer Oh must interview and weigh the statements of the crime victim, the accused, and the witnesses to determine which statements he gathered during the interviews are truthful. What type of questions does Officer Oh have to ask during this investigation?

A) Question of value
B) Question of policy
C) Question of fact
D) Question of procedure

Question 7

When dealing with a question of value, the small group argues

A) whether or not a statement is true or false.
B) the morality of the issue.
C) whether any specific action is in order.
D) whether it is clearly stated.

Question 8

When dealing with a question of policy, the small group argues

A) the morality of an issue.
B) whether any specific action is in order.
C) whether or not a statement is true or false.
D) whether it is clearly stated.

Question 9

"Entertainment, movies, movie stars, Hollywood, Walk of Fame, cement, shoe prints, finger prints, crime scenes, CSI, television shows, Marg Helgenberger, famous, Almost Famous, 70s rock stars ... " Group members are generating possible ideas for a theme for the University's welcome party. They came up with this list by "piggybacking" on each other's ideas. This technique is called

A) plagiarism.
B) idea multiplying technique.
C) brainstorming.
D) gatekeeping.

Question 10

An agenda is

A) minutes to a meeting.
B) an outline of the points to be discussed.
C) the time frame of a meeting.
D) the requirements a solution must have to be acceptable.

Question 11

Joe has a forceful personality, marked intelligence, and dynamic communication skills. For these reasons, many of his classmates think he is a born leader. What perspective of leadership is this?

A) Trait perspective
B) Situational perspective
C) Functional perspective
D) Imminent perspective

Question 12

Criteria are

A) minimal requirements a solution must have to be acceptable.
B) the outlines of the points to be discussed in a group setting.
C) the ideas offered by the group to encourage the free flow of ideas.
D) the research material the group needs to decide the best solution.

Question 13

Nancy is a confident, dynamic businesswoman. She is heading up her company's capital building committee. She enables the group members to decide who will perform which specific tasks and jobs. Her style promotes overall satisfaction within the group process. What is her leadership style?

A) Autocratic
B) Democratic
C) Laissez-faire
D) Trait

Question 14

There is no need to have a controlling presence when the individual members of any group already function as a cohesive group. What type of leadership would be appropriate for this type of group with minimal direction or instruction being given to group members by any one individual?

A) Autocratic
B) Abdicratic
C) Laissez-faire
D) Democratic

Question 15

What is the name of the leadership perspective that does not promote the role of a single leader and houses the task-related and process-related leadership behaviors?

A) Functional perspective
B) Relational perspective
C) Trait perspective
D) Situational perspective

Question 16

Working to write a job description for a town manager serving a population of 22,000, Angela is the only member of the group with any work experience. Because she worked as a clerk in the mayor's office for five years and no other member felt qualified to make any decisions, Angela "takes charge" of the group. She helps the group stop floundering by using what style of leadership?

A) Democratic
B) Autocratic
C) Laissez-faire
D) Pertinent

Question 17

Things such as relieving tension, gatekeeping, and offering encouragement to other group members are known as what kind of behaviors under the functional perspective of leadership?

A) Task-related leadership behaviors
B) Trait-related leadership behaviors
C) Situational-based leadership behaviors
D) Process-related leadership behaviors

Question 18

_____ is the ability to exert influence on a group by providing a sense of direction or vision.

A) Power
B) Control
C) Governance
D) Leadership

Question 19

In the _____ perspective of leadership, we frequently label a leader's style as democratic, autocratic, or laissez-faire.

A) trait
B) functional
C) situational
D) judicious

Question 20

A leader who keeps the group focused on the problem or question is said to be exercising _____ leadership behaviors.

A) task-related
B) role-related
C) process-related
D) trait-related

Question 21

President Barack Obama, Speaker of the House John Boehner, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and Minority Leader of the House Nancy Pelosi, all have forceful personalities, marked intelligence, and dynamic communication skills. What type of leadership perspective do these elected officials possess?

Question 22

List the three types of questions a group can identify in the preliminary steps in small-group discussion.

Question 23

Once the group determines whether the question is one of fact, value, or policy, the next step is to

Question 24

Newspaper accounts of current events, Time magazine's analysis of President Obama's handling of Hurricane Sandy, or a transcript of a speech are considered ________ sources.

Question 25

What three factors concerning question formulation should a group consider?

Question 26

________ encourages creativity and the free flow of ideas in the group generation of a long list of possible solutions.

Question 27

A leader who has a domineering presence is also known as a (n) ________ leader.

Question 28

A ________ perspective of leadership focuses on the kinds of leadership behaviors that any member of the group can exhibit.

Question 29

Initiating ideas, elaborating on the ideas of others, and raising thoughts are all _____ behaviors.

Question 30

The ___________ helps a group stay focused, although they may shift back and forth during the discussion, because it is an outline of points to be discussed.

Question 31

A laissez-faire leader is never a good option for leadership style.

Question 32

When a jury decides if a defendant is entitled to damages or how much to award a defendant in damages, the jury is deciding a question of policy.

Question 33

A jury must decide if Mike told the truth on the stand. During deliberations, the jury argues whether or not Mike's statements were true or false. This is an example of a question of value.

Question 34

Constructing a neutral question can lead to a more fruitful discussion.

Question 35

Examples of primary sources include newspaper accounts, reports by television journalists, and analyses in magazines.

Question 36

An agenda is an outline of the points to be discussed during a small group discussion.

Question 37

Group members who are "born leaders" carry the functional perspective.

Question 38

The criteria are the minimum requirements a solution must have to be acceptable.

Question 39

The democratic leader requires group involvement in the decision-making effort because the leader has no confidence.

Question 40

In most groups, the type of leadership required to run a group depends on two chief ingredients: the reason for the group's existence and the composition of the group.

Question 41

Two primary types of behavior associated with functional leadership are functional and task-related leadership behaviors.

Question 42

A gatekeeper's main responsibility is to regulate the flow of communication within the group.

Question 43

When going through the process of problem solving, you must first develop possible solutions before gathering material.

Question 44

Mandel is frustrated with his boss for providing minimal leadership, as his group is clearly flailing. Mandel's boss is demonstrating a laissez-faire leadership style.

Question 45

Finding the best solution to a problem involves evaluating each idea according to the criteria set, deciding which ideas best meet the criteria, and striving for a true consensus.

Question 46

Match the word or phrase with its meaning.
-Autocratic leader

A) Minimum requirements a solution must have to be acceptable
B) Domineering presence
C) An outline of points to be discussed
D) "Born leaders"
E) The group members argue whether a statement is true or false
F) Involves group members in decision-making
G) The group must determine the morality of an issue
H) The group must decide if any specific action is in order
I) Gives minimal direction
J) Documents such as letters, manuscripts, and taped interviews
K) Interpretations or analyses of sources found in newspapers, magazines, and journals

Question 47

Match the word or phrase with its meaning.
-Question of fact

A) Minimum requirements a solution must have to be acceptable
B) Domineering presence
C) An outline of points to be discussed
D) "Born leaders"
E) The group members argue whether a statement is true or false
F) Involves group members in decision-making
G) The group must determine the morality of an issue
H) The group must decide if any specific action is in order
I) Gives minimal direction
J) Documents such as letters, manuscripts, and taped interviews
K) Interpretations or analyses of sources found in newspapers, magazines, and journals

Question 48

Match the word or phrase with its meaning.
-Democratic leader

A) Minimum requirements a solution must have to be acceptable
B) Domineering presence
C) An outline of points to be discussed
D) "Born leaders"
E) The group members argue whether a statement is true or false
F) Involves group members in decision-making
G) The group must determine the morality of an issue
H) The group must decide if any specific action is in order
I) Gives minimal direction
J) Documents such as letters, manuscripts, and taped interviews
K) Interpretations or analyses of sources found in newspapers, magazines, and journals

Question 49

Match the word or phrase with its meaning.
-Question of value

A) Minimum requirements a solution must have to be acceptable
B) Domineering presence
C) An outline of points to be discussed
D) "Born leaders"
E) The group members argue whether a statement is true or false
F) Involves group members in decision-making
G) The group must determine the morality of an issue
H) The group must decide if any specific action is in order
I) Gives minimal direction
J) Documents such as letters, manuscripts, and taped interviews
K) Interpretations or analyses of sources found in newspapers, magazines, and journals

Question 50

Match the word or phrase with its meaning.
-Agenda

A) Minimum requirements a solution must have to be acceptable
B) Domineering presence
C) An outline of points to be discussed
D) "Born leaders"
E) The group members argue whether a statement is true or false
F) Involves group members in decision-making
G) The group must determine the morality of an issue
H) The group must decide if any specific action is in order
I) Gives minimal direction
J) Documents such as letters, manuscripts, and taped interviews
K) Interpretations or analyses of sources found in newspapers, magazines, and journals

Question 51

Match the word or phrase with its meaning.
-Laissez-faire leader

A) Minimum requirements a solution must have to be acceptable
B) Domineering presence
C) An outline of points to be discussed
D) "Born leaders"
E) The group members argue whether a statement is true or false
F) Involves group members in decision-making
G) The group must determine the morality of an issue
H) The group must decide if any specific action is in order
I) Gives minimal direction
J) Documents such as letters, manuscripts, and taped interviews
K) Interpretations or analyses of sources found in newspapers, magazines, and journals

Question 52

Match the word or phrase with its meaning.
-Question of policy

A) Minimum requirements a solution must have to be acceptable
B) Domineering presence
C) An outline of points to be discussed
D) "Born leaders"
E) The group members argue whether a statement is true or false
F) Involves group members in decision-making
G) The group must determine the morality of an issue
H) The group must decide if any specific action is in order
I) Gives minimal direction
J) Documents such as letters, manuscripts, and taped interviews
K) Interpretations or analyses of sources found in newspapers, magazines, and journals

Question 53

Match the word or phrase with its meaning.
-Primary source

A) Minimum requirements a solution must have to be acceptable
B) Domineering presence
C) An outline of points to be discussed
D) "Born leaders"
E) The group members argue whether a statement is true or false
F) Involves group members in decision-making
G) The group must determine the morality of an issue
H) The group must decide if any specific action is in order
I) Gives minimal direction
J) Documents such as letters, manuscripts, and taped interviews
K) Interpretations or analyses of sources found in newspapers, magazines, and journals

Question 54

Match the word or phrase with its meaning.
-Secondary source

A) Minimum requirements a solution must have to be acceptable
B) Domineering presence
C) An outline of points to be discussed
D) "Born leaders"
E) The group members argue whether a statement is true or false
F) Involves group members in decision-making
G) The group must determine the morality of an issue
H) The group must decide if any specific action is in order
I) Gives minimal direction
J) Documents such as letters, manuscripts, and taped interviews
K) Interpretations or analyses of sources found in newspapers, magazines, and journals

Question 55

Match the word or phrase with its meaning.
-Criteria

A) Minimum requirements a solution must have to be acceptable
B) Domineering presence
C) An outline of points to be discussed
D) "Born leaders"
E) The group members argue whether a statement is true or false
F) Involves group members in decision-making
G) The group must determine the morality of an issue
H) The group must decide if any specific action is in order
I) Gives minimal direction
J) Documents such as letters, manuscripts, and taped interviews
K) Interpretations or analyses of sources found in newspapers, magazines, and journals

Question 56

What are the steps involved in the process of problem solving?

Question 57

Define leadership, and differentiate between the different perspectives: trait, situational, and functional.

Question 58

Compare and contrast the democratic, autocratic, and laissez-faire styles of leadership.

Question 59

One of the first steps in small-group discussion is to assess the question the group has before them. Knowing which kind of question it is helps the group decide how to move forward. Identify and define these three types of questions, and provide an example of each.

Question 60

Virtual teams are becoming an essential component of business life. List the four ways our text offers to improve leadership within virtual groups.