Deck 10: Problem Solving and Decision Making in Groups: Practical Tips and Techniques

Question 1

A technique in which group members are polled for topics and problems that are then posted, ranked by voting, and used to create agendas for future meetings

A) Problem Solution.
B) Electronic Brainstorming.
C) Problem Census.
D) Brainstorming.
E) Problem Question.

Answer 1

Problem Census.

Question 2

All of the following are steps in PMOPs, except

A) identify problems to work on.
B) generating and elaborating on possible solutions.
C) evaluating possible solutions.
D) consensus decision making.
E) agreement on principles for discussion.

Answer 2

agreement on principles for discussion.

Question 3

"The degree to which members of a group are familiar with the nature of a problem and experienced in solving similar problem" is what problem characteristic?

A) population familiarity
B) acceptance requirements
C) cooperative requirements
D) intrinsic interest
E) solution multiplicity
F) task difficulty

Answer 3

population familiarity

Question 4

Which type of technology allows members' rapid-fire messaging?

A) Video Conferences
B) Instant Messaging
C) Netconferences
D) Computer Conferences
E) Audio Conferences
F) Bulletin Board Services

Question 5

To avoid groupthink, each member should assume the role of _______.

Question 6

________________ refers to the number of alternatives to solving the problem.

Question 7

A group may be so optimistic that it overestimates the chances for its programs to succeed, this group has __________________.

Question 8

What are the four steps of the Ideal Solution Format?

Question 9

The _____________ technique is designed specifically to allow a group or organization to assess how a proposal policy or change might negatively affect the individuals and groups involved.

Question 10

Which problem would likely rank highest in solution multiplicity?

A) A student's GPA is perilously close to the minimum required to retain his scholarship.
B) City water mains are leaking about 20 percent of the water supply.
C) A young couple is very displeased with the décor of their newly rented apartment.
D) A florist's delivery truck was wrecked and a replacement is needed quickly.

Question 11

The ____________ dimension is the level of members' knowledge about and previous experience with the task.

Question 12

Some Computer-Mediated teams' decisions can be just as effective as face-to-face teams' decisions if GSS is used correctly.

Question 13

Cooperative requirements refer to the need of group members to be friends in order to accomplish certain goals.

Question 14

When a group engages in groupthink, the decision about a solution or procedure for implementing the solution usually is suggested by

A) an opinion deviate.
B) an initial large majority.
C) a highly expert member.
D) a high-status member of the group.
E) the parent organization of the group.

Question 15

Effective Group Discussion urges small groups to reach decisions as civilly as possible by suppressing arguments.

Question 16

"Electronically mediated conferences that allow group members to meet while being located in different places" is called what type of technology?

A) Instant Messaging
B) Audio Conferences
C) Computer Conferences
D) Netconferences
E) Bulletin Board Services
F) Video Conferences

Question 17

All of the following are steps in the single question format, except

A) create a collaborative setting.
B) identify and analyze the issues (subquestions).
C) identify the problem.
D) resolve the single question.
E) implement the chosen solution.

Question 18

It is not necessary to consider possible negative consequences of a possible solution arrived at by sudden insights following thorough discussion of the problem.

Question 19

"The number of conceivable alternatives to solving the problem" is what problem characteristic?

A) population familiarity
B) task difficulty
C) intrinsic interest
D) solution multiplicity
E) acceptance requirements
F) cooperative requirements

Question 20

When a high-status leader has a preferred solution, or the group closes itself off to any information contrary to its preference it has become _____________.

Question 21

List the four steps of the Single Question Format.

Question 22

What are the major steps of the Procedural Model of Problem-Solving?

Question 23

"The extent to which a proposed solution must be acceptable to people whom it will impact" is what problem characteristic?

A) population familiarity
B) acceptance requirements
C) solution multiplicity
D) task difficulty
E) cooperative requirements
F) intrinsic interest

Question 24

When discussants have high intrinsic interest in a problem, they will likely prefer more procedural control from the discussion leader than when they are not so interested.

Question 25

When group members are engaging in a problem census, they should do all of the following, except

A) remove easily answered questions.
B) present problems one-by-one.
C) face a board or flip chart.
D) sit in a semicircle.
E) face the leader.

Question 26

Groupthink refers to the great creative power reaped by groups.

Question 27

_______________ refers to the problem's complexity, hence the effort, knowledge, and skill needed to achieve the goal.

Question 28

When group members experience pressure to conform, this can manifest itself in many ways, one is group members can ________ their own remarks.

Question 29

Decisions made by these groups are just as good as decisions made face-to-face?

A) Computer Conferences
B) Instant Messaging
C) Bulletin Board Services
D) Net Conferences
E) Video Conferences
F) Audio Conferences

Question 30

"The problem's complexity" is what problem characteristic?

A) acceptance requirements
B) intrinsic interest
C) task difficulty
D) solution multiplicity
E) cooperative requirements
F) population familiarity

Question 31

All of the following are steps in the ideal solution format, except

A) select the most ideal solution.
B) identify the nature of the problem.
C) identify the ideal solution.
D) implement the chosen solution.
E) identify the conditions that must change.

Question 32

Shaw defines ____________ as "the degree to which the task in and of itself is interesting, and attractive to the group members."

A) group dynamic desire
B) intrinsic interest
C) collective zeal
D) ideal solution
E) niche activity

Question 33

Following the P-MOPS model, write an outline of questions for initiating each of the major steps in discussing the following problem: A great amount of harmful-to-health particles have recently been discovered in the air of your city of approximately 50,000. These particles are mostly being produced by wood-burning stoves in residents' homes. Numerous calls have been made asking the city council to do something to stop or reduce the air pollution by such stoves. You've just been appointed chair of a special task force to recommend what to do to council. Write an outline of five questions, each of which represents a major step in the P-MOPS.

Question 34

The extent to which a proposed solution must be okay with the people whom it will affect is the ____________ dimension.

A) area of freedom
B) acceptance requirements
C) minimal satisfaction
D) phasic progression
E) approval code

Question 35

Groupthink refers to analytical and critical thinking expressed during group discussions.

Question 36

Ideally, intrinsic interest is high in all members of a group assigned to solve a problem.

Question 37

"How can we penalize students for dropping and adding during the quarter?" is an example of a poorly phrased problem question because it

A) overgeneralizes.
B) is too expansive.
C) limits solutions to only one option.
D) none of these.
E) is too broad.

Question 38

PERT could be used to advantage in which step of a problem-solving discussion?

A) II
B) V
C) IV
D) III
E) I

Question 39

Groups should rarely bring in outside information to aid in the decision-making process.

Question 40

"The degree to which coordinated efforts are essential to satisfactory completion of a task" is what problem characteristic?

A) task difficulty
B) intrinsic interest
C) population familiarity
D) solution multiplicity
E) cooperative requirements
F) acceptance requirements

Question 41

Facilitators can negatively impact creative thinking by posting/stating comments such as, "Remember to be innovative when offering our views."

Question 42

The phrase ________________ means the degree to which coordinated efforts are essential to satisfactory completion of a task.

Question 43

PMOPs is the only problem solution procedure that addresses issues of group climate and how members will interact with one another.

Question 44

These remain relatively expensive because of specialized equipment.

A) Netconferences
B) Instant Messaging
C) Computer Conferences
D) Audio Conferences
E) Video Conferences
F) Bulletin Board Services

Question 45

For complex problems involving the entire group, the ___________ can help members keep track of implementation details.

Question 46

When cooperative requirements are high for a problem, before discussing pros and cons of solutions the group needs to

A) map out the problem in detail.
B) evaluate all possible negative outcomes.
C) Increased complexity requires members to talk to each other, share information, and cooperate.
D) discuss the degree to which the solution for a given problem must be accepted by the people it will affect.
E) come up with a number of conceivable alternatives for solving the problem.

Question 47

Group members are just as satisfied using group decision-making computer software as they are meeting in face-to-face groups.

Question 48

"The degree to which the task in and of itself is interesting to the group members" is what problem characteristic?

A) acceptance requirements
B) population familiarity
C) intrinsic interest
D) cooperative requirements
E) task difficulty
F) solution multiplicity

Question 49

The Ideal Solution Format is beneficial when members and the groups they represent must accept the solution.

Question 50

A form of asynchronous environment can be achieved with which type of technology?

A) Netconferences
B) Computer Conferences
C) Instant Messaging
D) Bulletin Board Services
E) Audio Conferences
F) Video Conferences

Question 51

What type of technology lets members hear but not see each other?

A) Audio Conferences
B) Video Conferences
C) Instant Messaging
D) Computer Conferences
E) Bulletin Board Services
F) Netconferences

Question 52

From analyses of discussions characterized by groupthink, poor decisions were found to be mostly a product of the

A) low quality and quantity of the relevant information.
B) characteristics of the group who fails to think critically.
C) characteristics of the group members.
D) combination of characteristics of members and the information they had.

Question 53

An outlined systematic procedure is needed to be sure no vital step is missed while discussing how to solve a complex problem.

Question 54

Electronic brainstorming capitalizes on the fact that anonymity can remove inhibitions.