Deck 10: Working in Groups

Question 1

All of the following behaviors are common symptoms of secondary tension except

A) several members may speak at the same time.
B) members are noisy and dynamic.
C) members sit up, lean forward, and squirm in their seats.
D) members engage in irrelevant small talk.
E) members express their opinions and openly disagree with one another.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

A local Parents Without Partners chapter is an example of a

A) public group.
B) social group.
C) learning group.
D) service group.
E) self-help group.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

After several meetings of a newly formed recycling committee, group members begin to work harmoniously as a cohesive team and make decisions about the best ways to achieve a common goal. Because members feel comfortable with one another, they are willing to disagree and express their opinions. Which of Tuckman's stages of group development is your group experiencing?

A) norming
B) forming
C) storming
D) performing
E) adjourning

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Your textbook contends that effective groups learn to balance individual goals and

A) leadership goals.
B) group development goals.
C) group goals.
D) group norms.
E) task goals.

Question 5

Participating in virtual groups can be difficult because

A) some members underestimate the time needed to prepare and coordinate meetings.
B) some members find it easy to "hide" by doing something else or not paying attention to the discussion.
C) in addition to preparing for the session, members must be familiar and comfortable using the technology.
D) some members have difficulty taking turns during the session.
E) all of the above factors can make participating in virtual groups difficult.

Question 6

A well-known study by Carl Larson and Frank LaFasto concludes that "in every case, without exception, where an effectively functioning team was identified," it had one overarching characteristic. Which was that characteristic?

A) competent group members
B) a clear, understandable goal
C) a results-driven structure
D) principled leadership
E) external support and recognition

Question 7

TV talk show guests who interact with other guests and a host for the benefit of an audience are participating in a

A) symposium.
B) forum.
C) panel discussion.
D) governance group.
E) service group.

Question 8

The social unease and inhibitions that accompany the getting-acquainted stage in a group is described as

A) norming behavior.
B) storming behavior.
C) primary tension.
D) secondary tension.
E) receptivity to feedback.

Question 9

As defined in your textbook, a family is an example of a

A) primary group.
B) social group.
C) public group.
D) service group.
E) none of the above.

Question 10

_______________ occurs when members' private goals conflict with the group's common goals and represent what people really want rather than what they say they want.

A) The Storming stage
B) Hidden agendas
C) Primary tension
D) Tertiary tension
E) Implicit norms

Question 11

Which of the following situations best represents group communication as defined in the textbook?

A) people talking in an elevator
B) people discussing the weather at an airport
C) fans cheering at a baseball game
D) jury members deliberating a court case
E) a congregation listening to a sermon

Question 12

A college's Board of Trustees establishes policies. This type of group would be classified as a

A) symposium.
B) forum.
C) panel discussion.
D) governance group.
E) service group.

Question 13

You have joined a newly formed group responsible for developing a recycling program for your community. At first group members are somewhat uncomfortable working with people they don't know. Which of Tuckman's stages of group development is your group experiencing?

A) norming
B) forming
C) storming
D) performing
E) adjourning

Question 14

All of the following answers are advantages of working in groups except

A) groups outperform individuals working alone, especially when a task requires multiple skills, judgments, and experiences.
B) group members make friends, socialize, and feel part of a successful team.
C) working in groups can enhance learning.
D) groups solve problems faster than individuals working alone.
E) All of the above are advantages of working in groups.

Question 15

Bruce Tuckman describes four stages of group development. In what order do these stages usually occur?

A) forming, norming, storming, and performing
B) storming, forming, norming, and performing
C) norming, forming, storming, and performing
D) forming, norming, performing, and storming
E) forming, storming, norming, and performing

Question 16

Primary tension is often characterized by all of the following behaviors except

A) members avoid interrupting each other.
B) members are noisy and physically active.
C) members are overly polite.
D) members engage in irrelevant small talk.
E) members are hesitant to express their opinions.

Question 17

What type of group is created by a larger group or by a person in a position of authority for the purpose of doing or completing a specific assignment or task?

A) self-help group
B) panel discussion
C) committee
D) governance group
E) virtual group

Question 18

What is the ideal group size for a problem-solving discussion?

A) 3-5 people
B) 4-6 people
C) 5-7 people
D) 6-8 people
E) 7-9 people

Question 19

Hidden agendas

A) exist in all groups.
B) occur when there is poor leadership.
C) always disrupt a group's functions.
D) should always be confronted by a group.
E) do not necessarily cause problems in a group.

Question 20

A virtual group is one which

A) relies on technology to communicate.
B) exists only for a short period of time.
C) lacks a leader.
D) lacks a clear purpose.
E) has the same dynamics of other groups.

Question 21

When a group member exhibits a unique set of skills or behavioral patterns that serve specific functions within the group, that member has assumed a

A) norm.
B) role.
C) performing stage.
D) self-centered response.
E) maintenance response.

Question 22

"Jaimie, we haven't heard from you yet and want to make sure that everyone gets a chance to weigh in on this issue." This statement would most likely be made by a group member functioning in the role of

A) harmonizer.
B) standard monitor.
C) observer-interpreter.
D) gatekeeper.
E) procedural technician.

Question 23

In terms of the 4-M Model of Leadership Effectiveness, what leadership function is characterized by a leader who is well-organized and fully- prepared for all meetings, helps solve task-related and procedural problems, and knows when to monitor and intervene to improve group performance?

A) minimize conflict
B) model leadership behavior
C) motivate members
D) manage group process
E) make decisions

Question 24

The frustration and personality conflicts experienced by group members as they compete for social acceptance and achievement are sources of

A) norming behavior.
B) performing behavior.
C) primary tension.
D) secondary tension.
E) conforming norms.

Question 25

The 4-M Model of Leadership Effectiveness divides leadership tasks into all of the following interdependent leadership functions except

A) minimize conflict.
B) model leadership behavior.
C) motivate members.
D) manage group process.
E) make decisions.

Question 26

Which of the following behaviors is not a recommended strategy for becoming a group leader?

A) talk early
B) talk often
C) know more about important topics
D) withhold your own opinion
E) welcome disagreement

Question 27

Your textbook contends that effective groups learn how to balance conflict and

A) cohesion.
B) secondary tension.
C) hidden agendas.
D) conformity.
E) nonconformity.

Question 28

All of the following functions are group task roles except

A) initiator.
B) compromiser.
C) clarifier-summarizer.
D) opinion seeker.
E) evaluator-critic.

Question 29

Group norms can apply to

A) the level of formality during discussions.
B) the content of a discussion.
C) the status and influence of members.
D) the rewards and recognition granted to members.
E) all of the above.

Question 30

If "task-motivated" describes your leadership style, Situational Leadership Theory predicts that you will be least successful when

A) the group's task is highly structured.
B) there are poor leader-member relationships.
C) you have a great deal of reward, coercive, and legitimate power.
D) you have no power.
E) you have a moderate degree of power and task structure.

Question 31

"I checked with the reference librarian and she said . . ." This statement would most likely be made by a group member functioning in which of the following roles?

A) information seeker
B) information giver
C) opinion seeker
D) opinion giver
E) clarifier-summarizer

Question 32

Even though Wayne is chairperson of the finance committee, he does little or nothing to help the group. He tends to let the group take charge of all decisions and actions. Which leadership style is Wayne using?

A) democratic
B) autocratic
C) situational
D) laissez-faire
E) functional

Question 33

Which theory of leadership explains how leaders can become more effective once they have carefully analyzed themselves, their group, and the circumstances in which they must lead?

A) Trait Leadership Theory
B) Styles Leadership Theory
C) Situational Leadership Theory
D) Functional Leadership Theory
E) Emergence Leadership Theory

Question 34

Which leadership theory is based on the assumption that leaders are born, not made?

A) Trait Theory
B) Styles Theory
C) Situational Theory
D) The 4-M Model of Leadership Effectiveness
E) none of the above

Question 35

Which of the following statements is characteristic of a cohesive group?

A) Members interact with one another less frequently.
B) Members make a lot of negative statements about the group.
C) The group exerts greater influence over members to conform to group expectations.
D) The group lacks creativity.
E) The group spends more time socializing than working.

Question 36

If a group member were to say, "That's a stupid idea. Think you could come up with anything better?" as a way of intimidating others, asserting authority, or monopolizing discussion, you are witnessing someone in the role of

A) clown.
B) tension releaser.
C) dominator.
D) recognition seeker.
E) deserter.

Question 37

According to your textbook, which of the following strategies can help you and your group deal with self-centered members?

A) comply, communicate, or console the member
B) correct, coerce, or condemn the member
C) instruct, coach, or punish the member
D) accept, confront, or exclude the member
E) ignore, defy, or chastise the member

Question 38

Vu tries to maintain strict control over the Spring Festival planning committee. He insists on controlling the direction and outcome of the committee's discussion. Which leadership style is Vu using?

A) democratic
B) autocratic
C) situational
D) laissez-faire
E) aristocratic

Question 39

______________ are sets of expectations held by group members concerning what kinds of behavior or opinions are acceptable or unacceptable, good or bad, right or wrong, appropriate or inappropriate.

A) Tensions
B) Hidden agendas
C) Roles
D) Cohesions
E) Norms

Question 40

In terms of the 4-M Model of Leadership Effectiveness, what leadership function is characterized by a leader who behaves consistently and assertively, confronts problems head-on, works to generate solutions, and champions the group and its goals?

A) minimize conflict
B) model leadership behavior
C) motivate members
D) manage group process
E) make decisions

Question 41

According to a study by Larson and LaFasto, leadership is the single and most important factor that separates successful groups from unsuccessful groups.

Question 42

When group members experience primary tension, members rarely interrupt one another and are very polite.

Question 43

A summary of research on leadership and gender concludes that women

A) talk more than men when they are in leadership positions.
B) are more likely to be autocratic leaders.
C) are less likely to be preselected as leaders and that the same leadership behavior is often evaluated more positively when attributed to a male leader.
D) are more likely to seek and gain leadership positions if they are motivated by personal growth and achievement, rather than developing close relationships with group members.
E) are better leaders than men are.

Question 44

Hidden agendas have the potential to permeate and infect all stages of group development.

Question 45

The ideal size of a problem-solving group is four members.

Question 46

Members from high power distance cultures probably expect or want

A) more structure and instructions from a leader.
B) less structure and instructions from a leader.
C) more nurturing from a leader.
D) less nurturing from a leader.
E) a closer relationship with a leader.

Question 47

On college campuses, intramural athletic teams as well as sororities and fraternities are examples of social groups.

Question 48

Groups may experience some form of primary and secondary tension during the forming and storming stages of group development.

Question 49

Work groups collaborate to achieve specific goals on behalf of a business or organization.

Question 50

In a group symposium, group members interact with one another on a common topic for the benefit of an audience.

Question 51

During the storming stage of group development, members hesitate to express strong opinions or assert their personal needs.

Question 52

A Primary tension describes the frustrations and personality conflicts experienced by groups as they compete for social acceptance, status, and achievement.

Question 53

Hidden agendas occur when a group's leader decides not to use an agenda as an organizational tool for a meeting.

Question 54

Bruce Tuckman identified the following four stages in the life cycle of groups: forming, storming, norming, and performing.

Question 55

When a task is complex and the answers are unclear, an effective group will usually perform better than an individual working alone.

Question 56

When you work closely with group members, your communication choices may have ethical consequences that extend well beyond the group itself.

Question 57

In problem-solving groups with more than fifteen members, coordination and control become difficult.

Question 58

Virtual groups communicate electronically across time, distance, and organizational boundaries.

Question 59

Groups perform better than individuals working alone.

Question 60

In most groups, primary tension decreases as members feel more comfortable with one another.

Question 61

Effective strategies for dealing with difficult members include approve, delay, and dismiss.

Question 62

The following statement is an example of constructive nonconformity: "We should change our rule that everyone must speak before we vote to everyone who wants to speak must be given a chance to speak before we vote."

Question 63

All groups have interrelated task and social dimensions.

Question 64

The Styles Theory of Leadership identifies a collection of specific behaviors that constitute three distinct styles: autocratic, democratic, and relationship-motivated leadership.

Question 65

A review of leadership studies estimates that leadership incompetence is as high as 60 to 75 percent and that 50 percent of leaders hired by organizations are doomed to fail.

Question 66

In the performing stage of group development, group members define their roles and determine group procedure.

Question 67

Trait Leadership Theory suggests that democracies are always best.

Question 68

According to Situational Leadership Theory, task-motivated leaders gain satisfaction from completing a task even if the cost is bad feelings between the leader and group members.

Question 69

Situational Leadership Theory's approach to leadership is "Match the leader to the job."

Question 70

A gatekeeper is a group maintenance role.

Question 71

Individual group members can function in several different roles at the same time.

Question 72

Effective groups learn how to balance conflict and cohesion.

Question 73

Laissez-faire leaders let the group take charge of almost all decisions and actions.

Question 74

A clarifier/summarizer is a group task role.

Question 75

When a group cannot resolve secondary tension, don't joke about the tensions because it will increase member uneasiness.

Question 76

Group cohesiveness can be expressed as "All for one and one for all!"

Question 77

Effective groups strive for total conformity to the group's norms.

Question 78

An opinion seeker is fulfilling a group maintenance role.

Question 79

Group norms express the values of a group rather than the way members dress, speak, listen, and work.

Question 80

The weakness of Trait Leadership Theory is that it doesn't account for the fact that many ineffective leaders posses desirable traits such as intelligence, enthusiasm, and organizational talent.