Question 1

Sean is in charge of setting up the new IT department at his firm. He allots the budget, and decides the number of analysts and technicians that would be required to set up the department. Sean's decisions in this case are ________.
A) behavioral
B) operational
C) managerial
D) strategic

Accepted Answer

Sean's decisions are managerial because they involve planning, organizing, and controlling the resources of the new IT department.

Question 2

Differentiate between cooperation and collaboration with examples.

Accepted Answer

Cooperation is defined as a group of people working together, all doing essentially the same type of work, to accomplish a job. Collaboration is defined as a group of people working together to achieve a common goal via a process of feedback and iteration.
For example, when a group of five students is given an assignment, they will break it up into five pieces, work to accomplish their piece independently, and then merge their independent work for grading by the professor. Using this practice, the students work cooperatively as a group.
In contrast, when students work collaboratively, they set forth an initial idea or work product, provide feedback to one another on those ideas or products, and then revise in accordance with feedback.

Question 3

Judy heads the marketing department, which has the maximum number of employees in her organization. To improve the efficiency of the employees, Judy forms ten teams and gives each one a different target. At the end of the quarter, the most successful team would be chosen and awarded. Which of the following primary criteria should Judy use to judge the success of the teams?
A) changes in organizational structure
B) growth in team capacity
C) working in a series of stages
D) meaningful and satisfying experience

Accepted Answer

D

Question 4

________ decisions are those that support day-to-day activities, such as the number of widgets to order from a particular vendor.
A) Managerial
B) Tactical
C) Strategic
D) Operational

Accepted Answer

Operational decisions refer to decisions made at the operational level, such as daily or routine decisions that are necessary to conduct business. These decisions are typically made by lower-level managers or employees who are responsible for carrying out specific tasks within the organization. Examples may include decisions about scheduling, production, inventory, or customer service.

Question 5

In collaboration, the work proceeds in a series of steps in which one person produces something, others criticize it, and then a revised version is produced. These steps are known as ________.
A) iterations
B) alternatives
C) redundancies
D) strategies

Accepted Answer

The series of steps described in the question, in which one person produces something, others criticize it, and a revised version is produced, are commonly known as iterations.

Question 6

Being informed is considered the most fundamental collaboration purpose because ________.
A) individuals can construct different perceptions of the same data
B) all the members of a team usually perceive information in the same way
C) members will be able to avoid critical feedback
D) conflicting ideas can be eliminated

Accepted Answer

Being informed allows individuals to have access to the same data, but each person can still construct their own perception of it. This means that conflicting ideas may still arise, but everyone has the same starting point for discussions and decision-making. Collaboration can still occur even when there are differing perspectives or ideas. B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the purpose of being informed in collaboration.

Question 7

Which of the following should be avoided for a collaboration to be successful?
A) replying to the criticisms offered by different members in the group
B) giving different perceptions of the topics under discussion
C) giving critical feedback against other members of a group
D) giving critical feedback that leads to distrust among group members

Accepted Answer

Critical feedback that leads to distrust among group members should be avoided for a collaboration to be successful. Trust is a foundational element of effective collaboration, and feedback that undermines this trust can harm the group's dynamics and productivity.

Question 8

________ is defined as a group of people working together to achieve a common goal via a process of feedback and iteration.
A) Abstract reasoning
B) Systems thinking
C) Collaboration
D) Dissolution

Accepted Answer

Collaboration involves individuals working together towards a common goal, needing to regularly communicate and provide feedback to one another in order to iterate and improve the project or task. Abstract reasoning involves analyzing complex information and systems thinking involves understanding how different components of a larger system interact. Dissolution refers to the breaking apart or disbanding of a group or organization.

Question 9

Which of the following should be followed for an effective collaboration?
A) Iterations should be avoided for the smooth functioning of a collaborative process.
B) Group members should never be critical, or give each other negative feedback.
C) Multiple iterations and feedback should be used to improve collaboration.
D) Collaboration should take place at the final stage of a project to be more effective.

Accepted Answer

Multiple iterations and feedback are essential components for effective collaboration. This allows for constant improvement and refinement of ideas and processes. Avoiding iterations or negative feedback can hinder the collaborative process and lead to suboptimal outcomes. Collaboration should also take place throughout the entire project, not just at the final stage, to ensure that all members have input and can work together seamlessly.

Question 10

Business professionals are primarily concerned about the successful outcome of collaboration.

Accepted Answer

Collaboration in business is often done with the end goal of achieving success and positive outcomes. Business professionals prioritize a successful outcome of collaboration as it can directly impact the company's growth, profitability, and reputation.

Question 11

Multiple versions of a document are created when a group of people collaboratively work on it to achieve a common goal.

Accepted Answer

When multiple people work on a document, they may make changes or edits that result in multiple versions of the document. These versions can be tracked and managed using version control tools or by naming the files with version numbers or dates.

Question 12

Leo Technologies, a software firm, has appointed a team of five members to work on an important project. The project involves the development of a high security program for a client. For the project to be successful, the members need to collaborate. Which of the following steps should the members take to ensure collaboration in the team?
A) The members should resist putting forward unpopular ideas.
B) The members should avoid entering into difficult conversations.
C) The members should provide and receive critical feedback.
D) The members should be very polite and not say anything critical.

Accepted Answer

Providing and receiving critical feedback is crucial for collaboration in a team. It helps team members improve their work and avoid mistakes in the future. Avoiding difficult conversations and not giving critical feedback can lead to misunderstandings, errors, and ultimately project failure. Similarly, resisting unpopular ideas or being too polite can prevent team members from sharing their thoughts and opinions, limiting the team's potential. Therefore, the best choice is C.

Question 13

Neal heads the sales team in his organization. He has observed a decline in the performance of a few members in the team, and needs to give them critical feedback. Which of the following should Neal keep in mind while providing feedback?
A) Make personal comments.
B) Give specific details.
C) Avoid suggestions.
D) Dominate the team.

Accepted Answer

Giving specific details about the areas of improvement can help the team members understand the feedback better and take corrective actions. Personal comments or domination can demotivate them or lower their morale, and avoiding suggestions can deprive them of valuable feedback.

Question 14

It is important for team members to have different ideas and opinions and to express them to each other.

Accepted Answer

It is beneficial for team members to have diverse perspectives and ideas, as it can lead to more creative and innovative solutions. Open communication and constructive debate can help the team reach consensus and make better decisions.

Question 15

Listed below are perspectives of different people working as a team. Which of the following approaches to teamwork will provide the best results?
A) Sarah disagrees with the project plan but does not voice her opinion because she doesn't want to disrupt the functioning of the team.
B) Andrew believes that conflict is healthy for teamwork and doesn't hesitate to criticize the shortcomings of his coworkers' perceptions.
C) Caleb and Adam hold opposing political views but do not discuss their opinions while working so that other team members aren't distracted.
D) Daniel is the team leader and discourages disagreements among team members so that the project can proceed faster.

Accepted Answer

Healthy conflict can lead to better decision-making and innovation by encouraging diverse perspectives and critical thinking.

Question 16

How do group iterations and feedback provide better results than those provided by a single individual?
A) They motivate the members of a group to work on individual goals.
B) They allow individuals to put forth different perspectives.
C) They encourage the members of a group to share ideas and collaborate at the end of a project.
D) They restrict individuals from criticizing one another's perspectives.

Accepted Answer

Group iterations and feedback allow individuals to put forth different perspectives, leading to more comprehensive and well-rounded solutions.

Question 17

A cooperative result is usually better in quality than the result of someone working alone.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A cooperative result is usually better in...

Question 18

________ is the first and most fundamental collaboration purpose.
A) Decision making
B) Informing
C) Managing projects
D) Experimenting

Accepted Answer

Informing is the first and most fundamental collaboration purpose because it involves sharing information and knowledge among team members, which is necessary for effective decision making, project management, and experimentation. Without proper communication and information sharing, collaboration cannot occur. Therefore, informing is the foundation upon which all other collaboration purposes rest.

Question 19

Explain the three primary criteria for successful collaboration.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the three primary criteria for successful...

Question 20

An extremely critical group cannot collaborate effectively.

Accepted Answer

An extremely critical group is likely to focus on pointing out flaws and faults instead of finding solutions and working together. This can lead to conflicts and make it difficult for the group to effectively collaborate.

Quiz 13: Collaboration Information Systems for Decision Making, Problem Solving, and Project Management

Sean is in charge of setting up the new IT department at his firm. He allots the budget, and decides the number of analysts and technicians that would be required to set up the department. Sean's decisions in this case are ________.

Differentiate between cooperation and collaboration with examples.

________ decisions are those that support day-to-day activities, such as the number of widgets to order from a particular vendor.

In collaboration, the work proceeds in a series of steps in which one person produces something, others criticize it, and then a revised version is produced. These steps are known as ________.

Being informed is considered the most fundamental collaboration purpose because ________.

Which of the following should be avoided for a collaboration to be successful?

________ is defined as a group of people working together to achieve a common goal via a process of feedback and iteration.

Which of the following should be followed for an effective collaboration?

Business professionals are primarily concerned about the successful outcome of collaboration.

Multiple versions of a document are created when a group of people collaboratively work on it to achieve a common goal.

Neal heads the sales team in his organization. He has observed a decline in the performance of a few members in the team, and needs to give them critical feedback. Which of the following should Neal keep in mind while providing feedback?

It is important for team members to have different ideas and opinions and to express them to each other.

Listed below are perspectives of different people working as a team. Which of the following approaches to teamwork will provide the best results?

How do group iterations and feedback provide better results than those provided by a single individual?

A cooperative result is usually better in quality than the result of someone working alone.

________ is the first and most fundamental collaboration purpose.

Explain the three primary criteria for successful collaboration.

An extremely critical group cannot collaborate effectively.