Question 1

Which of the following is not characteristic of groups in organizations?
A) Groups can have good and bad effects on people and organizations.
B) A group is a collection of people doing a task or reaching a goal.
C) Group members regularly interact and depend on each other to do their tasks.
D) Job and organizational design does not affect the degree of mutual dependence.

Accepted Answer

Job and organizational design significantly affect the degree of mutual dependence among group members, as they determine how tasks are structured and how group members interact.

Question 2

Which of the following statements is false about characteristics of functional groups?
A) They are formed by the design of the organization.
B) They are relatively permanent.
C) They do not change when the organization changes its structure.
D) They are a product of the division of labor in an organization.

Accepted Answer

Functional groups can change when the organization changes its structure, as they are designed to align with the organization's goals and operational needs. Changes in structure can lead to adjustments in functional groups to better meet new objectives or operational strategies.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a task group?
A) The human resources department.
B) A department of software support technicians.
C) A product division.
D) A cross-functional committee that plans the yearly company picnic.

Accepted Answer

Task groups are formed to accomplish a specific objective or task, and a cross-functional committee planning a yearly company picnic fits this description as it brings together members from different departments for a specific, temporary purpose.

Question 4

Which of the following is true about self-managing teams and electronic groups?
A) Electronic groups and self-managing teams are emerging types of formal groups.
B) Self-managing teams typically have high internal autonomy and decision authority about work scheduling, team member assignments, and the choice of a team leader.
C) Networked computers and workstations link members of electronic groups.
D) All answers are true statements about self-managing teams and electronic groups.

Accepted Answer

All the statements provided are accurate descriptions of self-managing teams and electronic groups. Self-managing teams do have high internal autonomy, including decisions about work scheduling and leadership, and electronic groups are indeed linked through networked computers, making all the statements true.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is true?
A) Compliance means group members conform because their values are congruent with group norms.
B) Group norms usually do not include the performance levels expected by group members.
C) Cohesive groups tend to perform better than noncohesive groups, especially if the groups are large.
D) Emergent behaviors develop from interactions with group members.

Accepted Answer

Emergent behaviors develop from interactions with group members as they are not pre-planned but arise naturally from the dynamics and interactions within the group.

Question 6

Which of the following is a correct statement about groups in organizations?
A) The personal acceptance type of conformity means an individual's beliefs and attitudes are congruent with group norms.
B) Required behavior is what a person must do as part of the person's role in the formal group.
C) Emergent behavior grows out of group member interactions.
D) All answers are correct statements about groups in organizations.

Accepted Answer

All the statements provided accurately describe aspects of groups within organizations. A) highlights how personal acceptance conformity aligns individual beliefs with group norms, B) outlines the necessity of certain behaviors within formal group roles, and C) explains that emergent behavior arises from interactions within the group.

Question 7

Which of the following are functions of groups in organizations?
A) A source of member rewards.
B) A source of socialization.
C) Support group members, especially in hazardous work.
D) Each answer describes a function of groups in organizations.

Accepted Answer

Each option (A, B, and C) describes a recognized function of groups within organizations, highlighting their role in providing rewards, facilitating socialization, and offering support, especially in hazardous work environments.

Question 8

Which of the following is a false statement about cohesive groups with norms supportive of management?
A) The cooperative behavior of cohesive group members helps them complete interdependent tasks.
B) Control over individual behavior in cohesive groups is less immediate than management controls.
C) A cohesive group can produce innovative work behavior that has value for the organization.
D) Cohesive groups are self-policing and can stamp out deviant behavior.

Accepted Answer

Cohesive groups with norms supportive of management often exhibit more immediate control over individual behavior through peer pressure and shared values, making management controls less directly necessary. This contradicts the statement that control in cohesive groups is less immediate than management controls.

Question 9

Dysfunctional consequences of groups include which of the following?
A) Groups can give people a degree of anonymity that causes some people to behave in atypical ways.
B) Cohesive group members often experience some loss of individual identity.
C) Because no one takes responsibility for a bad decision, people in groups can escape accountability for their behavior.
D) All answers describe a dysfunctional consequence of groups.

Accepted Answer

All the options (A, B, and C) describe different aspects of how group dynamics can lead to dysfunctional outcomes, such as diffusion of responsibility, loss of individual identity, and behavior changes due to anonymity within a group.

Question 10

People who perceive their effort in a group as unimportant or not easily seen by others may engage in
A) Groupthink.
B) The sucker effect.
C) Social loafing.
D) No answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

Social loafing occurs when individuals exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone, often because they believe their contribution is not important or visible to others.

Question 11

Which of the following is a dysfunction that occurs in electronic groups?
A) The lack of face-to-face contact reduces communication information.
B) The lack of emotional content to communication can reduce the effects of minority group members.
C) Electronic groups can take longer to reach a decision than other types of groups.
D) Each answer describes a dysfunction of electronic groups.

Accepted Answer

Each option (A, B, and C) describes a common dysfunction associated with electronic groups: reduced communication cues due to lack of face-to-face contact, diminished emotional content in communication affecting minority group influence, and potentially longer decision-making times.

Question 12

Groups that strive for consensus at the risk of sacrificing decision quality are experiencing
A) Free riding.
B) Groupthink.
C) Social loafing.
D) The sucker effect.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink occurs when a group prioritizes consensus over the quality of its decisions, often leading to poor outcomes because dissenting opinions and critical thinking are suppressed.

Question 13

Which of the following is not a dysfunctional consequence of groups?
A) Cohesive groups can closely monitor member behavior to ensure compliance with the group's norm.
B) The amount of control a cohesive group has over its members usually does not exceed the control of individual managers or supervisors.
C) Cohesive groups can put strong pressure on members to conform to group norms, which can lead to high levels of uniformity of group member behavior.
D) The almost continual interaction among group members keeps them under the watchful "eye of the norm."

Accepted Answer

Cohesive groups often exert a level of control over their members that can surpass the control exerted by individual managers or supervisors, contrary to what option B suggests. This is because the social and peer pressures within cohesive groups can be more immediate and personally compelling than formal organizational structures and hierarchies.

Question 14

Which of the following is interaction?
A) E-mail conversations.
B) Telephone conversations.
C) Written communication.
D) Each answer gives an interaction.

Accepted Answer

Each option listed involves a form of communication between two or more parties, which constitutes interaction. Whether it's through email, telephone, or written communication, all these methods involve exchanging information, ideas, or feelings between individuals, making them forms of interaction.

Question 15

Which of the following concept definitions from the model of cohesive group formation is true?
A) Activities are the formal organizational requirements, such as job duties and responsibilities.
B) Sentiments are attitudes, beliefs, and feelings about the person or persons with whom an individual interacts.
C) Interaction refers to social interaction between two or more people. The interaction can be face to face with two people talking to each other or electronic interaction such as over the World Wide Web (WWW).
D) All the concept definitions are true.

Accepted Answer

Each statement accurately reflects concepts related to cohesive group formation: A) Activities define formal roles within a group, B) Sentiments capture the emotional and attitudinal aspects of group interactions, and C) Interaction encompasses the various ways members of a group communicate, both in person and electronically.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is false about organizational factors that affect cohesive group formation?
A) If people are physically close together, the potential for social interaction is high. If they are widely separated, the potential is low (proximity factor).
B) Job activities requiring interaction among workers increase the potential of cohesive group formation.
C) A job that does not require close attention lets the worker interact with other nearby workers.
D) Absenteeism and turnover within a formal group have little effect on social interaction.

Accepted Answer

Absenteeism and turnover within a formal group can significantly disrupt social interaction and cohesion. High rates of absenteeism and turnover can hinder the development of stable relationships and trust among group members, thereby affecting the group's cohesiveness.

Question 17

Which of the following correctly shows the links between interactions, sentiments, and activities?
A) Interactions→sentiments→activities.
B) Activities→interactions→sentiments.
C) Activities→sentiments→interactions.
D) Interactions→activities→sentiments.

Accepted Answer

Interactions often lead to the development of sentiments or feelings, which then can influence the types of activities individuals choose to engage in. This sequence reflects how social dynamics and personal feelings can impact behavior.

Question 18

Which of the following will restrict social interaction?
A) Low noise level.
B) Low absence.
C) Complete job descriptions.
D) Close proximity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following will restrict social...

Question 19

Which of the following helps social interaction?
A) High noise level.
B) Low degree of attention required by work.
C) High turnover.
D) Physical barriers.

Accepted Answer

Low degree of attention required by work facilitates social interaction because individuals have more cognitive resources available to engage with others, unlike high noise levels, high turnover, and physical barriers, which can impede effective communication and interaction.

Question 20

All the following help social interaction except
A) Not being physically tied to a work area.
B) Little physical isolation.
C) Free time at work.
D) Work requires a high degree of attention.

Accepted Answer

Work requiring a high degree of attention can actually hinder social interaction because individuals are focused on their tasks and may not have the capacity or opportunity to engage with others.

Quiz 10: Groups and Intergroup Processes

Which of the following is not characteristic of groups in organizations?

Which of the following statements is false about characteristics of functional groups?

Which of the following is an example of a task group?

Which of the following is true about self-managing teams and electronic groups?

Which of the following statements is true?

Which of the following is a correct statement about groups in organizations?

Which of the following are functions of groups in organizations?

Which of the following is a false statement about cohesive groups with norms supportive of management?

Dysfunctional consequences of groups include which of the following?

People who perceive their effort in a group as unimportant or not easily seen by others may engage in

Which of the following is a dysfunction that occurs in electronic groups?

Groups that strive for consensus at the risk of sacrificing decision quality are experiencing

Which of the following is not a dysfunctional consequence of groups?

Which of the following is interaction?

Which of the following concept definitions from the model of cohesive group formation is true?

Which of the following statements is false about organizational factors that affect cohesive group formation?

Which of the following correctly shows the links between interactions, sentiments, and activities?

Which of the following will restrict social interaction?

Which of the following helps social interaction?

All the following help social interaction except