Question 1

Informal groups of workers who enjoy one another's company and meet socially either on or off the job are referred to as ________ groups.

Accepted Answer

Friendship groups are informal groups composed of employees who enjoy one another's company and socialize with one another.

Question 2

The members of a task force have disagreements because some members do not want to do what some of the other members want them to do. This stage of group development is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

In the second stage of group development, storming, group members experience conflict and disagreements because some members do not wish to submit to the demands of other group members.

Question 3

A group of employees at Swift Motors has initiated a marathon run with the aim of raising funds for the maintenance of a children's park in Chicago. This group can be defined as a(n) ________ group.

Accepted Answer

Employees form informal interest groups when they seek to achieve a common goal related to their membership in an organization.

Question 4

A group of college professors from the Jackson Business School meets once a week for lunch to discuss the college's accreditation efforts. This is an example of a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

Employees form informal interest groups when they seek to achieve a common goal related to their membership in an organization.

Question 5

Blue Bay International has formed a virtual team to improve quality in its five plants, which are located across three continents. In order to give this team the best chance of succeeding, what could the management do?

Accepted Answer

Organizations should make sure that virtual team members have a chance to meet in person soon after the team is formed and then schedule periodic face-to-face meetings to promote trust, understanding, and cooperation in the teams.

Question 6

Which of the following aspects of a group includes the characteristics and processes from which the group derives its function and effectiveness?

Accepted Answer

How groups function and, ultimately, their effectiveness hinge on group characteristics and processes known collectively as group dynamics.

Question 7

Close ties between the members of the group typically are formed during which stage of group development?

Accepted Answer

During the third stage of group development, norming, close ties between group members develop, and feelings of friendship and camaraderie emerge.

Question 8

Which of the following is the correct order of the stages of group development?

Accepted Answer

The stages of group development in the correct order are forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.Refer: Figure 11.3

Question 9

A manager of a group encourages members of the group to take on additional responsibilities as they see the need. This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

Managers should encourage group members to take the initiative to assume additional responsibilities as they see fit and modify their assigned roles. This process is called role making.

Question 10

A task force submits its report supporting its recommendation(s) on the project that the group has been working on. At which stage is this group operating?

Accepted Answer

The last stage of group development, adjourning, applies only to groups that eventually are disbanded, such as task forces. Adjourning takes place when a group completes a finished product, such as when a task force evaluating the pros and cons of providing on-site child care produces a report supporting its recommendation.

Question 11

What type of group is formed in order to encourage managers to institute flexible working hours?

Accepted Answer

Employees form informal interest groups when they seek to achieve a common goal related to their membership in an organization. Employees may form interest groups, for example, to encourage managers to consider instituting flexible working hours, providing on-site child care, improving working conditions, or more proactively supporting environmental protection.

Question 12

A new product development team for Fountain Cards Limited includes an artist whose job it is to draw the illustrations that will accompany new cards. This artist is acting according to his/her ________.

Accepted Answer

Members of cross-functional teams are expected to perform group roles relevant to their special areas of expertise. In cross-functional teams at Hallmark Cards, it is the role of writers on the teams to create verses for new cards, the role of artists to draw illustrations, and the role of designers to put verse and artwork together in an attractive and appealing card design.

Question 13

The members of a particular group are getting to know one another and attempting to reach an understanding of how each of them should act within the group. This stage of group development is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

In the first stage of group development, forming, members try to get to know one another and reach a common understanding of what the group is trying to accomplish and how group members should behave.

Question 14

During the first stage of group development, managers should ________.

Accepted Answer

The first stage of group development is forming. During forming, managers should help each member feel he/she is a valued member of the group.

Question 15

Splitting the work to be performed into particular tasks and assigning tasks to individual workers is called ________.

Accepted Answer

Large groups also let managers obtain the advantages stemming from the division of labor-splitting the work to be performed into particular tasks and assigning tasks to individual workers. Workers who specialize in particular tasks are likely to become skilled at performing those tasks and contribute significantly to high group performance.

Question 16

The set of behaviors and tasks that a member of the group is expected to perform because he/she is a member of the group is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

A group role is a set of behaviors and tasks that a member of a group is expected to perform because of his/her position in the group.

Question 17

In which stage of group development is it important for managers to strive to make each member feel that he or she is a valued part of the group?

Accepted Answer

In the first stage, forming, members try to get to know one another and reach a common understanding of what the group is trying to accomplish and how group members should behave. During this stage, managers should strive to make each member feel that he or she is a valued part of the group.

Question 18

Tom, the marketing manager, who is a member of a task force for new product development, is expected to represent the marketing department's concerns to the task force. Tom and his involvement with the task force describe ________.

Accepted Answer

A group role is a set of behaviors and tasks that a member of a group is expected to perform because of his or her position in the group.

Question 19

Which of the following stage of group development applies only to groups that eventually are disbanded, such as task forces?

Accepted Answer

The last stage, adjourning, applies only to groups that eventually are disbanded, such as task forces. During adjourning a group is dispersed. Sometimes adjourning takes place when a group completes a finished product, such as when a task force evaluating the pros and cons of providing on-site child care produces a report supporting its recommendation.

Question 20

What type of group helps satisfy employees' needs for interpersonal interaction and can provide needed social support in times of stress?

Accepted Answer

Friendship groups are informal groups composed of employees who enjoy one another's company and socialize with one another. Members of friendship groups may have lunch together, take breaks together, or meet after work for meals, sports, or other activities. Friendship groups help satisfy employees' needs for interpersonal interaction, can provide needed social support in times of stress, and can contribute to people's feeling good at work and being satisfied with their jobs.

Quiz 11: Effective Team Management