OB Chp 7

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Questions and Answers

What characterizes formal groups in an organization?

They are established by the organization to achieve specific goals. (correct)

They consist of members with conflicting characteristics.

They emerge naturally among members.

They are formed based on personal interests.

Which stage of group development involves establishing norms and becoming more cohesive?

Adjourning

Storming

Forming

Norming (correct)

In what situation might a group skip the storming and norming stages?

When the group lacks a clear purpose

When they are reorganizing their roles

When they have met frequently before (correct)

When their tasks are poorly defined

What does the punctuated equilibrium model focus on?

The impact of initial meetings and midpoint transitions on a group's effectiveness. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge do groups face during the storming stage?

Sorting out roles and responsibilities Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a practical learning derived from the stages of group development?

They eliminate the need for a clear purpose. Signup and view all the answers

Why is careful preparation significant for the first meeting in a group with deadlines?

It creates motivation and excitement for the project. Signup and view all the answers

What is typically observed during phase 1 of group development?

Minimal progress as roles and dynamics are still being defined. Signup and view all the answers

What factor is least critical when composing a self-managed work team?

Having a celebrity on the team Signup and view all the answers

Which principle is essential for the effectiveness of a cross-functional team?

All relevant specialties must be included Signup and view all the answers

What is a common disadvantage of group decision-making?

Increased time taken to reach a decision Signup and view all the answers

Which challenge is most significant for virtual teams?

Developing trust among team members Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining characteristic of high autonomy in teams?

Full control over team processes and outcomes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor that contributes to groupthink?

Encouragement of dissenting opinions Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential outcome of the risky shift phenomenon in group decision-making?

Groups advocating for riskier decisions Signup and view all the answers

Which method can be employed to improve group decision-making?

Appointing a devil's advocate Signup and view all the answers

What is a critical component for managing virtual teams effectively?

Establishing clear goals and feedback mechanisms Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an advantage of group decision-making?

Higher decision quality due to multiple perspectives Signup and view all the answers

What is an important factor for self-managed work teams to be successful?

Possessing the necessary technical and interpersonal skills Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT serve as an advantage for virtual teams?

Increased face-to-face interactions Signup and view all the answers

In terms of management style, how should managers approach autonomy within teams?

Allow flexibility in decision-making Signup and view all the answers

What determines the optimal size of a group?

The type of task being performed Signup and view all the answers

Which type of task benefits the most from a larger group size?

Disjunctive tasks Signup and view all the answers

What is referred to as surface diversity in groups?

Diversity in age and race Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about norms is true?

Norms provide regularity and predictability in behavior Signup and view all the answers

What is role ambiguity in a group setting?

Uncertainty about what responsibilities one has Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors can negatively impact group cohesiveness?

Member diversity Signup and view all the answers

What is considered a consequence of social loafing?

Reduced overall group performance Signup and view all the answers

What contributes to the formation of strong teams from groups?

Strong sense of shared commitment Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary motivation for process improvement teams?

To enhance efficiency of production or service Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'sucker effect' in social loafing?

Individuals reducing their effort due to the group's unfairness Signup and view all the answers

Which role in a group is developed naturally rather than assigned?

Emergent role Signup and view all the answers

Which type of group task is limited by the performance of its weakest member?

Conjunctive task Signup and view all the answers

What effect does a successful group have on member cohesiveness?

Enhances feelings of pride and mutual respect Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for a team to have high collective efficacy?

Each member believes in their and each other's ability to succeed Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct sequence of the stages in the 5-Stage Model of Group Development?

Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning Signup and view all the answers

Why is the midpoint transition important in the Punctuated Equilibrium Model of Group Development?

It signifies when radical progress is made after an initial period of low productivity. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of task benefits most from a larger group size?

Additive tasks Signup and view all the answers

Why do groups suffer from process losses as they increase in size?

Larger groups face more challenges in motivation and coordination. Signup and view all the answers

Diverse group membership leads to better performance in tasks that require:

Cognitive, creativity-demanding, and problem-solving tasks. Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between norms and rules?

Rules are formal and stated, while norms are informal and implied. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a social interaction norm?

How coworkers interact after work Signup and view all the answers

Role ambiguity often leads to:

Job dissatisfaction and turnover Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does NOT contribute to group cohesiveness?

Social loafing Signup and view all the answers

How can social loafing be counteracted in a group?

Rewarding group performance Signup and view all the answers

Which type of team typically has no physical face-to-face contact and relies on technology for collaboration?

Virtual teams Signup and view all the answers

Which is a disadvantage of group decision-making?

Risk of groupthink Signup and view all the answers

Which approach is used to improve group decision-making by assigning someone to challenge proposed ideas?

Devil's advocate Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Groups and Teams

Groups consist of 2 or more people interacting interdependently to achieve a shared goal, vision, mission, strategy, or action.
Formal groups are established by organizations to achieve organizational objectives (e.g., project teams).
Informal groups emerge naturally based on common interests among members (e.g., a softball team).
Groups form due to practical needs (accomplishing tasks) versus the desire for group affiliation, or based on shared personal characteristics.

Stages of Group Development

Forming: Members assess the group's purpose and their own roles within it.
Storming: Conflicts arise as roles and responsibilities are clarified.
Norming: Norms regarding behavior are established, leading to group cohesion.
Performing: Group members focus on task completion.
Adjourning: The group disbands after achieving its goals.

Punctuated Equilibrium Model

This model describes group development with deadlines, influenced by early meetings and critical midpoint transitions.
Practical learnings: Thoroughly prepare for the initial meeting, manage the transition at the midpoint efficiently, and ensure adequate resources are available before the second phase.

Group Structure

Size: Group size impacts performance depending on the task type (additive, disjunctive, conjunctive).
Additive task: Performance improves with greater numbers.
Disjunctive task: The best individual's performance determines the group's outcome.
Conjunctive task: The weakest individual's performance limits the group's outcome.
Diversity: Diverse groups might take longer to form but can perform better on complex, creative tasks. The negative effects of surface diversity typically fade over time.
Norms: Shared expectations guiding group behavior.
Types of norms:
- Dress norms
- Reward allocation norms (equity, equality, reciprocity, social responsibility)
- Performance norms
- Social interaction norms
Roles: Positions with expected behaviors and responsibilities.
Types of roles: Assigned (formal) and emergent (informal).
Role issues: Ambiguity (lack of clarity), conflict (incompatible expectations), status effects.

Group Cohesiveness

The degree to which a group is attractive to its members.
Factors influencing cohesiveness: Threat/competition, success, member diversity, size, and initiation difficulty.
Consequences of cohesiveness: Increased participation, conformity, and potential success (though conformity can lead to groupthink).

The tendency to exert less effort in a group than when working individually.
Counteracting social loafing: Make individual contributions visible, make tasks engaging, increase feelings of indispensability, provide performance feedback, and reward group performance.

Teams

Teams are groups that share a strong sense of commitment, demonstrate synergy (greater than the sum of individual efforts), and exhibit collective efficacy (belief in collective success).
Team reflexivity: Acknowledging and improving team processes and goals.

Types of Teams

Process improvement teams: Improve efficiency.
Self-managed work teams: Substantial autonomy in work processes.
Cross-functional teams: Diverse expertise, collaborate across departments.
Virtual teams: Members collaborate remotely, utilize technology.

Team Factors

Task factors include challenge, complexity, and interdependence (sequential or reciprocal).
Group composition factors include stability, size, expertise, and diversity.
Support factors include training, rewards, and effective management support.

Cross-Functional Team Factors

Composition, superordinate goals, physical proximity, autonomy, rules, and leadership are crucial for effectiveness.

Virtual Team Factors

Advantages: Around-the-clock availability, reduced travel costs.
Challenges: Trust, miscommunication, isolation, and management issues.
Addressing virtual team challenges: Recruiting interpersonal and intercultural experts, providing training in communication and interpersonal skills, promoting socialization, and effective leadership.

Group Decision Making

Advantages: Higher quality decisions, acceptance, diffusion of responsibility.
Disadvantages: Time, conflict, domination, groupthink.
Improving decision making: Using devil's advocates, encouraging whistle-blowing, celebrating outliers, and employing evidence-based management, crowdsourcing, and analytics.

Groupthink

Pressure to conform within a group that can impair decision quality.
Causes: Excessive cohesiveness, desire for approval, and group isolation.
Symptoms: Negative stereotypes of outsiders, pressure for conformity, and self-censorship.

Group Risk Taking

Risky shift: Groups might make riskier decisions than individuals.
Conservative shift: Groups might make less risky decisions than individuals.
Group discussion can polarize initial positions.

Contemporary Decision-Making Approaches

Evidence-based management: Decisions based on research and expert opinions.
Crowdsourcing: Engaging larger groups for decision-making support.
Analytics and big data: Using data analysis for informed decisions.

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Description

This quiz explores the concepts of groups and teams, detailing their definitions, structures, and stages of development. Gain insights into the dynamics of group formation and the Punctuated Equilibrium Model, which emphasizes how teams evolve over time. Test your understanding of how these concepts apply in organizational settings.