Groups and Teams Overview

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Questions and Answers

What primarily distinguishes a team from a group?

Teams have more members than groups.

Teams work intensely towards a specific common goal. (correct)

Groups always have a defined leader.

Groups are less formal than teams.

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of using groups?

Increased innovation.

Guaranteed success in all projects. (correct)

Enhanced performance.

Higher employee satisfaction.

What is necessary for managers to harness the potential for synergy in groups?

Groups should be small and uniform in composition.

All members should be from the same department.

Members must possess complementary skills and knowledge. (correct)

Members should have similar skills and experiences.

How can cross-functional teams benefit the development of new products?

They bring together diverse perspectives and expertise. Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario exemplifies the importance of responsiveness to customer needs?

Lower-level employees suggesting product ideas based on direct customer feedback. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of synergistic group work?

Groups can produce higher-quality outputs than individual efforts combined. Signup and view all the answers

Which function is likely least involved in the idea conception for new products?

Sales representatives. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important for groups to consist of members from different levels of an organization?

It enhances the variety of skills and perspectives available. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key benefit of diversity in top management teams?

Guards against groupthink Signup and view all the answers

Which type of teams are typically formed to complete certain tasks or solve specific problems within a designated time frame?

Task forces Signup and view all the answers

What is an essential characteristic of self-managed work teams?

Members possess responsibility and autonomy Signup and view all the answers

What do command groups primarily consist of?

Employees reporting to the same supervisor Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an important step for effective self-managed work teams?

Assigning definitive roles to team members Signup and view all the answers

Which is a common feature of research and development teams?

Focus on developing new products Signup and view all the answers

What should managers refrain from doing with self-managed work teams for effective performance?

Directly telling team members what to do Signup and view all the answers

Which best describes the term 'cross-functional teams'?

Teams that include members from various departments Signup and view all the answers

What is one advantage of using teams for innovation?

They allow members to uncover each other's errors. Signup and view all the answers

What motivates team members to be satisfied with their work?

Direct contribution to team goals. Signup and view all the answers

What type of teams are composed of members from different cultures or countries?

Cross-cultural teams. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary concern of a CEO regarding the top management team?

To ensure the team develops strategies for competitive advantage. Signup and view all the answers

Why might increased motivation from teamwork lead to talent retention?

Satisfaction from collaboration can lead to loyalty. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of formal groups established by managers?

They are intentionally formed to achieve specific goals. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common outcome of teamwork besides increased satisfaction?

Improved efficiency. Signup and view all the answers

How does devil's advocacy function in a team setting?

It allows team members to challenge assumptions constructively. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of leaders in groups and teams?

To ensure the group performs at its potential Signup and view all the answers

During which stage do group members form a common understanding of goals?

Forming Signup and view all the answers

What typically occurs during the storming stage?

Conflict and disagreements arise Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the norming stage?

Strong camaraderie and friendship develop Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by group norms?

Shared guidelines for behavior within the group Signup and view all the answers

Which type of leadership is often seen in self-managed teams?

Rotating leadership roles Signup and view all the answers

What happens in the performing stage of group development?

Real work is accomplished by the group Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about informal leaders is accurate?

They naturally emerge as group members work together. Signup and view all the answers

What is group cohesiveness primarily concerned with?

The attractiveness and loyalty of members to the group Signup and view all the answers

Which strategy is essential for creating high-performing work teams?

Motivating group members towards organizational goals Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used for when individuals exert less effort in a group than alone?

Social loafing Signup and view all the answers

When assessing group performance, what should determine pay levels when individual performance is hard to measure?

Group performance Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key strategy for managing high-performance teams?

Allowing conflict to fester Signup and view all the answers

What is an important challenge for managers in motivating group members?

Developing a fair pay system Signup and view all the answers

How can groups manage conflict effectively?

By fostering open communication and resolution strategies Signup and view all the answers

Which of these scenarios best illustrates social loafing?

An employee contributing less during a group project than they would when working solo. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Groups and Teams

Groups are two or more people who interact to reach goals or meet needs
Teams are groups with high intensity working towards a shared objective
Groups and teams offer competitive advantage by improving performance, increasing customer responsiveness, driving innovation, and boosting employee motivation and satisfaction
Synergy is a main advantage of groups - members produce more or better than if they worked alone and combined results later
For synergy, teams need complementary skills and knowledge relevant to their work, such as cross-functional teams bringing together various departments like artists, writers, designers, and marketing experts
Responsiveness to customers benefits from the diverse skills and expertise across different departments and levels of the organization's hierarchy
Teams can innovate better - team members can catch errors and false assumptions together, and build on strengths while compensating for weaknesses
Groups are often used to reach organizational goals, but they also offer additional benefits like increased member satisfaction, motivation from working with other driven individuals, seeing their contribution to the overall goal, and feeling personally responsible for results
Increased motivation and satisfaction can boost efficiency and talent retention within organizations

Types of Groups & Teams

Formal groups: established by managers to achieve organizational goals. Examples include cross-functional teams and cross-cultural teams.
Top Management Team: responsible for developing strategies for competitive advantage, usually has 5-7 members with diverse expertise, skills, knowledge, and experience. Designed to combat groupthink.
Research and Development Teams: focus on creating new products, common in industries like pharmaceuticals, computers, and electronics.
Command Groups: employees reporting to the same supervisor, often called departments or units, contribute significantly to organizational work.
Task Forces: formed to achieve specific goals or solve problems within a set timeframe, also known as ad hoc committees.
Self-Managed Work Teams: empowered members with responsibility and autonomy to complete identifiable work.
Managers need to ensure these teams are effective: provide ample responsibility and autonomy, delegate problem solving, ensure complex work with multiple steps and a final product, carefully select members with diverse skills, teamwork abilities, and desire to be part of a team, and shift from supervision to guidance, coaching, and support.
Teams may have appointed leaders (formal leaders) or naturally emerging leaders (informal leaders). In self-managed teams, members may choose leaders or rotate the role.
Leaders, regardless of origin, play a crucial role in maximizing group/team performance.

Group Development Stages

Forming: members get to know each other, understand group goals, and set behavioral expectations. Managers aim to make everyone feel valued.
Storming: conflicts and disagreements emerge due to differing opinions and desires for control.
Norming: strong bonds form, feelings of friendship develop, consensus is reached on goals and behavior.
Performing: actual work is completed. Managers need to take specific actions depending on the group type to ensure effectiveness.
Adjourning: only for temporary groups like task forces, involves disbanding and concluding activities.

Group Norms

Shared guidelines or rules for behavior.
Examples include working hours, information sharing, task execution procedures, and even dress codes.

Group Cohesiveness

Degree to which members are drawn to and loyal to the group.
Affects group performance and effectiveness.

Managing Groups & Teams for Performance

High-performing work teams are important for organizational success:
Motivation Strategies: Use a combination of individual and group-based incentives to motivate members towards organizational goals. Pay can be based on individual or both individual and group performance when individual performance is measurable. When individual performance is difficult to assess, group performance should be the primary factor in determining pay.
Reducing Social Loafing: Address the tendency for individuals to put in less effort when working in a group than alone.
Managing Conflict Effectively: Help groups effectively handle both internal and external conflict.

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Description

This quiz delves into the concepts of groups and teams, highlighting their definitions, differences, and the advantages they offer in a workplace setting. Explore how synergy and diverse skill sets contribute to improved performance and innovation within teams. Assess your understanding of team dynamics and the impact of collaborative efforts.