Understanding Groups and Teams

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Questions and Answers

What distinguishes a programmed decision from a nonprogrammed decision?

Nonprogrammed decisions involve clear outcomes.

Programmed decisions are unique and require creativity.

Programmed decisions occur frequently, allowing for rules to be developed. (correct)

Nonprogrammed decisions are based on historical data.

Under which condition does a decision maker know the outcomes of each alternative?

Condition of risk.

Condition of certainty. (correct)

Condition of assumption.

Condition of uncertainty.

Which of the following is a symptom of groupthink?

Diverse viewpoints presented.

Illusion of invulnerability. (correct)

Critical analysis and discussion.

Individual accountability.

What is social loafing?

The phenomenon where individuals exert less effort in a team compared to when they work alone. Signup and view all the answers

What is one technique used to prevent groupthink?

Establishing a devil's advocate role. Signup and view all the answers

In which step of the rational decision-making process is evidence-based decision making emphasized?

Choosing among alternatives. Signup and view all the answers

What is one impact of group polarization in decision-making contexts?

It causes groups to adopt more extreme positions. Signup and view all the answers

Which decision-making condition involves the incapacity to identify outcomes due to insufficient information?

Condition of uncertainty. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main types of decision making?

Programmed and Non-Programmed Signup and view all the answers

Which leadership approach focuses on the traits of individuals to explain leadership effectiveness?

Trait Approaches Signup and view all the answers

In the Path-Goal Theory of Leadership, what is the leader's primary role?

To clarify the path to achieving goals Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of transformational leadership?

Fostering personal connections with followers Signup and view all the answers

Which theory evaluates leadership based on the relationship between a manager's motivation and situational favorableness?

LPC Theory Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes transformational leadership from transactional leadership?

Focus on rewards versus inspiration Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a leadership neutralizer?

Rigid organizational structure Signup and view all the answers

What is one way to enhance creativity and innovation in organizations?

Encourage open communication and teamwork Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a team from a group?

Teams share a common goal and accountability for outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of group is established by an organization to perform specific tasks?

Workgroups Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of command groups?

They have a relatively permanent nature with functional reporting. Signup and view all the answers

What is considered an informal group?

A collection of individuals sharing interests or friendships. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT one of the five basic group performance factors?

Group Success Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a recognized benefit of teams?

Enhanced performance Signup and view all the answers

Which type of group includes employees of the same level sharing information?

Affinity groups Signup and view all the answers

Which is the best definition of informal leadership?

Influence exercised within a group regardless of formal authority. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Types of Groups and Teams

Groups are two or more people who interact such that each person influences and is influenced by others.
Coworkers may work together but not interact, so they are not a group.
Teams are interdependent collections of at least two individuals sharing a common goal and accountability for their own and team outcomes.
Workgroups are formal groups created by organizations.
- Command (functional) groups are characterized by reporting relationships.
- Affinity groups are relatively permanent collections of employees who meet to share information, identify opportunities, and solve problems.
Teams are diverse and include many types.
Informal groups are formed by members, including friendship groups (relatively permanent) and interest groups (shorter-lived).

Group Performance Factors

The five key factors impacting group performance are composition, size, norms, cohesiveness, and informal leadership.

Managing Teams

Team management involves understanding the benefits & costs of teams, promoting effective performance, and identifying/developing teamwork competencies.
Benefits of teams include enhanced performance, reduced costs, & other organizational benefits (employee benefits).
Costs of teams should also be understood.
Top-management support, understanding time frames, and changing organizational rewards all promote effective performance in teams.

Decision Making

Programmed decisions are frequent enough for rules to be developed. Non-programmed decisions require problem-solving.
Certainty is when the decision-maker knows the outcomes of each alternative.
Risk is when the decision-maker cannot know the outcome but can estimate the probabilities of various outcomes.
Uncertainty is when the decision-maker has insufficient information to estimate probabilities or identify outcomes.
Rational decision-making involves steps: identifying the problem, gathering information, developing options, analyzing options, choosing an option, implementing the chosen option, and evaluating the results.

Evidence-Based Decision Making

Evidence-based decision making uses factual information to make effective decisions in a rational manner with greater conviction.

Behavioral Approaches to Decision Making

The Administrative Model:
- Satisficing: Choosing an acceptable alternative rather than the optimal one.
- Intuition: Using past experiences to make quick choices.
- Escalation of Commitment: Continuing a failing course of action.

Group Decision Making in Organizations

Group Polarization: Group discussion strengthens initial inclinations.
Groupthink: A poor decision-making process in a group where the group's desire for consensus overrides a critical evaluation of alternative ideas.

Enhancing Creativity in Organizations

Preparation, Incubation, Insight, and Verification are steps in the creative process.

Understanding Groups & Teams

Essential to understand the importance of groups/teams in organizations, difference between a group and a team, concept of synergy, and when teams are appropriate.
Issues to contemplate when forming a group/team

Conflict

There are two types of conflict and examples of each, and social loafing impacts in groups/teams, and how to reduce it.
What factors increase or decrease counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) in group scenarios will be considered.

Leadership

Contrast leadership and management.
Trait theory traits of leaders.
Behavioral theories: Two main approaches.
Transactional leadership and what it involves.
Transformational leadership and what it entails.

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Description

This quiz explores the different types of groups and teams, including their definitions, characteristics, and performance factors. Learn about formal and informal groups, along with key elements that influence team dynamics and performance. Test your knowledge on effective team management strategies.