#8: Norms and Cohesiveness

Question 1

Group norms

Answer 1

• Behavior expected of team members
• Rules or standards that guide behavior
• When a norm is violated there may be reprimands

Question 2

Performance norms

Answer 2

Define the level of work effort and performance that team members are expected to contribute to the team task Ex: participation, time, quality, innovation, helpfulness, etc.

Question 3

Cohesiveness

Answer 3

• The degree to which members are attracted to and motivated to remain part of a team
• Can be beneficial if paired with positive performance norms

Question 4

Task activities

Answer 4

• Actions by team members that contribute directly to teams performance purpose
  Include:
• Initiating
• Information sharing
• Summarizing
• Elaborating
• Opinion giving

Question 5

Maintenance activities

Answer 5

• Support emotions; life of a team as an ongoing social system
  Include:
• Supportive
• Encouraging
• Following
• Harmonizing
• Reducing tension (“smoothing things over”)

Question 6

What are the communication networks

Answer 6

1. Decentralized
2. Centralized
3. Restricted

Question 7

Decentralized communication network

Answer 7

All members communicate directly with one another

Question 8

Centralized communication network

Answer 8

Activities are coordinated and results pooled by central point of control

Question 9

Restricted communication network

Answer 9

• Separate groups that do not work together and in disagreements with one another
• Slow task accomplishment

Question 10

5 stages of team development

Answer 10

1. Forming
2. Storming
3. Norming
4. Performing
5. Adjourning

Question 11

Forming

Answer 11

• A stage of initial orientation and interpersonal testing
• Initial entering in a group effort
• “What can the team do for me?”
• “What will I be asked to contribute?”
• Establishing relationships, learning group behaviors
• Finding reliable and knowledgeable group members

Question 12

Storming

Answer 12

• A stage of conflicts over tasks and working as a team
• High emotionality stage
• Cliques form as well as concerns over interpersonal and task issues
• Attention shifts towards what obstacle may be brought up during the task
• Problem solving
• Successful storming builds a strong foundation

Question 13

Norming

Answer 13

• A stage of consolidation around tasks and operating agendas
• Coordination begins
• Teams are brought further together as a working unit sharing rules of conduct
• Each member assumes their useful roles
• Harmony is emphasized

Question 14

Performing

Answer 14

• A stage of teamwork and focused task performance
• Team learns to perform from a structure and work towards collective goals
• A stage to refine operations and relationships
• Team maturity

Question 15

Adjourning

Answer 15

• A stage of task completion and disengagement
• Members acknowledged for their participation and efforts
• Group “breakup”
• Can be an emotional time