Capstone

Question 1

What does Watkins suggest leaders should focus on to build credibility with a newly inherited team?

Demonstrating technical expertise in their field
Asserting authority to establish control over the team
Listening to team members’ perspectives and concerns
Developing detailed strategies without team input

Answer 1

Listening to team members’ perspectives and concerns

Question 2

Which of the following is one of the primary reasons that students report a high satisfaction with capstone programs?

Engagement with real-world problems
Minimal faculty involvement in project supervision
Focus exclusively on theoretical knowledge
Opportunities for individual work rather than group projects

Answer 2

Engagement with real-world problems

Question 3

Buckingham argues that great managers focus primarily on:

Fixing employees’ weaknesses
Standardizing workflows for the team
Creating strict hierarchies in the organization
Amplifying each employee’s strengths

Answer 3

Amplifying each employee’s strengths

Question 4

What do Katzenbach and Smith emphasize as the key to overcoming challenges in team dynamics?

Assigning a strong leader to resolve all disputes
Eliminating disagreements quickly
Encouraging open communication and constructive conflict
Following rigid processes to avoid misunderstandings

Answer 4

Encouraging open communication and constructive conflict

Question 5

What is one suggested solution to prevent overcommitment in organizations?

Implement stricter deadlines for all tasks
Reduce the number of collaborative projects
Establish clear boundaries for employee workloads
Assign fewer managers to oversee teams

Answer 5

Establish clear boundaries for employee workloads

Question 6

What does Neeley recommend as a strategy for improving communication and collaboration in global teams?

Establishing a single dominant cultural norm for the team
Assigning all key tasks to the most experienced team members
Prioritizing face-to-face meetings over virtual communication
Setting clear norms for communication and ensuring equal participation

Answer 6

Setting clear norms for communication and ensuring equal participation

Question 7

What do Gabarro and Kotter identify as a crucial skill for managing upward relationships effectively?

Mastery of organizational politics
The ability to anticipate and provide for your boss’s needs
Delegating tasks to your boss to balance workloads
Prioritizing formal interactions over informal communication

Answer 7

The ability to anticipate and provide for your boss’s needs

Question 8

According to the article, which of the following is a hallmark of the best workplace on Earth?

Strict enforcement of office hours
Unclear and flexible performance metrics
A structure that is resistant to change
A climate of transparency and trust

Answer 8

A climate of transparency and trust

Question 9

What is the primary role of a project manager?

To oversee and coordinate all aspects of a project to ensure successful delivery
To execute tasks assigned by team members
To manage only the financial aspects of a project
To perform technical work within the project scope

Answer 9

To oversee and coordinate all aspects of a project to ensure successful delivery

Question 10

Select the behavior demonstrated for this statement, “My team likes to hear what I think about every situation, and quite frankly, they need to hear my opinion otherwise they’ll make the wrong decision.”

Counselor
Diminisher
Multiplier
Trainer

Answer 10

Diminisher

Question 11

In “Part One: System Structure and Behavior,” what is described as a common cause of unexpected system behavior?

External factors unrelated to the system’s internal structure.
Feedback loops and delays in the system.
Lack of sufficient components in the system.
Over-reliance on simple linear models of prediction.

Answer 11

Feedback loops and delays in the system.

Question 12

Which of the following skills is deemed most essential for a project manager?

Technical expertise in all project areas
Strong communication and leadership abilities
Ability to work independently without input
Proficiency in coding and software development

Answer 12

Strong communication and leadership abilities

Question 13

What do Hill and Lineback emphasize as a critical behavior for becoming a great boss?

Maintaining emotional distance from employees to ensure objectivity
Prioritizing individual performance metrics over team collaboration
Adopting a hands-off approach to encourage employee independence
Regularly providing feedback to help employees improve and grow

Answer 13

Regularly providing feedback to help employees improve and grow

Question 14

Which concept explains why people tend to justify unethical actions after the fact?

Moral disengagement
Ethical fading
Self-enhancement
Self-serving bias

Answer 14

Ethical fading

Question 15

What percentage of employees, according to the article, reported that incivility negatively affected their commitment to their organization?

80%
85%
90%
95%

Answer 15

90%

Question 16

According to Katzenbach and Smith, what distinguishes a real team from a working group?

A focus on individual goals
Frequent meetings to discuss progress
A commitment to a common purpose and mutual accountability
A clear hierarchy and structure

Answer 16

A commitment to a common purpose and mutual accountability

Question 17

What is identified as a critical first step in project planning?

Defining the project scope and objectives
Conducting performance appraisals
Purchasing necessary resources
Assigning tasks to team members

Answer 17

Defining the project scope and objectives

Question 18

Which key behavior helps overcome the dysfunction of “Inattention to Results”?

Allowing metrics to vary between team members
Focusing on collective team results rather than individual goals
Avoiding public discussions about team goals and outcomes
Encouraging personal success over team achievements

Answer 18

Focusing on collective team results rather than individual goals

Question 19

Which of the following is one of the six core principles of leadership?

Others leadership
Self leadership
International leadership
Public leadership

Answer 19

Self leadership

Question 20

In the Agency-Dilemma, most of what we chose to put in place as Principals is done to ______ our agents.

Confuse/Distract
Moderate/Diminish
Control/Influence
Advocate/Promote

Answer 20

Control/Influence

Question 21

What is one reason why many organizations fail to create the best workplace on Earth?

They focus too heavily on employee development programs
They do not address systemic barriers to authenticity and collaboration
They prioritize employee well-being over business goals
They have an excess of diversity in their workforce

Answer 21

They do not address systemic barriers to authenticity and collaboration

Question 22

According to Porath and Pearson, what is a significant impact of incivility in the workplace?

Enhanced collaboration among teams
Greater focus on organizational goals
Increased employee retention
Reduced performance and creativity

Answer 22

Reduced performance and creativity

Question 23

What does Buckingham emphasize as a key skill for great managers when working with employees?

Prioritizing strict discipline over flexibility
Individualizing management approaches
Avoiding too much employee feedback
Treating everyone the same

Answer 23

Individualizing management approaches

Question 24

Which of the following is essential for you to do when we have guest speakers in the program?

Use your laptop or phone to multitask during the presentation
Demonstrate interest, be on-time, and no electronics
Only attend if the topic directly interests you
Arrive quietly after the session has started if you’re running late

Answer 24

Demonstrate interest, be on-time, and no electronics

Question 25

How can a team overcome the dysfunction of "Lack of Commitment"? Agreeing to decisions privately but not supporting them publicly Postponing decisions until everyone is 100% aligned Allowing only the most vocal team members to decide Creating clarity around decisions and ensuring buy-in from all members

Answer 25

Creating clarity around decisions and ensuring buy-in from all members

Question 26

When we have guest speakers, which of the following is the Number 1 rule we will follow? Show professional respect Bring two copies of my resume Dress business professonal Capture photos for social media

Answer 26

Show professional respect

Question 27

According to Neeley, what is a key challenge faced by global teams? Lack of technical expertise among team members Over-reliance on in-person meetings Difficulties arising from cultural and language differences Limited access to technology for communication

Answer 27

Difficulties arising from cultural and language differences

Question 28

In "The Discipline of Teams," what do Katzenbach and Smith suggest about the ideal size of a team? Teams should always have 10-15 members. Larger teams are better equipped to tackle complex problems. Team size has no impact on performance. Smaller teams, typically 5-10 members, tend to perform better.

Answer 28

Smaller teams, typically 5-10 members, tend to perform better.

Question 29

Who among the following is considered a stakeholder? Anyone who can impact or be impacted by the project Only the project team members Only the project sponsor Only the end-users of the project deliverable

Answer 29

Anyone who can impact or be impacted by the project

Question 30

What behavior helps teams address the dysfunction of "Avoidance of Accountability"? Delegating accountability to the team leader only Offering rewards for participation rather than results Team members holding each other accountable for meeting standards and deadlines Ignoring poor performance to maintain relationships

Answer 30

Team members holding each other accountable for meeting standards and deadlines

Question 31

What solution do the authors propose for addressing workplace incivility? Reducing performance reviews to lower stress levels Encouraging competition among employees Implementing leadership training that emphasizes respect and collaboration Firing all uncivil employees immediately

Answer 31

Implementing leadership training that emphasizes respect and collaboration

Question 32

What is the primary focus of the article “The Price of Incivility”? Methods for enhancing employee creativity Strategies for improving employee productivity Benefits of relaxed organizational rules The hidden costs of workplace incivility

Answer 32

The hidden costs of workplace incivility

Question 33

According to Buckingham, how do great managers approach decision-making? They follow company procedures without deviation. They make decisions based on the unique dynamics of their team. They delegate decision-making to senior leadership. They rely heavily on intuition without much input from others.

Answer 33

They make decisions based on the unique dynamics of their team.

Question 34

According to Gabarro and Kotter, what is a primary objective of managing your boss effectively? Avoiding confrontation by agreeing with all their decisions Reducing their workload by taking over key responsibilities Ensuring alignment between your needs, your boss’s priorities, and organizational goals Creating a personal friendship to build rapport

Answer 34

Ensuring alignment between your needs, your boss’s priorities, and organizational goals

Question 35

What is the primary purpose of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)? To track the project’s progress using real-time data To identify risks and mitigation strategies To break the project into manageable tasks and deliverables To allocate the project budget across different departments

Answer 35

To break the project into manageable tasks and deliverables

Question 36

Which of the following is NOT a condition necessary for a team to succeed, according to Katzenbach and Smith? A compelling direction or purpose A complementary mix of skills among team members A clearly defined set of performance goals The absence of conflict among team members

Answer 36

The absence of conflict among team members

Question 37

According to Hill and Lineback, what distinguishes a great boss from a good boss? Delegating tasks to employees effectively Focusing on their team’s success and development rather than personal achievements Maintaining a high level of technical expertise in their field Enforcing strict rules and procedures for team operations

Answer 37

Focusing on their team’s success and development rather than personal achievements

Question 38

Which behavior is crucial for overcoming the dysfunction of "Fear of Conflict"? Engaging in open, constructive debate Avoiding disagreements to maintain harmony Relying solely on email to handle disagreements Allowing only the leader to resolve conflicts

Answer 38

Engaging in open, constructive debate

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT typically considered a phase in the project life cycle? Initiation Termination Execution Planning

Answer 39

Termination

Question 40

What is the main focus of the article “The Overcommitted Organization”? The impact of technological advancements on work commitments Methods for improving team performance through cross-training Strategies to increase employee workload The challenges and benefits of collaborative overload

Answer 40

The challenges and benefits of collaborative overload

Question 41

What is one key principle of systems thinking described in the introduction to Thinking in Systems? Systems are defined solely by the number of elements they contain. Systems always function independently of external environments. Systems are more than the sum of their parts, with interconnections and feedback loops driving behavior. Systems are static structures with fixed outputs.

Answer 41

Systems are more than the sum of their parts, with interconnections and feedback loops driving behavior.

Question 42

What percent of employers value a capstone for demonstrating problem-solving, teamwork, and project management? 88% 96% 84% 92%

Answer 42

92%

Question 43

For those students completing a capstone, what percentage secured employment within six months of graduating? 60% 70% 80% 90%

Answer 43

70%

Question 44

Select the behavior demonstrated for this statement, “Whenever I conduct team meetings, I ensure that I ask my team a lot of questions so that everyone understands the situation and the context.” Trainer Diminisher Multiplier Counselor

Answer 44

Multiplier