CH7: Groups and Teamwork

Question 1

Define a group/team

Answer 1

2+ people interacting interdependently to achieve a common goal

Question 2

Define interdependence

Answer 2

Group members rely on each other to accomplish goals

Question 3

What are the typical stages of group development

Answer 3

Forming -> Storming -> Norming -> Performing -> Adjourning

Question 4

What is the Punctuated equilibrium model

Answer 4

Model of group development that describes how groups with deadlines are affected by their 1st meetings & crucial midpoint transitions
(Successful midpoint = high group performance)

Question 5

Characteristics of the stable social organization of a group (5 of them)

Answer 5

-Group size
-Group diversity
-Group norms
-Group roles
-Group status

Question 6

What happens in a large group size?

Answer 6

There is less satisfaction.

Question 7

What does the relationship between group size and performance depend on?

Answer 7

The task.

Question 8

Best group size:

Answer 8

5 people

Question 9

3 types of tasks

Answer 9

-Additive tasks
-Disjunctive tasks
Conjunctive tasks

Question 10

Define additive tasks and give an example.

Answer 10

Performance depends on all members
Ex. Building a house

Question 11

Define disjunctive task.

Answer 11

Performance depends on most skilled member
Ex. Math problem solving

Question 12

Define conjunctive task

Answer 12

Performance depends on worse-skilled member.
Ex. Group rock climbing

Question 13

Issue with diverse groups.

Answer 13

More difficult time communicating effectively & becoming cohesive.

Takes longer to form, storm, norm

Question 14

Pros with diverse groups.

Answer 14

-Has more creativity and innovative solutions
-Healthy level of conflict that leads to decision making
-Leadership helps get through forming, storming, norming

Question 15

Define group cohesiveness

Answer 15

Degree to which group is especially attractive to its members

Question 16

Causes of group cohesiveness (7 things)

Answer 16

-External threat
-Success
-Homogeneity
-Small size
-Severe initiation
-Time
-Isolation

Question 17

Assets of group cohesiveness. (3 things)

Answer 17

-Participation
-Conformity
-Success

Question 18

Liabilities of group cohesiveness (2 things)

Answer 18

-Work against organization goals
-Groupthink

Question 19

Draw the productivity curves for groups varying in cohesiveness

Answer 19

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/547702489093242901/1052343640837595227/image.png

They won’t let me add pic.

Question 20

Is teamwork always the answer?

Answer 20

No.
Many organizations jump on the “teams bandwagon”

Question 21

Team-related questions organizations should ask themselves. (2 questions)

Answer 21

-Do people need to work together to get the task done effectively?
-Is expertise limited to a few people?

Question 22

6 common mistakes with teams:

Answer 22

-Use team for work better done by individuals
-Call the unit a team but manage members as individuals
-Fail to balance team/manager powers
-Completely remove all structure
-Set high goals but don’t provide support
-Assume that all members have the skills they need to work as a team

Question 23

What is The Hackman Model of Team Effectiveness and list all. (5 things)

Answer 23

Factors for a successful team

-Make sure work is suited to team structure
-Prepare the team
-Give team direction, but let them take control over how to get there
-Create structures that support teams
-Provide team training

Question 24

Define social loafing

Answer 24

The tendency that people have to withhold physical or intellectual effort when they are performing a group task

Question 25

5 ways to counteract social loafing:

Answer 25

-Make individual performance more visible
-Make sure that the work is interesting.
-Increase feelings of indispensability
-Increase performance feedback.
-Reward group performance.

Question 26

Define collective efficacy

Answer 26

The shared beliefs that a team can successfully perform a given task.

Question 27

What is an important contributor to collective efficacy? Define it.

Answer 27

Team reflexivity.
The extent to which teams deliberately discuss team processes and goals and adapt their behaviour accordingly.

Question 28

What is the composition of self managed teams?

Answer 28

-Stability
-Size
-Expertise
-Diversity

Question 29

5 ways to support self managed teams

Answer 29

-Training
-Language skills
-Business training
-Rewards
-Management