Groups and Teams

Managers serving as a superior in one group and a subordinate in another are examples of: 

• the 'linking-pin' function. 
• the manager's challenge. 
• synergy. 
• the Ringlemann effect. 

A task force is an example of: 

• a command group. 
• a permanent group. 
• a temporary group. 
• an informal group. 

Which of the following best describes a disadvantage of groups? 

• Their purposes might conflict with those of the organisation. 
• They can achieve positive synergy. 
• They can bring together people with complementary skills and attitudes. 
• They can fulfil individual and organisational needs at the same time. 

The tendencies of people not to work as hard in a group as they would individually is known as: 

• status incongruence. 
• social loafing. 
• group cohesiveness 
• group effectiveness. 

Groups whose members have similar backgrounds, interests, values and attitudes are called __________ groups. 

• homogeneous 
• heterogeneous 
• informal 
• interest 

A manager might choose to decrease cohesiveness in a group if: 

• the tasks of members are highly interdependent. 
• the performance norms are negative. 
• the performance norms are positive. 
• the members feel secure. 

Jingxi meets regularly with other employees from various departments. As a group leader, her job is to ensure that the group as a whole addresses important workplace issues. In her meetings she is trying to enhance interactions among team members so that members are able to work together to address these issues successfully. She is: 

• allocating duties to employees. 
• is demonstrating high concern for task. 
• increasing the level of cohesion in the team. 
• delegating work to employees. 

Sam is a member of a task force focusing on workplace safety. The leader and his colleagues both have different expectations from Sam. He is experiencing

• role conflict. 
• role ambiguity. 
• role negotiation. 
• . role shifting. 

Birat has been a member of a work group for over three years. Once confident of his place in the group, he has recently been unsure about what other group members expect from him. Birat is experiencing: 

• role conflict. 
• role ambiguity. 
• role negotiation. 
• role shifting. 

Shaym is a member of a group that is very cohesive. Group members frequently 'joke around' and do things at their own pace. Which of the following statements is LEAST likely to be true of Shyam's group? 

• The group is energetic 
• The group fosters feelings of loyalty and self-esteem among members 
• Group membership is relatively stable 
• The group lacks performance-related norms