1. General systems theory was developed from an analysis of
2. If a small group is an open system, then
3. Throughput refers to or is a synonym for
4. Members who bring to the group information about the environment and who report group activities and
recommendations to the parent organization (and other concerned groups) are called
5. In order to accomplish the objectives assigned to them, committees of an organization may need which of the
following from the organization?
6. Lois is particularly good about keeping the parent organization aware of what is happening in the work group
of which she is a part. Lois is known as a
7. The Boeing 767 airplane was the result of a partnership between engineers from a variety of firms in a variety
of countries. This type of working together is called a
8. When thinking about the small group as a system, what is the key component that connects all of the system’s
relevant parts?
9. When a new baby enters a household, every family member is affected. This is an example of:
10. The characteristics or dimensions of a system are its:
11. Input variables are:
12. The three broad categories of system variables are:
13. The group’s members, the reasons for the group’s formation, resources, and environmental conditions are
examples of ______________________ variables:
14. A group’s rules, the procedures it follows, its leadership, and communication among members are:
15. Feedback is:
16. Which are challenges faced by bona fide virtual groups?
17. The function(s) of a boundary spanner is(are) to:
18. The status and power relationships in a group constitute which type of environmental variables?
19. A member of a group who monitors for outside support of the group and who brings in information from the
environment is serving what function of a boundary spanner?
20. Ideal input variables include:
21. Channel Six news team
22. St. Stephen’s monastery
23. Documentary film class
24. International missions group
25. PBS pledge drive group
26. Brotherhood commune
27. Beliefs and values of the members
28. Solutions
29. Communication network
30. Funds
31. Time
32. Cohesiveness
33. Changing just one characteristic of a group, such as by adding a new member, will result in many other
changes.
34. Open systems are less common than are closed systems.
35. There should be clear status distinctions among group members, in a hierarchy from highest to lowest.
36. Critics of systems theory complain of its focus on homeostasis.
37. Although leadership services are shared, in an ideal group one member is recognized and accepted by all
others as the PRIMARY leader.
38. The qualities of a system can be determined by summing the qualities of its parts.
39. Groups, as systems, exhibit interdependence-each component affects each other component.
40. Anything that is produced by a system is known as a throughput variable.
41. An evaluation of a committee is usually made on the basis of its input components rather than on its
outputs.
42. A group of people working together can yield more solutions to a problem than any of those individuals can
alone.
43. A system is defined as an arrangement of independent components.
44. Procedures followed by a small group in making major decisions are classified as throughput variables.
45. A recommendation by a committee to an administrator is an example of a group output.
46. An ideal throughput variable of group members is that they are dependable and Reliable
47. An ideal environment is one in which cohesiveness is high.
48. When a group performs above its apparent potential (determined from member characteristics), that is an
instance of positive ______________.
49. Responses to a system’s output are collectively referred to as ______________.
50. The variables of a group were classified into three major categories, inputs, throughputs and
______________.
51. For its smaller groups to function well, an organization should ______________ their accomplishments.
52. An interacting complex of interdependent parts, perceived as a whole, is called a(n) ______________.
53. An observable (or measurable) characteristic that can change in magnitude or quality is called a(n)
______________.
54. __________________ states that the whole system is not just the sum of its parts.
55. A boundary spanner is constantly monitoring the group’s _________________ to bring in and take out
information relevant to the group’s success.
56. Group members who check out the environment to see who supports the group; bring in information from
the environment in summary form; and may also attempt to persuade outsiders to the desires, goals, and
importance of the group are called _________________________.
57. The strategy of ______________ is characterized by actions by the group to close itself off from the
environment.
58. The bona fide group perspective states that groups have stable, but permeable boundaries. What four factors
cause this permeability?
59. Describe the characteristics of an IDEAL small group on the following five input variables: member’s
beliefs about the purpose; number of members; time; meeting place.
60. Explain how bona fide group perspective is impacted by groups that do not meet face to face.
