Hynes, Managerial Communication 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
Chapter 4: Managing Meetings and Teams
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following does the chapter list as functions of meetings?
A. informational or fact-finding
B. problem solving
C. decision-making
D. all of these are correct
2. Which is not an advantage of working in a team?
A. A group decision may be of a higher quality than that made by an individual.
B. It provides a welcome break from routine independent tasks.
C. Group members are more likely to be committed to the information presented.
D. It may reduce the chance of communication problems.
3. Which is not a disadvantage of teamwork?
A. increased chance of communication problems
B. high cost
C. low-quality decisions
D. overuse
4. Which of the following is a symptom of groupthink?
A. the illusion that everyone in the group holds a different viewpoint
B. the belief that the group can make mistakes
C. the belief that disagreements are to be faced
D. the tendency to direct pressure on any dissenting group member
Hynes, Managerial Communication 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
5. How can a team leader prevent groupthink?
A. use a “devil’s advocate”
B. be open to criticism
C. do not make an early decision
D. all of these are correct
6. Which is not a strategic consideration listed in the chapter that assists managers in
preparation for meetings?
A. whether to meet
B. physical facilities
C. feedback
D. leadership style
7. Filley, who conducted extensive research on workgroups, thinks the ideal size for a
meeting is generally ______.
A. five
B. ten
C. fifteen
D. as many people as you can get to come
8. Which is not a guideline for developing a meeting agenda?
A. use complete descriptions of the topics
B. Small meetings don’t require agendas.
C. clarify the goal of the meeting
D. Ideally, the set time is no more than 90 minutes.
Hynes, Managerial Communication 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
9. Which of the following seating arrangements should be avoided at a meeting?
A. an oval table
B. a long narrow table
C. a round table
D. a U-shaped table
10. The object of ______ is to generate ideas rather than evaluate or analyze those
ideas.
A. nominal group technique
B. Delphi technique
C. meetings
D. brainstorming
11. When more powerful or vocal group members might intimidate others, which
decision-making format for a face-to-face meeting is appropriate?
A. nominal group technique
B. rational problem-solving
C. Delphi technique
D. brainstorming
12. Which of the following uses a questionnaire that elicits the participants’ expert
opinions on a topic?
A. nominal group technique
B. Delphi technique
C. group decision support system
D. brainstorming
Hynes, Managerial Communication 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
13. When attempting to halt a disruption during a meeting, the facilitator should not
______.
A. paraphrase other’s statements
B. use the Delphi technique
C. allow multitasking such as checking e-mail
D. ask open, unbiased questions
14. A(n) ______ question is one originally asked by a group member to the leader who
then directs it back to the person who asked it.
A. relay
B. overhead
C. direct
D. reverse
15. Which is not a good follow-up strategy after a meeting?
A. sending an e-mail or memo summarizing the discussion and action items
B. discussing the decisions in the next meeting
C. composing and circulating formal meeting minutes
D. a phone call to the boss
16. Which of the following is not a disadvantage of teams?
A. costly
B. time-consuming
C. lower motivation
D. risk of groupthink
Hynes, Managerial Communication 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
17. Which of the following is not an advantage of teams?
A. higher quality decisions
B. efficiency
C. higher motivation
D. better communication
18. The illusion that everyone in the group holds the same viewpoint is a symptom of
______.
A. teamwork
B. leadership
C. groupthink
D. all of these are correct
19. The presence of inordinate optimism that predisposes members to take excessive
risks is a symptom of ______.
A. teamwork
B. leadership
C. groupthink
D. all of these are correct
20. When a meeting leader asks for “push back,” he/she is asking the meeting members
to ______.
A. criticize his/her ideas
B. leave
C. sit up straighter
D. agree on the next step
21. Asking a meeting member to play “devil’s advocate” is a strategy for ______.
Hynes, Managerial Communication 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
A. keeping the meeting short
B. avoiding groupthink
C. encouraging harmony
D. strengthening leadership
22. Which of the following is an advantage of conducting stand-up meetings?
A. Everyone is involved.
B. Everyone focuses on the meeting’s purpose.
C. The meeting is brief.
D. all of these are correct
23. Which of the following should not be a consideration when deciding who should
attend a meeting?
A. whether the topic is salient to the person
B. whether the person has authority to follow through on the chosen action
C. the person’s organizational status
D. the person’s knowledge of the topic
24. Which of the following is not a skill required for meeting participation?
A. writing
B. collaborating
C. listening
D. compromising
25. The working paper from which a meeting operates is called a(n) ______.
A. script
B. policy
C. procedural
Hynes, Managerial Communication 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
D. agenda
26. “Centrality” describes meeting members who ______.
A. control the flow of information and collaboration
B. work in the company’s headquarters
C. sit in the center of the room
D. perform the most important function in the company
27. According to the chapter, which of the following is a strategic consideration for virtual
meetings?
A. physical facilities
B. cultural similarity
C. technological adequacy
D. disruptions
True/False
1. Ninety percent of all U.S. businesses use some form of group structure.
2. In coordination meetings, project teams keep each other informed of their progress
and plan at each stage of their joint efforts.
Hynes, Managerial Communication 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
3. One advantage of a group meeting is it increases the chance of communication
problems, which is healthy because it creates a better line of communication down the
road for group members.
4. Coch and French found that participation in meetings decreased a feeling of
ownership of the outcome.
5. Meeting costs are a standard line item in most company budgets.
6. Meetings are an efficient way to make routine announcements and disseminate
information.
7. Groupthink is the tendency of a group to conform to ideas simply because the general
sense of the group has moved in a particular direction and the members of the group
feel committed to continue in the same line of thought.
8. A good reason to call a meeting is to allow everyone the opportunity to get away from
their desks.
Hynes, Managerial Communication 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
9. Research shows that as a group grows, communication is more effective and stress
between members decreases.
10. An increased number of meeting attendees decreases one’s willingness to
participate.
11. The agenda of the meeting should communicate the what, why, when, and who
regardless of the type of meeting.
12. Participants of most meetings need 5 working days to prepare.
13. Meetings should occur in the meeting leader’s office.
14. When the size of the meeting becomes larger than 10 members, a V-shaped seating
arrangement is preferred.
Hynes, Managerial Communication 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
15. Social network analysis (SNA) is a tool that managers use to evaluate project team
members’ proposed solutions to a problem.
16. Studies have shown that brainstorming increases the production of new ideas.
17. An advantage of the Delphi technique is that it does not require close physical
proximity.
18. Unlike in other types of meetings, members of staff meetings are not expected to
share information.
19. The essential aim of informational meetings is to communicate a company point of
view and have it accepted by employees.
20. An important advantage of working in teams is increased commitment and loyalty.
Hynes, Managerial Communication 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
Short Answer
1. Give two good reasons to have a business meeting and two poor reasons to have a
meeting.
2. What are some of the challenges of telecommuting? List three to four strategies that
remote workers can use to minimize these problems.
3. What is NGT? What is its value for group decision-making?