Managing Human Behavior in Public and Nonprofit Organizations | 4th edition
Robert B. Denhardt • Janet V. Denhardt • Maria P. Aristigueta
Sage 2015
Test Bank | Chapter 10
Working in Groups and Teams
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is NOT a reason that teams are more effective than individuals?
A) Teams produce a greater number of ideas and pieces of information than individuals acting
alone
B) Teams have higher levels of motivation and performance than individuals acting alone
C) Team members are less likely to entertain risky alternatives
D) Teams offset personal biases and blind spots that inhibit effective problem analysis
2. Which of the following researchers outlined procedures for using groups successfully to
introduce changes at both the individual and organizational levels?
A) McGrath and Altman
B) Schein and Bennis
C) Elton and Mayo
D) Hawthorne and Elkins
3. Which of the following is a characteristic of teams?
A) Teams are intact social systems
B) Teams operate in an organizational context
C) Teams produce some outcomes for which members have collective responsibility
D) All of the above
4. Which of the following is NOT a type of team?
A) Project teams
B) Cross-functional teams
C) Virtual teams
D) Imaginary teams
5. Which of the following types of teams sets the course for the organization, but it rarely is
involved in the day-to-day operations of the organization?
A) Cross-functional teams
B) Self-directed work teams
C) Top management teams
D) Process-improvement teams
6. Which of the following types of teams serves the purpose of breaking down the barriers that
exist in a hierarchical organization with a long history of division of labor and division of tasks?
A) Cross-functional teams
2
B) Self-directed work teams
C) Top management teams
D) Virtual teams
7. Important issues to consider about team effectiveness include:
A) The structure of the team
B) The size of the team
C) The life expectancy of the team
D) All of the above
8. Which of the following conditions does NOT need to be met in order for a team to be
productive?
A) Commitment to goals on the part of the team and senior management
B) Opportunity for teamwork as created by senior management or other individuals
C) Clarity of goals as provided or developed by the team
D) Lack of challenges from customers and competitors
9. A task-oriented member who enjoys providing the team with good technical information and
data is known as a:
A) Collaborator
B) Communicator
C) Contributor
D) Challenger
10. How many teams members are recommended, according to your textbook?
A) 4
B) 6
C) 7
D) 10
11. According to Gardenswartz and Rowe, what is the second level for examining the diversity
that individuals bring to the organization?
A) Internal dimensions
B) External dimensions
C) Personality
D) Organizational dimensions
12. Internal dimensions include:
A) Ethnicity
B) Income
C) Marital status
D) Appearance
13. External dimensions include:
A) Physical ability
B) Religion
C) Age
D) Seniority
14. An example of a country with an individualistic society is:
A) United States
B) Latin America
C) Saudi Arabia
D) All of the above
15. Training of team members should include:
A) Action skills
B) Mathematic skills
C) Public speaking skills
D) Reading skills
16. Which of the following roles of leaders includes providing training and encouragement to
participants?
A) Initiators
B) Models
C) Coaches
D) Managers
17. Which of the following is NOT an indicator of a good team experience?
A) Members give each other a chance to speak
B) Members are valued for their ideas
C) Members are committed to implementation
D) Members don’t have to follow a set agenda
18. A potential cause for team conflict may be:
A) Personality differences
B) Overly emotional team members
C) Both A & B
D) None of the above
19. Which of the following is not a stage in the development of teams?
A) Forming
B) Storming
C) Performing
D) Reforming
20. Jamal encourages risk taking and is appreciated for his or her candor and openness. He is
most likely a:
A) Challenger
B) Communicator
C) Collaborator
D) Contributor
21. A team that is geographically disperse and relies on information technology to function is
called a:
A) Virtual team
B) Dynamic team
C) Project team
D) Self-directed team
True/False
22. Without a commitment to achieving a goal or completing a task, a group is not a team.
23. Once the process is clearly defined, it should be the responsibility of the team to control the
process.
24. Leaders lose power in the transition to teams.
25. It is crucial to the success of teams that team members respect and trust each other.
26. Virtual teams report higher levels of participation, higher satisfaction, and better cost
performance.
27. Some of the more effective team building occurs on an informal basis.
28. A group with members whose personality types differ dramatically are likely to have more
trouble with problem solving because they will have trouble looking at different sides of a
particular issue.
29. Emotional intelligence has been found to be an important factor in predicting team
performance.
30. High performing teams are known for conflict avoidance.
31. During the conforming stage, the team must learn to cope with conflict, differences, and
disruptions.
32. Tensions among team members can be productive and help the performance of the team.
Essay
33. Compare and contrast groups and teams. How are they similar? How do they differ?
34. How do you assess team performance? What are some questions you should use to evaluate
team performance? Discuss, providing relevant examples where appropriate.
35. Compare and contrast the different types of teams. Do certain types of team work better in
certain situations? Discuss, providing relevant examples where appropriate.
36. Discuss best practices for implementing teams. How can managers assure that implementing
a team concept will be effective?
37. Detail the indicators of positive and negative experiences in teamwork. How might your
optimize team performance? Discuss, providing relevant examples where appropriate.
38. According to Parker (1990), there are four primary styles of team players. Define each of the
styles and discuss the different ways each style contributes to the team.