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Module 18 - Working and Writing in Teams
Part 2: Answers to Textbook Assignments
Questions for Comprehension
18.1 What are the three kinds of group leadership? (LO 18-1)
18.2 What is groupthink? (LO 18-2)
18.3 How do you use you-attitude during conflict? (LO 18-4)
18.4 What strategies produce the best co-authored documents? (LO 18-5)
These include
Allowing time to discuss problems and find solutions.
Getting to know group members.
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
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Module 18 - Working and Writing in Teams
18.5 Why are so many people so afraid of conflict in groups? What can a group do to
avoid groupthink? (LO 18-1, LO 18-2)
Students’ answers will vary. In general, people are taught to avoid conflict, sometimes even if it
means giving in to groupthink. To avoid groupthink, members should consciously search for
18.6 Why is it better for groups to deal with conflicts, rather than just trying to ignore
them? (LO 18-1, LO 18-2)
Rather than get better, unresolved conflicts may get worse. Instead of letting problems fester,
taking a proactive approach to solving them is usually a better strategy. Once conflicts are
18.7 What is the most successful group or team you’ve been a part of? What made it
effective? (LO 18-1 to LO 18-5)
18.8 Keeping a Journal about a Group (LO 18-1 to LO 18-5)
This assignment asks students to keep a record of what their groups has done and to analyze their
group’s activities. This assignment works well with any other group assignment. One of the
disadvantages of group projects is that they take extra time; this assignment lets students get
Introduce this assignment when you assign the group project so students can observe and take
notes on the group dynamics, as well as substantive points. Show students Appendix 18-A
Kitty grades this assignment on completeness, perceptiveness, and writing style. She doesn’t
grade at all on the process of the group: that is, a memo reporting an unsuccessful group process
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
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Module 18 - Working and Writing in Teams
18.9 Recommending Whether to Keep the Skybox (LO 18-1 to LO 18-5)
The kind of organization students assume may affect the decisions they favor—what is the value
of the skybox to the organization’s culture? The recommendation will also be greatly influenced
18.10 Recommending a Policy on Student Entrepreneurs (LO 18-1 to LO 18-5)
Students’ answers will vary. The recommendation should show that the group considered as
many of the ramifications of the recommendation as possible. Did the group treat different types
of commercial activity differently? For example, are occasional sales on eBay treated differently
18.11 Answering an Ethics Question (LO 18-1 to LO 18-5)
This problem has less room for disagreement than others, but student answers can vary. In
Kitty’s and Steve’s view, people should not state opinions on public issues on letterhead, because
doing so implies that the whole organization has taken that position. But telling this to higher-ups
18.12 Responding to an Employee Grievance (LO 18-1 to LO 18-5)
This problem gives students practice in group decision making; if you have them take minutes
during their discussion, it also helps them focus on group process, especially for the tendency of
“group think” to surface during discussions.
18.13 Answering an Inquiry about Photos (LO 18-1 to LO 18-5)
This problem requires students to think about issues of diversity and balance. It raises questions
such as whether a company that is not diverse is misrepresenting itself if, in its publications, its
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
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Module 18 - Working and Writing in Teams
A good solution will include the following:
In most organizations, making the newsletter longer simply to allow more photos would not
be approved.
Replacing the chart with a photo is not a good idea. The newsletter has several purposes, and
information about orders, sales, and profits is important to share.
You-attitude is important. So if someone in a wheelchair wants a photo that doesn’t show the
wheelchair, meeting that person’s wishes is more important than showing the wheelchair just
for the sake of being “inclusive.”
Having every single issue “represent the diversity of employees” is not a necessary goal.
Rather, issues over several months should portray diversity.
In organizations where “the important people” are heavily male and white, the newsletter
18.14 Creating Brochures (LO 18-1 to LO 18-5)
Students like this assignment, which works best as an individual assignment so that each student
can go pick an organization he or she is interested in.
18.15 Analyzing the Dynamics of a Group (LO 18-1 to LO 18-5)
Introduce this assignment when you assign the group project so students can observe and take
notes on the group dynamics, as well as substantive points. Kitty grades this assignment on
completeness, perceptiveness, and writing style. She doesn’t grade at all on the process of the
group: that is, a memo reporting an unsuccessful group process can get an “A.” Another option
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
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Module 18 - Working and Writing in Teams
Polishing Your Prose: Delivering Criticism (Odd-numbered answers are in the back of the
textbook.)
Several answers are possible—here are likely ones.
2. Can you provide some additional information about your most recent position? The details in
your job application are sketchy.
4. I like the format of the report, especially the font you used. You might want to take another
look at the introductory section, which I think needs a little more detail.
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
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Module 18 - Working and Writing in Teams
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
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