Applying the Concept 8-1: Group or Team

Identify each statement as characteristic of a group (A) or a team (B).

A. a group
B. a team

1. “Supervisor Sharon is the only one who conducts employee performance appraisals in our department.”
A. A group. In teams, the members evaluate individual and group performance.

2. “Your department has goals, Ted; we don’t. But we have been told to do the best we can to accomplish the company mission statement.”  
A. A group. General mission accomplishment is a characteristic of groups; teams have their own objectives.

3. “You know, Kim, I’d rather just get paid for my own output. I make more money with this current bonus system because I sell more than the rest of the sales reps.”       
B. A team. Teams tend to get some form of pay based on the team’s performance. Groups are evaluated on individual performance, which this person is indicating a preference for.

4. “I get the assembled product from Jamal; then I paint it and send it to Cindy for packaging.”
A. A group. Members are performing independent parts of the production process.

5. “Tina, there are eight people in my department, and we get along well.”       
B. A team. Teams have small numbers and share leadership.

6. “Our boss is great, Bill. She lets us all participate in running the department.”        
B. A team. Teams have shared leadership.

 

Applying the Concept 8-2: Roles

Identify the type of role exemplified in each statement.

A. task
B. maintenance
C. self-interest

7. “Does everyone understand the objective? Any questions?”
A. Task. Clarifying the objectives helps to ensure that the job gets done correctly.

8. “Henry, we tried your idea before you came to work here. It did not work then, so it won’t work now. Let’s just do it my way.”
C. Self-interest. Pressing for one’s own ideas is not a task or maintenance role.

9. “Why are we talking about the football game? We are getting sidetracked.”
A. Task. Getting the group back on track helps to get the job done.

10. “I like Karin’s idea better than mine. Let’s implement her idea instead of mine.”      
B. Maintenance. Being willing to change ideas helps to sustain the group and prevents conflicts.

11. “Wait. I want to hear Tolo’s idea before we move forward on this.”
B. Maintenance. Encouraging everyone to participate is not getting the job done; it helps to sustain group process.

 

Applying the Concept 8-3: Group Process

Identify the dimension of the group process exemplified in each statement.

A. roles
B. norms
C. cohesiveness
D. status
E. decision making
F. conflict resolution

12. “OK, team, it’s time. Let’s pick one of these four software programs.”
E. Decision making. Selecting an alternative is part of the decision making model.

13. “I don’t know. Go ask Sue; she knows more about the program than any of us.”      
D. Status. Sue is a high-status person due to knowledge of the program.

14. “Kennedy is the peacemaker around here. Every time there is a disagreement, she tries to get the members to work out the problem.”              
F. Conflict resolution. Kennedy works on resolving conflicts.

15. “Aden, you’re late for the meeting. Everyone else was on time, so we started without you. Be on time for the next meeting.”
B. Norms. This is an example of a group enforcing one of its norms.

16. “We are getting sidetracked. What does this have to do with solving the problem we are working on?”
A. Roles. This person is playing a task role to get the group back to work.

17. “Yes! We do have occasional differences of opinion, and we have trouble agreeing on decisions, but we really get along well and enjoy working together.”     
C. Cohesiveness. The statement indicates how members stick together.

 

Applying the Concept 8-4: Problematic Group Members

Identify the problem type described in each statement.

A. silent type
B. talker
C. wanderer
D. bored member
E. arguer
F. social loafer

18. “Chris, I can tell you just rush through this to get it down without concern for giving us really good data for our team presentation.”     
F. Social loafer. This statement of poor quality work is characteristic of the social loafer.

19. Kim is usually reluctant to give her ideas, and when she does and is challenged, Kim backs down easily. When asked to explain her position, she often changes her answers to agree with others in the group.
A. Silent type. This statement is characteristic of the silent member.

20. Tony enjoys challenging members’ ideas and getting them emotional so they will let him get his own way.
E. Arguer. Challenging ideas and making personal comments/attacks are characteristics of arguers.

21. Sonia is always first or second to give her ideas. She is always elaborating in detail on others’ ideas as well.
B. Talker. Sonia talks a lot and dominates the conversation.

22. Clarita, one of the usually active group members, is sitting back quietly today for the first time. The other members are doing all the discussing and volunteering for assignments.
D. Bored member. A silent type does not start talking and then later get quiet. This usually active member is not participating for some reason; maybe a personal problem. Therefore, this member is most likely bored.

23. Sean asks if anyone in the group heard about their manager and the new girl he’s dating.
C. Wanderer. Talking about gossip is getting off the subject.