Organizational Behavior, 16e (Robbins/Judge)Chapter 10 Understanding Work Teams1) The current popularity of teams can be attributed to the fact that ________.A) they enable quicker accomplishment of goals than individualsB) they represent a better way to use employee talentsC) they reduce the need for coordination and supervisionD) they aid in the performance of simple tasks that do not require diverse inputsE) they strengthen the worth of individual teams players over the teamAnswer: BExplanation: B) As organizations have restructured themselves to compete more effectively and efficiently, they have turned to teams as a better way to use employee talents.LO: 1Difficulty: EasyQuest. Category: ConceptLearning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations2) Which of the following statements best defines a work group?A) A work group performs at a level greater than the sum of its inputs from individual members.B) A work group interacts primarily to share information, rather than to engage in work that requires joint effort.C) A work group consists of members who work together and generate positive synergy through coordinated effort.D) A work group consists of members having complementary skills that are applied in a coordinated fashion to the task at hand.E) A work group involves individual and mutual accountability regarding results and outcomes.Answer: BExplanation: B) A group consists of two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to achieve particular objectives. A work group is defined as a group thatinteracts primarily to share information and to make decisions to help each group member perform within his or her area of responsibility. They have no need or opportunity to engage in collective work that requires joint effort.LO: 2Difficulty: EasyQuest. Category: ConceptLearning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations1Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.3) Work groups are characterized by ________.A) the emphasis on generating positive synergyB) the goal of sharing information among membersC) the mutual and team-based accountability for resultsD) the need to attain collective performanceE) the availability of complementary skill setsAnswer: BExplanation: B) A work group is a group that interacts primarily to share information and make decisions to help each member perform within his or her area of responsibility. They are characterized by neutral synergy, individual accountability, and the presence of random and varied skill sets.LO: 2Difficulty: ModerateQuest. Category: ConceptLearning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations4) The goal of work groups is ________.A) generating positive synergyB) improving collective performanceC) inculcating a climate of trustD) sharing relevant informationE) enhancing team efficacyAnswer: DExplanation: D) A work group is a group that interacts primarily to share information and make decisions to help each member perform within his or her area of responsibility. They are characterized by neutral synergy, individual accountability, and the presence of random and varied skill sets.LO: 2Difficulty: ModerateQuest. Category: ConceptLearning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations2Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.5) Which of the following statements is true regarding a work team?A) Work teams are rarely used in organizations today.B) Work teams are generally less flexible than traditional departments.C) Work teams generate positive synergy through coordinated effort.D) Work teams are less responsive to changes in the internal and external environment of the company.E) Work teams involve members of random and varied skill sets.Answer: CExplanation: C) Today most of the organizations use teams. Teams are more flexible and responsive to changing events than traditional departments or other forms of permanent groupings. A work team generates positive synergy through coordinated effort. Teams facilitate employee participation in operating decisions.LO: 2Difficulty: ModerateQuest. Category: ConceptLearning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations6) A work team is characterized by ________.A) the goal of sharing informationB) the presence of neutral to negative synergyC) the availability of complementary skills among membersD) the individual accountability for outcomes and resultsE) the mere accumulation of individual effortsAnswer: CExplanation: C) A work team generates positive synergy through coordinated effort. The individual efforts result in a level of performance greater than the sum of those individual inputs. Work teams aim at the goal of collective performance, apply complementary skills, and promote individual and mutual accountability for group results.LO: 2Difficulty: ModerateQuest. Category: ConceptLearning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations3Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.7) Which of the following accurately differentiates between work groups and work teams?A) Work groups are used by top-management employees, while work teams are used by lower-level workers.B) Work groups are used for functions relating to areas of the external environment, while work teams are exclusively used for departmental problems and issues.C) Work groups involve members who have complementary skills, while work teams use employees who have random and varied skills.D) Work teams generate a potential for an organization to generate greater outputs with no increase in inputs, while work groups cannot perform this function.E) Work teams represent the mere accumulation of individual efforts, while work groups generate a positive synergy within the organization.Answer: DExplanation: D) A work team generates positive synergy through coordinated effort. The individual efforts result in a level of performance greater than the sum of those individual inputs. Work teams aim at the goal of collective performance, apply complementary skills, and promote individual and mutual accountability for group results.LO: 2Difficulty: ModerateQuest. Category: ConceptLearning Outcome: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations8) The extensive use of work teams benefits organizations by