Building Teamwork

The current popularity of teams can be attributed to the fact that ________.

• they outperform individuals

• they represent a better way to use employee talents

• they reduce the need for coordination and supervision

• they aid in the performance of simple tasks that do not require diverse inputs

• they strengthen the worth of individual team players over the team

Which of the following statements best defines a work group?

• A work group performs at a level greater than the sum of its inputs from individual members.

• A work group interacts primarily to share information, rather than to engage in work that requires joint effort.

• A work group consists of members who work together and generate positive synergy through coordinated effort

• A work group consists of members having complementary skills that are applied in a coordinated fashion to the task at hand.

• A work group involves individual and mutual accountability regarding results and outcomes.

What is the primary purpose of a work group?

• to generate positive synergy

• to improve collective performance

• to inculcate a climate of trust

• to share relevant information

• to enhance team efficacy

A team consists of employees from the same department who meet for a few hours each week to discuss ways of improving the work environment but they do not have the authority to unilaterally implement any of their suggestions. This is most likely to be a(n) ________ team.

• cross-functional

• virtual

• self-managed work

• problem-solving

• independent

Problem-solving teams can ________.

• implement the recommended changes to resolve a problem

• assume responsibility for the outcomes of a solution they implemented

• provide recommendations after a discussion amongst department members

• resolve problems of different departments in an organization simultaneously

• combine the expertise of employees across different divisions and organizational levels

Nick, the director of manufacturing at a large electronics company, has created a team of eleven employees from quality control for working on high priority projects. Nick gives the team members the responsibility of planning and scheduling their own work and making all functional decisions. Also, members of this team evaluate each other's performance. This is an example of a ________ team.

• problem-solving

• self-managed work

• cross-functional

• virtual

• task-resolution

Which of the following teams is more likely to be made up of employees from about the same hierarchical level but different work areas?

• problem-solving

• self-managed work

• cross-functional

• traditional

• departmental

Virtual teams are characterized by ________ in comparison to teams which interact face-to-face

• low popularity among companies

• the use of computers to interact

• low sharing of unique information

• low need for supervision

• low need for publicizing throughout the organization

Which of the following is not one of the key components of effective teams?

• climate of trust

• company reputation

• adequate resources

• member flexibility

• leadership and structure

People scoring high on ________ are valuable in teams because they're good at backing up fellow team members and at sensing when their support is truly needed.

• conscientiousness

• positivity

• emotional stability

• agreeableness

• openness to experience