Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
Chapter 08
Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence,
Organizations
True / False Questions
1. (p. 232) Groups and teams in organizations can alter the individual's motivations or needs.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
2. (p. 232-233) Most employees are members of a group based on their seniority in the
organization.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: Most employees are members of a group based on their positions in the organization.
3. (p. 232) Organizational behavior is merely the logical composite of the behavior of
individuals.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: Organizational behavior more than the logical composite of the behavior of individuals. It is also the behavior of groups that
interact and the activities within groups.
4. (p. 233) Whenever individuals associate on a fairly continuous basis, groups tend to form.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
5. (p. 233) The task group, which is specified by the organization chart, consists of the
subordinates who report directly to a given supervisor.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: This is a description of a command group.
6. (p. 233) The authority relationship between a senior nurse and her subordinates exemplifies a
task group.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: The authority relationship between a senior nurse and her subordinates exemplifies a command group.
7. (p. 233) A task group consists of the employees who work together to complete a particular
project.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
8. (p. 233) A team is a special type of task group.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
9. (p. 233) Friendship groups seldom extend their interaction and communication to off-the-job
activities.
FALSE
Difficulty: Easy
Rationale: Friendship groups often extend their interaction and communication to off-the-job activities.
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
10. (p. 233) Employees often belong to multiple and overlapping groups.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
11. (p. 234) Formal groups are always more powerful than friendship groups.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: In some organizations, friendship groups are more powerful than formal groups.
12. (p. 234) Interaction and communication among a group's members can serve as a buffer to
management demands.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
13. (p. 234) The desire for need satisfaction can lead to group formation.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
14. (p. 234) Group support can help individuals adjust to the feeling of insecurity caused by
corporate downsizing.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
15. (p. 234) Membership in a group with high prestige offers members a status not enjoyed by
nonmembers.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
16. (p. 235) In many cases, groups form because individuals believe that they can derive greater
economic benefits from their jobs if they organize.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
17. (p. 235) Identifying group goals is always easy or possible.
FALSE
Difficulty: Easy
Rationale: Identifying group goals is not always easy; perception, attitudes, personality and learning can distort goals.
18. (p. 235) Paying group members for individual performance always enhances performance.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: Paying for individual performance can interfere with group productivity because it stresses self versus group.
19. (p. 235) Groups learn, just as individuals do.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
20. (p. 236) The Punctuated Equilibrium Model is less applicable to project teams and temporary
groups than are other models.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: The Punctuated Equilibrium Model is more applicable to project teams and temporary groups than are other models.
21. (p. 237) In most cases, status differences among positions create a hierarchical group
structure.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
22. (p. 237) Assigned group status may have nothing to do with the formal status hierarchy.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
23. (p. 237) Status in informal groups can be based on anything relevant to the group.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
24. (p. 237) The set of expected behaviors associated with a position constitutes the role of that
position's occupant.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
25. (p. 237) An individual's status in a group is never dependent on age or job seniority.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: In some cases, a person is assigned status because of such factors as job seniority, age or ability.
26. (p. 237) Some groups never develop any type of structure.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: Within any group, some type of structure evolves over time.
27. (p. 237) Status and position are so similar that the terms are often interchangeable.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
28. (p. 238) The expected behaviors of a role are generally agreed to by the occupant of the role,
but not by members of the group.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: The expected behaviors of a role are generally agreed to by the occupant of the role, as well as the members of the group.
29. (p. 238) When trying to assemble a high-performance group, managers must take into
account both formal and informal norms.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
30. (p. 238) Norms are formed only with respect to things that have significance for the group.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
31. (p. 238) Both formal and informal groups may have a variety of norms, include dress norms.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
32. (p. 238) Norms may apply to only some group members.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
33. (p. 238) Groups have performance and resource allocation norms.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
34. (p. 238) Informal groups never have performance norms.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: Even informal groups can have performance norms.
35. (p. 240) In formal groups, the leader can exercise legitimately sanctioned power.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
36. (p. 240) Blindly accepting group conformity can pose serious problems when trying to
optimize performance in a work setting.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
37. (p. 241) Highly cohesive groups are more effective than non-cohesive groups.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: This logic isn't supported by research evidence.
38. (p. 241) A group's degree of cohesiveness can have either positive or negative effects for the
organization in which it exists.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
39. (p. 241) The goals of a group that is low in cohesiveness never agree with those of the formal
organization in which it exists.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: A group can be low in cohesiveness and yet have goals that agree with those of the formal organization.
40. (p. 241) Having an illusion of invulnerability leads group members to believe that they are
invincible.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
41. (p. 241) Pressure toward group solidarity can distort individual members' judgments.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
42. (p. 242) When it comes to cohesiveness, more is always better.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: When it comes to cohesiveness, more may not necessarily be better. Cohesive groups may redefine problems to mean preserving
relations among group members instead of trying to make the best decision.
43. (p. 242) Some level of group cohesiveness is necessary for a group to tackle a problem.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
44. (p. 245) The use of teams has become increasingly popular in domestic organizations, but not
in those located overseas.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: The use of teams has become increasingly popular in all types of organizations, both on a domestic and foreign basis.
45. (p. 245) Problem solving is an activity that teams practice continuously.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
46. (p. 246) Microsoft uses virtual teaming in every aspect of its work.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
47. (p. 247) A general rule associated with the use of cross-functional teams is that the longer the
duration, the less often team members rotate in and out.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: The general rule is that the longer the duration, the more the team members rotate in and out.
48. (p. 247) Cross-functional teams do not run well without an established boss.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: Many cross-functional teams run best without an established boss, as the team itself provides a basis for various individuals to
exhibit leadership skills.
49. (p. 247) Cross-functional teams can take longer to develop than problem-solving teams.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
50. (p. 247) A skunk works will be shielded from barriers or bureaucratic obstacles by the larger
organization of which it is a part.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
51. (p. 249) A product development group that consists only of marketers or engineers is more
likely to succeed than a group that consists of both marketers and engineers.
FALSE
Difficulty: Easy
Rationale: A product development group that consists only of marketers or engineers is less likely to succeed than groups that consist of both
marketers and engineers.
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
52. (p. 250) While some research studies have reported that heterogeneous groups outperformed
less diverse groups, other studies have found the opposite effect.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
53. (p. 253) Team leaders who display too much of an autocratic leadership style may actually
undermine team productivity.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
54. (p. 253) Teams are often able to perform miracles all on their own.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: Teams are incapable of performing miracles on their own; they need the nurturing and support of management.
55. (p. 253) Trust takes a long time to build, but can be jeopardized by a single careless action.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
56. (p. 254) To manage themselves, teams need information that was once the exclusive domain
of management.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
57. (p. 254) Teams never evolve to the point that the team's knowledge about operations is
greater than management's.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: As teams evolve, the point is eventually reached where team knowledge of certain facets of operations is as great or greater, than
management's.
58. (p. 254) Teams can take years to mature to a level commensurate with the responsibilities
they must take on.
TRUE
Difficulty: Easy
59. (p. 255) A role may include attitudes and values, as well as specific kinds of behavior.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
60. (p. 255) Whether they are formally or informally established, status hierarchies are an
integral part of every organization.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
61. (p. 256) Multiple roles refer to different role, while role set refers to the different
expectations associated with one role.
TRUE
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
62. (p. 256) Intrarole conflict occurs because individuals simultaneously perform many roles,
some with conflicting expectations.
FALSE
Difficulty: Medium
Rationale: Interrole conflict occurs because individuals simultaneously perform many roles, some with conflicting expectations.
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
Multiple Choice Questions
63. (p. 233) The objectives of ____________________ groups are not related to those of the
organization.
A. Interest
B. Command
C. Task
D. All of the choices are correct
Difficulty: Medium
64. (p. 233) All of the following are types of groups except:
A. Command
B. Interest
C. Security
D. Friendship
Difficulty: Medium
65. (p. 233) Groups created by managerial decision to accomplish stated goals of the
organization are called ____________________ groups.
A. Formal
B. Interest
C. Task
D. Command
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
66. (p. 233) A group of employees who get together to present a grievance to management are
part of a(n) ____________________ group.
A. Command
B. Task
C. Friendship
D. Interest
Difficulty: Medium
67. (p. 234) The gregariousness of people stimulates their need for ____________________.
A. Responsibility
B. Esteem
C. Affiliation
D. Status
Difficulty: Medium
68. (p. 235) Space station crews need to be trained in ____________________ skills.
A. Interpersonal
B. Emotional support
C. Group interaction
D. All of the choices are correct
Difficulty: Medium
69. (p. 236) During the ____________________ stage, group members are trying out behaviors,
testing their position and asking others questions.
A. Forming
B. Storming
C. Norming
D. Performing
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
70. (p. 236) The first phase of the punctuated equilibrium model (PEM) takes about
____________________ of a group's cycle.
A. 90 percent
B. Three-quarters
C. Half
D. One-quarter
Difficulty: Medium
71. (p. 236) The five-stage model explains the group development process in terms of a
____________________ cycle.
A. Life
B. Growth
C. Maturity
D. Development
Difficulty: Medium
72. (p. 236) The punctuated equilibrium model (PEM) presents group development as a
____________________ concept.
A. Single-phase
B. Two-phase
C. Three-phase
D. Recycling
Difficulty: Medium
73. (p. 236) The ____________________ stage is characterized by arguing, debating,
experimenting with roles, advice offered by other members and attempts to move into
leadership roles.
A. Forming
B. Storming
C. Norming
D. Performing
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
74. (p. 236) Progressing along the five-stage cycle of group development takes approximately
____________________.
A. One month
B. Three months
C. Twelve months
D. There is no set time limit
Difficulty: Medium
75. (p. 239) Which of the following statements is an example of a negative norm?
A. In our company, people always try to improve
B. There's no point in trying harder; nobody else does
C. Around here, people are good listeners
D. It's a tradition here for people to stand up for the company when it is criticized unfairly
Difficulty: Medium
76. (p. 240) All of the following statements about informal group leaders are correct except:
A. The leader has his/her own set of values
B. The leader enables members to satisfy needs
C. The leader is chosen by group members to represent their viewpoint when interacting with
other group leaders
D. The leader is a facilitator of group conflict
Difficulty: Hard
77. (p. 240) Whether in charge of a formal or informal group, the leader must be both
____________________.
A. Closed and systematic
B. Open and bureaucratic
C. Closed and authoritarian
D. Open and authoritarian
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
78. (p. 240) A cohesive group involves individuals who are ____________________ one
another.
A. In close proximity to
B. Attracted to
C. Motivated by
D. Co-dependent on
Difficulty: Medium
79. (p. 242) Which of the following groups would be the most susceptible to groupthink?
A. A formal group
B. A leaderless group
C. A cohesive group
D. An informal group
Difficulty: Easy
80. (p. 243) All of the following are symptoms of defective decision making except:
A. Direct pressure on dissenters
B. Incomplete survey of alternatives
C. Failure to examine risks of preferred choice
D. Poor information search
Difficulty: Medium
81. (p. 244) When individuals shirk or contribute less than their optimal
____________________, there exists a social loafing effect.
A. Ideas
B. Intelligence
C. Effort
D. Cooperation
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
82. (p. 245) All teams exist to ____________________.
A. Support management
B. Reduce interpersonal tension
C. Solve problems
D. Facilitate communication
Difficulty: Medium
83. (p. 245) The text identifies all of the following as benefits of using virtual teams except:
A. Increased customer responsiveness
B. Decreased travel expenses
C. Decreased product cycle times
D. Reduced wages
Difficulty: Medium
84. (p. 246) If all members of a group need to receive the same information quickly, then
____________________ is the best communication choice.
A. Data sharing
B. A phone call
C. A group email
D. The company newsletter
Difficulty: Easy
85. (p. 246) If all members of a group need to receive training, then ____________________ is
the best communication choice.
A. A Web conference
B. A conference call
C. A group email
D. The company newsletter
Difficulty: Easy
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
86. (p. 246) For a virtual teamwork arrangement to be success, all of the following factors must
be considered except:
A. The technology
B. Selection of team members
C. The trust between team members
D. The cost savings of working from home versus driving to work
Difficulty: Medium
87. (p. 247) Teams that are composed of individuals from different departments or work areas
who come together on a task or project basis are called ____________________ teams.
A. Cross-department
B. Organizational
C. Functional
D. Cross-functional
Difficulty: Medium
88. (p. 247) A self-directed work team usually consists of ____________________ individuals.
A. 1 to 5
B. 3 to 10
C. 10 to 15
D. 10 to 25
Difficulty: Medium
89. (p. 247) IBM's first profitable PC was the product of a ____________________ initiative.
A. Cross-functional team
B. Skunk works
C. Self-directed work team
D. Outsourcing
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
90. (p. 248) Typically, a self-directed work team has control over all of the following except:
A. Termination of non-productive employees
B. Choice of operating procedures
C. Allocation of resources
D. Assignment of work to be performed
Difficulty: Medium
91. (p. 248) When conducting an environmental analysis, an organization should ask if selfdirected work teams are consistent with all of the following except:
A. The practices of primary competitors
B. The organization's business requirements, values and goals
C. The organization's competencies
D. The culture in which the organization is operating
Difficulty: Medium
92. (p. 249) Which of the following is not one of the categories of complementary skills that
teams bring together?
A. Technical or functional expertise
B. Problem-solving and decision-making skills
C. Interpersonal skills
D. Creativity
Difficulty: Medium
93. (p. 249) Teams must possess all of the problem-solving and decision-making skills that
follow except:
A. The ability to identify problems and opportunities
B. The ability to identify feasible alternatives and trade-offs
C. The ability to make decisions that lead to optimum results
D. The ability to quickly change the makeup of the team
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
94. (p. 250) The use of teams provides the best of both worlds: long-term vision coupled with
greater flexibility for quicker ____________________.
A. Short-term decisions
B. Long-term decisions
C. Organization flattening
D. Product development
Difficulty: Medium
95. (p. 250) In studying 92 work groups in a field research study, Jehn and associates defined the
concept of diversity as being comprised as all of the following types except:
A. Information diversity
B. Social category diversity
C. Value diversity
D. Technical skill diversity
Difficulty: Medium
96. (p. 252) When team members perform both technical and administrative functions, they gain
the commitment, experience and skills required to improve the interface between
____________________.
A. Each other
B. The two functions
C. Themselves and other groups
D. Manual data input and computer technology
Difficulty: Medium
97. (p. 255) Work teams can either succeed or fail, based on the amount, intensity and duration
of the ____________________ they receive.
A. Socialization
B. Training
C. Funding
D. Transition time
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
98. (p. 256) ____________________ conflict occurs when different individuals define a role
according to different sets of expectations, making it impossible for the person occupaying the
role to satisfy all of them.
A. Person-role
B. Intrarole
C. Interrole
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
Fill in the Blank Questions
99. (p. 232) A ____________________ is defined as two or more employees who interact with
each other in such a manner that the behavior and/or performance of a member is influenced
by the behavior and/or performance of other members.
group
Difficulty: Medium
100. (p. 233) The demands and processes of organizations lead to the formation of two types of
formal groups: command and ____________________.
task
Difficulty: Medium
101. (p. 233) Informal interest and friendship groups satisfy a basic human need for
____________________.
association
Difficulty: Medium
102. (p. 240) A good leader must play social, spanning and ____________________ roles.
organizing
Difficulty: Hard
103. (p. 240) ____________________ is a force acting on the members to remain in a group that
is greater than the forces pulling the members away from the group.
Cohesiveness
Difficulty: Hard
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
104. (p. 241) Janis defines ____________________ as the "deterioration of mental efficiency,
reality testing and moral judgment" in the interest of group solidarity.
groupthink
Difficulty: Hard
105. (p. 245) A ____________________ team relies on interactive technology to work together
when separated by physical distance.
virtual
Difficulty: Easy
106. (p. 255) ____________________ refers to the expected behavior patterns attributed to a
particular position in an organization.
Role
Difficulty: Hard
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
Short Answer Questions
107. (p. 233) "A natural grouping of people who come together in response to social needs" is
the definition of what type of group?
An informal group.
Difficulty: Medium
108. (p. 233-234) Why should managers make an effort to become aware of and try to influence
friendship groups?
So that they can direct the group's efforts toward organizational goals.
Difficulty: Medium
109. (p. 236) List the five stages of the group development process.
Forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning.
Difficulty: Medium
110. (p. 237) On what kinds of factors are group members differentiated?
Group members are differentiated by such things as expertise, aggressiveness, power and
status. Other factors may also be correct, such as previous group positions held.
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
111. (p. 244) What does the Ringelmann effect describe?
The inverse relationship between the size of a group or team and the magnitude of the
members' individual contribution to completion of a task.
Difficulty: Medium
112. (p. 245) Teams tend to fall into one of five categories, based on their duration and
objectives. Name them.
Problem solving, virtual, cross-functional, skunk works and self-directed work teams.
Difficulty: Hard
113. (p. 247) What is a skunk works?
A skunk works is a small team of engineers, technicians and designers (specialists) who are
placed on a team that has the goal of developing innovative new products.
Difficulty: Medium
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
Essay Questions
114. (p. 236) What happens during the first and last phases of the three-phase punctuated
equilibrium model of group development?
During the first phase, groups define tasks, establish goals and consider various ways to
execute plans. During the last phase, there is a "last ditch" push to complete the project on a
positive note.
Difficulty: Hard
115. (p. 240) Name three things that can make a group attractive to an individual.
Any three of the following:
1. The goals of the group and the members are compatible and clearly specified.
2. The group has a charismatic leader.
3. The reputation of the group indicates that it successfully accomplishes its tasks.
4. The group is small enough to permit members to have their opinions heard and evaluated
by others.
5. The members band together to support each other and to overcome obstacles and barriers to
personal growth and development.
Difficulty: Hard
116. (p. 248) List at least four reasons that organizations may choose to increase the use of
teams, especially those that are self-directed.
Any four of the following: enhanced productivity, flattening of the organization, need for
flexibility and quicker decisions, workforce diversity, improved quality and increased
customer satisfaction.
Difficulty: Hard
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Chapter 08 - Behavior Within Organizations: Groups and Interpersonal Influence, Organizations
117. (p. N/A) Identify a group to which you belong. Explain why you joined the group, what
personal benefits you expected to receive through membership and whether or not you have
received those benefits.
Student answers will vary.
Difficulty: Easy
118. (p. 249) List at least three interpersonal skills that facilitate effective communication and
constructive conflict in a team environment.
Any three of the following: risk taking, helpful criticism, objectivity, active listening, giving
the benefit of the doubt, support, recognizing the interest and achievement of others.
Difficulty: Medium
119. (p. 252) What are the four questions that organizations should ask before placing employees
into teams?
(1) Can the work be performed better by more than one individual? (2) Does the work lend
itself to a common set of goals for the members in a team? (3) Are members of the team
interdependent? (4) Do members have the appropriate skill mix to excel?
Difficulty: Hard
120. (p. 256) Most of us perform multiple roles. Identify some of the roles that you currently
occupy. Which of these roles, if any, overlap?
Student answers will vary.
Difficulty: Easy
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