BUS-201-202: TUTORIAL 8 (CHAPTER 9 & 10)
CLASS EXERCISE (Chapter 9)
You are a member of a hiking party. After reaching base camp on the first day, you
decide to take a quick sunset hike by yourself. After hiking a few exhilarating miles,
you decide to return to camp. On your way back, you soon realize that you are lost.
You have shouted for help, to no avail. It is now dark. And getting cold.
Your Task
Without communicating with anyone else in your group, read the following scenarios
and choose the best answer. Keep track of your answers on a sheet of paper. You have
10 minutes to answer the 10 questions.
1.
The first thing you decide to do is to build a fire. However, you have no matches,
so you use the bow-and-drill method. What is the bow-and-drill method?
a. A dry, soft stick is rubbed between one’s hands against a board of supple
green wood.
b. A soft green stick is rubbed between one’s hands against a hardwood
board.
c. A straight stick of wood is quickly rubbed back-and-forth against a dead
tree.
d. Two sticks (one being the bow, the other the drill) are struck to create a
spark. *
6.
It occurs to you that you can also use the fire as a distress signal. When signaling
with fire, how do you form the international distress signal?
a. 2 fires
b. 4 fires in a square
c. 4 fires in a cross
d. 3 fires in a line*
3.
You are very thirsty. You go to a nearby stream and collect some water in the
small metal cup you have in your backpack. How long should you boil the water?
a. Fifteen minutes
b. A few seconds
c. One hour
d. Depends on the altitude*
4.
You are also very hungry, so you decide to eat what appear to be edible berries.
When performing the Universal Edibility Test what should you do?
a. Do not eat for 2 hours before the test.
b. If the plant stings your lip, confirm the sting by holding it under your
tongue for 15 minutes.
c. If nothing bad has happened 2 hours after digestion, eat half a cup of the
plant and wait again.
d. Separate the plant into its basic components and eat each component one
at a time. *
5.
Next, you decide to build a shelter for the evening. In selecting a site, what do you
not have to consider?
a. It must contain material to make the type of shelter you need.
b. It must be free from insects, reptiles, and poisonous plants.
c. It must be large enough and level enough for you to lie down comfortably.
d. It must be on a hill so you can signal rescuers and keep an eye on your
surroundings. *
6.
In the shelter that you built, you notice a spider. You heard from a fellow hiker
that black widow spiders populate the area. How do you identify a black widow
spider?
a. Its head and abdomen is black; its thorax is red.
b. It is attracted to light.
c. It runs away from light.
d. It is a dark spider with a red or orange marking on the female's abdomen. *
7.
After getting some sleep, you notice that the night sky has cleared, and so you
decide to try and find your way back to base camp. You believe you should travel
north and can use North Star for navigation. How do you locate the North Star?
a. Hold your right hand up as far as you can and look between your index
and middle fingers.
b. Find Sirius and look 60 degrees above it and to the right.
c. Look for the Big Dipper and follow the line created by its cup end. *
d. Follow the line of Orion's belt.
8.
You come across a fast-moving stream. What is the best way to cross it?
a. Find a spot downstream from a sandbar, as the water will be calmer.
b. Build a bridge.
c. Find a rocky area, as the water will be shallow and you will have handand footholds
d. Find a level stretch where it breaks into a few channels. *
9.
After walking for about an hour, you feel several spiders in your pants. You don’t
feel any pain, but you realize some spider bites are painless. Which of these spider
bites is painless?
a. Black Widow
b. Brown Recluse *
c. Wolf Spider
d. Harvestman (Daddy Longlegs)
10. You decide to eat some insects. Which insects should you
a. Adults that sting or bite
b. Caterpillars and insects that have a pungent odor
c. Hairy or brightly colored one
d. All of the above*
Group Task
avoid?
Break into groups of 3–5 people. Now imagine that your whole group is lost.
Answer each question as a group, employing a consensus approach to reach each
decision. Once the group comes to an agreement, write the decision down on the
same sheet of paper that you used for your individual answers. You will have
approximately 20 minutes for the group task.
Scoring Your Answers
Once you have received the answers, calculate: (A) your individual score ( ___
/10); (B) your group’s score ( ___ / 30, ____/ 40 or ___/ 50); (C) the average
individual score in the group; (D) the best individual score in the group. Write
these down, and consult with your group to ensure that these scores are
accurate.
(A)
Your individual score
(B)
Your group’s score
(C)
Average individual score in group
(D)
Best individual score in group
Discussion Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
How did your group perform (B) perform relative to yourself (A)?
How did your group perform (B) perform relative to the average individual
score in the group (C)?
How did your group perform (B) perform relative to the best individual score
in the group (D)?
Compare your results with those of other groups? Did some groups do a
better job of outperforming individuals than did others?
What do these results tell you about the effectiveness of group decision
making?
What can groups do to make group decision-making more effective?
REVIEW QUESTIONS (CHAPTER 9)
1. Define group. What are the different types of groups?
Answer:
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A group is defined as two or more individuals, interacting and
interdependent, who have come together to achieve particular
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objectives. Groups can be either formal or informal. It is possible to
sub-classify groups as command, task, interest, or friendship groups.
A command group is determined by the organization chart. It is
composed of direct reports to a given manager.
Task groups—organizationally determined, represent those working
together to complete a job task.
A task group’s boundaries are not limited to its immediate
hierarchical superior. It can cross command relationships. For
instance, if a college student is accused of a campus crime, it may
require communication and coordination among the dean of academic
affairs, the dean of students, the registrar, the director of security, and
the student’s advisor. All command groups are also task groups, but
the reverse need not be true.
An interest group is people who affiliate to attain a specific objective
with which each is concerned. Employees who band together to have
their vacation schedules altered.
Friendship groups often develop because the individual members
have one or more common characteristics. Social alliances, which
frequently extend outside the work situation, can be based on similar
age or ethnic heritage.
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Define group and differentiate between different
types of groups; Learning Outcomes: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work
teams in organizations; and AACSB Learning Goals: Reflective thinking skills.
2. What are the five stages of group development?
Answer:
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Exhibit 9–2 shows the five-stage group-development model:
The first stage is forming.
o Characterized by a great deal of uncertainty about the group’s
purpose, structure, and leadership.
o Members are trying to determine what types of behavior are
acceptable.
o Stage is complete when members have begun to think of
themselves as part of a group.
The second stage is storming.
o One of intragroup conflict.
o Members accept the existence of the group, but there is
resistance to constraints on individuality.
o There is conflict over who will control the group.
o When complete, there will be a relatively clear hierarchy of
leadership within the group.
The third stage is norming.
o One in which close relationships develop and the group
demonstrates cohesiveness.
o There is now a strong sense of group identity and camaraderie.
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o The stage is complete when the group structure solidifies and
the group has assimilated a common set of expectations of
what defines correct member behavior.
The fourth stage is performing.
o The structure at this point is fully functional and accepted.
o Group energy has moved from getting to know and understand
each other to performing.
The fifth stage is adjourning.
o Group gets ready to disband.
o Attention is focused on wrapping up activities.
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Identify the five stages of group development;
Learning Outcomes: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in
organizations; and AACSB Learning Goals: Reflective thinking skills.
3. Do role requirements change in different situations? If so, how?
Answer:
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A role is a set of expected behavior patterns attributed to someone
occupying a given position in a social unit. Different groups impose
different role requirements of individuals.
Role Identity - Certain attitudes and behaviors consistent with a role
Role Perception - An individual’s view of how he or she is supposed to
act in a given situation – received by external stimuli
Role Expectations - How others believe a person should act in a given
situation
Psychological Contract: an unwritten agreement that sets out mutual
expectations of management and employees
Role Conflict - A situation in which an individual is confronted by
divergent role expectations
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Show how role requirements change in different
situation; Learning Outcomes: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work
teams in organizations; and AACSB Learning Goals: Reflective thinking skills.
4. How do group norms and status influence an individual’s behavior?
Answer:
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All groups have norms—acceptable standards of behavior that are
shared by the group’s members. Norms tell members what they ought
and ought not to do under certain circumstances. Norms are
important because they:
Facilitate the group’s survival.
Increase the predictability of group members’ behaviors.
Reduce embarrassing interpersonal problems for group members.
Allow members to express the central values of the group and clarify
what is distinctive about the group’s identity.
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There is considerable evidence that groups can place strong pressures
on individual members to change their attitudes and behaviors to
conform to the group’s standard.
Status is a socially defined position or rank given to groups or group
members by others. We live in a class-structured society despite all
attempts to make it more egalitarian. High-status members of groups
often are given more freedom to deviate from norms than other group
members. High-status people also are better able to resist conformity
pressures. The previous findings explain why many star athletes,
famous actors, top-performing salespeople, and outstanding
academics seem oblivious to appearance or social norms.
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Demonstrate how norms and status exert
influence on an individual’s behavior; Learning Outcomes: Describe best practices for
utilizing groups and work teams in organizations; and AACSB Learning Goals: Reflective
thinking skills.
5. How does group size affect performance?
Answer:
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Group size does affect performance. More than 12 people are
considered a large group and seven or fewer are considered a small
group. Groupthink is the tendency for individuals to expend less effort
when working collectively than when working individually. The
Ringelmann’s Rope Pull: greater levels of productivity but with
diminishing returns as group size increases, caused by either equity
concerns or a diffusion of responsibility (free riders).
As a manager, you need to build in individual accountability. To
prevent social loafing, a manager can:
o Set group goals
o Increase intergroup competition
o Use peer evaluation
o Distribute group rewards based on individual effort
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Show how group size affects group
performance; Learning Outcomes: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and
work teams in organizations; and AACSB Learning Goals: Reflective thinking skills.
6. What are the advantages and limitations of cohesive groups?
Answer:
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Cohesiveness is the degree to which group members are attracted to
each other and are motivated to stay in the group. Cohesiveness has
been linked to productivity. When performance-related norms,
established by the group are high, a cohesive group will be more
productive than one that is less cohesive. If cohesiveness is high and
performance norms are low, productivity will also be low.
There are ways for managers to increase cohesiveness:
o
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Make the group smaller.
Encourage agreement with group goals.
Increase time members spend together.
Increase group status and admission difficulty.
Stimulate competition with other groups.
Give rewards to the group, not individuals.
Physically isolate the group.
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Contrast the benefits and disadvantages of
cohesive groups; Learning Outcomes: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and
work teams in organizations; and AACSB Learning Goals: Reflective thinking skills.
7. What are the implications of diversity for group effectiveness?
Answer: Diversity appears to have a mixed impact on group
performance, with some studies suggesting that diversity can help
performance and others suggesting it can hurt it. It appears the situation
makes a difference in whether positive or negative results predominate.
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Understand the implications of diversity for
group effectiveness; Learning Outcomes: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and
work teams in organizations; and AACSB Learning Goals: Reflective thinking skills.
8. What are the strengths and weaknesses of group (versus individual)
decision-making?
Answer:
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Group Strengths:
o Generate more complete information and knowledge
o Offer increased diversity of views and greater creativity
o Increased acceptance of decisions
o Generally more accurate (but not as accurate as the most accurate
group member
Group Weaknesses:
o Time-consuming activity
o Conformity pressures in the group
o Discussions can be dominated by a few members
o A situation of ambiguous responsibility
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Contrast the strengths and weaknesses of group
decision-making; Learning Outcomes: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and
work teams in organizations; and AACSB Learning Goals: Analytic skills, Reflective
thinking skills.
9. How effective are interacting, brainstorming, nominal, and electronic
meeting groups?
Answer:
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Brainstorming is an idea-generating process designed to overcome
pressure for conformity. Brainstorming usually generates ideas but
may not be in the most efficient manner. Nominal Group Technique
(NGT) works by restricting discussion during the decision-making
process. Members are physically present but operate independently.
Nominal groups usually outperform brainstorming. Electronic
Meeting uses computers to hold large meetings of up to 50 people. The
early evidence indicates that electronic meetings don’t achieve most of
their proposed benefits. Numerous studies have found that electronic
meetings actually lead to decreased group effectiveness, required
more time to complete tasks, and resulted in reduced member
satisfaction when compared to face-to-face groups.
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Compare the effectiveness of interacting,
brainstorming, nominal, and electronic meeting groups; Learning Outcomes: Describe
best practices for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations; and AACSB Learning
Goals: Reflective thinking skills.
CASE INCIDENT (CHAPTER 10)
When many people think of a traditional, established company, they think of
IBM. IBM has been famous for its written and unwritten rules—such as its nolayoff policy, its focus on individual promotions and achievement, the
expectation of lifetime service at the company, and its requirement of suits and
white shirts at work. The firm was one of the mainstays of the “man in a gray
flannel suit” corporate culture in the United States.
Times have certainly changed.
IBM has clients in 170 countries and now does two-thirds of its business outside
the United States. As a result, it has overturned virtually all aspects of its old
culture. One relatively new focus is on teamwork. While IBM uses work teams
extensively, like almost all large organizations, the way it does so is unique.
To foster appreciation of a variety of cultures and open up emerging markets,
IBM sends hundreds of its employees to month-long volunteer project teams in
regions of the world where most big companies don’t do business. Al Chakra, a
software development manager located in Raleigh, North Carolina, was sent to
join GreenForest, a furniture manufacturing team in Timisoara, Romania. With
Chakra were IBM employees from five other countries. Together, the team
helped GreenForest become more computer-savvy to increase its business. In
return for the IBM team’s assistance, GreenForest was charged nothing.
This is hardly altruism at work. IBM firmly believes these multicultural,
multinational teams are good investments. First, they help lay the groundwork
for uncovering business in emerging economies, many of which might be
expected to enjoy greater future growth than mature markets. Stanley Litow, the
IBM VP who oversees the program, also thinks it helps IBMers develop
multicultural team skills and an appreciation of local markets. He notes, “We
want to build a leadership cadre that learns about these places and also learns to
exchange their diverse backgrounds and skills.” Among the countries where IBM
has sent its multicultural teams are Turkey, Tanzania, Vietnam, Ghana, and the
Philippines.
As for Chakra, he was thrilled to be selected for the team. “I felt like I won the
lottery,” he said. He advised GreenForest on how to become a paperless company
in 3 years and recommended computer systems to boost productivity and
increase exports to western Europe.
Another team member, Bronwyn Grantham, an Australian who works at IBM in
London, advised GreenForest about sales strategies. Describing her team
experience, Grantham said, “I’ve never worked so closely with a team of IBMers
from such a wide range of competencies.”
Questions
1.
If you calculate the person-hours devoted to IBM’s team projects, they
amount to more than 180,000 hours of management time each year. Do
you think this is a wise investment of IBM’s human resources? Why or
why not?
Answer: The student’s answer to this question could vary in either
direction. Ensure that the answer is well supported with ideas from the
chapter about the effectiveness of teamwork. As presented in this chapter,
the likely answer is that it is worth it because of the work showing the
increase in positive decision-making, information acquisition and
analysis, and other factors that make the team’s outcomes more
successful for IBM
2.
Why do you think IBM’s culture changed from formal, stable, and
individualistic to informal, impermanent, and team-oriented?
Answer: Students may answer this in terms of the competitiveness of the
computer industry. The change set IBM up to be able to respond to
industry changes more efficiently since teams could be more responsive
to change and could build actions to meet the challenges faster and more
effectively that could be accomplished under the previous style.
3.
Would you like to work on one of IBM’s multicultural, multinational
project teams? Why or why not?
Answer: This answer will vary depending on the student’s beliefs and
opinions. Ensure that the position the student takes is well supported
with appropriate beliefs on the student’s part based on information in the
chapter.
4.
Multicultural project teams often face problems with communication,
expectations, and values. How do you think some of these challenges can
be overcome?
Answer: This answer should include concepts and ideas posed in the
section of the chapter on virtual teams. Among the ideas the student
should include here is how managers can make virtual teams more
effective. For virtual teams to be effective, management should ensure
that:
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Trust is established among members (one inflammatory remark in
a team member e-mail can severely undermine team trust);
Team progress is monitored closely (so the team doesn’t lose sight
of its goals and no team member “disappears”); and
The efforts and products of the team are publicized throughout the
organization (so the team does not become invisible).
Sources: Based on C. Hymowitz, “IBM Combines Volunteer Service, Teamwork to
Cultivate Emerging Markets,” Wall Street Journal (August 4, 2008), p. B6; S.
Gupta, “Mine the Potential of Multicultural Teams,” HR Magazine (October 2008),
pp. 79–84; and H. Aguinis and K. Kraiger, “Benefits of Training and Development
for Individuals and Teams, Organizations, and Society,” Annual Review of
Psychology 60, no. 1 (2009), pp. 451–474.
REVIEW QUESTIONS (CHAPTER 10)
1. How do you explain the growing popularity of teams in organizations?
a. Answer: Although teams are not always effective they have become
popular. Some of the reasons include:
b. Teams are a great way to use employee talents
c. Teams are more flexible and responsive to changes in the
environment
d. Can quickly assemble, deploy, refocus, and disband
e. Facilitate employee involvement
f. Increase employee participation in decision-making
g. Democratize an organization and increase motivation
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Analyze the growing popularity of
using teams in organizations; Learning Outcomes: Describe best practices for
utilizing groups and work teams in organizations; and AACSB Learning Goals:
Reflective thinking skills.
2. What is the difference between a group and a team?
Answer: A group may just be individuals that are together. A work group is
a group that interacts primarily to share information and to make decisions
to help each group member perform within his or her area of responsibility.
Often there is no joint effort required. A work team generates positive
synergy through coordinated effort. The individual efforts result in a
performance that is greater than the sum of the individual input. Teams have
included member commitment to a common purpose, establishment of
specific team goals, team efficacy, a managed level of conflict, and minimizing
social loafing?
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Contrast groups and teams;
Learning Outcomes Describe best practices for utilizing groups and work
teams in organizations; and AACSB Learning Goals: Reflective thinking skills.
3. What are the four types of teams?
Answer:
5. Problem-Solving Teams - groups of 5 to 12 employees from the same
department who meet for a few hours each week to discuss ways of
improving quality, efficiency, and the work environment,
6. Self-Managed Work Teams - groups of 10 to 15 people who take on the
responsibilities of their former supervisors,
7. Cross-Functional Teams - employees from about the same hierarchical
level, but from different work areas, who come together to accomplish a
task,
8. Virtual Teams - teams that use computer technology to tie together
physically dispersed members in order to achieve a common goal.
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Compare and contrast the four types
of teams; Learning Outcomes: Describe best practices for utilizing groups and
work teams in organizations; and AACSB Learning Goals: Reflective thinking
skills.
4. What conditions or context factors determine whether teams are effective?
Answer: The key components of an effective team are in four general
categories including context; composition; work design; and process. See
Exhibit 10-3. Effective teams have a common and meaningful purpose that
provides direction, momentum, and commitment for members. This purpose
is a vision. It is broader than specific goals.
One example is team efficacy, which is a process factor that means effective
teams have confidence in themselves and believe they can succeed. Success
breeds success. Management can increase team efficacy by helping the team
to achieve small successes and skill training. Small successes build team
confidence. The greater the abilities of team members, the greater the
likelihood that the team will develop confidence and the capability to deliver
on that confidence.
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Identify the characteristics of
effective teams; Learning Outcomes: Describe best practices for utilizing
groups and work teams in organizations; and AACSB Learning Goals:
Reflective thinking skills.
5. How can organizations create team players?
Answer: Organizations can create team players through Selection - make
team skills one of the interpersonal skills in the hiring process; Training individualistic people can learn; Reward - rework the reward system to
encourage cooperative efforts rather than competitive (individual) ones;
Continue to recognize individual contributions while still emphasizing the
importance of teamwork.
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Show how organizations can create
team players; Learning Outcomes: Describe best practices for utilizing groups
and work teams in organizations; and AACSB Learning Goals: Reflective
thinking skills.
6. When is work performed by individuals preferred over work performed by
teams?
Answer: The complexity of the work can determine whether one or more
people are needed. Teamwork often is more time-consuming due to
increased communication and potential conflicts. The three tests to
determine whether individuals or team should be utilized are:
1. Is the work complex and is there a need for different perspectives: will it
be better with the insights of more than one person?
2. Does the work create a common purpose or set of goals for the group that
is larger than the aggregate of the goals for individuals?
3. Are members of the group involved in interdependent tasks?
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Decide when to use individuals
instead of teams; Learning Outcomes: Describe best practices for utilizing
groups and work teams in organizations; and AACSB Learning Goals:
Reflective thinking skills.
7. What are three ways in which our understanding of teams differs in a global
context?
Answer:
1. Extent of Teamwork - Other countries use teams more often than does the
U.S.
2. Self-Managed Teams - Do not work well in countries with low tolerance
for ambiguity and uncertainty and a high power distance
3. Team Cultural Diversity and Team Performance
a. Diversity caused by national differences interferes with team
efficiency, at least in the short run
b. After about three months the differences between diverse and
non-diverse team performance disappear
This exercise covers Learning Objectives: Show how the understanding of
teams differs in a global context: Learning Outcomes Describe best practices
for utilizing groups and work teams in organizations; and AACSB Learning
Goals: Dynamics of the global economy, Reflective thinking skills.