C715-Organizational Behavior Ch.9, 10, 16, 12 Exam
Study Questions & Best Rated A+
Group - Answer 2 or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to
achieve particular objectives (collection of ppl coming together - not necessarily with any acumen)
formal group - Answer a designated work group defined by an org. structure
informal group - Answer like the ladies’ group -
it is neither formally structured nor organizationally determined; such a group appears in response to
the need for social contact
Social Identity Theory - Answer perspective that considers when & why individuals consider themselves
member of groups
(some level of self-esteem when group does well or poorly, it gets tied into the performance of the
group)
Five stage model of group - Answer 1st) forming- characterized by much uncertainty about purpose,
structure leadership
2nd) storming-intragroup conflict, resists constraints individuality
3rd) norming-cohesiveness, when group structure solidifies
4th) performing - fully functional & accepted
5th) adjourning - final stage for temporary groups, concern with wrapping up activities rather than task
performance
6 properties of groups - roles - Answer significant source of stress for most people -
set of expected behavior patterns attributed to someone occupying a given position in a social unit
Role perception-how we view
Role Expectation-how other view
Role Conflict- role you play in one aspect of your life can come into conflict with the role you play in
another aspect of your life (ie..role at work and role at home)
,Stanford Prison Experiment - Answer Guards, inmates
people started becoming their roles
Asch Study - Answer rather be wrong but part of the group then right & alone - 75% will chose to wrong
but part of the group
Norming - Answer where the group decides what normal behavior is
Conformity - Answer Adjusting one's behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard.
Deviant - Answer as part of group - antisocial behavior or workplace incivility
Cheating & stealing more in a group than by yourself because voluntary behavior that violates significant
org. norms in so doing threatens wellbeing of org or its members
status characteristics theory - Answer 1) power person wields over others
2)person’s ability to contribute to groups goal
3)individual personal characteristic (positively valued by group)
Equity Theory - Status inequity - Answer perceived inequity creates disequilibrium & can create
resentment among those at lower end of status continuum - results - poorer ind performance, lower
health, higher intent to leave the group
Size - Answer yes it does affect groups overall behavior.
Small groups faster completing tasks, Individual performance better in smaller groups
Social Loafing - Answer sometimes people in a group don't work very hard
because they think they can ride for free on the backs of harder working membrs
- to minimize - use peer evaluation
, Cohesiveness - Answer degree to which the people in the group are on the same page
ie-if high norm/high cohesiveness=high production
high norm/low cohesiveness=moderate prodution
low norm/high cohes=low production
low norm/low cohes=moderate to low prodution
Groupthink - Answer loudest voice is heard - is a communications dynamic where dissenting views aren't
given a lot of time, counter evidence isn't heard or given airing - listen to the most powerful voices &
opinions
everyone nods heads to agree even if they don't - shot down if disagree
Groupshift - Answer Extreme version of self -
Groups can wind up being more extreme than an individual If religious - become MORE religious and
excited and act differently you get Tuned up
Group Decision Making - Answer Strengths - more complete knowledge & info offer increase diversity of
views & acceptance of a solution
Weaknesses - time consuming - takes more time to reach a solution, conformity pressures, can be
dominated by one or a few members, ambiguous responsibility
Brainstorming - Answer an idea generation process that specifically encourages any and all alt while
withholding any criticism of those alt - no criticism allowed
A process in which group members freely suggest any creative solutions that come to mind
Nominal group techniques 4 steps - Answer Restricting of discussion, independent - Better performing
a group decision making method in which individual members met face to ace to pool their judgement
in a systematic but independent fashion
1)before any discussion-ind. writes idea on problem
2)after silent period, each presents 1 idea to group, no discussion until all ideas presented & recorded
3)group discusses ideas for clarity & evaluates them
Study Questions & Best Rated A+
Group - Answer 2 or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to
achieve particular objectives (collection of ppl coming together - not necessarily with any acumen)
formal group - Answer a designated work group defined by an org. structure
informal group - Answer like the ladies’ group -
it is neither formally structured nor organizationally determined; such a group appears in response to
the need for social contact
Social Identity Theory - Answer perspective that considers when & why individuals consider themselves
member of groups
(some level of self-esteem when group does well or poorly, it gets tied into the performance of the
group)
Five stage model of group - Answer 1st) forming- characterized by much uncertainty about purpose,
structure leadership
2nd) storming-intragroup conflict, resists constraints individuality
3rd) norming-cohesiveness, when group structure solidifies
4th) performing - fully functional & accepted
5th) adjourning - final stage for temporary groups, concern with wrapping up activities rather than task
performance
6 properties of groups - roles - Answer significant source of stress for most people -
set of expected behavior patterns attributed to someone occupying a given position in a social unit
Role perception-how we view
Role Expectation-how other view
Role Conflict- role you play in one aspect of your life can come into conflict with the role you play in
another aspect of your life (ie..role at work and role at home)
,Stanford Prison Experiment - Answer Guards, inmates
people started becoming their roles
Asch Study - Answer rather be wrong but part of the group then right & alone - 75% will chose to wrong
but part of the group
Norming - Answer where the group decides what normal behavior is
Conformity - Answer Adjusting one's behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard.
Deviant - Answer as part of group - antisocial behavior or workplace incivility
Cheating & stealing more in a group than by yourself because voluntary behavior that violates significant
org. norms in so doing threatens wellbeing of org or its members
status characteristics theory - Answer 1) power person wields over others
2)person’s ability to contribute to groups goal
3)individual personal characteristic (positively valued by group)
Equity Theory - Status inequity - Answer perceived inequity creates disequilibrium & can create
resentment among those at lower end of status continuum - results - poorer ind performance, lower
health, higher intent to leave the group
Size - Answer yes it does affect groups overall behavior.
Small groups faster completing tasks, Individual performance better in smaller groups
Social Loafing - Answer sometimes people in a group don't work very hard
because they think they can ride for free on the backs of harder working membrs
- to minimize - use peer evaluation
, Cohesiveness - Answer degree to which the people in the group are on the same page
ie-if high norm/high cohesiveness=high production
high norm/low cohesiveness=moderate prodution
low norm/high cohes=low production
low norm/low cohes=moderate to low prodution
Groupthink - Answer loudest voice is heard - is a communications dynamic where dissenting views aren't
given a lot of time, counter evidence isn't heard or given airing - listen to the most powerful voices &
opinions
everyone nods heads to agree even if they don't - shot down if disagree
Groupshift - Answer Extreme version of self -
Groups can wind up being more extreme than an individual If religious - become MORE religious and
excited and act differently you get Tuned up
Group Decision Making - Answer Strengths - more complete knowledge & info offer increase diversity of
views & acceptance of a solution
Weaknesses - time consuming - takes more time to reach a solution, conformity pressures, can be
dominated by one or a few members, ambiguous responsibility
Brainstorming - Answer an idea generation process that specifically encourages any and all alt while
withholding any criticism of those alt - no criticism allowed
A process in which group members freely suggest any creative solutions that come to mind
Nominal group techniques 4 steps - Answer Restricting of discussion, independent - Better performing
a group decision making method in which individual members met face to ace to pool their judgement
in a systematic but independent fashion
1)before any discussion-ind. writes idea on problem
2)after silent period, each presents 1 idea to group, no discussion until all ideas presented & recorded
3)group discusses ideas for clarity & evaluates them
