chapter 12

Question 1

social loafing

Answer 1

occurs when an individual in a team does not exert the expected amount of effort and relies instead on the work of other team members.

Question 2

cross-functional teams

Answer 2

teams whose members are drawn from multiple functional areas in the firm, such as R&D, marketing, etc. collaboration between departments is needed to make a team lower cost and achieve higher quality. it also facilitates coordination and cooperation.

Question 3

homophily

Answer 3

the tendency for individuals to like other people whom they perceive as being similar to themselves.

Question 4

organisation tenure diversity

Answer 4

mix of new employees and long-hired employees. the team has different contacts outside the team, which means that they can draw on a wider mix of sources.

Question 5

cultural diversity

Answer 5

leads to better problem solving by incorporating multiple viewpoints.

Question 6

demographic diversity

Answer 6

diversity in education, gender, or age. it leads to a variety of viewpoints and an increase in innovative outcomes and overall performance.

Question 7

functional teams

Answer 7

employees remain in their functional departments and have periodic meetings. the teams are temporary with <10% time spent. there is no manager, meaning little commitment and rewards. it is appropriate for derivative projects and technical problem solving.

Question 8

lightweight teams

Answer 8

employees remain in their functional departments and the teams are temporary, with time spent less than their regular tasks. there is a manager (junior or middle management employee). it is appropriate for derivative projects.

Question 9

heavyweight teams

Answer 9

employees are removed from their functional departments and put into a full-time team, but still temporary. the core group is full-time and there is strong cross functional communication guided by a senior manager PM. it is appropriate for platform projects and breakthrough projects.

Question 10

autonomous teams

Answer 10

these teams are separated from the original functional departments and are dedicated full-time to the team. their PM, a senior manager, has full authority over resources and rewards, and they have their own policies and regulations. they are fully responsible for the projects and have a rapid and efficient NPD. it is appropriate for breakthrough projects.

Question 11

team leader

Answer 11

responsible for directing the team’s activities, maintaining the team’s alignment with project goals, and serving as a communicator between the team and senior management. in heavyweight and autonomous teams, they may also be responsible for evaluation, compensation, and promotion of team members.

Question 12

project charter

Answer 12

includes the mission and goals for the project. it can help give team members a common understanding of the project.

Question 13

contract book

Answer 13

defined after a project charter is established. it describes a basic plain to achieve the goal. it is a tool for monitoring the project and establishing team commitment.

Question 14

virtual teams

Answer 14

teams in which members may be a great distance from each other but are still able to collaborate intensively via advanced information technologies, such as videoconferencing, groupware, and e-mail, or Internet chat programs.

Question 15

synchronous communications

Answer 15

communications where the involved parties must participate at the same times, such as telephone calls, videoconferencing, and instant messaging.