Lecture 7. Guest lecture

Question 1

True or false: task cohesion is the degree to which members of a team like each other and enjoy one another’s company.

Answer 1

False, this is social cohesion.

Question 2

Which construct (begrip) is described here: the degree to which members of a group work together to achieve common goals.

Answer 2

Task cohesion

Question 3

What is the strongest causal relationship between cohesion and performance in teams?
A Cohesion on performance
B performance on cohesion

Answer 3

B Performance on cohesion

Question 4

Which construct (begrip) is described here: a process to promote an increased sense of unity and cohesiveness and enables the team to function together smoothly and effectively.

Answer 4

Team building

Question 5

Name four strategies to improve team cohesion (as a group leader).

Answer 5

• Communicate effectively.
• Explain individual roles in team success.
• Develop pride within subunits,
• highlight areas of succes.
• Encourage team identity.
• Avoid formation of social cliques
• Avoid excessive turnover.
• Conduct periodic team meetings.
• Enhance team efficacy.
• Know the team climate.
• Get to know others; enhance personal disclosure
• Set challenging team goals.

Question 6

Name three strategies to improve team cohesion (as a team member).

Answer 6

• Get to know other members of the group.
• Help group members whenever possible.
• Give group members positive reinforcement.
• Be responsible.
• Communicate honestly and openly with leader.
• Give 100% effort at all times.

Question 7

What are the two potential problems/risks of a higher team cohesion?

Answer 7

• poor decision making, because of a higher tendency of agreeing;
• conservative: tendency to take take too little risk