Study Unit 2: Politics And Group Dynamics

Question 1

What is Organizational Politics

Answer 1

Organizational politics (Impression Management) is acting in self-interest given actual or perceived opposition in the workplace

Question 2

What are considered positive political behaviors

Answer 2

Coalition building
Networking, and
Seeking Mentors

Question 3

What are considered Negative Political Behaviors

Answer 3

Sabotage
Threats
Taking credit for other’s work or ideas, and
Building revolutionary coalitions

Question 4

What is the prevailing view on whistle blowing

Answer 4

Whistle blowing is a net social good. Revealing unethical behavior may be the only way to end misconduct that has substantial negative effects on the public interest.

Question 5

Name six common political tactics

Answer 5

Posturing
Empire Building
Making the supervisor look good
Collecting and using social favors
Creating power and loyalty cliques
Engaging in destructive competition

Question 6

Definable Formal Groups

Answer 6

Formal groups are work groups (designated as committees, teams, etc) within the organization assembled to perform activity.

Question 7

What are two elements that affect Group Committment

Answer 7

Attractiveness
Cohesiveness

Question 8

How is a role defined

Answer 8

A behavior expected of a person in a specific position. Everyone is expected to have different roles.

Question 9

How are norms defined

Answer 9

General standards of conduct and have a broader effect that roles. Groups are guided by self-set norms of performance and behavior.

Question 10

Define Conformity

Answer 10

Compliance with roles and norms

Question 11

What are benefits of conformity

Answer 11

Predictability of behavior, e.g. performance of assigned tasks. The costs may be illegal, unethical, or incompetent conduct.

Question 12

What is a danger to cohesive groups?

Answer 12

Group think

Question 13

What are symptoms of group think

Answer 13

Over-optimism
Assumed morality of the preferred action
Intolerance of dissent
An urgent search for unanimity

Question 14

What are some ways to avoid groupthink

Answer 14

Being aware of its dangers
Encouraging members to think critically
Seeking outside opinions
Expressly assigning a member of the group to advocate contrary positions
Expressly considering the consequences of different actions
Not using a group to approve a decision without discussion or dissent

Question 15

What is group shift

Answer 15

Difference between an individual’s probably decision when the individual is alone and when the individual is in a group

Question 16

What are methods used to improve creativity in group decision making

Answer 16

Attribute listing
Brainstorming
Creative leap
Scientific Method
Edisonion Approach
Free Association
Lateral Thinking

Question 17

What method to improve creativity is applied primarily to improve a tangible object and lists the parts and essential features of the object and systematically analyzes modification.

Answer 17

Attribute Listing

Question 18

An unstructured, nonjudgmental group approach that relies on spontaneous contribution of ideas is______

Answer 18

Brainstorming

Question 19

_____formulates an idea solution and then works back to a feasible one.

Answer 19

Creative leap

Question 20

_____systematically 1)states a problem 20 collects data by observation and experimentation and 3) formulates and tests hypothesis

Answer 20

Scientific Method

Question 21

What is the Edisonian approach

Answer 21

A trial and error method. Should usually not be applied unless other approaches have been unsuccessful.

Question 22

Define Lateral Thinking

Answer 22

Explores different approaches to an issue. These alternatives increase the probability of a solution

Question 23

What method used to improve creativity in group decision making generates ideas by reporting the first thought to come to mind in response to a stimulus

Answer 23

Free Association