Week 2 Reading - Groupthink

Question 1

6 symptoms of groupthink?

Answer 1

Illusion of invulnerability
Collective rationalisation
Pressure on dissenters
Self-censorship
Illusion of unanimity
Fear of separation

Question 2

"Creates excessive optimism that encourage extreme
risk taking" relates to:
a. Illusion of invulnerability
b. Pressure on dissenters
c. Illusion of unanimity
d. Fear of separation

Answer 2

a. Illusion of invulnerability

Question 3

“Members are under pressure not to express arguments
against any of the group’s views” relates to:
a. Illusion of invulnerability
b. Pressure on dissenters
c. Illusion of unanimity
d. Self-censorship

Answer 3

b. Pressure on dissenters

Question 4

"The majority view and judgments are assumed to be
unanimous" relates to:
a. Illusion of invulnerability
b. Pressure on dissenters
c. Self-censorship
d. Illusion of unanimity

Answer 4

d. Illusion of unanimity

Question 5

Which of the following relates to ‘Collective rationalisation’?
a. – Members are under pressure not to express arguments against any of the group’s views
b. Members do not raise dissenting views because they are afraid of being separated from their peer group
c. Members discount warnings and do not reconsider their
assumptions

Answer 5

c. Members discount warnings and do not reconsider their

assumptions

Question 6

Which of the following relates to ‘Self-censorship’?
a. – Members are under pressure not to express arguments against any of the group’s views
b. Doubts and deviations from the perceived group consensus are not expressed
c. Do not raise dissenting views because they are afraid of being separated from their peer group
d. Members discount warnings and do not reconsider their
assumptions

Answer 6

b. Doubts and deviations from the perceived group consensus are not expressed

Question 7

Which of the following relates to ‘Fear of separation’?
a. – Creates excessive optimism that encourage extreme
risk taking
b. Doubts and deviations from the perceived group consensus are not expressed
c. Do not raise dissenting views because they are afraid of being separated from their peer group
d. Members discount warnings and do not reconsider their
assumptions

Answer 7

c. Do not raise dissenting views because they are afraid of being separated from their peer group

Question 8

Overcoming Groupthink:
"do not rely on self-audits, seek the the views of independent experts" relates to:
a. Open Communications
b. Project Renegotiation
c. Leadership
d. Independent Quality Review

Answer 8

d. Independent Quality Review

Question 9

Overcoming Groupthink:
"provide organisational hotline for lower level employees to express concerns, appoint a “devils advocate" relates to:
a. Open Communications
b. Project Renegotiation
c. Leadership
d. Independent Quality Review

Answer 9

a. Open Communications

Question 10

Overcoming Groupthink:
"safety and quality ahead of cost and schedule" relates to:
a. Open Communications
b. Project Renegotiation
c. Leadership
d. Independent Quality Review

Answer 10

c. Leadership

Question 11

Overcoming Groupthink:
“when safety is being compromised, renegotiate
the project in terms of the triple constraints (cost, quality, schedule)” relates to:
a. Open Communications
b. Project Renegotiation
c. Leadership
d. Independent Quality Review

Answer 11

b. Project Renegotiation