Week 3 - Team Work, Groups and Communication

Question 1

What is the difference between a “Group” and a “Team”

Answer 1

A team has a common goal / objective they are working together towards

Groups are just two or more people with a common relationship

Question 2

Why is it good to work in teams?

Answer 2

Share the Workload
different ideas/expertise
motivational –task identity (the feeling of pride / accomplishment after completing a project for example where you / the group identifies with the final product)
support

Question 3

Please List 4 types of Teams

Answer 3

Problem solving teams- improvements
Cross-functional teams- from different areas
Virtual teams- dispersed members
Self-managed teams- no supervision

Question 4

What are the 5 stages of Forming Teams

FSNPA

Answer 4

Forming - how do I fit in and why are we here?
Storming - who is in charge and who does what?
Norming - how can we work as a team?
Performing - can we do the job properly?
Adjourning - how do we disband?

Question 5

Why is it important to know the five stages?

Answer 5

can identify what stage a team is in and intervene appropriately if necessary

Question 6

3 elements to consider when making effective teams are

Answer 6

CONTEXT, COMPOSITION and PROCESS

Question 7

Context when forming a team is making sure they are set up for success - the 4 key contextual factors are:

Answer 7

1) adequate resources
2) effective leadership,
3) a climate of trust
4) a reward system that reflects team contributions.

Question 8

how teams should be staffed, the ability and personality of team members, the allocation of roles, the diversity of members, the size of the team, and member’s preference for team-work relates to what element of a team

Answer 8

TEAM COMPOSITION

Question 9

member commitment to a common purpose, establishment of specific goals, team efficacy, shared mental models, a managed level of conflict and accountability - these are factors relating to …

Answer 9

TEAM PROCESS

Question 10

Key components in the communication process are:

Answer 10

1. The sender
2. encoding
3. the message
4. the channel
5. decoding
6. the receiver
7. noise
8. feedback

Question 11

What is Encoding?

Answer 11

It’s how you, the communicator, conveys information to your intended audience — a reader, a listener, a target customer, etc.

Question 12

What are examples channels in Communication?

Answer 12

Formal and informal - Email, face to face

Question 13

What is Noise in communication?

Answer 13

Unnecessary information that distracts from the message

Question 14

What is the richest channel of communication?

Answer 14

Face to Face - provides the most information

Question 15

What are the 7 Barriers to Communication?

SL. Selfi

Answer 15

Silence
Lying

Selective Perception
Emotions
Language 
Filtering
Information Overload

Question 16

What is Selective Perception?

Answer 16

Only hearing what you want to hear to suit our own needs (often an unconscious process)

Question 17

What is Filtering?

Answer 17

Filtering is the distortion or withholding of information to manage a person’s reactions. Some examples of filtering include a manager who keeps her division’s poor sales figures from her boss, the vice president, fearing that the bad news will make him angry.

Question 18

How can Language be a barrier in communication?

Answer 18

Jargon / Semantics - words have different meanings for different people - must know your audience

Question 19

3 Directions of Communication in an Organization are:

Answer 19

Downward (from a boss down);Upward (e.g. to your boss); Lateral / Horizontal (ok as long as there is no breach in the formal channels - i.e. youre not overstepping your boss)

Question 20

3 Types of Communication

Answer 20

Chain - Most Accurate
Wheel - Relies on a central figure / leader
All Channel - all group members communicate freely

Question 21

Global Implications of Communications:

Hofsted’s theories:

Give an example of a HIGH and a LOW context culture

Answer 21

HIGH - Italian - relies a lot on body language, expression, more variation in tone, etc.

LOW - most western cultures, a lot of eastern cultures as well - more subdued - less overt body language