Question

1. Types of groups and teams (Connect, Perform)

Use your knowledge of groups and teams to answer the following questions.

Please select the answer that best completes the sentence.

In business organizations, most employees work in --------------- .

For each example presented in the following table, identify the concept being illustrated.

Example	Problem-solving Team	Virtual Team	Cross-functional Team	Self-directed Team
Once the housekeeping unit of a small hotel was organized into this type of team, the employees took responsibility for their own scheduling, ordering their own cleaning supplies, and tracking their performance.
If you need to assemble a team comprised of employees located all over the world, you need to create this type of team.
You want to find a way to reduce the waste your company generates so you create this type of team.

Match each description with the corresponding job design term that best describes it.

Description	Job Design Term
Your female employees have mentioned wanting the organization to allow them to meet with other women in the company for mentoring and professional development purposes. What type of group or team should you create?
Your organization has offices in 6 different countries. You want to create a team that allows employees in all of these countries to collaborate and share ideas and best practices. What type of group or team should you create?
You have a unit of highly capable, motivated employees. You think that they no longer need formal leaders, and can take on more responsibility in setting their own goals and deciding how to best pursue them. What type of group or team should you create?
You get along so well with some of your colleagues at work that you organize a volleyball league and regularly go out together after work to socialize. What type of group or team did you create?

Answer 1

In business organizations, most employees work in command groups, as typically shown on an official organization chart. The size, shape, and organization of a company’s command groups can vary considerably. Typical command groups in organizations include the customer service department, the accounting department, and the human resource department.

Once the housekeeping unit of a small hotel was organized into this type of team, the employees took responsibility for their own scheduling, ordering their own cleaning supplies, and tracking their performance.

Self-directed Team

If you need to assemble a team comprised of employees located all over the world, you need to create this type of team.

Virtual Team

You want to find a way to reduce the waste your company generates so you create this type of team.

Problem-solving Team

Example	Type of Team
Once the housekeeping unit of a small hotel was organized into this type of team, the employees took responsibility for their own scheduling, ordering their own cleaning supplies, and tracking their performance.	Self-directed team
If you need to assemble a team comprised of employees located all over the world, you need to create this type of team.	Virtual team
You want to find a way to reduce the waste your company generates so you create this type of team.	Problem-solving team

Self-directed teams set their own goals and pursue them in ways the team decides. Team members are responsible for tasks typically reserved for team leaders or managers, including scheduling work and vacations, ordering supplies, and evaluating their performance.

Virtual teams have geographically and/or organizationally dispersed members who communicate using the Internet and other information technologies.

Problem-solving teamssolve problems and make improvements at work, including reducing waste and improving productivity or safety.

	Key Terms	Descriptions
C	A self-directed team	A.	You get along so well with some of your colleagues at work that you organize a volleyball league and regularly go out together after work to socialize. What type of group or team did you create?
D	A global team	B.	Your female employees have mentioned wanting the organization to allow them to meet with other women in the company for mentoring and professional development purposes. What type of group or team should you create?
B	An interest group	C.	You have a unit of highly capable, motivated employees. You think that they no longer need formal leaders, and can take on more responsibility in setting their own goals and deciding how to best pursue them. What type of group or team should you create?
A	An informal group	D.	Your organization has offices in 6 different countries. You want to create a team that allows employees in all of these countries to collaborate and share ideas and best practices. What type of group or team should you create?

Explanation:

• A self-directed team
• A global team
• An interest group
• An informal group

C: A self-directed team

You have a unit of highly capable, motivated employees. You think that they no longer need formal leaders, and can take on more responsibility in setting their own goals and deciding how to best pursue them. What type of group or team should you create?

Explanation

Self-directed teams can improve commitment, quality, and efficiency. They set their own goals and pursue them in ways decided by the team. Team members are responsible for tasks typically reserved for team leaders or managers, including scheduling work and vacations, ordering supplies, and evaluating their performance.