Companies have long relied on the creation of task specific groups to

Question

Companies have long relied on the creation of task specific groups to address such pressing issues as decision making, problem solving, and perhaps most importantly, task completion. Group oriented task completion has many advantages; a cohesive group with an appropriate organizational context, sufficient material support, and a clearly delineated goal can perform tasks at a far higher level of productivity than can any individual worker. In fact, according to Hackman’s normative model of group effectiveness, a successful synergy of organizational context and group design factors can lead to levels of productivity far exceeding even the most optimistic company forecasts.

Unfortunately, not all groups achieve this positive synergy. Many fail to meet even modest productivity goals. One explanation for this lack of success could involve what Bruce Tuckman describes as the “storming,” or conflict, stage of group formation.Tuckman contends that a successful group must pass through a stage of interpersonal confrontation before it can enter the cohesion phase. After cohesion is achieved, a group can move into the performance mode of operation.

However, group cohesion alone is by no means a guarantee of high productivity. A survey of over two hundred groups of factory workers found that some groups that scored extremely well on the cohesion scale had low levels of productivity. Researchers attribute this finding to group norms--groups that allow conflict issues to become the norm will generally perform at lower productivity levels while groups that can remain focused on the task at hand can more readily achieve the sort of productivity predicted by Hackman.   1 
 B 
 1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

A .suggest that a particular approach is no longer useful. 
B. explain why a particular strategy might fail.
C.discuss how a certain practice is implemented. 
D.enumerate the advantages of a business strategy. 
E.reject a long-standing view of a practice.

2 
 D 
 2. According to the author, a group that can perform tasks at a far "higher level of productivity" requires all of the following EXCEPT:

A. A level of group unity. 
B. A specified goal. 
C. A group structure appropriate to the task. 
D. A clearly defined leadership position. 
E. Adequate resources.

3 
 A 
 3. It can be inferred from the passage that

A. Tuckman's model of group formation contains at least 3 stages
B. a high level of group cohesion necessarily results in higher productivity levels
C. a group that concerns itself mainly with achieving group cohesion goals cannot be highly productive
D. a group must spend equal time focused on interpersonal goals and task oriented goals
E. a group that moves through Tuckman's conflict stage will eventually enter the performance mode

Nevernevergiveup · Answer

The primary purpose of the passage is to
A .suggest that a particular approach is no longer useful................ this is too extreme. The passage is not so negative about it. 
B. explain why a particular strategy might fail.................... yes it explained the same through two cases 
C.discuss how a certain practice is implemented............. implementation is not main purpose 
D.enumerate the advantages of a business strategy................ only advantages is not the primary purpose 
E.reject a long-standing view of a practice.................. reject is a strong negative word. same as A

2. According to the author, a group that can perform tasks at a far "higher level of productivity" requires all of the following EXCEPT: 
 A. A level of group unity. 
B. A specified goal. 
C. A group structure appropriate to the task.  
D. A clearly defined leadership position. 
E. Adequate resources.

between D and E, leadership position is not defined in the passage.
Although resources is not mentioned anywhere.

honneeey · Answer

2:01 MINUTES!

The primary purpose of the passage is to
A .suggest that a particular approach is no longer useful.-Incorrect, "No longer useful" isnt correct! 
B. explain why a particular strategy might fail.-Correct, Thats the main point of discussion. Despite its usefulness, it might fail!
C.discuss how a certain practice is implemented.-Incorrect, implementation isnt discussed.
D.enumerate the advantages of a business strategy.-Incorrect,advantages arent discussed.
E.reject a long-standing view of a practice.-Incorrect, no long standing views are rejected.

B

2. According to the author, a group that can perform tasks at a far "higher level of productivity" requires all of the following EXCEPT: 
A.A level of group unity.-Incorrect, mentioned! 
B. A specified goal-Incorrect, mentioned! 
C. A group structure appropriate to the task.-Incorrect, mentioned! 
D. A clearly defined leadership position.-Correct, this is not one of the postulates mentioned in the passage! 
E. Adequate resources.-Incorrect, mentioned!

D

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

3. It can be inferred from the passage that

Difficulty Level:   600

Explanation

The phrase the passage suggests in the question stem indicates this is an inference question. The task of the question is indicated by the phrase which of the following regarding. The subject of the question is group formation. In order to answer the question, determine what the passage states about the subject and evaluate the answer choices, eliminating any choice which cannot be supported by the text. While there are several aspects of groups presented in the passage, the passage states that Tuckman contends that a successful group must pass through a stage of interpersonal confrontation before it can enter the cohesion phase. After cohesion is achieved, a group can move into the performance mode of operation.

Choice A:  Correct. This choice is supported by the passage. Since Tuckman describes a stage of interpersonal confrontation, followed by the cohesion phase, and concluding with the performance mode, there are at least three stages in Tuckman’s model.

Choice B:  No. The recycled language productivity levels may make this choice seem appealing. However, this choice is a reversal, as the author states that group cohesion alone is by no means a guarantee of high productivity.

Choice C:  No. The recycled language productivity and cohesion may make this choice seem appealing but the claim the group cannot be highly productive is extreme language that is not supported by the passage. The passage notes that a cohesive group…can perform tasks at a far higher level of productivity.

Choice D:  No. The recycled language goals may make this choice seem appealing. However, the passage makes no such comparison between the amount of time spent on interpersonal goals and task oriented goals, so the reference in this choice to equal time cannot be supported by the text.

Choice E:  No. The recycled language conflict stage and performance mode may make this choice seem appealing but the claim the group will eventually enter the performance mode is extreme language that is not supported by the passage. The passage only states that a group can move into the performance mode, not that it definitely will.

The correct answer is choice A.

TarPhi · Answer

SajjadAhmad In Q3, Beside Option A - Correct Answer - is mentioned. Please remove it

Cheers,

TarPhi · Answer

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

A .suggest that a particular approach is no longer useful.
B. explain why a particular strategy might fail.
C.discuss how a certain practice is implemented.
D.enumerate the advantages of a business strategy.
E.reject a long-standing view of a practice.

In the 3rd paragraph, they talk about why it might fail. Hence (B) .

2. According to the author, a group that can perform tasks at a far "higher level of productivity" requires all of the following EXCEPT:

A. A level of group unity.
B. A specified goal.
C. A group structure appropriate to the task.
D. A clearly defined leadership position.
E. Adequate resources.

a cohesive group with an appropriate organizational context, sufficient material support, and a clearly delineated goal can perform tasks at a far higher level of productivity than can any individual worker. - You might consider A but that's what a cohesive group is.  The answer is A clearly defined leadership position (D) .

3. It can be inferred from the passage that

A. Tuckman's model of group formation contains at least 3 stages
B. a high level of group cohesion necessarily results in higher productivity levels
C. a group that concerns itself mainly with achieving group cohesion goals cannot be highly productive
D. a group must spend equal time focused on interpersonal goals and task oriented goals
E. a group that moves through Tuckman's conflict stage will eventually enter the performance mode

Tuckman contends that a successful group must pass through a stage of interpersonal confrontation (STAGE 1) before it can enter the cohesion phase (STAGE 2). After cohesion is achieved, a group can move into the performance mode of operation (STAGE 3).  The answer is A.

VerbalBot · Answer

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