1.       A team’s core commitment should be to:

A.      Value each member’s input

B.       The organization’s vision

C.       Achieve specific goals

 

2.       You will recognize a sense of commitment when a team:

A.      Speaks a certain language

B.       Socializes outside the office.

C.       Has fun during meetings

 

3.       An effective team:

A.      Operates in an informal environment

B.       Enjoys going to meetings

C.       Rotates the leadership role among it’s members

 

4.       Specific team goals should:

A.      Further the organization’s mission statement.

B.       Reflect objectives shared by all

C.       Function short-term rather than long-term.

 

5.       Successful teams recognize the need for:

A.      Teamwork training

B.       Immediate feedback from upper management

C.       Involvement by other functional teams

 

6.       The most difficult obstacle teams must overcome is:

A.      Dependency on management

B.       Unproductive meetings

C.       Making time to attend meetings

 

7.       When goals and accountability focus on performance, teams must:

A.      Schedule quarterly reviews to discuss achievements

B.       Create metrics to assess progress

C.       Establish a reporting structure to upper management

 

8.       To keep team members from becoming bored with a project:

A.      Rotate them through various tasks

B.       Tackle only short-term projects

C.       Allow individual team members to report successes

 

9.       To create interest within the team:

A.      Determine ways to celebrate results

B.       Ask for innovative ideas

C.       Recruit new members

 

10.     If a project requires that team members work extra hours, acknowledge their efforts with:

A.      Compensation

B.       Time off

C.       An explanation that the extra time is part of their jobs

 

Answers: 

(Each correct answer is worth 10 points)

 

1.        C.  According to Jon R. Katzenbach and Douglas K. Smith; authors of The Wisdom of Teams, the essence of a team are that everyone shares a commitment t defined performance goals.  Teams should develop a purpose that give each member a sense of ownership

 

2.        A.  Listen to whether team members say “it” versus “we”, or if they talk about what management wants rather than what they need to accomplish.  The more personalized the language, the more commitment.

 

3.        C.  Each team member should share a leadership role, not just the person with the most power.

 

4.        B.  Teams must have clear-cut, collective objectives that members can take ownership of and personalize to create their own objectives.

 

5.        A.  Teams must be trained in teamwork, which means acquiring skills in communication, listening, accepting differences in individual style, and negotiation.  Training that’s conducted over a period of time proves most effective.

 

6.        A.  Rethink traditional roles such as always asking a manager, “May I?”  Hierarchy must be set aside, while managers should strike a balance between an authoritarian approach and relinquishing total control.

 

7.        B.  Teams need to understand the metrics of their tasks and design measurements for achievement.  Some teams evaluate their work daily.

 

8.        A.  Employees become disinterested when they master their tasks and the tasks become monotonous.  Rotate people through various jobs.

 

9.        C.  New people often revitalize a team.  Invite visitors from the ranks of management or from your customer base. 

 

10.     A.  People should be compensated for work that’s over and above their regular duties otherwise they might not be willing to give additional time.  The greater the reward, the greater the chance people will go the extra mile.

 

 

QUIZ SCORING 

IF YOU SCORE:

80-100       You have mastered the concept of teams and learned how to participate

60-70   60-70  You can enjoy working on a team, so become more involved and contribute with enthusiasm

Below 60   Perhaps you have not taken an active role as a team member.  Take steps to acquire more teamwork skills.