WGU Organizational-Behavior - WGU Organizational Behavior (GTO1, C715)

Virtual teams use computer technology to unite physically dispersed members in order to achieve a common goal. The defining advantage of virtual teams is their ability to overcome the constraints of time and space, allowingpeople to work together who might otherwise not be able to collaborateon a work task. This is particularly beneficial for global organizations that need to pull together the best experts regardless of where they are located in the world.

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However, virtual teams face unique challenges compared to face-to-face teams. Because they rely on electronic communication, they often suffer from a lack of nonverbal cues (like body language and tone of voice), which makes communication less rich and more prone to misunderstanding. Consequently, virtual teams often report lower levels of satisfaction with the interaction process and may take longer to build trust and rapport (refuting options B and D). To be effective, managers of virtual teams must ensure that the team has the right technology, that progress is closely monitored, and that efforts are made to create "social presence" through occasional video calls or face-to-face meetings to build the trust that forms more naturally in traditional office settings. Despite these hurdles, the strategic benefit of accessing diverse talent from across the globe makes the virtual team an essential tool in the modern organizational landscape.

Values represent basic convictions that a specific mode of conduct or end-state of existence is personally or socially preferable to an opposite mode. In Organizational Behavior, Milton Rokeach created the Rokeach Value Survey (RVS), which classifies values into two distinct sets: Terminal values and Instrumental values.

Terminal valuesrefer to desirable end-states of existence. These are the goals a person would like to achieve during their lifetime, such as world peace, prosperity, or a sense of accomplishment.Instrumental values, on the other hand, refer to preferable modes of behavior or means of achieving the terminal values. Being "ambitious" and "cheerful" are behavioral traits or methods that an individual employs to reach their ultimate goals. For instance, being ambitious (an instrumental value) is the "means" an employee uses to achieve the "end" of financial success or career status (a terminal value). Similarly, being cheerful is a mode of conduct that might help an individual achieve the terminal goal of social recognition or happiness. Therefore, because these descriptions focus on thehowof behavior rather than thewhatof ultimate life goals, they are strictly categorized as instrumental values. Understanding these values is crucial for managers because they influence motivation and how employees perceive organizational rewards and culture.

Conflict within an organization can be functional (supporting goals) or dysfunctional (hindering performance). When conflict becomes dysfunctional, managers must use conflict-resolution techniques to bring it back to a manageable or productive level. Two such techniques areCompromiseandSuperordinate goals.

Compromiseinvolves each party giving up something of value to reach a solution where no one is a clear winner or loser. It is often used when goals are important but not worth the potential disruption of more assertive methods.Superordinate goalsinvolve creating a shared goal that cannot be attained without the cooperation of each of the conflicting parties. By focusing on a higher-level objective, the competing groups or individuals are forced to set aside their differences to achieve a common success. Other techniques include problem-solving (face-to-face meetings), smoothing (playing down differences), and avoidance. Choosing the right technique depends on the nature of the conflict and the desired long-term relationship between the parties. In many organizational settings, shifting the focus to superordinate goals is particularly effective because it aligns individual interests with organizational outcomes.

To perform effectively, a team requires three different types of skills. First, it needs people with technical expertise to perform the task at hand. Second, it needs people with problem-solving and decision-making skills to be able to identify problems, generate alternatives, and make competent choices. Finally, and perhaps most importantly for group cohesion, a team needs people with stronginterpersonal skills. Interpersonal skills include effective listening, feedback, and conflict resolution.

In the scenario provided, the team had the "hard" skills (technical and analytical) but lacked the "soft" skills required to navigate the social complexities of working as a unit. Without interpersonal skills, a team may have the smartest individuals but still fail because they cannot communicate effectively or resolve the inevitable friction that arises during a long-term project. While "propensity for social loafing" is a behavior to avoid, and "authoritarian personality" is often a hindrance, the foundational "ability" cited in organizational behavior literature as a prerequisite for team success alongside technical and problem-solving skills is interpersonal competence.

In the context of group dynamics, "roles" refer to a set of expected behavior patterns attributed to someone occupying a given position in a social unit. Within this framework,Role Perceptionis defined as an individual’s own view of how he or she is supposed to act in a given situation. We get these perceptions from various stimuli around us—friends, books, movies, or observing how successful colleagues behave.

It is important to distinguish Role Perception fromRole Expectations, which are howothersbelieve a person should act in a given situation. For example, a manager might have a role expectation that a supervisor should be stern, but the supervisor's own role perception might be that they should be a supportive mentor. When role perception and role expectation do not align, it can lead to confusion or poor performance.Role Identityrefers to the certain attitudes and behaviors consistent with a role, whileRole Conflictoccurs when an individual finds that compliance with one role requirement may make it difficult to comply with another. Because the question specifically asks for thepersonal viewof behavior, "Role Perception" is the correct technical term.

The distinguishing factor between different types of teams is the level of authority and the scope of their responsibility.Problem-solving teamstypically only make recommendations; they do not have the authority to implement their suggestions or take full responsibility for the results.Virtual teamsare defined by their use of technology to bridge physical distance rather than their level of autonomy.

In this scenario, because management wants the team to "take full responsibility for outcomes," they must organizeself-managed teams. These teams are designed to operate without direct supervision, handling the planning, execution, and monitoring of their work. They go beyond critical thinking and process review—which a problem-solving team might do—by actually making the operating decisions and being held accountable for the final performance. This structure requires a high degree of trust from management and extensive training for employees, as the team essentially performs the roles previously held by first-line supervisors.

ASelf-managed work teamis a group of employees (typically 10 to 15) who perform highly related or interdependent jobs and take on many of the responsibilities of their former supervisors. In a traditional work structure, a supervisor would handle tasks such as planning and scheduling work, assigning tasks to members, making operating decisions, and taking action on problems. In a self-managed environment, the team collectively takes over these managerial duties.

These teams may even select their own members and evaluate each other’s performance. The goal of organizing into self-managed teams is to increase employee involvement and empowerment, theoretically leading to higher job satisfaction and productivity through synergy and collective control. Unlike "problem-solving teams," which only make recommendations, self-managed teams have the authority to implement solutions and take full responsibility for outcomes. While this can be highly effective, the success of self-managed teams depends heavily on the organizational culture and the level of training provided to employees. If members are not prepared for the interpersonal demands of self-management—such as resolving internal conflicts or managing the pace of work—the team can struggle. However, when properly implemented, self-managed teams represent the highest level of team autonomy in organizational design.

Charismatic Leadership Theory suggests that followers make attributions of heroic or extraordinary leadership abilities when they observe certain behaviors. The most fundamental way a charismatic leader increases performance is byarticulating an appealing vision. This vision serves as a long-term strategy for attaining a goal by making the future better than the status quo.

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A charismatic leader does not just set goals; they provide a "vision statement"—a formal proclamation of an organization's mission—that they use to imprint on followers an overarching goal and purpose. They then communicate high-performance expectations and express confidence that followers can attain them, which enhances follower self-esteem. Unlike transactional leaders who rely on rewards or directive approaches, charismatic leaders use emotional appeal and personal risk-taking to inspire followers to go beyond their self-interest for the sake of the organization. This articulation of a "better future" is the primary engine of motivation in charismatic leadership.

Research suggests that seven (often grouped into six or seven in various texts) primary characteristics capture the essence of an organization's culture. One of these key characteristics isAggressiveness, which describes the degree to which people are aggressive and competitive rather than easygoing.

Other characteristics include:

Innovation and Risk Taking:The degree to which employees are encouraged to be innovative and take risks.

Attention to Detail:The degree to which employees are expected to exhibit precision and analysis.

Outcome Orientation:The degree to which management focuses on results rather than techniques and processes.

People Orientation:The degree to which management decisions take into account the effect of outcomes on people within the organization.

Team Orientation:The degree to which work activities are organized around teams rather than individuals.

Stability:The degree to which organizational activities emphasize maintaining the status quo in contrast to growth.

By assessing an organization on these dimensions, a complete picture of its culture emerges, providing a basis for shared understanding among members.