IIA IIA Certifications IIA-CIA-PART3 Questions & Answers

• Question 671:

  A weakness of cohesive groups may be:

  A. Conformity.

  B. Groupthink.

  C. The development of norms.

  D. Commitment by members.

  Correct Answer: B

  Groupthink occurs when a cohesive group's members tend to conform and ignore a relevant individual input that is at variance with the perceived group opinion.

• Question 672:

  Groupthink is defined as:

  A. The tendency to conform and ignore relevant individual Input that is at variance with the majority opinion.

  B. The guidance of groups based upon self-set standards of performance and behavior.

  C. The members of a group developing a solution to a problem after all the relevant information has been considered.

  D. A way of brainstorming ideas to address an issue presented to a group by management.

  Correct Answer: A

  Research into cohesive groups has revealed the prevalence of groupthink. Groupthink is conformity to a group's opinion despite information that it may be incorrect.

• Question 673:

  When compared to individuals, groups have advantages and disadvantages for decision making. Which of the following is true regarding group decisions? Advantages Disadvantages:

  A. Increased personalDisagreements do not accountability surface because of pressures to conform

  B. Increased Takes more time to acceptance ofarriveat a decision by participants

  C. Takes less time to Lack of personal arrive at adecisionalaccountability

  D. Increased diversity Reduced acceptance ofexpertise decisionby participants

  Correct Answer: B

  Group decision making and problem solving has the following advantages:1) The group has greater knowledge and experience than an individual:2) the group provides multipleperspectives:3) members participating in a group process tend to have a better understanding of the reasons for different actions:4) those actively participating in the group process tend to accept, and have ownership of, the result:and 5) group involvement provides training for the less experienced members. The following are the disadvantages:1) The social pressure to conform may inhibit creativity:) the group may be dominated by a few aggressive members:3) the decision or solution may be a product of logrolling political dealing):4) the goal of reaching a good decision or solution may be displaced by a secondary concern, e.g., competing with a rival:and 5) the process may suffer from groupthink, or preference for unanimity over the quality of the decision or solution.

• Question 674:

  Formal groups are work groups within the organization assembled to perform a productive activity. How is a formal group similar to an informal group?

  A. Membership in both informal and formal groups tends to be permanent.

  B. Informal and formal groups develop their own leaders to fill the needs of the group.

  C. Informal and formal groups usually provide social satisfaction that supplements job satisfaction.

  D. Informal and formal groups are based on the organization's purpose and needs.

  Correct Answer: C

  The use of groups in organizations has often led to a higher degree of social satisfaction because members feel that they have contributed to a part of the group and gained the acceptance of their peers. Both informal and formal groups usually provide an employee with greater job satisfaction than the employee would otherwise have on his or her own.

• Question 675:

  Under "groupthink,"

  A. There is a tendency to conform to the majority's will and to ignore relevant individual input that is at variance with group opinion.

  B. The group is not required to reach consensus.

  C. The extent of groupthink is proportional to the size of the group.

  D. There are too many alternatives to facilitate decision making.

  Correct Answer: A

  Groupthink is the tendency to conform to the majority's will when individual input is at variance with the group opinion. Groupthink is a cause of faulty decision making in a group. Groups may not consider all alternatives because they desire unanimity at the expense of quality decisions. Groupthink occurs when groups are highly cohesive and under considerable pressure to make a decision.

• Question 676:

  During which stage of group development does a group exhibit a consolidation of power and reach an agreement among members about authority, structure, and procedures?

  A. Conflict and challenge stage.

  B. Disillusion stage.

  C. Acceptance stage.

  D. Cohesion stage.

  Correct Answer: D

  The consolidation of power shifts begun during the conflict and challenge stages occurs during the cohesion stage. Members often reach an agreement on authority, structure, and procedures.

• Question 677:

  Informal groups often have many favorable effects on the members. Which of the following is one of the favorable effects informal groups have on members but that may have an unfavorable effect on the organization?

  A. Informal groups aid in problem-solving situations.

  B. Informal groups improve coordination and reduce supervision required.

  C. Informal groups reduce tension and encourage production.

  D. Informal groups provide another channel of communication.

  Correct Answer: D

  The additional channel of communication is a benefit to the informal group but may cause problems for the organization depending upon what messages are being communicated. This grapevine may cause the spread of false rumors or information and could be detrimental to the organization.

• Question 678:

  Which of the following is not true with regard to informal groups?

  A. Members of the group are susceptible to group pressure.

  B. The groups develop primarily to satisfy esteem needs.

  C. Almost all employees and managers are members of an informal group.

  D. Informal groups tend to be small and have simple relationships.

  Correct Answer: D

  Informal groups tend to be small and are often very complex. They develop their own leaders and usually result from the frequent interaction among individuals in the course of their work.

• Question 679:

  An audit manager allowed a work group to make a decision about whether to adopt a new work procedure. In allowing the group to make the decision, the manager should be aware that groups tend to make:

  A. Very conservative decisions and do not want to assume risk.

  B. Faster decisions than do individuals because groups have more expertise than does any one person.

  C. Decisions that are less accurate than those made by individuals.

  D. Riskier decisions than do individuals, and individual responsibility for the group's decision is lessened.

  Correct Answer: D

  Groupshift is the difference between the decisions that members of a group would make singly and the group's decision. Sometimes the group's decision is more conservative, butmore often it is riskier. What apparently occurs is that the group discussion accentuates the initial tendency of the group. The most likely reason for the more frequent shift toward the riskier course is diffusion of responsibility among members of the group. Thus, no one will be wholly to blame for failure.

• Question 680:

  Which of the following is not an advantage of group effort compared with work performed by individuals?

  A. Groups provide support to members.

  B. Groups make decisions that are more easily accepted.

  C. Groups provide a clear link between effort and outcome.

  D. Groups control and discipline members.

  Correct Answer: C

  In a culture that strongly emphasizes individual identity and competition, the preference tends to be for a clear link between effort and outcome. However, groups tend to submerge individual identity and responsibility and therefore to blur the link between individual effort and its results.