Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 12e (Robbins/Judge)
Chapter 9 Foundations of Group Behavior
1) Which one of the following characteristics is not necessarily true about groups?
A) Group members are interdependent.
B) Groups have two or more members.
C) Groups are determined by the organization chart.
D) Groups interact.
E) Groups have particular objectives.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) A group has two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to
achieve a particular objective.
2) Which of the following statements is true regarding informal groups?
A) Informal groups are defined by the organization's structure.
B) In informal groups, the behaviors team members should engage in are stipulated by and directed toward
organizational goals.
C) A group of people who come together to protest against a new law is an informal group.
D) The six members of an airline flight crew are an informal group.
E) Command groups and task groups are examples of informal groups.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) An informal group is neither formally structured nor organizationally determined. Informal groups
are natural formations in the work environment that appear in response to the need for social contact. Command
groups and task groups are examples of formal groups. A group of people who come together to protest against a
new law is an informal group.
3) Which of the following statements is true about groups?
A) All task groups are also command groups.
B) All command groups are also task groups.
C) All task groups are also friendship groups.
D) All command groups are also informal groups.
E) All interest groups are also command groups.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) All command groups are also task groups. But because task groups can cut across the organization,
they are not always command groups. Command groups and task groups are formal groups and interest groups and
friendship groups are informal groups.
4) Which of the following groups is most likely to be determined by the organizational chart?
A) informal
B) task
C) friendship
D) interest
E) formal
Answer: E
Explanation: E) Formal groups are defined by the organization's structure, with designated work assignments
establishing tasks. In contrast, an informal group is neither formally structured nor organizationally determined.
5) Julia, Bree, and David work in different departments but often eat lunch together. They are an example of a(n)
________ group.
A) formal
B) informal
C) command
D) task
E) interest
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Informal groups, such as friendship groups, are neither formally structured nor organizationally
determined. An interest group consists of individuals who affiliate to attain a specific objective with which each
individual is concerned. Three employees from different departments who regularly have lunch or coffee together
are an informal group.
, 6) Employees who band together to seek improved working conditions form a(n) ________ group.
A) union
B) friendship
C) interest
D) work
E) command
Answer: C
Explanation: C) People may affiliate to attain a specific objective with which each individual is concerned. This
creates an interest group. Employees who band together to seek improved working conditions have formed a united
body to further their common interest. Groups often develop because individual members have one or more common
characteristics. We call these formations friendship groups.
7) John is a college student and he is accused of a campus crime. To deal with this problem a team is formed that
consists of the dean of academic affairs, the dean of students, the registrar, the director of security, and the student's
advisor. This team is an example of a(n) ________ group.
A) interest
B) command
C) task
D) informal
E) friendship
Answer: C
Explanation: C) A task group is organizationally determined and it represents individuals working together to
complete a job task. However, a task group's boundaries are not limited to its immediate hierarchical superior; the
group can cross command relationships. The team formed in this example is a task group.
8) Which of the following best represents a friendship group?
A) employees who band together to have their vacation schedules altered
B) a group of people who have interest in the same rock band
C) an elementary school principal and her 18 teachers
D) the six members of an airline flight crew
E) employees who come together to seek improved working conditions
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Groups often develop because individual members have one or more common characteristics. We
call these formations friendship groups so a group of people who have interest in the same rock band is a friendship
group.
9) A(n) ________ group is determined by the organization chart and it is composed of the individuals who report
directly to a given manager.
A) command
B) friendship
C) interest
D) informal
E) intimate
Answer: A
Explanation: A) A command group is determined by the organization chart, and it is composed of the individuals
who report directly to a given manager.
10) Which of the following statements is true regarding a task group?
A) It is an informal group.
B) A task group's boundaries are limited to its immediate hierarchical superior.
C) All task groups are command groups.
D) A task group can cross command relationships.
E) All interest groups are task groups.
Answer: D
Explanation: D) A task group, also organizationally determined, represents individuals working together to
complete a job task. However, a task group's boundaries are not limited to its immediate hierarchical superior; the
group can cross command relationships. All command groups are also task groups. But because task groups can cut
across the organization, they are not always command groups. Interest groups are informal groups and task groups
Chapter 9 Foundations of Group Behavior
1) Which one of the following characteristics is not necessarily true about groups?
A) Group members are interdependent.
B) Groups have two or more members.
C) Groups are determined by the organization chart.
D) Groups interact.
E) Groups have particular objectives.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) A group has two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to
achieve a particular objective.
2) Which of the following statements is true regarding informal groups?
A) Informal groups are defined by the organization's structure.
B) In informal groups, the behaviors team members should engage in are stipulated by and directed toward
organizational goals.
C) A group of people who come together to protest against a new law is an informal group.
D) The six members of an airline flight crew are an informal group.
E) Command groups and task groups are examples of informal groups.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) An informal group is neither formally structured nor organizationally determined. Informal groups
are natural formations in the work environment that appear in response to the need for social contact. Command
groups and task groups are examples of formal groups. A group of people who come together to protest against a
new law is an informal group.
3) Which of the following statements is true about groups?
A) All task groups are also command groups.
B) All command groups are also task groups.
C) All task groups are also friendship groups.
D) All command groups are also informal groups.
E) All interest groups are also command groups.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) All command groups are also task groups. But because task groups can cut across the organization,
they are not always command groups. Command groups and task groups are formal groups and interest groups and
friendship groups are informal groups.
4) Which of the following groups is most likely to be determined by the organizational chart?
A) informal
B) task
C) friendship
D) interest
E) formal
Answer: E
Explanation: E) Formal groups are defined by the organization's structure, with designated work assignments
establishing tasks. In contrast, an informal group is neither formally structured nor organizationally determined.
5) Julia, Bree, and David work in different departments but often eat lunch together. They are an example of a(n)
________ group.
A) formal
B) informal
C) command
D) task
E) interest
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Informal groups, such as friendship groups, are neither formally structured nor organizationally
determined. An interest group consists of individuals who affiliate to attain a specific objective with which each
individual is concerned. Three employees from different departments who regularly have lunch or coffee together
are an informal group.
, 6) Employees who band together to seek improved working conditions form a(n) ________ group.
A) union
B) friendship
C) interest
D) work
E) command
Answer: C
Explanation: C) People may affiliate to attain a specific objective with which each individual is concerned. This
creates an interest group. Employees who band together to seek improved working conditions have formed a united
body to further their common interest. Groups often develop because individual members have one or more common
characteristics. We call these formations friendship groups.
7) John is a college student and he is accused of a campus crime. To deal with this problem a team is formed that
consists of the dean of academic affairs, the dean of students, the registrar, the director of security, and the student's
advisor. This team is an example of a(n) ________ group.
A) interest
B) command
C) task
D) informal
E) friendship
Answer: C
Explanation: C) A task group is organizationally determined and it represents individuals working together to
complete a job task. However, a task group's boundaries are not limited to its immediate hierarchical superior; the
group can cross command relationships. The team formed in this example is a task group.
8) Which of the following best represents a friendship group?
A) employees who band together to have their vacation schedules altered
B) a group of people who have interest in the same rock band
C) an elementary school principal and her 18 teachers
D) the six members of an airline flight crew
E) employees who come together to seek improved working conditions
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Groups often develop because individual members have one or more common characteristics. We
call these formations friendship groups so a group of people who have interest in the same rock band is a friendship
group.
9) A(n) ________ group is determined by the organization chart and it is composed of the individuals who report
directly to a given manager.
A) command
B) friendship
C) interest
D) informal
E) intimate
Answer: A
Explanation: A) A command group is determined by the organization chart, and it is composed of the individuals
who report directly to a given manager.
10) Which of the following statements is true regarding a task group?
A) It is an informal group.
B) A task group's boundaries are limited to its immediate hierarchical superior.
C) All task groups are command groups.
D) A task group can cross command relationships.
E) All interest groups are task groups.
Answer: D
Explanation: D) A task group, also organizationally determined, represents individuals working together to
complete a job task. However, a task group's boundaries are not limited to its immediate hierarchical superior; the
group can cross command relationships. All command groups are also task groups. But because task groups can cut
across the organization, they are not always command groups. Interest groups are informal groups and task groups
