Description

Achieving Success in Virtual Teams

1. Describe the attributes that contribute to the success of virtual teams and those that contribute to the failure of virtual teams.
2. Discuss the extent to which the characteristics of well- functioning, effective groups overlap the attributes that contribute to the success of virtual teams.
3. Explain how cultural diversity can affect the effective functioning of virtual teams operating in a global economy.
4. Is Volvo’s approach to evaluating the effectiveness of its virtual teams one that could serve as a useful model for other organizations to follow in evaluating their own virtual teams? Justify your answer.

Groupon: Decisions! Decisions! Decisions!

1. What are the key decisions that Andrew Mason has made during Groupon’s history? How have these decisions influenced Groupon’s evolution as an internet-based business?
2. How would you describe the decisions identified in your response to question 1 in terms of programmed and nonprogrammed decision making?
3. How would you describe these decisions in terms of the rational, bounded rationality, and garbage can models of decision making?
4. How, if at all, has creativity and intuition played a role in the decisions to found and rapidly expand Groupon?
5. Suppose you think the market for group-based online coupons has great potential, and you desire to enter the competitive fray. What factors would you consider in deciding whether to become a Groupon competitor?

Review Questions

2. What are the functional sources of power? (pg. 420)
3. Distinguish between personal and social power. What are the four power-oriented characteristics of the best managers? (pg. 420)
4. Define leadership and followership. Distinguish between formal leadership and informal leadership. (pg. 457)
5. Define initiating structure and consideration as leader behaviors. (pg. 457)