ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Team formation, development and management
A finance team at Marlow Co has worked together for years. Members rarely challenge each other, seek unanimous agreement quickly, and have dismissed outside advice on a new system as unnecessary. Which problem is the team MOST likely showing?
Groupthink. The team is cohesive, avoids challenge, reaches quick unanimity and rejects outside advice, which is the typical pattern of the desire for harmony overriding critical thinking. Social loafing concerns reduced effort and role ambiguity concerns unclear duties, neither of which is described.
- AGroupthinkCorrect
- BSocial loafing
- CRole ambiguity
Explanation
Groupthink occurs in cohesive groups where the desire for agreement overrides critical evaluation, leading to rejection of outside views. Social loafing is reduced individual effort in groups, and role ambiguity is unclear responsibilities. Neither of these is described here.
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