Funlang, Inc. produces programs for foreign language instruction. The company has an extensive line of CDs and digital software that work well on laptop computers. However, Funlang wants to design a new software product for smart phones. The company has formed a product design team to achieve this goal. The project manager and leader of this team is Carlos Ramirez.

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At first, Carlos divided the team into three groups: design, engineering, and research. Each group had three to five members. The groups shared technical and financial support and other common resources. Otherwise, each work unit operated independently from other units. However, Carlos soon realized that this structure did not work well with developing ideas. The ideas one group came up with often conflicted with the ideas of another group. In addition, the ideas of each unit frankly were not that creative.

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To solve this problem, Carlos redesigned the team so that work output is exchanged back and forth among individuals. Also, Carlos set up brainstorming sessions, in which members of each group came together to discuss possible ideas for the new software.

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This change enhances the creativity of the team. Even so$,$ the design and engineering teams each have problems working together. In the design team, one member tends to be harsh when disagreements arise and shows a lack of empathy toward members. The engineering team has divided into subgroups based on ethnicity. White members formed a clique, which involved often having lunch together and doing other social activities. Two Latino members felt left out and, as a result, formed their own subgroup.

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Carlos realizes he has to solve these problems to optimize the creativity of his team.

$1$c$.$ One of the team members is having difficulty...

One of the team members is having difficulty with comforting because they

Multiple Choice

lack empathy toward other team members.

have difficulty resolving disagreements.

have formed a subgroup.

prefer working alone.

tend to hoard information.