12. A video-game development company hired a team of recently graduated engineers to design and develop a new game. The engineers were inexperienced, so they worked at a slow pace. A few months later, they discovered that a competitor was soon launching a similar game, and they worked overtime in the hopes of launching their game first. What changed the team's efficiency from low to high in the given scenario?
Answer: B
External threats changed the team's efficiency from low to high in the given scenario.
The team's efficiency increased due to the awareness of an impending competitor launch, which served as an external threat. This realization motivated them to work overtime to expedite their game's development in order to achieve a competitive edge.
A) Underestimating competition
This option is incorrect because the scenario indicates that the team became aware of the competition rather than underestimating it. The knowledge of the competitor's similar game pushed them to improve their efficiency, which contradicts the notion of underestimating.
B) External threats
This option is correct as it directly relates to the team's response to the competitor's imminent launch. The threat of losing market share motivated the engineers to increase their productivity by working overtime, which significantly enhanced their efficiency.
C) Lack of experience
While the engineers' lack of experience initially contributed to their slow pace, it does not explain the subsequent increase in efficiency. Inexperience can hinder productivity, but it was the external threat that ultimately catalyzed a change in their working habits.
D) Self-actualization
This option is incorrect because self-actualization refers to realizing one's potential and capabilities, which does not align with the context of external competition driving the team's efficiency. The motivation to work harder stemmed from external pressures rather than internal fulfillment.
Conclusion
The correct answer, external threats, clearly illustrates how the competition prompted the team to enhance their efficiency. While other options discuss various factors related to performance, none capture the immediate impetus for change as effectively as recognizing an external threat. Thus, it is evident that the competition played a crucial role in motivating the engineers to improve their work pace.