Deck 2: Managing Work Flows and Conducting Job Analysis

Question 1

Cheap Shoes manufactures a line of inexpensive shoes.The firm uses a defender strategy,which means the most effective structure for them involves:

A) maximizing autonomy among strategic divisions.
B) implementing decisions from the top down.
C) utilizing self-managing work teams.
D) establishing a flat structure.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Courtland Corporation recently reduced its number of management levels and decentralized its entire managerial approach.Prior to this,the corporation maintained a pyramid-shaped management structure and was based on a functional division of labor.Courtland evolved from a ________ organization to a ________ organization.

A) prospector / defender
B) boundaryless / bureaucratic
C) bureaucratic / boundaryless
D) bureaucratic / flat

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Additional Case 2.1
Benson Manufacturing is a young, small firm that makes computer components and peripherals for assemblers like Dell and Gateway. Benson's market share is highly volatile based on the entrance and exit of competitors into the market. Benson buys raw materials from several suppliers who also supply competitors. The firm has two layers of management between the CEO and the component maker on the line.
The firm's CEO read a book about innovation and organizational change and now wants to look at what HR should do about reorganizing and changing staffing practices. The CEO wants to reduce costs in order to increase profit margins because he believes that margins will continue to shrink.
While productivity and quality are largely functions of the machines used in the process, the CEO still wants to focus on motivating Benson employees. He wants to motivate them by increasing wages through a bonus program, improving working conditions, and providing job security.
Refer to Additional Case 2.1.Which type of organizational structure would be most appropriate for Benson?

A) Bureaucratic structure
B) Boundaryless structure
C) Flat organizational structure
D) Pyramid organizational structure

Answer 3

C

Question 4

One organizational structure that lends itself to the formation of joint ventures and strategic alliances is a:

A) bureaucratic structure.
B) flat structure.
C) generic structure.
D) boundaryless structure.

Question 5

The choice of a prospector strategy for a business would be most appropriate when a firm:

A) operates in an uncertain business environment.
B) functions in a relatively stable business environment.
C) sells products that are in the maturity stage of the life cycle.
D) prefers a top-down decision making approach for management.

Question 6

What is the primary reason that firms use business process reengineering?

A) To increase total quality management
B) To prepare for a work flow analysis
C) To identify jobs that can be eliminated
D) To determine changing customer needs

Question 7

A company with a prospector strategy would most likely:

A) have a bureaucratic organizational structure.
B) give employees more responsibility.
C) use a vertical information system.
D) use hierarchy to resolve conflict.

Question 8

Additional Case 2.1
Benson Manufacturing is a young, small firm that makes computer components and peripherals for assemblers like Dell and Gateway. Benson's market share is highly volatile based on the entrance and exit of competitors into the market. Benson buys raw materials from several suppliers who also supply competitors. The firm has two layers of management between the CEO and the component maker on the line.
The firm's CEO read a book about innovation and organizational change and now wants to look at what HR should do about reorganizing and changing staffing practices. The CEO wants to reduce costs in order to increase profit margins because he believes that margins will continue to shrink.
While productivity and quality are largely functions of the machines used in the process, the CEO still wants to focus on motivating Benson employees. He wants to motivate them by increasing wages through a bonus program, improving working conditions, and providing job security.
Refer to Additional Case 2.1.Based on the current market situation,what business strategy would be best for Benson?

A) Prospector strategy
B) Defender strategy
C) Tactical strategy
D) Differentiated strategy

Question 9

Which of the following is a characteristic of a boundaryless organization?

A) Many levels of management
B) Top-down management approach
C) Teams whose members cross organizational boundaries
D) Hierarchical career paths may exist within one function

Question 10

Maryland Times News is a publishing company that has a functional division of labor,work specialization,and a pyramid of authority.MTN most likely uses a:

A) bureaucratic organizational structure.
B) flat organizational structure.
C) boundaryless organizational structure.
D) work flow organizational structure.

Question 11

Formal or informal relationships between people in an organization are known by which term?

A) Work flow group
B) Organizational culture
C) Management team
D) Organizational structure

Question 12

Which type of organizational structure would be most appropriate for a company with a defender strategy?

A) Flat
B) Boundaryless
C) Differentiated
D) Bureaucratic

Question 13

Which of the following would be the best environment in which to implement a flat organizational structure?

A) A global environment
B) A service-oriented environment
C) A predictable environment
D) A rapidly changing environment

Question 14

Alyssa finds a job description for an interesting retail position.The job description indicates exactly what department of the store she would be responsible for and what her duties would be.The ad describes good opportunities for advancement within the retail area,so she could become the managing retail director for her department.However,she would not be able to move into finance or production.This is an example of which organizational strategy?

A) Top-down management
B) Work specialization
C) Prospector strategy
D) Pyramid-building

Question 15

Additional Case 2.2
You are the HR manager at Steel City, Inc., a firm that is considering going global in its product line and markets. The president realizes that this may require a reorganization. She wants to move into new international markets with minimum time and effort. She also wants to reduce management overhead and labor costs.
At the same time, employees have been complaining about their work. Jobs are repetitive, and employees don't know how their work fits into the big picture. The president wants to provide employees with satisfying work, autonomy, and a performance-based pay system. She wants to give them as much control as possible and remove layers of management.
Refer to Additional Case 2.2.The best organizational design match for Steel City would most likely be a:

A) flat organizational structure.
B) generic organizational structure.
C) boundaryless organizational structure.
D) bureaucratic organizational structure.

Question 16

Which term refers to the process of examining how work creates or adds value to the ongoing processes in a business?

A) Job analysis
B) Process evaluation
C) Work flow analysis
D) Business process reengineering

Question 17

A company would most likely adopt a boundaryless organizational structure if management wants to:

A) structure its organization around functions.
B) enter foreign markets that have entry barriers.
C) move into a stable and predictable global market.
D) reorganize around its products, services, or customers.

Question 18

A company is involved in business process reengineering when it is:

A) examining how work creates or adds value to the ongoing business processes.
B) rethinking and redesigning its work processes to improve quality.
C) reviewing the responsibility levels of specific jobs.
D) gathering and organizing information about tasks.

Question 19

Bureaucratic organizational structures are marked by:

A) narrow job descriptions and sharp vertical and horizontal boundaries.
B) division of labor around products, services, or customers.
C) high employee involvement in decision making.
D) decentralized management.

Question 20

Managers most likely use work flow analysis in order to:

A) recombine a specialized task into one more complex and satisfying job.
B) simplify jobs by breaking them into individual component tasks.
C) understand the overall environment in which a job operates.
D) quantify the tasks involved in a specific position.

Question 21

Flat organizational structures are helpful for organizations that emphasize customer satisfaction and have broadly defined jobs.

Question 22

Special-purpose teams typically consist of managers from one department who gather to examine a complex issue.

Question 23

A fundamental rethinking and radical redesign of business processes to achieve dramatic improvements in cost,quality,service,and speed is referred to as ________.

Question 24

A self-managed team:

A) consists of a small group of people who come together for specific, short-term assignments.
B) gathers for a few hours each week to solve problems in various work processes.
C) crosses functional or organizational boundaries to examine complex issues.
D) focuses on quality and productivity issues.

Question 25

What type of team would work best in a situation where you expect only a part-time commitment from each member,where each member will work in a different city or state,and where rapid communication is important?

A) A virtual team
B) A problem-solving team
C) A special-purpose team
D) A self-managing all-purpose team

Question 26

Which of the following is NOT a typical responsibility for an SMT member?

A) Scheduling work
B) Handling performance evaluations
C) Disciplining team members
D) Terminating a team member's employment

Question 27

Your organization is trying to decide if it should implement TQM.Management assembles a team from one department to study the issue.The team will disband once the study is complete.Which of the following would be most appropriate?

A) Special purpose team
B) Self-managed team
C) Problem-solving team
D) Virtual team

Question 28

A pyramid-shaped organizational structure that consists of hierarchies with many levels of management is referred to as a(n)________.

Question 29

The work flow in an organization refers to the formal and informal relationships between people in the organization.

Question 30

What is the primary reason for training SMT members in many different technical areas?

A) Simplifying schedules
B) Monitoring new budgets
C) Enhancing team flexibility
D) Handling interpersonal conflicts

Question 31

Work flow analysis examines and quantifies the manufacturing process.

Question 32

A work group differs from a team in what way?

A) In a team, everyone is equal. In a work group, some members have more power than others.
B) A work group depends on an outside supervisor for direction, while a team self-directs.
C) A work group self-directs, while a team depends on an outside supervisor for direction.
D) A team tends to have better rapport between members than a work group.

Question 33

Additional Case 2.2
You are the HR manager at Steel City, Inc., a firm that is considering going global in its product line and markets. The president realizes that this may require a reorganization. She wants to move into new international markets with minimum time and effort. She also wants to reduce management overhead and labor costs.
At the same time, employees have been complaining about their work. Jobs are repetitive, and employees don't know how their work fits into the big picture. The president wants to provide employees with satisfying work, autonomy, and a performance-based pay system. She wants to give them as much control as possible and remove layers of management.
Refer to Additional Case 2.2.The president is discussing the use of teams in the company.Given the company direction and the president's goals,you should recommend:

A) that she implement special project teams.
B) quality circles as a type of problem-solving team.
C) ISO 9000-based teams.
D) self-managed work teams.

Question 34

Whenever management decides to change its business strategy,it must also reexamine its organizational structure.

Question 35

A defender strategy might lead a company to functional divisions of labor and work specialization,which are elements of a boundaryless organization.

Question 36

The quality-of-work-life program at Ford is an example of a:

A) self-managed work team.
B) problem-solving team.
C) quality circle.
D) special-purpose team.

Question 37

Business process reengineering examines the fundamental way a company does business by analyzing its core processes.

Question 38

If a company is using a prospector business strategy,its market is stable,its product is mature,and it wants to increase market share by "digging" for new customers with new products.

Question 39

Which HR practice would most likely change after a firm implements self-managed work teams?

A) Work flow analyses
B) Job enrichment plans
C) Organizational designs
D) Performance appraisals

Question 40

Self-managed teams are synonymous with work groups.

Question 41

Additional Case 2.2
You are the HR manager at Steel City, Inc., a firm that is considering going global in its product line and markets. The president realizes that this may require a reorganization. She wants to move into new international markets with minimum time and effort. She also wants to reduce management overhead and labor costs.
At the same time, employees have been complaining about their work. Jobs are repetitive, and employees don't know how their work fits into the big picture. The president wants to provide employees with satisfying work, autonomy, and a performance-based pay system. She wants to give them as much control as possible and remove layers of management.
Refer to Additional Case 2.2.The president's ideas regarding employee dissatisfaction suggest that her thinking would be most compatible with a ________ theory of motivation.

A) two-factor
B) work adjustment
C) job characteristics
D) goal-setting

Question 42

Shamekwa believes that employees are motivated by their work,sense of achievement,responsibilities,and advancement opportunities.Shamekwa's thinking is most compatible with the:

A) work adjustment theory.
B) goal-setting theory.
C) two-factor theory.
D) job design theory.

Question 43

A(n)________ is a team consisting of volunteers from a unit or department who meet one or two hours per week to discuss quality improvement,cost reductions,or improvement in the work environment.

Question 44

Which of the following suggests that employee motivation depends on the fit between personal abilities and job requirements?

A) Work adjustment theory
B) Goal-setting theory
C) Two-factor theory
D) Job characteristics theory

Question 45

Additional Case 2.3
Resources International, Inc. (RII) is going through a major organizational change. Executives at the firm have decided to rethink the whole organization. They believe that employees will be most strongly motivated by experiencing meaningful work, taking responsibility for outcomes, and receiving regular feedback.
The HR team will analyze jobs as part of the change process, and HR must choose the best technique for the situation. HR needs to know what the incumbents do in their jobs. HR also needs behavioral descriptions from which to build new performance appraisal systems and training programs.
Finally, RII is looking at current staffing practices and trying to decide what type of workforce is best for the future. The business is highly technical and requires highly experienced employees, but product demand is volatile. Demand can double or be cut in half from one year to the next, depending on the economy and competitors' actions. Innovation is key in RII's product development. In order to manage all the HR information generated for and during the change, RII has initiated an HRIS system.
Refer to Additional Case 2.3.The best job analysis technique for RII would be a:

A) critical incident technique.
B) task inventory analysis.
C) functional job analysis.
D) methods analysis.

Question 46

Frederick Herzberg's two-factor theory was developed to explain:

A) salary negotiations.
B) job security concerns.
C) employee motivation.
D) employee-manager relationships.

Question 47

The goal-setting theory of motivation suggests that employee satisfaction and motivation are functions of:

A) company policies and the relationships formed with co-workers.
B) clear, direct goals over which the employee has control.
C) employee abilities, goals, and job characteristics.
D) the core characteristics of the job.

Question 48

According to goal-setting theory,employees are most motivated when goals are:

A) broad and flexible.
B) relatively easy to attain.
C) specific and challenging.
D) closely linked to compensation.

Question 49

A team or task force consisting of workers who span functional or organizational boundaries and whose purpose is to examine complex issues is called a(n)________.

Question 50

Additional Case 2.1
Benson Manufacturing is a young, small firm that makes computer components and peripherals for assemblers like Dell and Gateway. Benson's market share is highly volatile based on the entrance and exit of competitors into the market. Benson buys raw materials from several suppliers who also supply competitors. The firm has two layers of management between the CEO and the component maker on the line.
The firm's CEO read a book about innovation and organizational change and now wants to look at what HR should do about reorganizing and changing staffing practices. The CEO wants to reduce costs in order to increase profit margins because he believes that margins will continue to shrink.
While productivity and quality are largely functions of the machines used in the process, the CEO still wants to focus on motivating Benson employees. He wants to motivate them by increasing wages through a bonus program, improving working conditions, and providing job security.
Refer to Additional Case 2.1.What is the flaw in the CEO's suggestions for motivating the workforce?

A) He's not involving the employees in the decisions.
B) An MBO-based strategy would be more effective.
C) It does not take the diversity of the workforce into consideration.
D) None of the things he wants to do impact motivation, only satisfaction or dissatisfaction.

Question 51

Additional Case 2.2
You are the HR manager at Steel City, Inc., a firm that is considering going global in its product line and markets. The president realizes that this may require a reorganization. She wants to move into new international markets with minimum time and effort. She also wants to reduce management overhead and labor costs.
At the same time, employees have been complaining about their work. Jobs are repetitive, and employees don't know how their work fits into the big picture. The president wants to provide employees with satisfying work, autonomy, and a performance-based pay system. She wants to give them as much control as possible and remove layers of management.
Refer to Additional Case 2.2.Along with the reorganization,you need to do some job redesign.Given the specific employee complaints,your best approach would be:

A) work simplification.
B) job enrichment.
C) job rotation.
D) quality circles.

Question 52

In Herzberg's theory of motivation,hygiene factors are:

A) critical to employee motivation.
B) located in the work environment.
C) necessary for employee advancement.
D) indicators of job tasks and responsibilities.

Question 53

Which of the following is a core job characteristic that activates the three psychological states,according to job characteristics theory?

A) Interdependence
B) Skill variety
C) Responsibility
D) Task difficulty

Question 54

Additional Case 2.1
Benson Manufacturing is a young, small firm that makes computer components and peripherals for assemblers like Dell and Gateway. Benson's market share is highly volatile based on the entrance and exit of competitors into the market. Benson buys raw materials from several suppliers who also supply competitors. The firm has two layers of management between the CEO and the component maker on the line.
The firm's CEO read a book about innovation and organizational change and now wants to look at what HR should do about reorganizing and changing staffing practices. The CEO wants to reduce costs in order to increase profit margins because he believes that margins will continue to shrink.
While productivity and quality are largely functions of the machines used in the process, the CEO still wants to focus on motivating Benson employees. He wants to motivate them by increasing wages through a bonus program, improving working conditions, and providing job security.
Refer to Additional Case 2.1.The CEO most likely read a book that referred to the motivation theory of:

A) Frederick Herzberg
B) Richard Hackman
C) Edwin Locke
D) Henry Mintzberg

Question 55

According to Herzberg's theory,the absence of which of the following would most likely lead to employee dissatisfaction?

A) Achievements
B) Job responsibilities
C) Coworker relationships
D) Advancement opportunities

Question 56

Which of the following is a motivator,according to Herzberg?

A) Relationships within the company
B) A positive working atmosphere
C) Recognition for accomplishments
D) Salary and benefits

Question 57

According to job characteristics theory,jobs with certain core characteristics are more likely to:

A) motivate and satisfy employees
B) encourage employee creativity.
C) enhance employee job security.
D) dissatisfy employees.

Question 58

Which of the following is a true statement based on the work adjustment theory?

A) Clear, specific, and challenging goals motivate employees to perform at high levels.
B) All employees are motivated and challenged by hygiene and maintenance factors.
C) Employee motivation depends on personal needs and job characteristics.
D) All employees want to be involved in the decision-making process.

Question 59

The work adjustment theory suggests that employee motivation depends on the:

A) essential job characteristics.
B) external and internal environments.
C) relationship between the employee and the manager.
D) fit between employee needs and the job characteristics.

Question 60

The three psychological states central to the job characteristics theory include:

A) meaningfulness of the job.
B) control of job outcomes.
C) task significance.
D) task identity.

Question 61

The process by which work is organized into the separate tasks required to perform a specific job is called:

A) job analysis.
B) job design.
C) task significance.
D) task identity.

Question 62

Your production lines make a standardized product.Efficiency is critical to your production costs.The majority of production line tasks are mechanical and repetitive.Which of the following would be most appropriate?

A) Job enrichment
B) Job rotation
C) Work simplification
D) Team-based job design

Question 63

Which of the following is an example of job enrichment?

A) Reducing specialized tasks by combining them and giving employees more narrowly defined tasks to perform
B) Expanding the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the job by giving an employee responsibility for the whole production
C) Dividing employees into self-managing teams that perform several different tasks and have complete responsibility for the entire production process
D) Matching employees to the job by examining their needs and skills and the specific job characteristics

Question 64

Which of the following is a term used to describe one or several duties that identify and describe the major purpose for the job's existence?

A) Responsibility
B) Work
C) Position
D) Task

Question 65

Job analysis is helpful to HR professionals in performing which of the following tasks?

A) Establishing an HRIS
B) Developing a budget
C) Designing a benefit plan
D) Recruiting employees

Question 66

The basic element of work that is a logical and necessary step to perform a job is a:

A) duty.
B) task.
C) responsibility.
D) job description.

Question 67

Work adjustment theory suggests that employees' motivational levels and job satisfaction depend on clearly defined objectives.

Question 68

Which of the following has the LEAST influence on job design?

A) Work-flow analysis
B) Employee motivation
C) Organizational structure
D) Business strategy

Question 69

What is the best job analysis tool for developing task-oriented job descriptions and performance appraisal forms?

A) Task inventory analysis
B) Methods analysis
C) Critical incident technique
D) MPDQ

Question 70

Frederick Herzberg's two-factor motivation theory focuses on the fit between the employee's needs and abilities and the characteristics of the job and the organization.

Question 71

Which question would most likely be answered by a job analysis?

A) What machines are required for the job?
B) What job design method is best for the position?
C) What recruiting methods are used for filling the job?
D) What performance appraisal system is used to evaluate the job?

Question 72

A team-based job design would work best for a business under what circumstances?

A) The business has a bureaucratic organization structure.
B) The business has a flat and boundaryless structure.
C) The business maintains a strong defender strategy.
D) The business is considering a move toward goal-setting theory.

Question 73

Cecilia is observing assembly line workers performing their tasks.She's watching to see who they interact with,what machines they use,and how much they are supervised.Cecilia is most likely conducting a:

A) work flow analysis.
B) performance appraisal.
C) job redesign.
D) job analysis.

Question 74

Additional Case 2.4
Dorenda owns a small business, and she has asked you for HR advice. Her company has a handful of permanent employees, but the work force consists mainly of contract workers. Dorenda typically employs various contractors for three-month projects. Permanent employees typically quit within one year of being hired.
Dorenda wants to increase her permanent employees' motivation, so she has set general goals for them to meet. She also plans to hire some more permanent employees, but she first wants to determine what skills, knowledge, and abilities job candidates need to have in order to meet specific company needs.
Refer to Additional Case 2.4.You anticipate that Dorenda's choices regarding employee motivation will not produce the results she wants because:

A) the goals lack specificity and employee input.
B) there are too few hygiene factors in comparison to motivators.
C) employees are more motivated in a decentralized organization.
D) the goals are too challenging and frequent feedback creates employee anxiety.

Question 75

________ is that which energizes,directs,and sustains human behavior.

Question 76

Which of the following would most likely increase as a result of work simplification?

A) Costs
B) Turnover
C) Satisfaction
D) Skill variety

Question 77

What are the four perspectives on employee motivation? What are the key elements of each perspective? What are the weaknesses of each perspective? How can job design affect employee motivation?

Question 78

According to goal-setting theory,employees are more motivated by challenging goals than simple goals.

Question 79

Your relatively flat organization is moving toward a boundaryless structure.Layers of management have been reduced to a minimum.You want employees to be self-managing,to perform several different tasks,and to take complete responsibility for the entire production process.________ would be your best choice as you implement a job redesign program.

A) Work simplification
B) Team-based job designs
C) Flexible work designs
D) Job enrichment

Question 80

According to job characteristics theory,higher levels of autonomy and specific managerial feedback will improve employee job satisfaction and motivation.