Deck 8: Employee Behavior and Motivation

Question 1

Why is workplace violence increasing?

Answer 1

Workplace violence is increasing because of economic fears regarding job security, heightened concern for personal safety since 9/11, and generalized stress and anxiety among workers. Employee insecurity leads to workplace violence.

Question 2

What are some potential consequences of employees being dissatisfied?

Answer 2

Dissatisfied employees may be absent more often, may experience stress that disrupts coworkers, and may be continually looking for another job. Unlike dissatisfied employees, satisfied employees tend to be absent less often, to be good organizational citizens, and to stay with the organization.

Question 3

Performance behaviors contribute directly to company productivity.

Answer 3

True
Explanation:Performance is related to how well a job is done.

Question 4

Which of these "big five" personality traits is an indication of how open or rigid a person is in terms of his or her beliefs?

A) Openness
B) Extraversion
C) Emotionality
D) Conscientiousness
E) Agreeableness

Question 5

In what way does absenteeism result in a direct cost to a business?

A) Additional training must be provided to coworkers.
B) Turnover among high quality employees increases.
C) Burnout and psychological distress increases for those who are on the job.
D) There is confusion about authority roles within the organization.
E) A substitute must do the work of the missing employee.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a central aspect of organizational citizenship?

A) Reporting structure
B) Corporate culture
C) Workgroup attitude
D) Business field
E) Team composition

Question 7

What is the term for behavior that is related to doing a certain job?

A) Performance behavior
B) Interpersonal behavior
C) Disruptive behavior
D) Potential behavior
E) Assertive behavior

Question 8

The extent to which people are self-aware, able to manage their emotions, and motivate others is an aspect of which of the following?

A) Attitude
B) Emotional intelligence
C) Negative emotionality
D) Social skills
E) Empathy

Question 9

Which would an employee who is productive but refuses to help others or the organization be lacking in?

A) Organizational citizenship
B) Workplace aggression
C) Performance behavior
D) Personal productivity
E) Self-esteem

Question 10

Organizational citizenship reflects the ability of a behavior to detract from, rather than contribute to, organizational performance.

Question 11

Which of the following is represented by a relatively stable set of psychological attributes that distinguish people from others?

A) Differences
B) Attitude
C) Personality
D) Extroversion
E) Emotional intelligence

Question 12

Organizational commitment reflects an individual's identification with the organization and its mission.

Question 13

Discuss ways in which absenteeism affects coworkers and the organization.

Question 14

How can managers minimize the chance of workplace violence?

Question 15

Which of these behaviors BEST indicates good organizational citizenship?

A) Being willing to help new employees
B) Asking for a pay raise
C) Meeting job performance standards
D) Keeping regular hours
E) Using office supplies for business use

Question 16

Which of the following might you, as a manager, expect to see in an employee who has a low degree of conscientiousness?

A) A tendency to be unprepared at meetings
B) A tendency to have a high degree of performance
C) A tendency to focus on relatively few tasks at one time
D) A high level of organization and self-discipline
E) An ability to meet deadlines without fail

Question 17

If a task involves a high level of detail, which type of personality would be best suited to perform the task?

A) One who exhibits high agreeableness and low conscientiousness
B) One who exhibits more negative emotionality and low agreeableness
C) One who exhibits high openness and low negative emotionality
D) One who exhibits high conscientiousness and low extraversion
E) One who exhibits high creativity and low negative emotionality

Question 18

Behaviors that detract from, instead of contribute to, organizational performance are known as what?

A) Inclusive
B) Negative reinforcement
C) Counterproductive
D) Turnover
E) Associative

Question 19

If an employee has a tendency to focus on relatively few tasks at one time, what type of personality trait is considered to be high?

A) Agreeableness
B) Conscientiousness
C) Emotionality
D) Extraversion
E) Openness

Question 20

What is emotionality?

A) The ability of a person to get along with others
B) The degree to which someone tends to be positive or negative
C) The number of things a person tries to accomplish at once
D) The relative rigidity of an individual's beliefs
E) The likelihood that a person will react aggressively

Question 21

When an employee sees themselves as a member of the team and can easily identify with the organization's mission, what is the result?

A) Organizational commitment
B) Psychological contracts
C) Cognitive dissonance
D) Intention
E) Cognition

Question 22

Those employees who like to experiment with new ideas or gamble on the development of new products are considered to have a higher degree of

A) self-esteem.
B) intrinsic reward need.
C) authoritarianism.
D) propensity for risk.
E) cognition.

Question 23

According to the Myers-Briggs framework, how do introverts recharge their energy levels?

A) By being around others
B) When considering abstract ideas
C) When completing or finishing an assignment or project
D) By having time to process open-ended situations
E) By being alone and having solitude

Question 24

Which of the following is based on the knowledge a person presumes to have about perceptions of truth and reality?

A) Affect
B) Intention
C) Attitude
D) Personality
E) Cognition

Question 25

If an employee feels they have the skills and ability needed to perform a task well, they are better able to focus their attention on performance because of their high degree of

A) self-esteem.
B) locus of control.
C) risk propensity.
D) self-efficacy.
E) cognitive dissonance.

Question 26

Which of the following best describes empathy?

A) The ability to balance fear, anxiety, and anger
B) The ability to remain optimistic and continue to strive when facing setbacks
C) The ability to understand how others feel
D) The ability to get along with others
E) The ability to establish positive relationships

Question 27

Personality includes personal attributes that vary from one person to another.

Question 28

What is the result of a person behaving in a way that is inconsistent with their attitudes?

A) Affect
B) Lapsed morale
C) Increased satisfaction
D) Cognitive dissonance
E) Impairment

Question 29

Affect is one of the three components of attitude.

Question 30

Research suggests that the major personality dimension that exists in a variety of countries, and is therefore reasonably important across cultures is

A) attitude.
B) cognition.
C) intention.
D) commitment.
E) self-esteem.

Question 31

Balancing anxiety, fear, and anger so they do not overly interfere with getting things accomplished is a part of emotional intelligence.

Question 32

What is the term that reflects the extent of one's self awareness and ability to manage emotions?

A) Emotional intelligence
B) Personality
C) Introversion
D) Openness
E) Emotionality

Question 33

Which of the following is used to guide a person's behavior?

A) Affect
B) Intention
C) Attitude
D) Personality
E) Cognition

Question 34

What is the outcome when employees have positive attitudes towards their jobs?

A) Increased cognitive dissonance
B) Decreased morale
C) Stronger intention
D) Limited commitment
E) Increased job satisfaction

Question 35

What is the correct term for one's belief that their behavior has an effect on what happens to them?

A) Self-efficacy
B) Authoritarianism
C) Self-esteem
D) Locus of control
E) Risk propensity

Question 36

According to research, emotional intelligence cannot be developed or learned.

Question 37

How willing a person is to take chances in their decision process indicates a person's

A) self-esteem.
B) locus of control.
C) risk propensity.
D) self-efficacy.
E) cognitive dissonance.

Question 38

Which of the following best represent the personality attributes of someone who is considered to be an extrovert?

A) Forgiving, understanding, and good natured
B) Organized, systematics, and self-disciplined
C) Calm, resilient, and secure
D) Sociable, assertive, and open to new relationships
E) Curious, willing to listen to new ideas, and willing to change their own beliefs

Question 39

Which term, similar to emotions, identifies a person's feelings about something?

A) Affect
B) Intention
C) Cognitive dissonance
D) Attitude
E) Morale

Question 40

A person's self-efficacy is a belief about their extent of power and status within the organization.

Question 41

Scientific management is best described as a theory of motivation which states

A) job satisfaction depends on two factors, hygiene and motivation.
B) people are motivated to work toward rewards that they want and that they have a reasonable chance of obtaining.
C) people evaluate their treatment by the organization relative to the treatment of others.
D) managers should analyze jobs to find the most efficient methods and use money as a primary motivator.
E) people will work more productively as long as they receive some kind of attention from management.

Question 42

What is MOST useful about Theory X and Theory Y?

A) They shed light on managers' attitudes toward employees.
B) They provide a useful blueprint for taking action.
C) They help managers better understand employees.
D) They accurately depict the attitude of employees at work.
E) They support management decisions and plans.

Question 43

Identify and explain each of the "Big Five" personality traits.

Question 44

According to Maslow's model, a set of needs will be a motivator until which of the following occurs?

A) The needs are satisfied.
B) New needs are identified.
C) The person becomes self-motivated.
D) A supervisor changes the work.
E) The needs are replaced by hygiene factors.

Question 45

If an employee needs to feel that she is a part of a team and yet her position involves working alone, which of the following may NOT be right?

A) The pay scale
B) The person-job fit
C) The employee's attitude
D) The organization's plan
E) The team structure

Question 46

If a manager believes that his employees are self-motivated and growth-oriented, what type of manager is he?

A) Theory Y
B) Theory X
C) Classical
D) Hierarchical

Question 47

Because job permanence is less likely in today's economy, which of the following are some companies offering in order to keep the psychological contract in balance?

A) Additional promotions
B) Increased loyalty inducements
C) Fewer training opportunities
D) Flexible scheduling
E) More negotiated benefits

Question 48

Which of the following identifies what the organization will provide the employee and what the employee will contribute to the organization in turn?

A) Person-job fit
B) Psychological contract
C) Inducements
D) Contributions
E) Motivation contract

Question 49

Which of the following aspects of the psychological contract is provided by the employee?

A) Benefits
B) Pay
C) Skills
D) Security
E) Status

Question 50

What is the term for the extent to which a person's contributions and the organization's inducements match?

A) Employee equity
B) Person-job fit
C) Psychological contract
D) Time-motion study
E) Team culture

Question 51

What causes people to behave in a certain way on the job?

A) Person-job fit
B) Inducements
C) Pay
D) Psychological contracts
E) Motivation

Question 52

In terms of a psychological contract, inducements represent what employees will contribute to an organization.

Question 53

The most productive employee in the department doesn't apply for a job opening they are well suited for, in spite of an excellent record and the pay and prestige associated with the new job. The employee believes that the job will go to someone who has more seniority. Based on expectancy theory, which would explain why the employee doesn't apply for the job?

A) The effort-performance issue
B) The rewards-personal goals issue
C) The performance-reward issue
D) Personal goals
E) Family demands

Question 54

How can an organization fulfill their organization's contract obligations to employees?

A) Contributions
B) Psychological contracts
C) Inducements
D) Intention
E) Cognition

Question 55

Which of the following aspects of the psychological contract is provided by the organization?

A) Competency
B) Effort
C) Time
D) Status
E) Talent

Question 56

Discuss how an employee's level of self-esteem affects their actions and needs at the workplace.

Question 57

Which of the following helps explain why some people do not work as hard as they can when their salaries are based purely on seniority?

A) Two-factor theory
B) Maslow's hierarchy of human needs
C) Scientific management
D) Expectancy theory
E) Theory X and Theory Y

Question 58

Which of the following theories focuses on people evaluating their treatment by the organization relative to the treatment of others?

A) Equity theory
B) Hierarchy of needs
C) Expectancy theory
D) Goal-setting theory
E) X and Y theory

Question 59

Which of the following lists Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs in order, starting with the most basic?

A) Physiological, security, social, esteem, self-actualization
B) Social, security, physiological, esteem, self-actualization
C) Physiological, self-actualization, security, esteem, social
D) Physiological, esteem, security, social, self-actualization
E) Esteem, self-actualization, social, physiological, security

Question 60

What is the Hawthorne effect?

A) The belief that employees are motivated by money alone
B) The conclusion that workers are more productive if management pays attention to them
C) The determination that the level of lighting in a workplace has no effect on productivity
D) The theory that workers are more productive if their jobs are analyzed closely
E) The unspoken agreement between the employee and the employer

Question 61

Which motivational theory focuses on social comparisons as a motivator?

A) Equity theory
B) Expectancy theory
C) Maslow's hierarchy of needs
D) Hygiene factors
E) Herzberg's two-factor theory

Question 62

According to expectancy theory, people are motivated to work toward rewards they want and that they believe they have a reasonable chance of obtaining.

Question 63

According to McGregor, what motivational theory beliefs will result in managers most likely to have satisfied and motivated employees?

A) Hierarchy of human needs
B) Theory X
C) Theory Y
D) Two factor theory
E) Expectancy theory

Question 64

Which of the following indicates that an employee will work towards their goals if they believe they have a reasonable opportunity to achieve those goals?

A) Equity theory
B) Expectancy theory
C) Maslow's hierarchy of needs
D) Hygiene factors
E) Herzberg's two-factor theory

Question 65

Motivation factors are directly related to the work that employees perform; hygiene factors refer to the environment in which they work.

Question 66

Which of the following supports the belief that people are naturally lazy and must be punished or rewarded to be made productive?

A) Hierarchy of human needs
B) Theory X
C) Theory Y
D) Two factor theory
E) Expectancy theory

Question 67

When people feel they are being inequitably treated, they are likely to ask for raises, increase their efforts, and work longer hours.

Question 68

Hygiene factors affect motivation only if they are absent or fail to meet expectations.

Question 69

According to the classical theory of motivation, attention from the supervisor is more of a motivator than money.

Question 70

For an individual to feel equitably treated, his ratio of contribution to return must be the same as the other individual's ratio with whom he or she is comparing.

Question 71

A manager wants to motivate the maintenance staff to be more productive. She starts by providing training and assures employees that high productivity will be rewarded. Employees are asked to identify the rewards that would mean the most to them. The manager likely subscribes to which theory of motivation?

A) Equity
B) Expectancy
C) Two-factor
D) Hierarchy of needs
E) Productivity

Question 72

An employee is encouraged to apply for a promotion, but does not because he has children and wants to be home in the evening. Based on expectancy theory, which of the following explains why the employee doesn't apply for the job?

A) The effort-performance issue
B) The rewards-personal goals issue
C) The performance-rewards issue
D) The rewards-ethics issue
E) The ethics-performance issue

Question 73

According to McClelland, what do employees experience when they tend to want reassurance and approval from others and are genuinely concerned about others' feelings?

A) The need for power
B) The need for satisfaction
C) The need for achievement
D) The need for motivation
E) The need for affiliation

Question 74

According to Frederick Herzberg, which of the following is considered a hygiene factor?

A) Recognition
B) Hours
C) Working conditions
D) Additional time off
E) Added responsibility

Question 75

An employee's level of effort began to decline when they learned a new employee with far less experience was hired at the same salary. The employee's lack of motivation can best be described by which theory of motivation?

A) Equity
B) Expectancy
C) Two-factor
D) Scientific management
E) Planning

Question 76

According to McClelland, which of the following represents the desire to control one's environment?

A) The need for power
B) The need for satisfaction
C) The need for achievement
D) The need for motivation
E) The need for affiliation

Question 77

If, instead of offering incentives for sales goals, a manager were to get ideas on increasing sales revenue from his sales team to implement, which of the following would MOST likely result?

A) The sales team would be more motivated by feeling more invested in the process.
B) The sales team would prefer to be given clearly defined goals to meet.
C) The sales team would not have enough information to go on in order to get ideas.
D) The sales team would come up with too many different ideas.
E) The sales team would be more motivated because of the chance to earn more money.

Question 78

According to McClelland, what is the need for achievement based on?

A) The desire to control one's environment
B) The desire to increase job satisfaction
C) Recognition for a job well done
D) The desire to accomplish a goal or task as effectively as possible
E) The need for human companionship

Question 79

Which of the following, if true, would BEST show that a manager's strategy for motivating his team is consistent with "Theory Y" about employee motivation?

A) The employees would need to see incentives as worth having for their own sake.
B) The employees would need to see their work as contributing to a success that they share in.
C) The manager wants his team to feel rewards will increase as the quality of work is increased.
D) The manager thinks that his team will not do their work well without added incentives.
E) The manager thinks that incentives are needed in order to boost morale.

Question 80

The two-factor theory examines the relationship between effort and performance.