Deck 4: Principles of Motivation

Question 1

If Maslow's theory is correct, a person will be unable to satisfy biological needs until security needs are satisfied first.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

One of the biggest problems that a supervisor must face at work concerns employees with attitude problems who have a negative impact on co-workers.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory, a person must satisfy physiological needs before attempting to satisfy security needs.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Frank just hired a new employee named Joe, who appears to have strong social needs. The best way for Frank to motivate Joe is to offer Joe a good benefits package.

Question 5

Maslow believed that people are motivated to satisfy certain needs that range from low-level needs to high-level needs, in a descending priority.

Question 6

Supervisors cannot succeed at their jobs if they do not understand how to motivate employees to work to their full potential.

Question 7

Since people tend to be more alike than different, it is a mistake for a supervisor to try to tailor his or her supervisory approach to individual employees.

Question 8

Most psychologists who study human behavior and personality are convinced that all behavior is caused, goal-oriented, and motivated.

Question 9

It does not matter what the reward, as long as a reward exists employees will perform to the highest possible standard.

Question 10

Elements intrinsic in a job that promote job performance are called motivation factors.

Question 11

People are the most important resource that a supervisor is asked to manage.

Question 12

Successful supervisors reward employees based on which needs are currently driving the employee.

Question 13

Self-fulfillment needs are the first level of needs that must be satisfied.

Question 14

Height, weight, and physique influences the human personality.

Question 15

Parents who encourage autonomy and dependence give the child valuable lessons.

Question 16

According to the expectancy theory, when nurses' aides perceive that their high-performing co-workers are not being rewarded any more than average or even substandard performers, they will not believe that a performance/reward relationship exists, so they will not be motivated to perform well.

Question 17

Expectancy theory is based on worker perceptions, not relationships.

Question 18

Challenging or interesting work and recognition for accomplishments are examples of hygiene factors.

Question 19

According to expectancy theory, employees must be able to perceive a relationship between the effort they put into their work and the accompanying rewards they receive; otherwise, they will not be motivated.

Question 20

Herzberg would disagree with the notion that most employees are motivated primarily by money.

Question 21

The behavior of a difficult employee can sometimes be improved if the supervisor provides that employee more opportunities for need fulfillment.

Question 22

According to Aubrey Daniels' ABC guide for shaping behavior, it is imperative for supervisors to separate the behavior from the antecedents in order to identify the root cause of any behavioral issue.

Question 23

Theory X is the better approach to supervisoring employees when tasks must be accomplished quickly.

Question 24

Job rotation is when a supervisor assigns challenging tasks and gives the employee more decision-making responsibilities.

Question 25

Which of the following influences of early childhood has a lifelong influence?

A) Music
B) Climate
C) Affection
D) Geographic location

Question 26

The best way for a supervisor to handle difficult employees is simply to ignore them.

Question 27

According to Theory X, most workers dislike work, avoid responsibility, and must be coerced into working.

Question 28

Participative management sounds great in theory, but the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

Question 29

Which of the following is NOT included in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs:

A) Physiological
B) Organizational
C) Social
D) None of the above

Question 30

Job enlargement does not result in improved employee performance.

Question 31

Participative management tends to be more time-consuming.

Question 32

Core dimensions of job redesign are skill variety, task identity, and autonomy.

Question 33

Job rotation is the process of switching job tasks among employees in a work group.

Question 34

Theory Y supervisors have a limited view of employees' abilities and motivations.

Question 35

According to Professors Hackman and Oldham, training employees with a variety of skills as opposed to one specialty will increase motivation.

Question 36

According to Theory Y, employees must be threatened or coerced to get them to accomplish their work objectives.

Question 37

When Joe showed up late to work for the third time his supervisor cut him a break by writing him up instead of terminating him. This is an example of positive reinforcement.

Question 38

Good behavior occurs less frequently when it goes unrecognized.

Question 39

When employees participate in making the decisions that affect them, they are more likely to accept those decisions.

Question 40

According to equity theory, employees perform better when they believe that their efforts lead to desired rewards.

Question 41

According to Herzberg, which of the following statements is most likely to motivate employees?

A) "Your performance continues to fall short of my expectations."
B) "If you want this week's paycheck you will work overtime as needed."
C) "You're lucky you still have a job with this company."
D) "If we close this deal, you will be recognized by top management."

Question 42

Which of the following is a disadvantage of the Theory Y approach?

A) It supports the development of negative motivation among employees.
B) It is often resented by employees.
C) It does not promote or allow personal growth for the employee.
D) It is not useful for employees who prefer firm direction from their supervisors.

Question 43

Bettina's supervisor has assigned her an extremely challenging task and has given Bettina more personal authority in how to perform the task. This is an example of:

A) Job rotation.
B) Job enlargement.
C) Job enrichment.
D) Job security.

Question 44

Supervisors who intend to reward an employee should remember that the most important characteristic of a reward probably is that:

A) It should be extremely valuable.
B) It should be given in private so as not to cause jealousy among the rest of the staff.
C) It should be tied primarily to an employee's status and seniority.
D) It should be something the recipient wants.

Question 45

The degree to which an employee can see how their work impacts others is known as:

A) Feedback.
B) Task identity.
C) Task significance.
D) Skill variety.

Question 46

Equity theory:

A) Proposes that employees are not motivated by factors in the work environment.
B) Suggests that employees are motivated by higher-order needs only after lower-level needs have been satisfied.
C) Explains how people strive for fairness in the workplace.
D) Holds that employees perform better when they believe their efforts lead to desired rewards.

Question 47

The least important of Maslow's hierarchy is:

A) Self-fulfillment
B) Social
C) Self-respect
D) Security

Question 48

A primary difference between Maslow's theory and Herzberg's theory is that:

A) Herzberg thought that money is the prime motivator for employees.
B) Maslow believed that all employees' needs are basically the same.
C) Herzberg believed that employees are not particularly motivated by lower-level needs.
D) Maslow believed that employees are not particularly motivated by lower-level needs.

Question 49

The core job dimension that relates to the completion of a whole, identifiable piece of work is called:

A) Task identity.
B) Skill variety.
C) Autonomy.
D) Task significance.

Question 50

Which of the following is True about Theory X management?

A) It is never appropriate.
B) It takes more of a supervisor's time than Theory Y management.
C) It is almost always better to use than Theory Y management.
D) It is effective under certain circumstances.

Question 51

According to Herzberg, elements that are intrinsic in a job that promote job performance are:

A) Social factors.
B) Stimulus factors.
C) Motivation factors.
D) Hygiene factors.

Question 52

The process of making behavior occur less frequently because it is linked to an undesirable consequence is called:

A) Extinction.
B) Punishment.
C) Avoidance.
D) Positive reinforcement.

Question 53

Which of the following statements regarding employee behavior is NOT True?

A) What would be a favorable consequence for a supervisor is not necessarily desirable for an employee.
B) The best way for an employee to learn what is expected on the job is by trial and error.
C) Employee behavior is likely to be unsatisfactory unless the supervisor identifies what the employee should do and explains it to the employee.
D) Behavior with favorable consequences tends to be repeated.

Question 54

Which of the following is NOT an implication of equity theory for supervisors?

A) It provides another explanation for how perceptions of fairness influence performance.
B) It acquaints supervisors with the potential disasters that can occur when rewards are not aligned with employees.
C) It helps supervisors determine which employees are the most productive.
D) It encourages supervisors to find out what employees want and need and see as just and equitable rewards for their contribution.

Question 55

Giving employees more challenging tasks and more decision-making responsibility for their jobs is referred to as:

A) Job enlargement.
B) Job rotation.
C) Job enrichment.
D) Job redesign.

Question 56

Which of the following is a good way for a supervisor to deal with difficult people?

A) Give them two oral warnings, then terminate them.
B) Always take time to listen to their side of the story.
C) Threaten to transfer them to another department.
D) Ignore them.

Question 57

Which of the following is NOT an example of a hygiene factor?

A) Safe work environment
B) Responsibility for work
C) Supervision
D) Money

Question 58

Simon and Diana perform the same work. They are each paid the same, but Simon believes that Diana is paid more. In this case:

A) Simon experiences negative inequity.
B) Diana experiences negative inequity.
C) Simon experiences overpayment inequity.
D) Inequity does not exist, because both Simon and Diana receive the same pay for the same work.

Question 59

As the head of a one-parent household, Henrietta must make certain that she and her children are covered by her benefits at work. According to Maslow, Henrietta is probably trying to fulfill which of the following needs?

A) Biological
B) Self-respect
C) Safety
D) Self-fulfillment

Question 60

Which of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is the first and most important?

A) Physiological
B) Social
C) Security
D) Self-fulfillment

Question 61

Reina, who was adopted at a young age, often wonders how her adopted parents' education, income, and home played a role in the development of her personality. What kind of factors is Reina considering?

A) Cultural factors
B) Environmental factors
C) Physiological factors
D) Early childhood influences

Question 62

Larry regularly fails to meet sales goals but routinely demands bonuses anyway. Despite his lack of effort, he believes that the organization owes him. This is a classic example of:

A) Employee dissatisfaction
B) Inequitable treatment
C) Equitable treatment
D) Employee entitlement

Question 63

What are physiological needs and how important are they?

Question 64

Bart Wilson can be described by his work colleagues as someone who is always friendly and fun to work with, with an infectious attitude that carries over to others. Bart displays which of the following?

A) Reward-central attitude
B) Reciprocal attitude
C) Positive environmental attitude
D) Positive mental attitude

Question 65

Describe the five core job dimensions.

Question 66

How should supervisors handle difficult employees?

Question 67

Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory can best be diagrammed using what shape?

A) A ladder with rungs
B) An oval
C) A straight line
D) A starburst

Question 68

Jenna has risen quickly within her company to become the youngest VP to date. She attributes her success to strong needs for achievement, affiliation, and power. According to McClelland's three-need theory, what types of tasks are preferable to Jenna?

A) Repetitive tasks
B) Manual tasks
C) Tasks of moderate difficulty
D) Tasks of high difficulty

Question 69

What is the difference between hygiene and motivation factors?

Question 70

Walter is pleased with how much he earns at his factory job, and the working conditions are comfortable. According to Herzberg's two-factor theory. These factors are likely to result in:

A) Job satisfaction
B) Job dissatisfaction
C) High motivation
D) Low motivation

Question 71

In the ERG theory, social and external esteem needs fit within the ________ category.

A) existence
B) relatedness
C) growth
D) consistency

Question 72

Which of the following is NOT an example of participatory management in action?

A) Emmanuel solicits suggestions from his staff on the best way to meet an important deadline.
B) Terri assigns several employees to a self-directed work team.
C) Martha gives her employee, Fred, a $50 bonus for a job well done.
D) Flagston Industries institutes a quality circle program for employees.

Question 73

Hank just scored tickets to see his favorite band, but unfortunately, he works the night of the concert. Unable to find a replacement at work, Hank is debating whether to blow off work or go in as scheduled. Hank's dilemma refers to:

A) Realized cost
B) Opportunity cost
C) Aesthetic dissonance
D) Cognitive dissonance

Question 74

Under what circumstances might Theory X techniques be used effectively?

Question 75

Moe is a supervisor at Stooge Construction. He rarely takes vacations, because he feels that unless he's there to keep a close eye on his employees, nothing gets done. Which theory does Moe most closely adhere to?

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

Question 76

Well-designed jobs lead to increased motivation, higher-quality performance, and higher satisfaction among employees. What three psychological states must employees experience for these outcomes to occur?

Question 77

Bill has set a goal for himself to surpass his personal-best monthly sales record. He is willing to work long hours to achieve this goal. Bill can best be described as someone who:

A) is highly satisfied with his job.
B) is motivated by extrinsic needs.
C) is highly motivated.
D) has limited motivation.

Question 78

Jethro is an IT consultant, but to fulfill his need to create things that are useflul and pleasing, he creates pottery in his spare time. Jethro's hobby best fulfills which type of need?

A) Cognitive needs
B) Aesthetic needs
C) Self fulfillment needs
D) Transendence needs

Question 79

While Margot was preparing to cross the street, a kind motorist yielded in front of a crosswalk, allowing her to cross the street safely. Remembering this act of kindness the next day, Margot yielded to pedestrians at a crosswalk while she was driving. This example demonstrates which of the following?

A) Rule of reciprocity
B) Hierarchy of needs
C) Nature versus nurture
D) Expectancy rule

Question 80

Define personality. Name four primary determinants of personality.