Question 1

Identify and briefly discuss the three major elements of work flow analysis.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify and briefly discuss the three major...

Question 2

Concerns about employees' ability to be "always reachable" relates to which job design approach?

Accepted Answer

The concern about employees being "always reachable" relates to the mental demands and stress associated with constant connectivity, which is addressed by designing jobs to manage mental capacity.

Question 3

If,as a manager,you decided to combine the jobs of receptionist,data entry clerk,and file clerk into jobs containing all three kinds of work,you would be using which one of the following job design techniques?

Accepted Answer

Job extension involves combining multiple jobs into one job by adding similar tasks and responsibilities to the original job. In this scenario, the receptionist, data entry clerk, and file clerk jobs are being combined into one job that contains all three kinds of work. Job rotation involves moving employees through different jobs to increase their skills and flexibility. Dejobbing involves removing job titles and classifications to encourage employees to take on different tasks as needed. Job enrichment involves adding more challenging and meaningful tasks to a job. Self-managing work teams involve groups of employees working together to manage and complete tasks without supervision. None of these other options fit the scenario presented.

Question 4

Which one of the following interventions would NOT be consistent with the motivational approach to job design?

Accepted Answer

Task specialization is not consistent with the motivational approach to job design because it involves breaking down jobs into simple, repetitive tasks with little autonomy or opportunity for creativity. The motivational approach, on the other hand, focuses on creating jobs that are challenging, meaningful, and allow for autonomy and self-direction. Choices A, C, D, and E are consistent with the motivational approach as they all involve increasing the level of autonomy, responsibility, and skill variety in a job.

Question 5

If,as a manager,you were to give the sales staff in your store the authority to resolve customer problems,including the authority to decide whether to issue refunds or replace the merchandise,you would be using the technique of:

Accepted Answer

Job enrichment involves giving employees more control, responsibility, and autonomy over their work. Allowing sales staff to resolve customer problems and make decisions about issuing refunds or replacing merchandise is an example of job enrichment, as it gives them greater authority and control over their work.

Question 6

As manager of a local grocery store,you decide to allow customers to place items on a short conveyer belt rather than requiring the cashier to reach into the cart to retrieve the items before scanning them.This change would be in keeping with which job design approach?

Accepted Answer

Designing for safety and health (ergonomics) involves creating job designs that reduce the risk of injury or strain on employees' bodies. Allowing customers to place items on a conveyor belt instead of requiring the cashier to reach into the cart reduces the risk of repetitive motion injuries or strains on the cashier's back or shoulders.

Question 7

A focus on efficiency alone can create jobs that are so simple and repetitive that workers ___________.

Accepted Answer

Jobs that are designed solely for maximum efficiency can lack complexity or creativity, leading to boredom and disengagement among workers.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a way to simplify a job's mental demands?

Accepted Answer

Encouraging employees to juggle information from several sources at once would actually increase the mental demands of the job rather than simplify them. The other options (A, B, C, D) all aim to simplify the job's mental demands by reducing or clarifying the amount of information employees need to process.

Question 9

Job analysis is so important that it has been called the "building block" of everything that HR does.Describe how job analysis information is used in four specific HR processes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Job analysis is so important that it...

Question 10

Job sharing involves two part time employees carrying out tasks associated with _______________.

Accepted Answer

Job sharing involves two part time employees sharing the tasks and responsibilities associated with a single job.

Question 11

Define the following: job analysis,job description,and job specification.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define the following: job analysis,job description,and job...

Question 12

If company XYZ requires its employees to be at work between the hours of 10 a.m.and 3 p.m. ,but allows employees to decide whether they will work their additional hours before or after this time period,it is using which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes a flextime policy where employees have a set core work schedule (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) but have flexibility in determining when they will work additional hours outside of this period. This allows employees to balance their work and personal responsibilities more effectively.

Question 13

As a manager,you decide to design a job based on the principles of industrial engineering.Which of the following outcomes would NOT likely be achieved?

Accepted Answer

Industrial engineering focuses on optimizing complex processes or systems by improving productivity and efficiency, often through simplification and streamlining of tasks. This approach can lead to increased efficiency (A), reduced complexity (B), and the ability to train almost anyone quickly and easily (D), as tasks are standardized. However, it may also result in jobs that are boring and repetitive (E), as the focus is on efficiency rather than enriching the job role. Therefore, increased meaningfulness (C) is not a likely outcome, as the simplification of tasks can strip away the aspects of a job that might provide a sense of purpose or challenge to the employee.

Question 14

______________ focuses on job design for efficiency,while _____________ focuses on job design for safety and health.

Accepted Answer

Industrial engineering focuses on improving efficiency and productivity by analyzing and redesigning work processes, while ergonomics focuses on designing work environments and tasks to ensure safety, efficiency, and comfort for workers. Therefore, option A is the correct answer where industrial engineering focuses on job design for efficiency, while ergonomics focuses on job design for safety and health.

Question 15

Frederick Herzberg is most associated with which job design technique?

Accepted Answer

Frederick Herzberg is most associated with job enrichment, which involves adding more meaningful tasks and responsibilities to a job to make it more satisfying and motivating for employees.

Question 16

The objective of job enlargement is to:

Accepted Answer

Job enlargement involves adding more tasks to a job to make it less repetitive and more interesting, without necessarily increasing the complexity or decision-making authority.

Question 17

Which one of the following approaches to job design involves seeking the "one best way" to perform a job?

Accepted Answer

Design for efficiency involves finding the most effective and efficient way to perform a job, often referred to as the "one best way." This approach focuses on maximizing productivity and minimizing waste, and is commonly used in production environments.

Question 18

A schedule in which full-time workers complete their weekly hours in fewer than five days is termed a:

Accepted Answer

A compressed workweek is a schedule in which full-time workers complete their weekly hours in fewer than five days by working longer hours in a day or week. This allows for more free time and reduced commuting costs.

Question 19

Moving employees among several different jobs is ________.

Accepted Answer

Job rotation involves moving employees across various roles or jobs within an organization, which can help in diversifying their skills and broadening their work experience. Job enlargement, job extension, and job enrichment typically involve expanding the scope of an employee's current job rather than rotating them to different jobs. Flexible work scheduling refers to offering employees flexible work arrangements such as telecommuting, flexible hours, or compressed workweeks.

Question 20

Distributed work refers to work performed from:

Accepted Answer

Distributed work refers to work performed from any location outside of the traditional corporate office setting, including home, remote locations, or a combination of both.

Quiz 3: Analyzing Work and Designing Jobs