Question 1

Explain how participative management can enhance skill variety, task identity, and autonomy as described in the Job Characteristics Model (JCM).

Accepted Answer

Skill variety, the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities so the worker can use a number of different skills and talent, can be enhanced by participative management because it helps the employees view their tasks from a different perspective. It helps them understand why the management requires high productivity and efficiency from them. By learning to think differently, the employees learn different skills at the mental and relational levels.
Task identity, the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work, can be enhanced by participative management by allowing employees to make decisions on the spot without management approval. For example, the woman at the Wegman's bakery that convinced management to let her include a traditional family recipe in the product line will feel a much stronger sense of task identity.
Autonomy, which is the freedom in determining work procedures and carrying them out, is enhanced by participative management because the employee is able to participate in the decision-making process. Having a voice in the process increases the sense of autonomy and control.

Question 2

Which of the following series of dimensions of the job characteristics model (JCM) combine to create meaningful work?
A) autonomy, task identity, and feedback
B) skill variety, autonomy, and task significance
C) skill variety, autonomy, and feedback
D) feedback, task identity, and task significance
E) skill variety, task identity, and task significance

Accepted Answer

The first three dimensions in JCM, skill variety, task identity, and task significance, combine to create meaningful work that the worker will view as important, valuable, and worthwhile.

Question 3

According to the job characteristics model, task significance is the degree to which ________.
A) a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) a job generates direct and clear information about performance
C) a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling work and determining its procedure
D) a job bears an impact on the lives or work of other people
E) a job requires a variety of different activities

Accepted Answer

Task significance is the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people.

Question 4

Adam Sears is an assembly line employee with Swenson Motors. Though Adam is popular among his supervisors and colleagues, Adam experiences low morale and lack of motivation. He feels frustrated that his job is restricted to fixing nuts and bolts on the car parts. He fears that he has no chances of advancing in his career as he cannot completely assemble a car. Which of the following is true with regard to Adam?
A) Adam's job has high task complexity.
B) Adam's job has a high span of control.
C) Adam's job has low role definition.
D) Adam's job has low task identity.
E) Adam's job has high task significance.

Accepted Answer

Adam's job has low task identity. This means that the degree to which the job requires the completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work is low.

Question 5

The core dimensions of the job characteristics model can be combined into a single predictive index called ________.
A) extrinsic motivation score
B) personal outcome score
C) job diagnostic score
D) motivating potential score
E) potential development score

Accepted Answer

The core dimensions of the job characteristics model can be combined into a single predictive index, called the motivating potential score.

Question 6

Describe the five core job dimensions of the job characteristics model.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the five core job dimensions of...

Question 7

Job design is defined as the ________.
A) degree to which the job rewards competence
B) way the elements in a job are organized
C) degree to which the job contributes to profit margins
D) degree of decision-making power with the immediate superiors
E) way the job is evaluated in terms of its relative worth to other jobs

Accepted Answer

Job design is defined as the way the elements in a job are organized.

Question 8

What are the various dimensions of the job characteristics model?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the various dimensions of the...

Question 9

According to the job characteristics model, autonomy is defined as the degree to which ________.
A) a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) a job generates direct and clear information about performance
C) a job provides the worker freedom, independence, and discretion
D) a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people
E) a job requires a variety of different activities

Accepted Answer

Autonomy is the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom, independence, and discretion in scheduling work and determining the procedures in carrying it out.

Question 10

Which of the following statements best describes the concept of autonomy in the job characteristics model?
A) The degree to which carrying out the work activities required by a job results in the individual obtaining direct and clear information about the effectiveness of his performance.
B) The degree to which a job provides substantial freedom and discretion to the individual in scheduling the work and in determining the procedures to be used in carrying it out.
C) The degree to which a job has a substantial impact on the lives or work of other people.
D) The degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work.
E) The degree to which a job affects the lives or work of other people.

Accepted Answer

Autonomy is the degree to which a job provides substantial freedom and discretion to the individual in scheduling the work and in determining the procedures to be used in carrying it out.

Question 11

The job characteristics model describes any job in terms of five core job dimensions, and these five dimensions are skill variety, task significance, recognition, reward, and feedback.

Accepted Answer

The job characteristics model describes any job in terms of five core job dimensions, and these five dimensions are skill variety, task significance, autonomy, task identity, and feedback. Task identity is the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work.

Question 12

Feedback is the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about one's own performance.

Accepted Answer

Feedback is the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about one's own performance.

Question 13

With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines task identity?
A) the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) the degree to which work activities generate direct and clear information about performance
C) the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling and procedure
D) the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people
E) the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities

Accepted Answer

The job characteristics model (JCM) describes jobs in terms of five core job dimensions: skill variety, the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities; task identity, the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work; task significance, the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people; autonomy, the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling; and feedback, the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about performance.

Question 14

How would you relate skill variety and job rotation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How would you relate skill variety and...

Question 15

With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines skill variety?
A) the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) the degree to which work activities generate direct and clear information about performance
C) the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling and procedure
D) the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people
E) the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities tapping different abilities

Accepted Answer

The job characteristics model (JCM) describes jobs in terms of five core job dimensions: skill variety, the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities; task identity, the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work; task significance, the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people; autonomy, the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling; and feedback, the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about performance.

Question 16

John Dunker is one of the best firefighters in his squad, and he recently received an award for his outstanding performance. From this information, it may be concluded that John's job has low task significance.

Accepted Answer

Task significance is the degree to which a job affects the lives or work of other people. Being an outstanding firefighter, John is likely to have saved the lives of many which would be a sign of high task significance.

Question 17

According to the job characteristics model, ________ indicates the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about your own performance.
A) task significance
B) autonomy
C) feedback
D) task identity
E) skill variety

Accepted Answer

According to the job characteristics model, feedback indicates the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about your own performance.

Question 18

Andrew is a software tester. He runs through the same types of programs day after day looking for bugs and reporting them. He is taking night classes on programming. Often, he knows the best solution to many of the bugs, but he is still learning to code. Describe two job characteristics that Andrew is striving to improve, and explain two ways that Andrew's manager can redesign his current job to help him reach his goals.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Andrew is a software tester. He runs...

Question 19

Samantha Barnes is an emergency medical technician. Recently, during an emergency call, she was able to resuscitate a man who had a cardiac arrest. Subsequently, she spent some time calming the 12-year-old daughter of the patient and looked after her until the rest of the patient's family arrived at the hospital. Based on this description, it can be concluded that Samantha's job is high in ________.
A) task identity
B) feedback
C) extrinsic rewards
D) task significance
E) job rotation

Accepted Answer

Although Samantha's job has many job characteristics, the description provided best describes task significance. Task significance refers to the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives of other people.

Question 20

Jobs with high autonomy give workers a feeling of personal responsibility for the results.

Accepted Answer

Autonomy is the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom, independence, and discretion in scheduling work and determining the procedures in carrying it out. Jobs with high autonomy give workers a feeling of personal responsibility for the results.

Quiz 8: Motivation: From Concepts to Applications

Explain how participative management can enhance skill variety, task identity, and autonomy as described in the Job Characteristics Model (JCM).

Which of the following series of dimensions of the job characteristics model (JCM) combine to create meaningful work?

According to the job characteristics model, task significance is the degree to which ________.

The core dimensions of the job characteristics model can be combined into a single predictive index called ________.

Describe the five core job dimensions of the job characteristics model.

Job design is defined as the ________.

What are the various dimensions of the job characteristics model?

According to the job characteristics model, autonomy is defined as the degree to which ________.

Which of the following statements best describes the concept of autonomy in the job characteristics model?

The job characteristics model describes any job in terms of five core job dimensions, and these five dimensions are skill variety, task significance, recognition, reward, and feedback.

Feedback is the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about one's own performance.

With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines task identity?

How would you relate skill variety and job rotation?

With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines skill variety?

John Dunker is one of the best firefighters in his squad, and he recently received an award for his outstanding performance. From this information, it may be concluded that John's job has low task significance.

According to the job characteristics model, ________ indicates the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about your own performance.

Jobs with high autonomy give workers a feeling of personal responsibility for the results.