Question 1

Aaron,an HR manager,observes that the number of employees quitting their jobs has been steadily increasing over the last six months.On closer inspection,he finds that a majority of the employees who quit were unhappy with the pay structures.Aaron assesses the significance of each job to the organization,which helps him set up fair pay structures.This in turn helps the organization retain valuable employees.Which of the following most likely relates to the task undertaken by Aaron?

Accepted Answer

Aaron is undertaking job evaluation, which involves assessing the significance of each job to the organization to determine fair pay structures.

Question 2

Steve contends that a manager conducting a job analysis is required not only to define jobs when they are created but also to detect changes in jobs.What is the validity of Steve's argument?

Accepted Answer

Steve's argument is valid as errors in job analysis can result from outdated job descriptions. Therefore, it is important for a manager to monitor and detect changes in jobs so that the job analysis remains accurate and relevant.

Question 3

Maxwin Infomatics Corp. ,a nationwide logistics company,has announced the opening of a new unit for the manufacturing division.Alex,the HR manager,has been asked to help plan for the creation of the new unit.Which of the following relates to the task undertaken by Alex,if he is involved in the process of explaining how an employee will execute his or her tasks?

Accepted Answer

Job design involves determining the tasks, responsibilities, and duties of a job and outlining how they will be performed by an employee. This includes explaining how an employee will execute his or her tasks.

Question 4

Which of the following HR activities is similar to analyzing a job that does not yet exist?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following HR activities is...

Question 5

The industrial engineering approach is most likely to emphasize _____.

Accepted Answer

The industrial engineering approach is all about making processes and jobs more streamlined and efficient. Therefore, option B - streamlining jobs to make them simpler and more efficient - is the most likely to be emphasized under this approach.

Question 6

According to the Job Characteristics Model,_____ refers to the job characteristic that reflects the degree to which a job allows an individual to make decisions about the way the work is carried out.

Accepted Answer

Autonomy refers to the degree to which a job allows an individual to make decisions about the way the work is carried out. Task knowledge refers to the extent to which the job requires the application of specialized knowledge or expertise, task ability refers to the degree to which a job requires a variety of skills to be performed, skill variety refers to the number of different tasks required to perform the job, and feedback refers to the degree to which the job provides employees with clear, direct information about their performance effectiveness.

Question 7

Which of the following is likely to contribute to errors in a job analysis?

Accepted Answer

Fixed and unchanging job descriptions can contribute to errors in a job analysis as they may become outdated and not accurately represent the current job duties and requirements. It is important for job descriptions to be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure accuracy.

Question 8

Which of the following scenarios reflects a job lacking the characteristic of task significance?

Accepted Answer

Task significance refers to the extent to which a job has an impact on the lives of other people. A job that has minimal impact on the lives of other people lacks task significance. Thus, option C reflects a job lacking this characteristic.

Question 9

Javier,a regional manager for a leading automobile company in the U.S. ,decides to design a manufacturing job based on the principles of industrial engineering.Following its successful implementation,which of the following outcomes should he expect?

Accepted Answer

Implementing principles of industrial engineering is aimed at increasing efficiency in manufacturing processes by optimizing resources, reducing waste, and improving productivity. Therefore, the expected outcome of designing a manufacturing job based on these principles would be increased efficiency. The other options, such as increased complexity, decreased repetitiveness, or decreased specialization, may or may not be outcomes of implementing industrial engineering principles, depending on the specific context and objectives of the job design. However, increased skill requirements may also be a possible outcome, as industrial engineering often involves using advanced technologies, tools, or methods that require skilled workers to operate and maintain.

Question 10

In terms of the Job Characteristics Model,feedback refers to the extent to which _____.

Accepted Answer

Feedback in the Job Characteristics Model refers to the extent to which a person receives clear information about performance effectiveness from the work itself. This includes feedback on how well they are doing their job and the impact of their work on others. It is an important aspect of job design as it helps to motivate employees and improve their job satisfaction.

Question 11

Natalie,a manager at a construction company,contends that applying industrial engineering is the simplest way to structure work and maximize efficiency.Which of the following statements supports Natalie's argument?

Accepted Answer

Natalie argues that applying industrial engineering is the simplest way to structure work and maximize efficiency. Option A supports this argument by stating that applying industrial engineering reduces the complexity of work. Therefore, Natalie's argument is strengthened by option A. The other options do not support Natalie's argument.

Question 12

Name the model that was developed by Richard Hackman and Greg Oldham to describe ways to make jobs more motivating.

Accepted Answer

The Job Characteristics Model was developed by Richard Hackman and Greg Oldham and describes ways to make jobs more motivating. The other models listed are not directly related to this concept.

Question 13

Creations Media Inc. ,a publishing company,conducted an internal survey on employee satisfaction.The results indicated that a majority of its support staff considered their jobs to be monotonous.In order to change this,management decided to combine the job duties of assistants,typists,and file clerks into a single job that requires all three kinds of work.Which of the following techniques of job design did this move constitute?

Accepted Answer

This move constitutes job extension, which involves increasing the number and variety of tasks that an employee performs, in order to make the job more challenging and less monotonous. Combining the duties of assistants, typists, and file clerks into a single job that requires all three kinds of work would expand the variety of tasks that employees perform, thereby extending the job.

Question 14

Which of the following is true of competency models?

Accepted Answer

Competency models help HR professionals align talent management with an organization's strategy and goals. Option B is partially correct, but competency models can identify more than just a few competencies. Option C is incorrect as competency models are created for all levels of an organization. Option D is incorrect as competency models focus on both tasks/outcomes and how people work. Option E is incorrect as competency models are created for all occupational groups in an organization.

Question 15

All-Best Milling is a small machine shop that makes custom parts for manufacturers in the metropolitan area where it is located.For 20 years,Monica was the office assistant.She was hired to fill a position that involved keeping track of customers' orders and purchasing supplies.After Monica retired,the company hired another office assistant to perform the same tasks.Soon afterward,however,the company's owner began hearing from frustrated customers complaining that when they called the company with questions and problems,no one was taking responsibility and helping them as Monica had.What problem with job analysis is most likely to have occurred when Monica retired?

Accepted Answer

The problem with job analysis that is most likely to have occurred when Monica retired is that she took on customer service duties, but the job description didn't reflect the change. This resulted in the new office assistant not taking on the same responsibilities and customers being frustrated with the lack of help and accountability. All-Best Milling should have updated the job description to reflect Monica's expanded duties, so that the new office assistant understood their responsibilities more fully.

Question 16

Which of the following is the objective of job enlargement?

Accepted Answer

The objective of job enlargement is to make jobs less repetitive and more interesting. This is achieved by adding tasks and responsibilities to a job, making it more diverse and challenging.

Question 17

Which of the following would be a benefit to the company if it plans on applying industrial engineering to existing jobs?

Accepted Answer

Industrial engineering focuses on optimizing processes and systems, which can lead to measurable and practical benefits such as increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved productivity.

Question 18

According to the Job Characteristics Model,which of the following best describes task identity?

Accepted Answer

Task identity refers to the degree to which a job requires the completion of a "whole" piece of work from beginning to end. This means that an individual can see the outcome of their efforts and feel a sense of accomplishment and ownership over the work they have done.

Question 19

Which of the following best defines a competency?

Accepted Answer

A competency is an area of personal capability that enables employees to perform successfully. Competencies can include a combination of knowledge, skills, abilities, and personal traits that are necessary for effective performance in a particular role or organization. Competencies are often categorized into different groups or clusters that align with the organization's goals and values.

Question 20

Clean N Green is a two-year-old company that makes wind turbines.The business owner,Janelle,is struggling to compete.Finding enough employees who know how to do the work has been difficult,and Janelle believes that her labor costs are too high because she cannot afford to match the prices of her nearest competitors.To help with these problems,Janelle hires a new HR manager,Dylan.Dylan recommends they start by bringing in an industrial engineer.How is this approach to job design most likely to help Clean N Green?

Accepted Answer

By bringing in an industrial engineer, Clean N Green can streamline their production process and simplify work for employees. This can lead to increased output per worker and potentially lower labor costs, making it easier for Janelle to compete with other businesses in the industry.

Quiz 4: Analyzing Work and Designing Jobs