Deck 11: Motivating Employees

Question 1

attempts to increase task efficiency by breaking down jobs into simple steps and assigning people to each of those steps.

A)Job segmentation
B)Roundabout production
C)Job simplification
D)Task restriction

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Julie has worked for the Rarwick Corporation for several years.Recently,management recognized her as one of the company's best workers.Her fellow employees respect and admire her,and she feels good about herself.The type of needs that are likely to motivate Julie in the future are:

A)safety needs.
B)social needs.
C)self-actualization needs.
D)physiological needs.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Mayo's findings at the Hawthorne plant led to which of the following assumptions about employees?

A)Pay is the only motivator.
B)Workers are motivated if they receive high enough pay and their socializing needs are taken into account.
C)Motivation is unrelated to needs.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Most workers in poor,less developed nations are motivated by the desire to satisfy:

A)social needs.
B)empathetic needs.
C)physiological needs.
D)esteem needs.

Question 5

Melody has worked as a secretary at Consolidated Freight Handling for ten years.She earns a good salary and is well liked by her fellow workers and managers.However,she has been passed over for promotion twice and feels that no one appreciates her abilities and skills.Melody is concerned with satisfying her:

A)esteem needs.
B)physiological needs.
C)social needs.
D)safety needs.

Question 6

Frank and Lillian Gilbreth developed the principle of ,which said that every job could be broken down into a series of elementary motions.

A)micro-motion analysis
B)marginal productivity
C)motion economy
D)division of labour

Question 7

refers to a situation in which a manager attempts to stop an undesirable behaviour by simply not responding to it.

A)Rationalizing
B)Passive resistance
C)Retraction
D)Extinction

Question 8

In Maslow's hierarchy of needs,the desire for love and acceptance would fall into the category of:

A)social needs.
B)self-actualization needs.
C)esteem needs.
D)primal needs.

Question 9

The degree to which a job has a substantial impact on the lives or work of others in the organization is referred to as:

A)the multiplier effect.
B)mutual interdependence.
C)task redundancy.
D)task significance.

Question 10

The Hawthorne studies concluded that worker motivation:

A)was most affected by monetary incentives.
B)was mainly determined by physical working conditions such as lighting,temperature,and humidity.
C)improved when workers felt like their ideas were respected.
D)increased when managers applied the scientific management approach.

Question 11

The Hawthorne studies found that workers in the experimental group:

A)were more creative when working individually than they were when working in teams.
B)performed poorly because they were distracted by all of the attention they received.
C)were more productive than other workers regardless of the level of lighting.
D)performed much better under bright lighting than they did when lighting was dim.

Question 12

In the Hawthorne studies,workers were involved in the planning of the experiments.This caused workers to:

A)believe that management respected their ideas,which motivated them.
B)set rather simple,easily attainable goals.
C)have high levels of productivity,but show disrespect for the managers in their test area.
D)become distracted and thus reduced productivity.

Question 13

The original goal of the Hawthorne studies was to determine:

A)how to stimulate workers to be more creative.
B)the level of illumination that was associated with optimum productivity.
C)whether employees could work effectively in unsupervised teams.
D)the average IQ of production workers.

Question 14

Every month Sam is assigned a different job at Russo & Daughters Financial Consulting.Sam enjoys the variety and finds that switching jobs on a regular basis keeps the work from becoming boring.Russo & Daughters is using a technique known as job:

A)shopping.
B)sharing.
C)rotation.
D)branching.

Question 15

The most important impact of the Hawthorne studies was that it:

A)showed that workers could be programmed like machines to perform simple repetitive tasks,and thus led to the development of assembly lines.
B)changed the direction of research away from Taylor's scientific management toward the study of human-based management.
C)helped managers find the level of lighting associated with optimum productivity.
D)showed that physical working conditions have no impact on worker productivity.

Question 16

Theory X managers are likely to believe that:

A)most workers know more about their job than the boss.
B)the average person dislikes work and will seek to avoid it when possible.
C)job satisfaction is primarily related to higher order needs.
D)employees are motivated mainly by the chance for advancement and recognition.

Question 17

One implication of goal-setting theory is that goals should be:

A)set by top management.
B)relatively easy to achieve.
C)set through a process that involves everyone within the organization.
D)set at a level that slightly exceeds the ability of workers to achieve them.

Question 18

The fundamental purpose of MBO is to:

A)give top management discretion in setting long-term goals and objectives.
B)involve all members of the organization in goal-setting and implementation.
C)make better use of staff managers by giving them control over various line departments.
D)reduce the amount of time managers must spend communicating with subordinates.

Question 19

The findings of the Hawthorne studies led researchers to look more closely at how could lead to better productivity.

A)the human side of motivation
B)changes in salary and benefits
C)disciplinary factors and punishment
D)changes in physical working conditions

Question 20

Workers in Canada and other developed nations are least likely to be motivated by the desire to satisfy needs.

A)social
B)physiological
C)self-actualization
D)esteem

Question 21

Until recently,Compkey International produced personal computers on an assembly line with each worker performing only one simple task.Three months ago,the company began allowing individual workers to assemble entire computers,test all of the components,and even install the software that Compkey includes with each of its computers.Compkey's new production method is an example of:

A)flexible manufacturing.
B)job enlargement.
C)roundabout production.
D)job rotation.

Question 22

According to expectancy theory,the amount of effort employees exert on a specific task depends on their:

A)perception of the importance of the task.
B)manager's expectations of their performance.
C)level of needs that are not yet satisfied.
D)expectations of the outcome.

Question 23

Herzberg's research found that safe working conditions and good pay:

A)were important motivators for most workers.
B)had no impact on worker morale.
C)were very important motivators for professional workers and managers,but were poor motivators for unskilled workers.
D)helped maintain worker satisfaction,but did little to increase motivation.

Question 24

According to Maslow,a higher order need:

A)never provides as much motivation as a lower order need.
B)becomes a source of motivation after lower order needs are satisfied.
C)contributes directly to the physical survival of the individual.
D)always provides greater motivation than a lower order need.

Question 25

Herzberg's research identified several factors that did not necessarily motivate workers if they were increased,but could cause workers to become dissatisfied if they were missing or inadequate.

A)retroactive
B)negative
C)inferior
D)hygiene

Question 26

Herzberg's research found that the factor that ranked highest as a motivator was:

A)a compensation system that included bonuses and regular pay raises.
B)the presence of clear and consistent company rules and policies.
C)the friendliness of supervisors.
D)a sense of achievement.

Question 27

The need would be classified as a social need.

A)to reach one's full potential
B)for recognition and self-respect
C)to feel accepted and loved
D)to feel safe and secure from unexpected threats

Question 28

Jackie had been very pleased with her part-time job at a local convenience store until a recent incident occurred.During Jackie's shift,the store was burglarized.Although no one was hurt,Jackie now feels uneasy and fearful during her late night shift.She is so nervous and worried that she is having a hard time concentrating on her work and is thinking about quitting.Management needs to be aware of Jackie's unmet _______ needs.

A)esteem
B)self-actualization
C)safety
D)physiological

Question 29

Job combines a series of tasks into one assignment that is more challenging,interesting,and motivating.

A)enlargement
B)maximization
C)enhancement
D)optimization

Question 30

Weldon Task has just successfully negotiated a new long-term sales agreement with a major client.The good feeling Weldon has about his efforts is his reward.

A)extrinsic
B)intrinsic
C)reciprocal
D)external

Question 31

Theory ___ managers see workers as being lazy and unwilling to accept responsibility.

A)A
B)X
C)Z
D)Y

Question 32

Maslow would classify the need for recognition from others and for self-respect as needs.

A)physiological
B)esteem
C)security
D)social

Question 33

Which of the following problems would indicate that managers had not applied the basic concepts of expectancy theory?

A)Workers are confused and frustrated because managers do not provide them with adequate feedback about their job performance.
B)Workers are unwilling to work toward achieving an important goal because they believe the reward they will receive is not sufficient to justify the effort.
C)Workers are frustrated because they have no say in their organization's goals and objectives.
D)Some of the organization's workers reduce their effort because they feel that they are being treated unfairly compared to other workers.

Question 34

Matt works for a sports marketing firm.He feels that he has been treated unfairly by the organization.He helped three other employees organize a series of successful street hockey tournaments in different regions of the country.While the other employees were given a bonus and corporate recognition,his efforts were ignored.According to equity theory,Matt is likely to respond by:

A)working even harder in the future.
B)reducing his efforts on future projects.
C)ignoring the perceived inequity.
D)reaching the conclusion that his treatment is not related to the treatment of others.

Question 35

The good feeling people get when they have done a job well is a(n)reward.

A)extrinsic
B)physiological
C)intrinsic
D)cognitive

Question 36

emphasizes motivating the worker through the characteristics of the job itself.

A)Scientific management
B)Automation
C)Job enrichment
D)Job engineering

Question 37

John dropped out of school after the ninth grade and now must support himself though he has few skills.He is a part time employee at a small retailer earning minimum wage.John would like to earn more,but hasn't been able to find a better job.He is having a hard time paying his rent and utility bills and has quit eating breakfast to try to save on his food bills.John is having trouble meeting his:

A)social needs.
B)self-actualization needs.
C)esteem needs.
D)physiological needs.

Question 38

Milo lives in a third-world country with a volatile political and social environment.He currently has a job and can afford a decent apartment and plenty of food.He is worried,however,that the job may not last and that riots and political unrest will throw the country into turmoil.Milo's concerns reflect the desire to satisfy:

A)self-actualization needs.
B)safety needs.
C)physiological needs.
D)social needs.

Question 39

Which of the following statements is a proponent of management by objectives most likely to make:

A)in order to achieve important goals,managers must rely more on helping workers rather than coaching them.
B)when all is said and done,workers must motivate themselves.
C)most workers are motivated more by pay than by recognition.
D)top management is best qualified to set the organization's overall goals.

Question 40

At Quatritech International,employees tend to work with little direct supervision.They are expected to use creativity and imagination on the job because management believes they are committed and professional workers.The management style at Quatritech reflects attitudes about workers.

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

Question 41

The Hawthorne studies were conducted by and his colleagues from Harvard University.

A)Elton Mayo
B)Henry Gantt
C)Peter Drucker
D)John Hawthorne

Question 42

Kathleen is the new operations manager of a national stock brokerage firm.She recently attended a conference on the use of expectancy theory to motivate employees.In order to incorporate what she has learned,the first thing Kathleen must do is:

A)ensure that the performance standards are attainable.
B)determine if her employees consider the rewards offered adequate.
C)provide a guarantee to her employees that she will provide a financial reward if they successfully perform their jobs.
D)determine what rewards are valued by her employees.

Question 43

Abraham Maslow thought that once needs at one level of his hierarchy were met:

A)another,higher order need would emerge to motivate that person.
B)he or she would become more interested in lower-level needs.
C)that type of need would never again be an effective motivator.
D)motivation would diminish.

Question 44

is the characteristic of work concerned with the degree of freedom,independence,and discretion a worker has in scheduling work and determining procedures.

A)Autonomy
B)Alienation
C)Feedback
D)Interdependence

Question 45

Douglas McGregor described two very different sets of managerial attitudes about workers,which he called:

A)the positive view and the negative view.
B)individualism and collectivism.
C)the macro perspective and the micro perspective.
D)Theory X and Theory Y.

Question 46

Theory assumes that the average person likes work,and has a relatively high degree of imagination and creativity.

A)X
B)Y
C)A
D)Alpha

Question 47

According to Herzberg,a sense of achievement,earned recognition,and interest in the work itself were all:

A)hygiene factors.
B)ways for workers to meet their social needs.
C)important motivators.
D)consistent with his Theory X approach to motivation.

Question 48

The first step toward establishing open communication within an organization is to:

A)create a clear chain of command much like the one found in military organizations.
B)place suggestion boxes in every department.
C)set up a computer network.
D)create an organizational culture that rewards listening.

Question 49

theory is based on the idea that managers can use both rewards and punishments to motivate employee behaviour.

A)Expectancy
B)Goal-setting
C)Equity
D)Reinforcement

Question 50

Inequity in the workplace is likely to result in:

A)greater worker empowerment.
B)increased work effort.
C)higher morale.
D)lower productivity and reduced quality.

Question 51

Researchers David Nadler and Edward Lawler suggest that in order to use expectancy theory to improve worker motivation,the first thing managers should do is:

A)identify the critical path for the project.
B)decide on a way to monitor employee performance.
C)ensure that the rewards are tied to the employee's performance.
D)determine what rewards are valued by employees.

Question 52

Maureen's supervisor was so impressed by her work that he named her the employee of the month.This praise from her supervisor is an example of a(n)reward.

A)extrinsic
B)secondary
C)intrinsic
D)extraneous

Question 53

Kanetra believes that if she leaves her employees unsupervised for a few minutes they will do nothing but slack off.She is known as the "Dragon Lady" (at least behind her back)for the harsh criticism and punishment she disburses whenever an employee makes an error.Kanetra is a manager.

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

Question 54

The basic principle of equity theory is that workers try to:

A)ensure that performance standards are fair and attainable.
B)achieve the mutually agreed upon goals of management and employees.
C)earn as much as possible with as little work as possible.
D)maintain equity between inputs and outputs compared to people in similar positions.

Question 55

Perhaps the best way to deal with problems that arise when workers develop erroneous perceptions about their contributions to the firm is to:

A)maintain clear and frequent communication between management and employees.
B)build a compensation system based solely on objective criteria such as seniority.
C)keep the responsibilities and compensation of workers secret.
D)resort to a Theory X approach to management.

Question 56

According to Victor Vroom,which of the following questions is an employee likely to ask before deciding to exert his or her maximum effort toward completing a task?

A)Is the reward for completing the task worth the effort involved?
B)How often will I be expected to do this task?
C)Is this task more difficult than my previous task?
D)Are other employees working on the same type of task?

Question 57

One of the reasons management by objectives is an effective way to implement the ideas of goal-setting theory is that it:

A)provides a method to get everyone involved in the process of setting goals.
B)allows employees to set their own goals without the need to consult with managers.
C)makes it easier for managers to explain the reason for the goals they set for their employees.
D)turns managers into helpers rather than coaches.

Question 58

Sid works as a sales representative for the XYZ Company.He is about to meet with his manager to review his progress toward meeting the sales objectives they agreed to at the beginning of the year.Sid likes the fact that managers at XYZ listen to their subordinates' ideas and get everyone involved in setting goals and objectives.Sid's experience suggests that XYZ is using:

A)the program evaluation and review technique (PERT).
B)management by objectives (MBO).
C)programmed management.
D)scientific management.

Question 59

The practice of moving workers from one job to another to make work more interesting is known as:

A)job rotation.
B)worker alternation.
C)job incrementation.
D)task mobility.

Question 60

As a group,Millennials tend to be:

A)inefficient,easily bored,and uncommitted.
B)older and more mature than Gen Xers.
C)adaptable,tolerant,and tech savvy.
D)less interested in technology than Baby Boomers.

Question 61

The generation born between 1977 and 1994 is known as Generation:

A)Y
B)Z
C)X
D)K

Question 62

used the terms Theory X and Theory Y to describe different attitudes managers had about workers.

A)Douglas McGregor
B)Robert Colby
C)Elton Mayo
D)Victor Vroom

Question 63

According to Herzberg's views,which of the following strategies would be most likely to result in a higher level of worker motivation?

A)Using time-motion studies to find the most efficient techniques for workers to use.
B)Making the work itself more interesting and challenging.
C)Improvements in the physical working conditions.
D)Providing clear and fair work rules and policies.

Question 64

One of the elements essential to Frederick Taylor's approach to improving worker productivity was:

A)open communication.
B)rules of work.
C)a hierarchy of needs.
D)teamwork.

Question 65

According to the principles of scientific management,the best way to improve productivity is to:

A)establish open two-way communications among all of the organization's workers and managers.
B)give workers greater recognition for their efforts.
C)use time-motion studies to find the best method of doing each job,then teach those methods to workers.
D)use job rotation and job enlargement to make work more interesting and challenging.

Question 66

Lynn is in charge of a nursing shift at a hospital.She wants to improve the motivation and performance level of the nurses under her direction.According to expectancy theory,one element of an effective motivational strategy is to:

A)set performance standards that are beyond the ability of most nurses to actually achieve.
B)determine what types of rewards are valued by the nurses.
C)rotate the nurses so that they perform different jobs each day.
D)simplify the job.

Question 67

Which of the following is the best example of extinction as the term is used in reinforcement theory?

A)A manager decides not to take any specific actions against an employee who has engaged in undesirable behaviour.
B)An employee refuses to do a certain task because she does not value the reward that she will receive for its successful completion.
C)A manager uses very harsh negative reinforcements to punish a worker for undesirable behaviour.
D)A worker expresses frustration and quits because he feels management has set goals that are impossible to attain.

Question 68

was the dominant strategy for improving worker productivity during the early 1900s.

A)Job enrichment
B)Scientific management
C)Social Darwinism
D)Management by objective

Question 69

Ramon works at Montreal Medical Instruments.His job was recently redefined so that he now has more flexibility in the hours he works and more say in the procedures used on the job.This suggests that Montreal Medical Instruments is trying to change Ramon's job so that it has more:

A)feedback.
B)task identity.
C)autonomy.
D)task significance.

Question 70

Which of the following statements about worker motivation is most consistent with the findings of the Hawthorne studies?

A)Workers are more motivated if they feel they are part of a special group or project.
B)Worker motivation will fall significantly if lighting conditions,temperature,and other elements of the physical environment are not kept at their optimal levels.
C)Worker motivation is unimportant in determining the level of worker productivity,because productivity is primarily determined by external factors such as the speed of the machinery the workers operate.
D)The best way to motivate workers is to offer pay raises,bonuses,and other financial incentives to workers who meet or exceed clearly specified goals.

Question 71

Herzberg found that good pay:

A)was the strongest motivator.
B)had no effect on worker attitudes.
C)was a significant motivator,but not as important as job security.
D)was a hygiene factor rather than a motivator.

Question 72

Wally is a professional house painter.During busy periods,he often hires college students as helpers on his jobs.Wally tells his helpers that he has determined the most efficient way to paint a house and he expects them to follow his instructions exactly.Wally's approach is consistent with the ideas of:

A)Frederick Herzberg.
B)Frederick Taylor.
C)Peter Drucker.
D)William Ouchi.

Question 73

Maslow placed needs at the highest level of his hierarchy.

A)self-actualization
B)deferred
C)esteem
D)social

Question 74

According to goal-setting theory,in order for goals to enhance motivation and performance,they must be:

A)tied directly to the principles of scientific management.
B)accompanied by feedback.
C)put into the labour contract.
D)accompanied by monetary rewards.

Question 75

studied how the characteristics of the job itself affected worker motivation.

A)Douglas McGregor
B)William Ouchi
C)Frederick Herzberg
D)Frederick Taylor

Question 76

Two things shared by many companies with highly motivated workforces are:

A)acceptance of scientific management and centralized decision-making.
B)clear distinctions between managers and workers and a simple line and staff organizational structure.
C)open communications systems and self-managed teams.
D)Theory X management styles and high wage rates.

Question 77

Maslow classified the needs for basic items such as food,water,and shelter as:

A)self-actualization needs.
B)sustenance needs.
C)physiological needs.
D)safety needs.

Question 78

Working conditions recently have changed at the Bariol Corporation.Managers and employees now answer their own phones,and even top managers are addressed by their first name.The company even eliminated executive washrooms and parking spaces.Bariol implemented all of these changes in an effort to help workers motivate themselves by creating a team spirit within the company.Bariol's efforts are consistent with an attempt to:

A)ensure that maintenance factors are satisfactory.
B)fully implement the scientific management approach developed by Taylor.
C)establish a pure Type J approach to management.
D)improve motivation through open communication.

Question 79

Gerald believes that most of his subordinates dislike work and would avoid it if possible.He also believes that his workers have little,if any,ambition,and that the only way to motivate them is by using threats and punishment.Gerald's views are consistent with ___________ management.

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

Question 80

Which of the following statements is the best description of how scientific management viewed workers?

A)Workers are like machines that must be programmed to perform in a certain way.
B)Workers will only exert their maximum effort if they believe that their goals are attainable.
C)Most workers are creative and intelligent individuals who should be given a great deal of freedom and flexibility in how they perform their jobs.
D)Workers are individuals who do not respond in the same way to a particular management style.