Deck 4: Engagement of Employees in the Workplace

Question 1

The esteem needs are the highest level of needs in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Hygiene factors are dissatisfiers that are associated with aspects of a person's personal life.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Base salary is a motivator in Herzberg's theory.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Motivators are satisfiers that are associated with what people do in their work.

Question 5

The content motivation theories provide an understanding of the thought or cognitive processes that take place within the minds of people and that influence their behaviour.

Question 6

The work preferences of individuals high in need for achievement are likely to include individual responsibility and feedback on performance.

Question 7

McClelland argues that the needs in his approach can be acquired.

Question 8

According to equity theory, individuals compare their rewards and inputs at work to the rewards and inputs of others.

Question 9

Managers should recognise that an equity comparison will likely be made by their subordinates whenever especially visible rewards, such as pay, are being allocated.

Question 10

The general thrust of expectancy theory is that motivation is a product of Expectancy * Instrumentality * Valence.

Question 11

Extrinsic rewards are work outcomes that are received by the individual directly as a result of task performance.

Question 12

Empowerment is the process of handing over reward-granting power to low-level employees.

Question 13

Writers like Schaufeli argue that burnout constitutes the negative pole of employee well-being.

Question 14

Nohria et al argue that there are 3 basic drives of motivation which determine employees behaviour at work.

Question 15

The organizational levers of motivation include the reward system, culture, job design and performance management and resource allocation processes.

Question 16

Employee engagement can be defined as an individual's cognitive, emotional and behavioural state directed towards individual's outcomes.

Question 17

An individual's willingness to perform is directly related to their:

A) needs, expectations, rewards
B) needs, expectations, values
C) expectations, values, effort
D) expectations, competencies, needs

Question 18

Content motivation theories are represented by:

A) Maslow, Alderfer, Herzberg and McClelland
B) Maslow, Vroom, Alderfer and Herzberg
C) Alderfer, McClelland, Vroom and Adams
D) Alderfer, Maslow, Herzberg and Adams

Question 19

The need level immediately preceding self-actualisation in Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory is:

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

Question 20

Maslow's theory:

A) applies equally to all people
B) is a content motivation theory
C) is more a theory of leadership than of motivation
D) is a process motivation theory

Question 21

The need for love or affection or the sense of belongingness in one's relationships is known as:

A) self-actualisation
B) social
C) safety
D) security

Question 22

One of the needs in Alderfer's theory is called:

A) physiological
B) growth
C) self-actualisation
D) security

Question 23

A theory of acquired needs was developed by:

A) Maslow
B) Alderfer
C) McClelland
D) Vroom

Question 24

Alderfer's modification of Maslow's theory puts the need levels into how many different categories?

A) Three
B) Four
C) Five
D) Six

Question 25

The three acquired needs in McClelland's theory are:

A) achievement, affiliation, self-actualisation
B) achievement, affiliation, power
C) achievement, safety, power
D) achievement, affiliation, security

Question 26

The three needs in Alderfer's modification of Maslow's theory are existence, relatedness and:

A) growth
B) achievement
C) power
D) affiliation

Question 27

Herzberg suggested that performance can be improved by:

A) emphasising instrumentality
B) stressing higher-order needs
C) adding satisfiers to people's jobs
D) adding hygienes to people's jobs

Question 28

McClelland's need for achievement is characterised by a desire to:

A) solve problems
B) influence others' behaviour
C) be responsible for other people
D) emphasise higher-order needs

Question 29

In Alderfer's theory:

A) only one need can be activated at one time
B) more than one need can be activated at one time
C) activated needs become rewards
D) content and process theories are combined

Question 30

Herzberg's theory does not include:

A) satisfiers
B) hygiene factors
C) equity
D) job content factors

Question 31

Process theories:

A) are thought to be static and descriptive
B) lend insight into people's needs
C) are weakly linked with work efforts.
D) provide an understanding of the thoughts that influence behaviour

Question 32

Victor Vroom:

A) proposed a theory of hierarchy of needs
B) developed a well-known version of expectancy theory
C) refined Maslow's theory
D) refined equity theory

Question 33

The key terms in expectancy theory are:

A) expectancy, instrumentality, valence
B) instrumentality, equity, tension
C) valence, desirability, instrumentality
D) tension, valence, expectancy

Question 34

The meaning of pay from an equity theory perspective is:

A) pay is an object of social comparison
B) pay is only one of many work valued rewards
C) pay is one of the extrinsic rewards that a manager may use
D) pay is one of the intrinsic rewards that a manager may use

Question 35

Herzberg's work:

A) has been fully approved by OB experts
B) led Maslow to develop his own theory
C) is a form of process motivation theory
D) is quite controversial

Question 36

Equity theory and expectancy theory:

A) are both content theories
B) are both extensions of Maslow
C) each involve need satisfaction
D) are both process theories

Question 37

Extrinsic rewards:

A) tend to be large in magnitude
B) are similar to needs
C) are expensive to administer
D) are given to the individual by someone else

Question 38

The integrated motivational model:

A) combines content and context motivation theories
B) combines content and process motivation theories
C) shows how rewards can lead to individual and group performance
D) shows how contingencies can lead to individual and group performance

Question 39

Empowerment is:

A) a means of achieving an upside-down pyramid organization
B) a means of giving middle managers more power to do their jobs properly
C) a means for managers to give employees greater responsibility to
Balance personal and organizational goals
D) an essential requirement in new workplaces

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT a strategy or technique for empowering employees?

A) provide emotional support
B) encourage job mastery
C) provide appropriate feedback
D) surrender all power

Question 41

To work well, merit pay plans should:

A) be dependent on cost-of-living adjustments
B) be based on group incentives
C) make pay contingent on satisfaction
D) be based on accurate measure of individual performance

Question 42

All of the following are examples of extrinsic work rewards EXCEPT:

A) use of a company car
B) stock options
C) piped-in music
D) sense of personal accomplishment from a job well done

Question 43

In a small manufacturing firm, a supervisor is concerned about motivating her subordinates. One of these, David, is a person whose instrumentality is low. David:

A) places little value on receiving merit pay raises
B) is not confident that performance will lead to reward
C) feels he/she cannot achieve the necessary performance level
D) is highly motivated

Question 44

Which of the following situations is best explained by equity theory?

A) Liz is happy with her job because it is challenging.
B) Karen gets a good salary considering her needs.
C) Beth gets more money than Liz even though their jobs are essentially the same and both work equally hard.
D) Cindy likes the people she works with.

Question 45

Wendy thinks that it is an excellent idea to have music playing in the background while her team carry out their duties. What kind of factor is being represented by Herzberg's theory?

A) a satisfier
B) a motivator
C) a hygiene factor
D) a job content factor

Question 46

Wendy's team-members each receive a high base salary. Herzberg would consider this to be a:

A) motivator
B) hygiene factor
C) job content factor
D) something to raise satisfaction

Question 47

If you do not study for an examination because you do not think it will help your examination grade, that illustrates:

A) valence
B) instrumentality
C) expectancy
D) effort

Question 48

Negative inequity is when an individual feels that he/she received a reward which is:

A) more than that of other people
B) equal to that of other people
C) not sufficient for his/her needs
D) less than others even though he/she worked as hard as others did

Question 49

Anne's team has just been given a contract to design a new series of travel brochures. Anne believes that she can influence her team's expectancies by:

A) selecting people with proper abilities
B) selecting people of the right gender
C) selecting people with high growth needs
D) offering group incentives

Question 50

John's autocratic style upsets his subordinates, who often appear withdrawn and stressed. According to Maslow, what level of need does this demonstrate?

A) safety
B) self-actualisation
C) social
D) physiological

Question 51

Mick reports to Sarah, but he is always finding ways to ingratiate himself. According to McClelland, Mick has a high need for:

A) achievement
B) power
C) affiliation
D) charisma

Question 52

Sarah likes to delegate authority and responsibility to Mick and in doing so to encourage Mick to become accountable for his own actions and to raise his self-efficacy. This is an example of:

A) achievement
B) power
C) self-determination
D) empowerment

Question 53

John demonstrates the capability (energy and vigour) at work, and willingness to work (involvement and dedication). According to Bakker, John is showing the signs of:

A) motivation
B) burnout
C) engagement
D) self-efficacy

Question 54

Julianne argues that pay is an object of social comparison. This mind set aligns with which of the following approaches:

A) reinforcement theory
B) expectancy theory
C) equity theory
D) None of the above

Question 55

Explain the relationship between job satisfaction and dissatisfaction in Herzberg's theory of motivation.

Question 56

Briefly explain two major adjustments made by Alderfer to Maslow's theory.

Question 57

Explain the difference between hygiene and motivation factors in Herzberg's theory.

Question 58

List and give an example for each of the needs identified by Maslow's theory.

Question 59

McClelland has identified acquired needs in his motivation theory. List the three needs and explain how one of the needs might be acquired.

Question 60

Explain the concept of extrinsic rewards and give two examples.

Question 61

What is the key difference between the approaches taken by the content and process theories concerning their explanations of work motivation? Use various content and process theories to support your answer.

Question 62

Suppose that you are a manager and find yourself with one group of subordinates who apparently seek higher-order need satisfactions at work, and another group that seems concerned only with lower-order needs. What would you do to motivate each group of subordinates? Why?

Question 63

Explain empowerment and discuss methods that managers might adopt to empower their employees. What potential benefits might emerge?

Question 64

Visual Diagram Questions
(These diagrams can be used to test understanding of concepts rather than mere recollection. The provision of the diagrams removes the pressure to remember but does draw on the ability to explain a visual image. Instructors should take care if using a mix of other questions with visual diagram questions to ensure that the diagram does not provide answers to other questions in a test or exam.)
-Using the diagram below:
a) Explain how the issue of individual needs and expectancies relates to work motivation.
b) Describe the constraints which may restrict achieving these goals.

Question 65

Visual Diagram Questions
(These diagrams can be used to test understanding of concepts rather than mere recollection. The provision of the diagrams removes the pressure to remember but does draw on the ability to explain a visual image. Instructors should take care if using a mix of other questions with visual diagram questions to ensure that the diagram does not provide answers to other questions in a test or exam.)
-The diagram below identified the higher-order needs and lower-order needs.
a) Name the theory
b) Explain how this theory might be used to motivate individuals in a work-setting