Deck 5: Motivating Employee Performance Through Work

Question 1

Vertical job loading differs from job enlargement in that

A)the employee has more control over the job.
B)the employee's job satisfaction receives more attention.
C)more tasks are added to a job.
D)workers feel as though they are doing something worthwhile.
E)managers strive to motivate employees by maximizing intrinsic factors.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

All of the following statements about the key outcomes expected to result from the psychological states detailed in the job characteristics theory are true EXCEPT:

A)low absenteeism and turnover.
B)high satisfaction with work.
C)high-quality work performance.
D)high profits for stockholders.
E)high internal work motivation.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The problems encountered when implementing job rotation in the workplace include all of the following EXCEPT:

A)few companies rely on it as motivational tool.
B)it increases flexibility in transferring workers to new jobs.
C)it creates short-lived increases in workers' interest.
D)it reduces efficiency.
E)it maintains narrowly defined and routine work.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The degree to which the job activities give a person information about the effectiveness of performance is called

A)skill variety.
B)feedback.
C)task identity.
D)skill identity.
E)task variety.

Question 5

The critical psychological states of the job characteristics theory include all of the following EXCEPT:

A)knowledge of results.
B)individual perceptions that the job is valuable and worthwhile.
C)experienced meaningfulness of the work.
D)individual perceptions of accountability and responsibility.
E)recognition for work outcomes.

Question 6

If Marco is interested in utilizing job specialization as motivational technique at work, you should advise him that the primary problem associated with the specialization of jobs is

A)involvement in too much of the production cycle.
B)slow pace of work.
C)boredom.
D)lower efficiency.
E)frequent social interaction with others.

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of a job design technique?

A)Job enlargement
B)Job realization
C)Job creation
D)Job equity
E)Job expectancy

Question 8

Which one of the following statements has been cited as a weakness of the job characteristics theory?

A)Guidelines for implementation are too specific.
B)All changes to a job must occur simultaneously.
C)The role of individual differences frequently has not been supported by scientific research.
D)The theory assumes that job characteristics are unpredictable and inconsistent.
E)One application of the theory found that absenteeism and turnover actually increased.

Question 9

Which of these was the first widespread model of how individual work should be designed?

A)Job enrichment
B)Job rotation
C)Job enlargement
D)Motivational design
E)Job specialization

Question 10

The degree to which the job allows an individual substantial freedom and independence is called

A)autonomy.
B)task significance.
C)feedback.
D)job integration.
E)job description.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the current view of job enrichment?

A)Job enrichment continues to be a highly successful job design.
B)Nearly all Fortune 500 companies use some form of job enrichment program.
C)Job enrichment has been proven to increase performance, but at the cost of lower satisfaction.
D)Job enrichment has been proven to increase satisfaction, but at the cost of lower performance.
E)Job enrichment has recently fallen into disfavor among managers.

Question 12

One of the earliest alternatives to job specialization used by managers was

A)automation.
B)autonomous work groups.
C)job expectancy.
D)job loading.
E)job rotation.

Question 13

Which theory serves as the basis for job enrichment?

A)Equity theory
B)Need theory
C)Expectancy theory
D)Maslow's hierarchy of needs
E)None of the above

Question 14

When Sarah is ready to implement the job characteristics theory, she can use all of these guidelines EXCEPT:

A)Combining existing tasks into more complex ones
B)Opening feedback channels
C)Establishing direct relationships with clients
D)Raising pay levels to match the competition
E)Forming natural work units

Question 15

A famous study was conducted in the automotive industry. The purpose of the study was to assess how satisfied automobile workers were with various aspects of their jobs. The facets that the workers complained about include all of the following EXCEPT

A)the repetitiveness of the work.
B)the low skill requirements of the work.
C)the low pay.
D)the limited social interaction with others in the workplace.
E)the lack of control over the tools used in the job.

Question 16

Participation occurs when employees

A)work together in teams.
B)have a voice in decisions about their own work.
C)work closely with a mentor or supervisor.
D)join a labor union or other employee association.
E)become fully vested in a benefits program.

Question 17

All of the following methods can be used to enhance individual performance at work EXCEPT:

A)Job design
B)Employee participation
C)Goal setting
D)Performance management
E)Groupthink

Question 18

Job enlargement involves the process of horizontal job loading, meaning that

A)the employee is assigned more tasks to perform.
B)the jobs are broken into small, component parts.
C)each employee is given a specialized task to perform.
D)the employee is assigned less monotonous and routine tasks.
E)the employee is assigned tasks with more responsibility.

Question 19

____ is the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work.

A)Task identity
B)Task meaningfulness
C)Task visibility
D)Task recognition
E)Task significance

Question 20

In the job characteristics theory, which of the following is NOT a factor presumed to cause the emergence of psychological states?

A)Task identity
B)Experienced responsibility
C)Task significance
D)Feedback
E)Autonomy

Question 21

All of the following are benefits of telecommuting EXCEPT:

A)provides added flexibility.
B)can manage personal activities.
C)can get more work done.
D)employees miss the interaction of the workplace.
E)it reduces absenteeism and turnover.

Question 22

Which of the following statements about variable work schedules is true?

A)Employees can learn new skills.
B)Employees recognize the value of motivation.
C)Employees have a say in critical decisions in the organization.
D)Employees grow resentful and powerless.
E)Employees can organize their work behaviors.

Question 23

Alternative work arrangements are intended to

A)enhance employee motivation and performance.
B)limit the flexibility employees have in scheduling work.
C)accommodate a narrower range of the potential workforce.
D)increase company profits.
E)reduce dependence on key customers.

Question 24

When a construction worker decides to work additional hours on a typical workday so that he can have a three-day weekend, he is likely taking advantage of a ____ program.

A)shortened workweek
B)telecommuting
C)flextime
D)compressed workweek
E)job sharing?Removed periods at the end of each choice Removed periods at the end of each choice

Question 25

Allowing an employee to spend part of their time working off-site, usually at home is called ____.

A)compressed work week
B)flextime
C)job sharing
D)off-shoring
E)none of the above

Question 26

All of the following statements about the use of quality circles are true EXCEPT:

A)Employees meet regularly to identify problems.
B)Employees are empowered to control their work.
C)The use of a question/answer period is important.
D)Employees can propose solutions to problems.
E)Employees meet voluntarily.

Question 27

All of the following statements regarding flextime are true EXCEPT:

A)It gives employees less say about what days they work.
B)Gives employees more personal control over times they work.
C)Is desirable for people who want to work part-time.
D)All employees must be at work during core time.
E)The workday is broken down into two categories.

Question 28

Quality circles are an example of organizational attempts at

A)applying reinforcement theory.
B)OB modification.
C)behavior modification.
D)empowerment.
E)motivational training.

Question 29

Empowerment will enhance organizational effectiveness under all the following conditions EXCEPT:

A)sincere efforts to spread power and autonomy to lower levels.
B)commitment to maintain participation and empowerment.
C)systematic efforts to empower workers.
D)renewed concentration of authority in the hands of top managers.
E)increased commitment to training.

Question 30

Organizations may benefit from allowing employee participation in all of the following areas EXCEPT:

A)what material to use.
B)what tools to use.
C)work schedules.
D)product quality.
E)corporate investment decisions.

Question 31

Telecommuting involves all of the following EXCEPT:

A)using e-mail and other technologies to stay in touch with the workplace.
B)employees spending one or two days a week at home.
C)reductions in absenteeism and turnover.
D)organization savings on facilities such as parking.
E)higher pay for working under special conditions.

Question 32

Two people are needed to fill a position for a company that remains open for business from 9:0a.m. to 5:00 p.m., five days a week. Which of the following alternative work arrangements might best suit this position?0

A)Job sharing
B)Flextime
C)Telecommuting
D)Job characteristics approach
E) Compressed work week

Question 33

The problems with telecommuting include all of the following EXCEPT:

A)a feeling of isolation.
B)lack of self-control.
C)workplace safety.
D)have to be at work during core time.
E)coordination difficulties in scheduling meetings.

Question 34

All of the following statements are true about the traditional work schedule, EXCEPT:

A)long days that start at 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning.
B)managers work many additional hours.
C)it is hard for employees to take care of personal business.
D)people can take off work when they need to.
E)people feel powerless because of their work schedules.

Question 35

Flextime is a work schedule arrangement that

A)gives employees more personal control over the hours they work each day.
B)allows workers to work a full forty-hour week in less than five days.
C)allows workers to miss more than their normally allotted sick days.
D)gives employees a say in deciding what hours to remain open for business.
E)lets employees choose their days off in advance.

Question 36

The benefits of job sharing include all of the following EXCEPT:

A)a way to entice more workers to the organization.
B)there are cost benefits to the organization.
C)the organization does not have to offer benefits.
D)organizations are concerned about worker safety.
E)the organization can tap into a wider array of skills.

Question 37

Ending the workday shortly after lunch on Friday because an individual reported to work early is most likely an example of

A)a shortened workweek.
B)telecommuting.
C)flextime.
D)a compressed workweek.
E)job sharing.

Question 38

Which of the following is an alternative work arrangement where an employee is given more control over the times worked on a typical workday?

A)Flextime
B)Variable work schedules
C)Compressed work week
D)Job sharing
E)Telecommuting

Question 39

The role of participation and empowerment in motivation can be expressed in terms of all of the following theoretical perspectives EXCEPT:

A)need for achievement.
B)expectancy theory.
C)need-based perspectives of motivation.
D)diversity theory.
E)self-esteem.

Question 40

The human relations view of participation was that participation

A)would increase satisfaction, but would not be a source of potentially valuable input.
B)would increase satisfaction, but would likely reduce performance.
C)was necessary but inefficient.
D)was useful to secure creative ideas from employees.
E)could potentially increase the value of the organization's key product or service.

Question 41

Job enrichment involves giving employees more control over the tasks they perform on the job.

Question 42

Managers must determine how to motivate people and how to optimize their performance.

Question 43

Feedback is expected to affect the knowledge of the actual results of work activities.

Question 44

From the historical writing about division of labor advocated by Scottish economist Adam Smith, Frederick Taylor's view of job specialization grew.

Question 45

The primary advantage of job enlargement is to reduce the monotony and boredom found in manufacturing jobs.

Question 46

Job rotation and job enlargement were developed as alternative ways to design jobs instead of through job specialization.

Question 47

On the whole job specialization has produced disappointing results in the corporate setting.

Question 48

In the job characteristics theory, skill variety, task identity, and task significance affect which critical psychological state?

A)Knowledge of results
B)High internal work motivation
C)Experienced meaningfulness of the work
D)Individual perceptions of accountability and responsibility
E)Recognition for work outcomes

Question 49

The job characteristics of skill variety, task identity, and task significance are expected to affect an employee's experienced meaningfulness of the work.

Question 50

In the job characteristics theory, autonomy affects which critical psychological state?

A)Knowledge of results
B)High internal work motivation
C)Experienced meaningfulness of the work
D)Individual perceptions of accountability and responsibility
E)Recognition for work outcomes

Question 51

The extreme monotony of highly specialized tasks is the foremost disadvantage of job specialization.

Question 52

ABC Manufacturing has recently started giving employees four different tasks instead of two that they normally work on. This technique of expanding a worker's jobs refers to which of these?

A)Job enrichment
B)Job rotation
C)Job enlargement
D)Motivational design
E)Job specialization

Question 53

Research finds that Douglas McGregor was the chief proponent of job specialization.

Question 54

The job characteristics theory was developed by Frederick Taylor and Abraham Maslow.

Question 55

Justine is highly concerned about monotony and boredom plaguing his employees at work. If he starts to systematically move workers from one job to another in an attempt to minimize monotony and boredom, it refers to which of these?

A)Job enrichment
B)Job rotation
C)Job enlargement
D)Motivational design
E)Job specialization

Question 56

Companies use job rotation as a training technique and rely on it to as a primary vehicle to enhance employee motivation.

Question 57

Fortunately, job design involves how organizations design work that is performed in a company, rather than how jobs are structured.

Question 58

As a manager, if Sonia wants to enhance employee performance, she can use goal setting and organizational rewards together.

Question 59

When Susan introduces the system of giving her employees both more tasks to perform as well as more control over how to perform them, she is utilizing which of these?

A)Job enrichment
B)Job rotation
C)Job enlargement
D)Motivational map
E)Job specialization

Question 60

A distinct limitation of job rotation is that this approach often produces narrowly-focused and routine jobs.

Question 61

Horizontal job loading is also known as _______.

Question 62

________ is an approach to job design that relies on positive job experiences and feelings of achievement and responsibility to motivate workers.

Question 63

A "nine-eighty" schedule involves working eighty hours in nine days.

Question 64

A quality circle is a group of employees who are assigned to inspection teams that ensure production quality on an assembly line.

Question 65

The ________ theory focuses on the specific motivational properties of jobs.

Question 66

__________ involves how companies define and structure work.

Question 67

Telecommuting is an arrangement that allows employees to spend part of their time working overseas in outsourced jobs, usually at an alternative worksite.

Question 68

Empowerment only enhances organizational effectiveness if certain conditions exist. One of the conditions is that the organization must be sincere in its efforts to spread power and autonomy to lower levels of the organization.

Question 69

An employee decides when he or she reports to work on a typical workday. This is an example of a compressed workweek.

Question 70

Job enrichment is based on the ________ theory of motivation, which states positive job-related experiences and feelings of achievement, responsibility, and recognition are intrinsic to a job and could serve to motivate employees.

Question 71

Research has generally provided consistent support for the job characteristics theory, although performance has seldom been correlated with job characteristics.

Question 72

Flextime gives employees control over what days they work in a typical workweek.

Question 73

Employees who are given the opportunity to participate in making decisions may feel more committed to properly executing those decisions.

Question 74

The historical writings of _______ led to the further development of job specialization.

Question 75

Although regarded as a relatively inefficient management technique, _______ is often considered a very effective training technique.

Question 76

_______, as conceptualized in scientific management, can help improve efficiency, but the process can also increase monotony.

Question 77

_______ job loading involves adding more tasks to a job as well as giving the employee more control over those tasks.

Question 78

Maytag was one of the first companies to use ________ in the assembly of washing machine pumps.

Question 79

Employee empowerment promotes participation is a wide variety of areas, including but not limited to work itself, work context, and work environment.

Question 80

Extended work schedules require employees to work extended periods of time followed by long periods of paid time off.