Question 1

Four of the components of job design are
A) employment stability, work schedules, work sampling, motivation, and incentive systems.
B) job specialization, job expansion, psychological components, and self-directed teams.
C) labour specialization and enrichment, motivation and incentive systems, employment stability, and work sampling.
D) ergonomics and work methods, method time measurement, work schedules, and incentive systems.
E) labour specialization, time studies, work sampling, and pre-determined time standards.

Accepted Answer

Job design involves methods and techniques used to structure tasks and roles in organizations. The correct components of job design include job specialization (focusing on specific tasks to increase efficiency), job expansion (increasing the variety of tasks to reduce monotony), psychological components (considering the mental and emotional aspects of work), and self-directed teams (groups that manage themselves without direct supervision). These elements aim to improve job satisfaction, productivity, and overall organizational effectiveness.

Question 2

Most unions do not accept the use of predetermined time standards.

Accepted Answer

Many unions accept the use of predetermined time standards as long as they are implemented fairly and with the agreement of the workers. These standards are often used to set fair workloads and ensure efficient production times.

Question 3

An advantage of work sampling is that it completely breaks down work elements.

Accepted Answer

Work sampling focuses on estimating the proportion of time spent on different activities, rather than providing a detailed breakdown of work elements.

Question 4

The objective of a human resource strategy is to
A) produce the demand forecast at lowest labour cost.
B) match employment levels with demand.
C) achieve a reasonable quality of work life at low cost.
D) manage labour and design jobs so people are effectively and efficiently utilized.
E) rotate and automate jobs.

Accepted Answer

The objective of a human resource strategy is to manage labor and design jobs so people are effectively and efficiently utilized. The other options do not fully capture the broader goals of a human resource strategy.

Question 5

Most pit crew members have background experience in what area?
A) mechanical engineering
B) athletics
C) no specific area, crew members come from all sorts of backgrounds
D) automobile race drivers
E) car mechanics

Accepted Answer

The answer of Most pit crew members have background experience...

Question 6

Work sampling and time studies are similar in that the analyst in both cases records the time taken by the worker to accomplish each step of the task.

Accepted Answer

Work sampling involves observing random samples over time to estimate the proportion of time spent on different activities, without recording the time taken for each step, unlike time studies where the time for each task step is precisely measured.

Question 7

Working 4 shifts of ten hours instead of 5 shifts at 8 hours each is known as
A) flextime.
B) constant employment.
C) part-time status.
D) flexible workweek.
E) employee empowerment.

Accepted Answer

Working 4 shifts of ten hours instead of 5 shifts at 8 hours each is known as a flexible workweek.

Question 8

The behavioral approach to job design that involves giving the worker a larger portion of the total task is
A) job enlargement.
B) job enrichment.
C) job enhancement.
D) job rotation.
E) job involvement.

Accepted Answer

Job enlargement involves increasing the variety of tasks that an employee performs, essentially giving the worker a larger portion of the total task to make the job more interesting and reduce monotony.

Question 9

A NASCAR pit crew consists of how many members?
A) 7
B) 5
C) 9
D) 10
E) 4

Accepted Answer

A NASCAR pit crew typically consists of 7 members, each with specific roles such as tire changers, a jackman, a gas man, and others to ensure a fast and efficient pit stop.

Question 10

Job rotation is an example of
A) job enrichment.
B) job scheduling.
C) job training.
D) job enlargement.
E) job incentive.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Job rotation is an example of
A) job...

Question 11

A Therblig is a very small amount of time, one hundred-thousandth of an hour.

Accepted Answer

A Therblig is not a measure of time; it is a concept used in the study of motion economy in the workplace, representing one of a set of fundamental motions required for a worker to perform a manual operation or task.

Question 12

The two most basic policies associated with employment stability are
A) job enrichment and job enlargement.
B) employment for life and guaranteed minimum wage.
C) follow demand exactly and hold employment constant.
D) incentive plans and piece-rate plans.
E) employment mobility and security.

Accepted Answer

The two most basic policies associated with employment stability are "follow demand exactly" and "hold employment constant." These strategies represent the fundamental approaches to managing workforce levels in response to fluctuations in demand for goods and services. "Follow demand exactly" involves adjusting the workforce size to match demand precisely, while "hold employment constant" focuses on keeping employment levels stable despite changes in demand.

Question 13

A modern "stopwatch" study can be conducted using a special-purpose PDA, one which can digitally capture events, times, and other variables for later analysis on a spreadsheet.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. A special-purpose PDA can be used as a modern stopwatch to capture events, times, and other variables for later analysis on a spreadsheet.

Question 14

When a worker has a say in the work methods that he/she wishes to utilize, his/her job is characterized by
A) skill variety.
B) job identity.
C) job significance.
D) feedback.
E) autonomy.

Accepted Answer

Autonomy refers to the extent to which an employee has control and discretion over their work and decision-making. When a worker has a say in the work methods they utilize, they have a greater sense of autonomy in their job. Skill variety refers to the range of skills required to perform the job, job identity refers to how meaningful the job is, and feedback refers to the degree to which the worker receives information about their performance.

Question 15

A manufacturing plant allows its engineers to come in at 7 A.M. plus or minus an hour but still requires them to work 8 hour days. Which of the following scheduling techniques is the firm employing?
A) flextime
B) constant employment
C) part-time status
D) flexible workweek
E) compressed workweek

Accepted Answer

The plant is using flextime, which allows employees to have some control over their schedule and choose when they come in within a certain range of time. This is different from a flexible workweek or compressed workweek, which involve working longer hours for a shorter number of days or reducing the number of days worked per week, respectively. Constant employment and part-time status are not applicable in this scenario.

Question 16

Mutual trust is
A) when employees have gained the trust of management.
B) reflected in reasonable, documented employment policies, honestly and equitably, implemented to the satisfaction of both management and the employees.
C) when management has gained the trust of the employees.
D) when management recognizes that the employees are competent, motivated people both able and willing to perform at the level required to produce a quality product.
E) when management and the employees both agree on the objectives.

Accepted Answer

Mutual trust is reflected in reasonable, documented employment policies, honestly and equitably, implemented to the satisfaction of both management and the employees. It is not only about the trust between employees and management or agreeing on objectives, but also involves the fair and transparent implementation of policies that benefit both parties.

Question 17

Work sampling estimates the percent of time that a worker spends on various tasks.

Accepted Answer

Work sampling is a technique used to estimate the percentage of time workers spend on various tasks. The method involves taking a random sample of observations of workers and recording what they are doing at each observation. Based on this data, estimates can be made about how much time workers spend on different tasks.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes mutual commitment in an organization?
A) an instance in which management is committed to the employees and the employees are committed to management
B) both management and the employees are committed to the same objective
C) both management and the employees are committed, but to different objectives
D) management obtains the commitment of the employees to a stated objective
E) both management and the employees can rely on each other

Accepted Answer

Mutual commitment in an organization refers to both management and employees being committed to the same objective or goal. This ensures everyone is working towards a common goal, and it fosters a sense of unity in the organization. A and D are partially correct, but they only describe one side of the commitment relationship. C and E are incorrect as they suggest conflicting goals or an uneven distribution of trust and reliability.

Question 19

Normal time equals the average observed time multiplied by the allowance factor.

Accepted Answer

Normal time equals the average observed time plus a predetermined allowance factor, not multiplied by it.

Question 20

An advantage of predetermined time standards is that the standard can be set before a task is actually performed.

Accepted Answer

Predetermined time standards are set before a task is performed, which makes them advantageous as they provide a baseline for measuring productivity and assessing efficiency.

Quiz 10: Human Resources, Job Design, and Work Measurement

Four of the components of job design are

Most unions do not accept the use of predetermined time standards.

An advantage of work sampling is that it completely breaks down work elements.

The objective of a human resource strategy is to

Most pit crew members have background experience in what area?

Work sampling and time studies are similar in that the analyst in both cases records the time taken by the worker to accomplish each step of the task.

Working 4 shifts of ten hours instead of 5 shifts at 8 hours each is known as

The behavioral approach to job design that involves giving the worker a larger portion of the total task is

A NASCAR pit crew consists of how many members?

Job rotation is an example of

A Therblig is a very small amount of time, one hundred-thousandth of an hour.

The two most basic policies associated with employment stability are

A modern "stopwatch" study can be conducted using a special-purpose PDA, one which can digitally capture events, times, and other variables for later analysis on a spreadsheet.

When a worker has a say in the work methods that he/she wishes to utilize, his/her job is characterized by

A manufacturing plant allows its engineers to come in at 7 A.M. plus or minus an hour but still requires them to work 8 hour days. Which of the following scheduling techniques is the firm employing?

Mutual trust is

Work sampling estimates the percent of time that a worker spends on various tasks.

Which of the following best describes mutual commitment in an organization?

Normal time equals the average observed time multiplied by the allowance factor.

An advantage of predetermined time standards is that the standard can be set before a task is actually performed.