Question 1

The objective of motivating employees is to

Accepted Answer

The objective of motivating employees is to lead them to perform in ways that meet the goals of the department and the organization. It is about encouraging employees to work towards achieving targets and objectives that are set by the organization. This will help the organization succeed and achieve its goals which ultimately benefits all parties involved, including the employees themselves.

Question 2

When a person does not feel valued by his or her company, the person's ________ needs are most likely to be unfulfilled.

Accepted Answer

Esteem needs refer to the desire for self-respect, the respect of others, and the feeling of achievement. Feeling valued by one's company can fulfill these needs, while feeling undervalued can leave these needs unfulfilled.

Question 3

McClelland's theory is based on which of the following needs?

Accepted Answer

McClelland's theory is based on the three needs of achievement, power, and affiliation, which he believed were the driving forces behind individual behavior and motivation.

Question 4

Alan, a stockbroker, did well in the commodities market and decided to buy a Ferrari. According to Maslow's motivational theory, Alan is most likely fulfilling his

Accepted Answer

According to Maslow's motivational theory, esteem needs refer to the desire for respect and recognition from others. Alan's decision to buy a Ferrari after doing well in the commodities market is an indicator that he wants to elevate his status and gain the respect and admiration of his peers.

Question 5

Which of the following is true about Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory?

Accepted Answer

Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory proposes that needs are organized into a hierarchy, with the most basic physiological needs such as hunger and thirst at the bottom, followed by safety needs, then belongingness and love needs, esteem needs, and finally self-actualization needs at the top. This means that individuals must have their lower level needs met before they can progress to satisfying higher level needs.

Question 6

Brian is the manager of a sales office. His company has not been doing well lately, and all his employees are demotivated because of that. Which of the following needs must Brian try to satisfy in order to motivate his employees?

Accepted Answer

Security needs are crucial in a workplace, especially during times of uncertainty or poor company performance. Employees need to feel secure in their jobs to be motivated. Addressing security needs can help alleviate fears and boost morale.

Question 7

Anna goes on a meditation retreat in India to develop herself spiritually. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which need is she trying to satisfy?

Accepted Answer

Anna is trying to satisfy her self-actualization need by going on a meditation retreat to develop herself spiritually. This is the highest level of need in Maslow's hierarchy, representing the desire for personal growth, fulfillment, and the realization of one's potential.

Question 8

Emma applies for medical insurance. Which hierarchical need is she trying to satisfy?

Accepted Answer

By applying for medical insurance, Emma is trying to satisfy her need for security, which is a basic physiological need according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The need for security includes safety, stability, and protection, and it is considered a prerequisite for higher-level needs to be met.

Question 9

Applied to a work situation, Maslow's theory means a supervisor must

Accepted Answer

According to Maslow's theory, motivation is driven by a hierarchy of needs, including physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. A supervisor who is aware of the current needs of particular employees can motivate them by addressing their individual needs at the appropriate level in the hierarchy. This can lead to increased job satisfaction, productivity, and overall success for both the employee and the organization. The other answer choices do not align with Maslow's theory and may not be effective ways to motivate employees.

Question 10

Edgar, a student at New York University, goes to Luanda every summer to teach poor kids. He volunteers with an Angolan government agency for two months every year for this purpose. Which of the following needs categorized by Maslow's theory does Edgar want to satisfy?

Accepted Answer

Edgar's actions reflect a desire to satisfy the self-actualization need, as he seeks to fulfill his potential by helping others and making a positive impact in the world.

Question 11

A policy that grants employees some leeway in choosing which 8 hours a day or which 40 hours a week to work is called

Accepted Answer

Flextime grants employees the ability to choose which 8 hours a day or which 40 hours a week to work. Job sharing involves two employees sharing one full-time position, gainsharing involves employees sharing in the financial gains of a company, and a compressed workweek involves working longer hours per day to have fewer workdays per week.

Question 12

The theories of motivation that focus on what things motivate workers are called

Accepted Answer

Content theories of motivation focus on identifying and understanding what specific factors or needs (such as achievement, recognition, and affiliation) motivate workers. These theories include Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, and McClelland's Three Needs Theory. Process theories, on the other hand, focus on the cognitive processes involved in motivation, such as goal-setting and expectancy. Expectancy theories emphasize the link between effort and performance, while equity theories focus on fairness and perceived inequalities in the workplace.

Question 13

Giving people incentives that cause them to act in desired ways is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Giving people incentives that cause them to act in desired ways is known as motivation. Consideration is a factor to be taken into account when making a decision. Bribery involves giving someone something valuable in exchange for them doing something unethical. Punishment involves imposing negative consequences on someone for their actions.

Question 14

Which of the following is true according to McClelland's achievement-power-affiliation theory?

Accepted Answer

According to McClelland's achievement-power-affiliation theory, the nature of a person's early life experiences can influence the person's needs. This means that individuals who experienced success and recognition during their childhood are more likely to develop a high need for achievement later on in life. On the other hand, individuals who experienced rejection or neglect during their childhood are more likely to develop a high need for affiliation later on in life.

Question 15

Cathy, an employee, has to take leave on Monday. So, in order to compensate, she takes her company laptop home to work. This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of telecommuting where an employee works from outside the physical office, usually from home, by using technology to interact with the workplace.

Question 16

Which of the following is a shortcoming of Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory?

Accepted Answer

Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory was originally developed based on observations of human behavior outside the workplace, and later applied to the workplace without being formally tested in that context. It is true that the theory is not limited to work settings, and there is no evidence that it relies heavily on the Pygmalion effect (a phenomenon where higher expectations lead to improved performance). The theory can also be applied to the piecework system, although it may require some adaptation. However, the lack of formal testing in the workplace is a significant shortcoming, as it means that the theory's relevance to work settings is uncertain.

Question 17

According to Maslow, a man who has met his security needs is most likely to also have satisfied his ________ needs.

Accepted Answer

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is structured such that physiological needs are the most basic and must be satisfied before higher-level needs, like security, can be addressed. Therefore, if a man has met his security needs, it implies he has already satisfied his physiological needs, which are foundational.

Question 18

According to Maslow, a man will satisfy his ________ needs before he attempts to satisfy his social needs.

Accepted Answer

Maslow's hierarchy of needs starts with physiological needs at the bottom, followed by safety needs, then social needs, esteem needs, and finally, self-actualization needs at the top. This means that a man will first satisfy his physiological needs such as food, water, and shelter before he attempts to satisfy his social needs for companionship and belonging.

Question 19

Vinita and Lilly work on the same projects in Cyber Max Company. They both manage the duties of a single position in the company. They only work for 5 hours every day as both of them have six-month-old babies. What type of work arrangement does this exemplify?

Accepted Answer

Vinita and Lilly exemplify job sharing arrangement as they both manage the duties of a single position in the company and work for only 5 hours every day due to motherhood responsibilities. This allows them to balance work and parenting responsibilities.

Question 20

Jim was praised by his manager for his work. In this case, according Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Jim's ________ needs have been met.

Accepted Answer

Esteem needs refer to the desire for self-esteem and respect from others. Getting praised by his manager means Jim's esteem needs have been met.

Quiz 11: Motivating Employees