Question 1

________ theory is an expansion of ________ theory.

Accepted Answer

The principle of motion economy is an expansion of scientific management theory. Scientific management theory focuses on improving efficiency and productivity in the workplace, while the principle of motion economy focuses on improving the efficiency of individual movements.

Question 2

Hometown Chocolate's hired an efficiency consultant to analyze the workers on its assembly line. The consultant broke down each job on the assembly line into basic motions and then analyzed them for efficiency. This best describes ________ theory.

Accepted Answer

The Principle of Motion Economy focuses on breaking down jobs into basic motions and analyzing them for efficiency, aiming to optimize worker productivity by minimizing wasted motion.

Question 3

What would be the most likely result of a Principle of Motion Economy study?

Accepted Answer

The Principle of Motion Economy focuses on designing workplace layouts and job tasks in a way that minimizes unnecessary motions and thus enhances efficiency. This leads to increased task efficiency for a job by streamlining processes and reducing time and effort required to complete tasks.

Question 4

Which example best demonstrates the Principle of Motion Economy theory?

Accepted Answer

The Principle of Motion Economy theory focuses on reducing the number of motions in performing a task to increase efficiency. Analyzing each action in the production process to search for efficiencies (E) directly aligns with this principle by aiming to streamline tasks and reduce unnecessary movements.

Question 5

The Human Resources Manager at Oddball Sports has been reading up on motivational theories. She begins asking Oddball Sports managers to spend time in one-on-one meetings with employees. She wants them to ask about their well-being and solicit feedback about their role and the company. The HR Manager has most likely been reading about ________ theory.

Accepted Answer

The HR Manager's approach aligns with the Hawthorne Effect, which suggests that employees may improve their behavior or productivity simply because they know they are being observed or shown attention, not necessarily due to any specific changes in their work conditions.

Question 6

Hebba works as a production manager at Starry Eyez Company. She regularly walks the floor and talks to employees about their personal lives and ensures that they are happy in their role. Her team loves the special attention and tends to perform at higher levels than other teams within the company. This example best demonstrates ________ theory.

Accepted Answer

The example best demonstrates the Hawthorne Effect, which suggests that employees may improve their work behavior and productivity simply because they know they are being observed and feel valued, not necessarily due to any specific changes in their work conditions. Hebba's actions of giving special attention and showing care for her employees' personal lives likely make them feel observed and valued, leading to higher performance.

Question 7

Devin is a supervisor at FKM Enterprises. He is a believer in the Hawthorne Effect. How could he best utilize his knowledge of this theory to motivate his employees?

Accepted Answer

The Hawthorne Effect suggests that employees may improve their work behavior and productivity simply because they know they are being observed or given attention. Recognizing special milestones and achievements directly applies this principle by showing employees that their efforts are noticed and valued, potentially motivating them to maintain or improve their performance.

Question 8

Antoine recently graduated from college and relocated from Wisconsin to Texas. He was worried about joining a new company in a new state. Antoine was pleased to learn that his new employer sponsored a company softball team. By joining the team, he made friends and found out more about the company and the city. The job most likely satisfies the ________ level of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

Accepted Answer

The job satisfies the social level of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs because by joining the company softball team, Antoine was able to make friends and learn more about his new environment, fulfilling his need for belonging and social interactions.

Question 9

Ryker is a manager at Zed's Choppers. After a serious injury on the cutting machine, employees have been nervous and, in some cases, unwilling to use the machine. Productivity has declined as a result. Ryker needs to pay close attention to his employee's unmet ________ needs.

Accepted Answer

Ryker needs to address his employees' safety needs, as their reluctance to use the cutting machine stems from concerns about their physical well-being following the serious injury incident. This aligns with Maslow's hierarchy of needs, where safety needs come after physiological needs and must be met for individuals to feel secure in their environment.

Question 10

Clockwork Oranges pays its employees a competitive wage, allowing them to meet their physiological needs. According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs theory, which need would the employees focus on next?

Accepted Answer

According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs theory, once physiological needs such as food and water are met, individuals next focus on safety needs, which include personal and financial security, health and well-being, and safety against accidents/illness and their adverse impacts.

Question 11

Which example would most likely impact an employee's job satisfaction according to Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory?

Accepted Answer

Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory distinguishes between hygiene factors, which can cause dissatisfaction if missing but do not necessarily motivate if increased, and motivators, which can truly enhance job satisfaction. Job responsibilities fall under motivators, as they can provide meaningful and satisfying work, directly impacting an employee's job satisfaction.

Question 12

Isabella is a manager at Dahlco Enterprises and wants to motivate her workers to produce at a higher level. According to Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, what would help Isabella meet this goal?

Accepted Answer

Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory suggests that factors leading to job satisfaction (and thereby higher productivity) are separate from those leading to job dissatisfaction. Advancement opportunities are considered a motivator factor that can increase job satisfaction and motivate employees to produce at a higher level, unlike hygiene factors such as compensation, security, company policies, and supervision, which can prevent dissatisfaction but do not necessarily motivate employees to higher performance levels.

Question 13

Lali is the director of operations with Seeksme Corporation. She has been updating the jobs held by her direct reports to include additional responsibility while also providing regular recognition to her employees. Lali is most likely a believer in ________ theory.

Accepted Answer

Job enrichment involves adding responsibilities and opportunities for growth to an employee's role, aiming to increase job satisfaction and performance. Lali's actions align with this concept.

Question 14

Amiyah wants to modify the jobs on the assembly line to allow his production team to focus on doing more of the same tasks, thus increasing their output. Which concept would best help Amiyah to meet this her goal?

Accepted Answer

Job simplification involves breaking down jobs into simpler components and allowing workers to focus on a narrower range of tasks, which can increase efficiency and output by reducing the complexity of tasks each worker is responsible for.

Question 15

VNC Company manufactures lawn and garden tractors. When the company first opened, VNC used an assembly line where each employee performed a simple task as part of the manufacturing process. Last year, the company began allowing individual employees to assemble entire tractors, complete quality assurance activities, and prepare the tractors for shipping. This new assembly method can best be described as an example of

Accepted Answer

The new assembly method at VNC Company, where individual employees are responsible for assembling entire tractors, conducting quality assurance, and preparing the tractors for shipping, is an example of job enlargement. Job enlargement involves increasing the variety of tasks that an employee performs, thereby making the job more interesting and potentially more satisfying. This contrasts with the previous assembly line method where each employee performed a simple, repetitive task.

Question 16

Which theory assumes that workers are irresponsible and lacking in ambition and, therefore, require extrinsic rewards to motivate?

Accepted Answer

McGregor's Theory X assumes that employees are inherently lazy, lack ambition, and need to be closely supervised and motivated through external rewards and penalties, which is why it is the correct answer. Theory Y, on the other hand, posits that employees are self-motivated and seek responsibility.

Question 17

Which theory assumes that workers value a working environment supporting family, culture, and traditions and is characterized by long-term employment and collective responsibility and decision making?

Accepted Answer

Ouchi's Theory Z emphasizes a strong company culture, long-term employment, and collective decision making, aligning with the description provided.

Question 18

Nolan is habitually late for work. His boss sends an official notice to the HR manager documenting Nolan's behavior with the understanding that future occurrences could cost Nolan his job. This represents the ________ aspect of ________.

Accepted Answer

The official notice acts as a form of punishment according to reinforcement theory, aiming to decrease the undesirable behavior of being late. Reinforcement theory involves modifying behavior through the use of consequences, such as rewards (positive reinforcement) or penalties (punishment).

Question 19

Which question represents the instrumentality assessment of Victor Vroom's expectancy theory?

Accepted Answer

Instrumentality is the belief that if one does meet performance expectations, he or she will receive a greater reward. This makes option E ("If I accomplish the task, what is the reward?") the correct representation of the instrumentality assessment in Victor Vroom's expectancy theory.

Question 20

Contribution, return, and comparison are all elements of which motivation theory?

Accepted Answer

Equity theory focuses on the balance between an individual's input (contribution) and output (return) compared to others (comparison).

Quiz 11: Human Resource Management and Labor Relations

theory is an expansion of theory.