Question 1

Autonomous work teams are a form of:

Accepted Answer

Page 191. Factual. Autonomous work teams represent job enrichment at the group level.

Question 2

Hackman and Oldham identified five core job characteristics that are especially important for job design. Which of the following is NOT included in their list of core characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Page 192. Factual. The Job Characteristics Model identifies five core job characteristics: skills variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy and feedback. Task specialisation is particularly associated with job specialisation.

Question 3

An example of comprehensive job enrichment which combines both horizontal and vertical loading to stimulate employee motivation and satisfaction is:

Accepted Answer

Page 192. Factual. The JCM is based on the idea that employees' performance and motivation is enhanced when they have meaningful work, have responsibility for the outcomes of their work and receive feedback on their performance. This incorporates both horizontal and vertical improvements to job design.

Question 4

In the JCM model, the extent to which the job provides the employee freedom to plan, schedule and decide about work procedures is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Page 192. Factual. Autonomy refers to the degree to which the job holder has the freedom, independence and discretion to schedule work and decide which procedures should apply.

Question 5

Quality of work life programs incorporate principles of job enrichment and socio-technical enrichment in a comprehensive effort to improve the quality of the work environment. They aim to:

Accepted Answer

Page 194. 8. Factual. QWL programs implement HR policies and programs designed to promote organisational performance and employee well-being.

Question 6

The major criteria for improving quality of work life (QWL) include:

Accepted Answer

Page 194. 8. Factual. Some of the key criteria for improving QWL include adequate remuneration, a safe and healthy working environment and social integration.

Question 7

A system that allows employees to choose their own starting and finishing times within a broad range of available hours:

Accepted Answer

Page 195. 8. Factual. Flexitime is a system that allows employees to choose their own starting and finishing times within a broad range of available hours.

Question 8

The study of the relationship between a worker's physical characteristics and their work environment:

Accepted Answer

Page 194. 8. Factual. Ergonomics is the study of the relationship between a worker's physical characteristics and their work environment.

Question 9

The extent to which the job permits the employee to obtain clear and direct knowledge about how well they are doing:

Accepted Answer

Page 192. Factual. Feedback is the extent to which the job permits the employee to obtain clear and direct knowledge about how well they are doing.
Multiple choice questions - Applied

Question 10

Organisations that change their existing strategies, or develop new business strategies need to:

Accepted Answer

Page 164. Applied. If there is a poor fit between the chosen strategy and the organisation's structure the structure will need to be changed.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT an occasion when job analysis is generally undertaken?

Accepted Answer

Page 165. Applied. Typically a job analysis is conducted when a new organisation or job commences or there has been a significant change to an existing job.

Question 12

Traditional job descriptions have been criticised for being:

Accepted Answer

Page 175-176. Applied. Job descriptions have been criticised as unable to reflect adequately the dynamic nature of many present-day jobs.

Question 13

Traditional job descriptions are not seen as appropriate for jobs that are:

Accepted Answer

Page 176. Applied. It has been argued that traditional job descriptions cannot adequately reflect the nature of project-based roles as they are static and inflexible.

Question 14

The purpose of the job analysis, the types of information to be collected, the sources of information, and the way in which the data are to be analysed and reported determines:

Accepted Answer

Page 176. Applied. There is no universal fits-all best method for collecting data and the appropriate method will be determined by the purpose for which the data is being collected.

Question 15

When using a questionnaire to gather data for a job analysis which of the following should be avoided?

Accepted Answer

Page 178. Applied. When developing a questionnaire to collect data for job analysis, it is best to keep the questionnaire as brief as possible, as most employees do not like to complete forms.

Question 16

Competency profiling has been criticised for:

Accepted Answer

Page 184. Applied. Competency profiling often ignores such traits as creativity and sensitivity as they are very difficult to measure.

Question 17

Despite some criticisms of competency profiling, its proponents argue that by identifying specific occupational requirements that facilitate the achievement of the organisation's strategic objectives it:

Accepted Answer

Page 184. Applied. Those in favour of competency profiling have argued that it supports achievement of the organisational and HR strategic objectives through its focus on the skills and behaviours needed to perform jobs effectively.

Question 18

Job analysis helps to establish organisational adherence to EEO requirements by:

Accepted Answer

Page 184. Applied. Job analysis can provide the documentation to demonstrate job-relatedness and facilitate compliance with anti-discrimination and EEO legislation.

Question 19

A problem with job analysis might be that:

Accepted Answer

Page 185. Applied. Employees may be unaware of the significance of job analysis and to what extent it impacts on so many other HR functions.

Question 20

One of the criticisms of job analysis is that older and less-educated workers typically:

Accepted Answer

Page 185. Applied. Typically older and less-educated employees disadvantage themselves when describing their roles.

Quiz 5: Job Analysis, Job Design and Quality of Work Life