Question 1

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 scope of a job through extending the range of its job duties and responsibilities generally within the same level and periphery. This approach aims to make jobs more varied and interesting, thereby potentially increasing the satisfaction of the worker.

Question 2

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

A special-purpose PDA can indeed be used to conduct a modern "stopwatch" study, as it can capture digital data such as events, times, and variables for later analysis on a spreadsheet. This is a more efficient and accurate method than using traditional analog stopwatches and manually recording data.

Question 3

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 when there is a shared confidence and reliance between management and employees. This can be achieved through reasonable, documented employment policies that are applied fairly and reviewed regularly to ensure satisfaction from both parties.

Question 4

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 manufacturing plant is using flextime scheduling technique as it allows the engineers to come in at 7 A.M. plus or minus an hour, which means they have some flexibility in their work schedule. The requirement to work 8 hour days still ensures that a certain amount of work is completed.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Work sampling is a method used to estimate the percentage of time that a worker spends on various tasks by observing and recording their activities over a period of time.

Question 6

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 means that both management and employees are committed to achieving the same objective. It is a shared responsibility and agreement to work towards a common goal. This leads to increased productivity and a healthy work culture.

Question 7

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

Pit crew members often have backgrounds in athletics because the job requires physical fitness, agility, and teamwork, similar to what is needed in sports.

Question 8

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 degree of control and independence that a worker has over their work. When a worker has a say in the work methods they wish to utilize, they have a level of autonomy over their work. This can lead to higher job satisfaction and motivation as the worker feels a sense of ownership and responsibility over their work.

Question 9

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 10

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

Accepted Answer

Normal time is the average observed time for a task, adjusted for any abnormal conditions but before any allowances are applied. Allowances are added to the normal time to set the standard time.

Question 11

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 and estimating the proportion of time spent on different activities, while time studies involve measuring the time to perform each task step directly and continuously.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

A human resource strategy aims to effectively manage labor and design jobs to ensure that people are efficiently utilized to meet business objectives. While demand forecasting and matching employment levels are part of human resource management, they are not the primary objective of a human resource strategy. Similarly, while achieving a reasonable quality of work life is important, it is not the only objective of a human resource strategy.

Question 13

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) none of the above

Accepted Answer

Working 4 shifts of 10 hours each instead of 5 shifts of 8 hours each is known as a flexible workweek. This allows employees to work longer hours in a day and have an extra day off each week. This is a common option for employees who have jobs that require round-the-clock staffing, such as hospitals or manufacturing plants.

Question 14

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 the task is actually performed, allowing for better planning and management of work processes. This can lead to increased efficiency and productivity in a work environment.

Question 15

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) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The two most basic policies associated with employment stability are "follow demand exactly" and "hold employment constant." These strategies reflect the balance between adjusting the workforce to meet the current demand for products or services and maintaining a stable number of employees regardless of fluctuations in demand.

Question 16

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 establish fair workloads and ensure efficient production processes.

Question 17

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) labor 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) labor specialization, time studies, work sampling, and pre-determined time standards

Accepted Answer

Job design involves organizing tasks, duties, and responsibilities into a productive unit of work. The components mentioned in option B - job specialization, job expansion, psychological components, and self-directed teams - are all directly related to how jobs can be designed to improve efficiency, satisfaction, and performance. These elements focus on how the structure of jobs can be adjusted to match the capabilities of employees, enhance their job satisfaction, and encourage greater collaboration and autonomy.

Question 18

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 19

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

Accepted Answer

Job rotation involves moving employees between different tasks to promote experience and variety, which is a form of job enlargement as it increases the range of tasks an employee performs.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

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

Quiz 12: Human Resources, Job Design, and Work Measurement

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

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.

Mutual trust is

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?

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?

Most pit crew members have background experience in what area?

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

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

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

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.

The objective of a human resource strategy is to

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

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

The two most basic policies associated with employment stability are

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

Four of the components of job design are

A NASCAR pit crew consists of how many members?

Job rotation is an example of

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