Question 1

According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, lower-order needs are predominantly satisfied internally while higher-order needs are satisfied externally.

Accepted Answer

According to Maslow's theory, lower-order needs such as physiological, safety, and belongingness needs are satisfied externally, through things like food, shelter, and relationships. Higher-order needs such as esteem and self-actualization needs are satisfied internally, through personal growth and development.

Question 2

The goal-setting theory has the most value when ________.

Accepted Answer

According to the goal-setting theory, commitment to goals is a key factor in achieving them. Making those commitments public can increase motivation and accountability. Therefore, option D is the correct choice. While the other options may have some relevance to the theory, they do not hold as much value as public commitment.

Question 3

People with a high need for achievement strive for the trappings and rewards of success rather than for personal accomplishment.

Accepted Answer

People with a high need for achievement are driven by the desire to accomplish challenging goals and take pride in their personal accomplishments, rather than just seeking external rewards or recognition.

Question 4

To help her new supervisors remember the concept of reinforcement theory, Carol told them to remember this: ________.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is B: "What gets rewarded gets repeated." This statement summarizes the key idea behind reinforcement theory, which emphasizes the use of rewards and punishments to shape employee behavior. A is incorrect because while measurement is important in reinforcement theory, it is not the key concept. C and D are both unrelated to reinforcement theory.

Question 5

In the context of the reinforcement theory, reinforcers are ________.

Accepted Answer

Reinforcers are consequences that immediately follow a behavior and increase the probability that the behavior will be repeated. Punishments and rewards are examples of reinforcers, but they are not the reinforcers themselves. Setting specific goals and monitoring employee behavior are part of the process of reinforcement, but they are not the reinforcers themselves.

Question 6

Write a short essay on Maslow's hierarchy of needs by first describing the needs and then discussing how these needs are interrelated according to the theory. How can managers use this theory to motivate employees?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Write a short essay on Maslow's hierarchy...

Question 7

According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, once a need is substantially satisfied, that need no longer motivates the individual.

Accepted Answer

According to Maslow's theory, once a need is satisfied, an individual's motivation shifts to the next level of needs in the hierarchy. They may still be motivated by the previously satisfied need to some extent, but it is no longer the dominant motivating factor.

Question 8

Frederick Herzberg found that when employees were dissatisfied, they tended to cite extrinsic factors arising from the job context such as company policy and administration, supervision, interpersonal relationships, and working conditions.

Accepted Answer

This is a correct statement based on Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory of motivation. Herzberg found that employees cited these external factors as sources of dissatisfaction, while intrinsic factors such as job content, achievement, recognition, and growth opportunities were sources of motivation and job satisfaction.

Question 9

The goal-setting theory states that ________.

Accepted Answer

The goal-setting theory, as proposed by Edwin Locke and others, suggests that setting specific and challenging goals can lead to higher performance and that employee participation in setting these goals is not always necessary for this effect to occur. The theory emphasizes clarity, challenge, commitment, feedback, and task complexity as key factors in goal-setting effectiveness.

Question 10

Goal-setting theory assumes that an individual is committed to the goal. Commitment is most likely when ________.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that commitment to a goal is highest when the individual has an internal locus of control, meaning that they believe their actions directly influence the outcome, and they are more likely to take ownership of the goal. The other choices are not supported by research on goal-setting theory.

Question 11

As manager of a large team of engineers, you notice that your team is falling short of its goals primarily because several team members are either not motivated to put in their best or are downright dissatisfied with their jobs. You have decided to follow Herzberg's two-factor theory to motivate your employees. What steps can you take to maximize motivation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of As manager of a large team of...

Question 12

________ theory says that behavior is a function of its consequences.

Accepted Answer

Reinforcement theory states that behavior is a function of its consequences, in that behaviors that are reinforced (rewarded) are more likely to be repeated, whereas behaviors that are punished or not reinforced are less likely to be repeated. Expectancy theory, equity theory, and two-factor theory are separate theories that do not directly relate to the idea that behavior is influenced by consequences.

Question 13

In a familiar children's book, a little locomotive was asked to pull a heavy train up a steep mountain. The "little engine," as he was called, kept telling himself "I think I can. I think I can." The little engine was ________.

Accepted Answer

The little engine's repetitive self-talk of "I think I can" is indicative of a high level of self-efficacy, or belief in their ability to succeed in a particular task or situation.

Question 14

Michelle supervises six very diverse workers. They are male, female, older, younger, different ethnic groups and nationalities, and in different life stages. How might Michelle use the various theories of motivation to keep her workers inspired?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Michelle supervises six very diverse workers. They...

Question 15

Joseph, a line manager at a production facility, believes that his workers have little drive and will not work unless he pushes them. Therefore, he closely monitors and controls their work and disciplines those who do not meet his standards. Joseph is a Theory Y manager.

Accepted Answer

Joseph's belief that his workers have little drive and need to be pushed indicates a Theory X management style, which involves a belief that workers inherently dislike work and must be motivated or coerced into performing their job duties. Theory Y managers, on the other hand, believe that workers are inherently motivated and will seek to achieve their objectives if given the opportunity and the necessary resources.

Question 16

At his last performance evaluation, Elliott agreed to earn 20 continuing education credits before his next annual review. Ten months later, he still has not earned any. From this lack of action, we can infer that ________.

Accepted Answer

Since Elliott has not taken any action towards earning the 20 continuing education credits, it can be inferred that he was not committed to the goal set during his performance evaluation. This suggests that he may not have seen the value or importance of the goal, or he did not prioritize it amongst his other responsibilities. Therefore, option D is the best choice. Option A, about low uncertainty avoidance culture, is not related to the situation presented in the question. Option B, about self-efficacy, could be a possible explanation, but there is no information provided in the question to support this inference. Option C, about Elliott's manager being a Theory Y manager, is also not directly relevant to this scenario.

Question 17

Despite the quantity of empirical evidence in its support, managers have largely ignored Herzberg's two factor theory when designing jobs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Despite the quantity of empirical evidence in...

Question 18

Goal-setting theory says that ________.

Accepted Answer

According to goal-setting theory, difficult goals, when accepted, result in higher performance than do easy goals. This is because difficult goals lead to higher levels of effort and commitment. Additionally, specific goals are preferred over general goals, and feedback on progress towards the goal enhances motivation and performance. Option A is incorrect because goals should be specific and challenging, not loosely defined and moderately challenging. Option B is incorrect because a generalized goal like "do your best" does not provide enough direction or specificity. Option D is incorrect because goals should be challenging but still achievable, rather than easily achievable for top performers.

Question 19

Research clearly indicates that the Theory Y manager is more effective in motivating employees than the Theory X manager.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research clearly indicates that the Theory Y...

Question 20

The goal-setting theory has most value in countries where ________.

Accepted Answer

The goal-setting theory assumes that individuals are reasonably independent and have control over their own work. Therefore, this theory would be most valuable in countries where subordinates are reasonably independent. Countries with high uncertainty avoidance (A) and high power distance (B) may have more structured work environments that may not allow for as much individual goal-setting. Assertiveness (C) is unrelated to the applicability of the goal-setting theory.

Quiz 16: Motivating Employees