Question 1

All of the following are important components or approaches to the interdisciplinary approach to job design except:
A) social aspects of the work environment.
B) biological aspects of the work environment.
C) mechanistic approach.
D) motivational approach.

Accepted Answer

The answer of All of the following are important components...

Question 2

Employees may experience technostress when:
A) flextime is used.
B) electronic performance monitoring is used.
C) job tasks are certain.
D) job enrichment is successful.

Accepted Answer

Technostress refers to the stress or anxiety that people may experience as a result of their interactions with technology in the workplace. Electronic performance monitoring, which involves tracking and analyzing employees' computer and internet usage, can lead to feelings of surveillance, anxiety, and pressure to constantly perform. Flextime, job task certainty, and job enrichment are not necessarily associated with technostress.

Question 3

The sociotechnical system:
A) gives equal attention to scientific and communal considerations in job design.
B) gives technology and engineering the most weight in job design decisions.
C) emphasizes social concern and encourages a high degree of worker control over industrial efficiency.
D) uses committed employees with ever expanding responsibilities to achieve zero waste every time.

Accepted Answer

The sociotechnical system approach focuses on the interaction between people and technology in workplaces, aiming to optimize both social and technical aspects, thus giving equal attention to scientific and communal considerations in job design.

Question 4

An alternative work arrangement in which employees must be present to perform job duties during a required core time but starting and ending work times can vary is:
A) job sharing.
B) telecommuting.
C) task restructuring.
D) flextime.

Accepted Answer

Flextime allows employees to have some flexibility in choosing their start and end times, while still requiring them to be present during a core time period. Job sharing involves multiple employees sharing the responsibilities of a single job, telecommuting allows employees to work remotely from home or another location, and task restructuring involves changing the way that work is organized or assigned.

Question 5

In the context of interdisciplinary approach to job design, motivational approach is grounded in:
A) experimental psychology.
B) sociology.
C) Maslow's needs hierarchy.
D) industrial psychology.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the context of interdisciplinary approach to...

Question 6

If one were to redesign jobs to increase the health and well-being of one's workforce, which of the following set of job characteristics would be the most beneficial?
A) Increase worker control, job enlargement, and job enrichment
B) Reduce worker uncertainty, increase worker control, and job enlargement
C) Reduce worker uncertainty, increase worker control, and manage conflict
D) Increase pay, reduce worker uncertainty, and job enlargement

Accepted Answer

The answer of If one were to redesign jobs to...

Question 7

The following are guidelines which can help make electronic workplace monitoring of performance less distressful except:
A) using performance records to improve performance.
B) having employees participate in the introduction of workplace monitoring.
C) using state-of-the-art monitoring equipment to record performance.
D) insuring performance are perceived by employees as fair.

Accepted Answer

Using state-of-the-art monitoring equipment may actually increase employee distress as it can be seen as intrusive and create feelings of being constantly watched or not trusted. The other options promote transparency and fairness in the monitoring process.

Question 8

Which of the following statements regarding telecommuting is most accurate?
A) Telecommuting is neither a cure-all nor a universally feasible alternative.
B) Managers who use telecommuting place greater emphasis on the worker than the work.
C) Many telecommuters have not felt a sense of social isolation as frequently predicted.
D) Telecommuting does not have the potential to create sweatshops of the 21st century.

Accepted Answer

Telecommuting has its limitations and may not be feasible or suitable for all organizations or individuals. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution and should be carefully considered before implementation.

Question 9

The anthropocentric job design approach places emphasis on:
A) engineering considerations.
B) union-management cooperation.
C) work-group and team skills.
D) good social support systems.

Accepted Answer

The anthropocentric job design approach places emphasis on good social support systems.

Question 10

Given the nature or structure of the economy with respect to the degree of service jobs, the most important job skills would be .
A) technical skills
B) interpersonal skills
C) conceptual skills
D) strategic skills

Accepted Answer

In an economy with a high degree of service jobs, interpersonal skills such as communication, collaboration, and customer service are crucial for success in these roles. Technical skills might be important for some service jobs (such as IT support), but overall, the ability to effectively interact with others is more important. Conceptual and strategic skills may be important for higher-level positions, but may not be as essential for entry-level service roles.

Question 11

The meaning of work is the way a person interprets and understands the value of work as part of life.

Accepted Answer

The meaning of work can vary from person to person and is based on their individual perspectives and beliefs about work. Therefore, the statement "The meaning of work is the way a person interprets and understands the value of work as part of life" is true.

Question 12

Lower job satisfaction, motivation, and higher absenteeism are the negative outcomes that are anticipated with to job design.
A) perceptual/motor approach
B) biological approach
C) motivational approach
D) mechanistic approach

Accepted Answer

The mechanistic approach to job design often leads to lower job satisfaction, motivation, and higher absenteeism because it focuses on task specialization and efficiency, which can make jobs repetitive and monotonous.

Question 13

Work is meaningful only when someone is paid for performing job tasks.

Accepted Answer

Work can be meaningful for various reasons other than just receiving payment, such as personal satisfaction, contributing to a greater cause, and learning new skills. Although payment is important to meet basic needs and provide a sense of financial stability, it does not determine the overall meaning and value of work.

Question 14

The interdisciplinary approach to job design emphasizing a person's interaction with physical aspects of the work environment and concern with physical exertion is the:
A) biological approach.
B) mechanistic approach.
C) perceptual/motor approach.
D) motivational approach.

Accepted Answer

The emphasis on physical aspects and physical exertion aligns with the biological approach, which focuses on the physiological aspects of job design. The mechanistic approach focuses on how tasks and roles are organized within a larger system, while the perceptual/motor approach focuses on cognitive and sensory aspects of job design. The motivational approach focuses on how to create a work environment that motivates and engages employees. Therefore, A) biological approach is the best choice.

Question 15

An analysis of medical claims at Chaparral Steel Co. identified lower back problems as the most common problem experienced by steelworkers and managers alike. The job approach most appropriate for this problem would be:
A) mechanistic.
B) biological.
C) perceptual/motor.
D) motivational.

Accepted Answer

The biological approach focuses on minimizing physical strain and injury, making it suitable for addressing lower back problems.

Question 16

In the design of jobs and work organizations, Germans:
A) emphasize personal identity and social benefits of work.
B) value hierarchy and authority relationships.
C) focus on collectivism.
D) strongly endorse unionism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the design of jobs and work...

Question 17

Which of the following statements best reflects an international view of job design?
A) The biological approach appears to be the most common approach.
B) The job enrichment approach has been applied the most in international cultures.
C) Each country's perspective is distinct and forged within its unique cultural and economic system.
D) Asian and Western approaches are very different but within each area there are marked similarities.

Accepted Answer

Job design is influenced by cultural and economic factors specific to each country. Therefore, each country's perspective on job design is distinct and reflects its unique cultural and economic system.

Question 18

A mobile platform of computer, telecommunication, and information technology and services is called a(n):
A) network.
B) virtual office.
C) office module.
D) intranet.

Accepted Answer

A virtual office is a mobile platform that combines various technologies and services. It allows individuals to work from anywhere using devices such as smartphones, laptops, or tablets, while still accessing the resources and applications they need to perform their job. While a network or intranet may be a part of a virtual office, they are not complete platforms in themselves. An office module is not a commonly used term in this context.

Question 19

The interdisciplinary approach to job design by Michael Campion and Paul Thayer emphasized only the social aspects of the work environment because:
A) social dimensions are too difficult to measure accurately.
B) social dimensions have not been able to predict very accurately how individuals respond to job characteristics.
C) no one approach can solve all performance problems caused by poorly designed jobs.
D) poorly designed jobs need a biological approach and the emphasis on the physical aspect of the job.

Accepted Answer

The interdisciplinary approach by Campion and Thayer acknowledges that no single approach can address all performance issues in job design, thus emphasizing the need for a comprehensive view that includes social aspects among others.

Question 20

Designing jobs that will result in better employee health and productivity is a concern of both international scholars and organizations. All of the following would reduce worker uncertainty in a job except:
A) providing employees with timely and complete information needed for their work.
B) making clear and unambiguous work assignments.
C) designing machines and tasks with optimal response times and/or ranges.
D) improving communication at shift change time.

Accepted Answer

While designing machines and tasks with optimal response times and/or ranges can improve productivity, it does not necessarily reduce worker uncertainty in a job. The other options (providing timely and complete information, clear work assignments, and improving communication) all contribute to reducing uncertainty and increasing job satisfaction.

Quiz 14: Jobs and the Design of Work

All of the following are important components or approaches to the interdisciplinary approach to job design except:

Employees may experience technostress when:

The sociotechnical system:

An alternative work arrangement in which employees must be present to perform job duties during a required core time but starting and ending work times can vary is:

In the context of interdisciplinary approach to job design, motivational approach is grounded in:

If one were to redesign jobs to increase the health and well-being of one's workforce, which of the following set of job characteristics would be the most beneficial?

The following are guidelines which can help make electronic workplace monitoring of performance less distressful except:

Which of the following statements regarding telecommuting is most accurate?

The anthropocentric job design approach places emphasis on:

Given the nature or structure of the economy with respect to the degree of service jobs, the most important job skills would be .

The meaning of work is the way a person interprets and understands the value of work as part of life.

Lower job satisfaction, motivation, and higher absenteeism are the negative outcomes that are anticipated with to job design.

Work is meaningful only when someone is paid for performing job tasks.

The interdisciplinary approach to job design emphasizing a person's interaction with physical aspects of the work environment and concern with physical exertion is the:

An analysis of medical claims at Chaparral Steel Co. identified lower back problems as the most common problem experienced by steelworkers and managers alike. The job approach most appropriate for this problem would be:

In the design of jobs and work organizations, Germans:

Which of the following statements best reflects an international view of job design?

A mobile platform of computer, telecommunication, and information technology and services is called a(n) :

The interdisciplinary approach to job design by Michael Campion and Paul Thayer emphasized only the social aspects of the work environment because:

Designing jobs that will result in better employee health and productivity is a concern of both international scholars and organizations. All of the following would reduce worker uncertainty in a job except: