Question 1

Which of the following is an appropriate course of action while formulating job descriptions?
A) Alter the standard format of job descriptions within the organization to suit individual jobs.
B) Prohibit using the phrase "and other duties as requested" in job descriptions because it leads to ambiguity.
C) Avoid making changes in the job descriptions based on individual performance appraisals.
D) Prepare a new job description whenever a new job is created in the organization.
E) Once standardized and created, a job description must not be changed.

Accepted Answer

The O*NET uses a common language that generalizes across jobs to describe the abilities, work styles, work activities, and work context required for 1,000 broadly defined occupations. Users can visit O*NET OnLine to review jobs' tasks, work styles and context, and requirements including skills, training, and experience.

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true with regard to work flow analysis?
A) Information cannot be considered to be an input as it is not tangible.
B) All outputs must be strictly measured in terms of the sole criterion of quantity.
C) Quality standards are not a key criterion in the process of work flow analysis.
D) Outputs may be tangible or intangible products of different work processes.
E) Inputs and outputs are the two stages that represent the complete work flow cycle.

Accepted Answer

Whenever the organization creates a new job, it needs a new job description. Job descriptions should then be reviewed periodically (say, once a year) and updated if necessary.

Question 3

The process of analyzing the tasks necessary for the production of a product or service is termed as _____.
A) ergonomics
B) work flow design
C) utilization analysis
D) industrial engineering
E) break-even analysis

Accepted Answer

A job description is a list of the tasks, duties, and responsibilities (TDRs) that a job entails. TDRs are observable actions.

Question 4

The process of getting detailed information about jobs is known as _____.
A) job analysis
B) job definition
C) job training
D) job swapping
E) job rotation

Accepted Answer

A drawback of relying solely on incumbents' information is that they may have an incentive to exaggerate what they do in order to appear more valuable to the organization. Information from incumbents should therefore be supplemented with information from observers, such as supervisors, who look for a match between what incumbents are doing and what they are supposed to do.

Question 5

What is the result of an organization structure that is strongly based on function?
A) Organizational functions tend to align to the different divisions in the company.
B) Jobs tend to involve teamwork or broad responsibility.
C) Focus tends to be primarily on products or customer groups.
D) Workers tend to work alone at highly specialized jobs.
E) Decision-making tends to be highly decentralized.

Accepted Answer

A manager attempting to fill a position needs information about the characteristics required and about the characteristics of each applicant. Interviews and selection decisions should therefore focus on KSAOs.

Question 6

Job specifications differ from job descriptions in that job specifications primarily describe:
A) the list of the tasks and responsibilities that the job entails.
B) the observable actions that comprise the various job demands.
C) the reporting relationships within the division which includes the job.
D) the functional needs of the position under study.
E) the qualities a person performing the job must possess.

Accepted Answer

The person who fills out the PAQ must have college-level reading skills, and the PAQ is meant to be completed only by job analysts trained in this method.

Question 7

In the context of a work flow analysis,materials,equipment,and human resources needed to perform the tasks collectively constitute the _____.
A) outputs
B) jobs
C) work processes
D) operating procedures
E) inputs

Accepted Answer

Knowledge refers to factual or procedural information that is necessary for successfully performing a task.

Question 8

Joe has opted for a schedule where he works 40 hours over four days instead of working eight hours a day for five days,and gets a three-day off over the weekend.Joe's schedule can be termed a compressed workweek.

Accepted Answer

For the outputs identified, work flow analysis then examines the work processes used to generate those outputs. Work processes are the activities that members of a work unit engage in to produce a given output.

Question 9

In the context of work flow design,a position is _____.
A) the set of duties performed by a person
B) a set of related duties fulfilled by many employees
C) an aggregate of similar jobs
D) the set of skills and abilities that is required of a person in a job
E) the collection of tasks that constitute the complete organizational process

Accepted Answer

A job description typically includes the job title, a brief description of the TDRs, and a list of the essential duties with detailed specifications of the tasks involved in carrying out each duty.

Question 10

_____ are the products of any work unit.
A) Outputs
B) Inputs
C) Tasks
D) Jobs
E) Processes

Accepted Answer

A job specification looks at the qualities or requirements the person performing the job must possess. It is a list of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) that an individual must have to perform the job.

Question 11

Which of the following refers to a list of the tasks,duties,and responsibilities that a job entails?
A) job evaluation
B) job description
C) utilization analysis
D) conjoint analysis
E) job standardization.

Accepted Answer

For analyzing skill levels, the best source may be external job analysts who have more experience rating a wide range of jobs than incumbents.

Question 12

A _____ is a list of the knowledge,skills,abilities,and other characteristics (KSAOs)that an individual must have to perform a particular job.
A) job rotation
B) job definition
C) job evaluation
D) job scope
E) job specification

Accepted Answer

One of the broadest and best-researched instruments for analyzing jobs is the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ). This is a standardized job analysis questionnaire containing 194 items that represent work behaviors, work conditions, and job characteristics that apply to a wide variety of jobs. The questionnaire organizes these items into six sections concerning different aspects of the job.

Question 13

The primary goal of ergonomics is to reduce the information-processing requirements of a job.

Accepted Answer

Inputs fall into three categories: raw inputs (materials and information), equipment, and human resources (knowledge, skills, and abilities).

Question 14

A telework arrangement is easiest to implement for manufacturing workers.

Accepted Answer

Finally, work flow analysis identifies the inputs required to carry out the work processes.

Question 15

One method to simplify a job's mental demands is to limit the amount of memorization required for the job.

Accepted Answer

Job analysis is the process of getting detailed information about jobs. Analyzing jobs and understanding what is required to carry out a job provide essential knowledge for staffing, training, performance appraisal, and many other HR activities.

Question 16

The final stage in work flow analysis is to identify the _____.
A) tangible outputs of a particular work unit
B) operating procedures to be applied in production
C) work processes used to generate the outputs of the work unit
D) inputs used in the development of the work unit's product
E) market forces of demand and supply for the outputs

Accepted Answer

A skill is an individual's level of proficiency at performing a particular task-that is, the capability to perform it well.

Question 17

_____ are the activities that a team's members engage in to produce a given output.
A) Work processes
B) Task identities
C) Group dynamics
D) Job analyses
E) Ergonomic activities

Accepted Answer

Job description focuses on the activities involved in carrying out a job, whereas a job specification looks at the qualities or requirements the person performing the job must possess.

Question 18

Once the outputs are identified,the next step in a work flow analysis involves _____.
A) identifying the materials needed to generate the output
B) determining the human resource requirements for production
C) examining the work processes used to generate those outputs
D) taking an inventory of the special equipment, facilities, and systems needed for production
E) estimating the data and information needed by the work unit

Accepted Answer

Job Specification is the list of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) that an individual must have to perform a particular job.

Question 19

Job descriptions generally contain all of the following components EXCEPT _____.
A) the job title
B) a list of essential duties
C) a brief description of the responsibilities
D) the details of pay and benefits attached to the job
E) the details of the tasks involved

Accepted Answer

In the 1930s, the U.S. Department of Labor created the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) as a vehicle for helping the new public employment system link the demand for skills and the supply of skills in the U.S. workforce. The DOT described over 12,000 jobs, as well as some of the requirements of successful job holders.

Question 20

OSHA's role in ergonomics in occupational settings is restricted to setting guidelines and inspecting instances of violation.

Accepted Answer

An organization may group jobs according to functions (for example, welding, painting, packaging), or it may set up divisions to focus on products or customer groups. If an organization structure is strongly based on function, workers tend to have low authority and to work alone at highly specialized jobs.

Quiz 4: Analyzing Work and Designing Jobs

Which of the following is an appropriate course of action while formulating job descriptions?

Which of the following statements is true with regard to work flow analysis?

The process of analyzing the tasks necessary for the production of a product or service is termed as _____.

The process of getting detailed information about jobs is known as _____.

What is the result of an organization structure that is strongly based on function?

Job specifications differ from job descriptions in that job specifications primarily describe:

In the context of a work flow analysis,materials,equipment,and human resources needed to perform the tasks collectively constitute the _____.

Joe has opted for a schedule where he works 40 hours over four days instead of working eight hours a day for five days,and gets a three-day off over the weekend.Joe's schedule can be termed a compressed workweek.

In the context of work flow design,a position is _____.

_____ are the products of any work unit.

Which of the following refers to a list of the tasks,duties,and responsibilities that a job entails?

A _____ is a list of the knowledge,skills,abilities,and other characteristics (KSAOs) that an individual must have to perform a particular job.

The primary goal of ergonomics is to reduce the information-processing requirements of a job.

A telework arrangement is easiest to implement for manufacturing workers.

One method to simplify a job's mental demands is to limit the amount of memorization required for the job.

The final stage in work flow analysis is to identify the _____.

_____ are the activities that a team's members engage in to produce a given output.

Once the outputs are identified,the next step in a work flow analysis involves _____.

Job descriptions generally contain all of the following components EXCEPT _____.

OSHA's role in ergonomics in occupational settings is restricted to setting guidelines and inspecting instances of violation.