Question 1

Inequity in the workplace is likely to result in:

Accepted Answer

Inequity in the workplace leads to lower productivity and reduced quality because employees who feel they are being treated unfairly may become disengaged and less motivated to perform their work to the best of their ability. Arguments between managers and employees may also occur as a result, but this is not the main consequence of workplace inequity. Higher morale and greater worker empowerment are unlikely outcomes when individuals feel that they are not being treated fairly.

Question 2

Expectancy theory suggests that managers attempting to improve employee performance would be well advised to:

Accepted Answer

Expectancy theory suggests that employees are motivated when they believe that their effort will lead to better performance, better performance will lead to rewards, and those rewards will be valuable to them. Therefore, setting attainable performance goals increases the belief that effort will lead to better performance and ultimately rewards, which should increase motivation and performance. A, B, and D do not necessarily address these three components of expectancy theory.

Question 3

Paul Blocker is the offensive line coach for a well-known university football team. He wants his players to report to fall practice in good shape. Coach Blocker has set challenging fitness standards that the linemen should have no problem achieving if they work hard during the summer. He knows his players hate running wind sprints so to encourage them to workout during the summer he announced that any player who passes the fitness test at the beginning of fall practice will be allowed to skip sprints for the first two weeks of practice. Coach Blocker's approach to motivation is consistent with:

Accepted Answer

Coach Blocker's approach to motivation is consistent with expectancy theory, which suggests that individuals will be motivated to exert effort if they believe that their effort will lead to high performance, and high performance will lead to desired outcomes or rewards. By linking the fitness test to a reward (skipping sprints), Coach Blocker is encouraging his players to work harder during the summer in the expectation of achieving the desired outcome.

Question 4

A key idea in reinforcement theory is that:

Accepted Answer

Reinforcement theory suggests that managers can use both rewards and punishment to influence employee behavior. This means that managers have the ability to shape and reinforce desired behaviors through the use of positive or negative consequences. The other options (A, C, and D) are not key ideas in reinforcement theory.

Question 5

Which of the following statements would a proponent of management by objectives likely make?

Accepted Answer

Management by objectives emphasizes the importance of employees setting their own goals and being self-motivated to achieve them.

Question 6

Matt works for a sports marketing firm. He feels that he has been treated unfairly by the organization. He helped three other employees organize a series of successful street hockey tournaments in different regions of the country. While the other employees were given a bonus and corporate recognition, his efforts were ignored. According to equity theory, Matt is likely to respond by:

Accepted Answer

According to equity theory, individuals strive for fairness in their relationships and if they perceive an inequity, they will attempt to restore balance. Matt's perception of unfair treatment compared to his colleagues who organized the same successful tournaments will likely result in a negative reaction. The most likely response will be to reduce his efforts on future projects to balance the perceived inequity.

Question 7

According to equity theory, employees are likely to ask:

Accepted Answer

Equity theory is concerned with the fairness of the rewards and outcomes that employees receive in comparison to their inputs (such as effort, time, and skills). Therefore, employees are likely to ask whether their efforts will be worth it and what is fair in terms of rewards and outcomes. Options A and B focus more on the difficulty of the task and the potential rewards. Option D is not related to equity theory.

Question 8

Reprimands, pay reductions, and suspensions are all examples of:

Accepted Answer

Reprimands, pay reductions, and suspensions are all examples of negative reinforcement, which refers to the removal of a negative stimulus to increase the likelihood of a desired behavior.

Question 9

Which of the following problems would indicate that a manager failed to apply the basic concepts of expectancy theory?

Accepted Answer

Expectancy theory suggests that individuals will be motivated to perform behaviors that they believe will lead to desired outcomes, and that they will put forth effort in proportion to the expected value of those outcomes. If employees are unwilling to work toward achieving an important goal because they believe that the reward offered is not sufficient to justify the effort required, this indicates that they do not believe that their efforts will lead to the desired outcome (the reward). This suggests a failure to apply the basic concepts of expectancy theory, as the theory would suggest that managers should ensure that their employees believe that their efforts will be appropriately rewarded in order to motivate them to put forth effort.

Question 10

According to goal-setting theory, in order for goals to enhance motivation and performance they must be:

Accepted Answer

According to goal-setting theory, goals must be accompanied by feedback in order to enhance motivation and performance. This feedback allows individuals to monitor their progress towards their goals and make necessary adjustments to their behavior or strategies. While monetary rewards may be a motivator, they are not necessary for the effectiveness of goal-setting. The principles of scientific management and labor contracts are not directly related to the theory of goal-setting.

Question 11

Equity judgments are based on:

Accepted Answer

Equity judgments are often based on people's perceptions, beliefs, and values, which cannot always be quantified or measured objectively. It is the subjective nature of equity judgments that makes them nuanced and complex. Deductive reasoning and statistical extrapolation may play a role in equity judgments, but they are not the main factors.

Question 12

One of the reasons management by objectives is an effective way to implement the ideas of goal-setting theory is that it:

Accepted Answer

Management by objectives provides a method for involving everyone in the process of setting goals, which aligns with goal-setting theory's emphasis on setting specific and challenging goals that are achievable and tied to rewards. This collaborative approach also increases employee commitment and motivation to achieve the goals. Option A is partially true, but management by objectives does more than just explain the reason for goals; it involves employees in setting them. Option B is incorrect because management by objectives requires managers to provide support and guidance to help employees achieve their goals. Option C is also incorrect because employees should collaborate with their managers to set goals that align with organizational objectives.

Question 13

The basic principle of equity theory is that employees try to:

Accepted Answer

Equity theory suggests that employees strive to maintain equity or fairness in their exchange relationships with coworkers and the organization. Specifically, employees compare their inputs (e.g., effort contributed, skills, experience, loyalty) and outputs (e.g., pay, benefits, recognition, opportunities) to those of others in similar positions. When they perceive inequity (e.g., someone else receives greater rewards for the same inputs or they receive lesser rewards for greater inputs), they may try to restore equity by changing their inputs or outcomes (e.g., reduce effort, increase pay demands, seek a promotion) or by leaving the job altogether. Therefore, the best choice is A.

Question 14

Lynn is in charge of a nursing shift at a hospital. She wants to improve the motivation and performance level of the nurses under her direction. According to expectancy theory, one element of an effective motivational strategy is to:

Accepted Answer

According to expectancy theory, motivation is tied to the belief that effort will lead to performance, which will then lead to desired outcomes. To improve motivation and performance, it's important to determine what types of rewards are valued by the nurses, as these rewards will be what they're motivated to work towards. The other options listed (simplifying the job, setting unattainable performance standards, and rotating nurses through different jobs) are not necessarily effective ways of improving motivation and performance.

Question 15

refers to a situation in which a manager attempts to stop an undesirable behavior by simply not responding to it.

Accepted Answer

Extinction refers to the withdrawal of positive reinforcement or simply not responding to an undesirable behavior in order to decrease the frequency of that behavior. Rationalizing involves making excuses to justify or explain behavior. Retraction refers to the act of withdrawing a statement, and passive resistance involves covertly opposing or obstructing actions without openly confronting them.

Question 16

Dane works as a sales representative for the Better Butter Company. He is about to meet with his manager to review his progress toward meeting the sales objectives they agreed to at the beginning of the year. Dane likes the fact that managers at Better Butter listen to their subordinates' ideas and get everyone involved in setting goals and objectives. Dane's experience suggests that Better Butter is utilizing:

Accepted Answer

Better Butter's approach to goal-setting and involving employees in the process aligns with the principles of management by objectives (MBO), where employees are involved in the goal-setting process and have a say in what objectives they need to meet. Scientific management and programmed management are focused more on standardizing work processes and tasks, while the program evaluation and review technique (PERT) is a project management tool rather than an approach to goal-setting.

Question 17

Which of the following would be most closely tied to the idea that employee motivation requires that the rewards for completing a task are sufficient to justify the effort?

Accepted Answer

Expectancy theory proposes that employee motivation depends on the belief that the effort will lead to high performance and that high performance will lead to rewards that are valued by the employee. Therefore, the rewards for completing a task must be sufficient to justify the effort put in by the employee.

Question 18

Kathleen is the new operations manager of a national stock brokerage firm. She recently attended a conference on the use of expectancy theory to motivate employees. In order to incorporate what she has learned, Kathleen should:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Kathleen is the new operations manager of...

Question 19

Becca is a manager in the credit department for 3STAR Motors. Joe Greene is a new employee in her department. While Joe has been learning his job, Becca has provided him with guidance by offering advice, encouragement, and instructions. However, she is careful to let Joe do the actual work, even if he struggles a bit. Becca's approach to getting Joe up to speed indicates that she is:

Accepted Answer

Becca's approach is more aligned with coaching, as she provides guidance and support while allowing Joe to perform the tasks himself, which helps him learn and develop his skills independently.

Question 20

theory is based on the idea that managers can use both rewards and punishments to motivate employee behavior.

Accepted Answer

The theory based on the idea that managers can use both rewards and punishments to motivate employee behavior is reinforcement theory.

Quiz 10: Motivating Employees