Question 1

Every month Sam Tabor is assigned a different job at Russo & Daughters Financial Consulting. Sam enjoys the task variety and finds that switching jobs on a regular basis keeps the work from becoming boring. Russo & Daughters is using a technique known as job:

Accepted Answer

Job rotation involves periodically moving employees from one job to another within an organization in order to provide them with variety and new challenges. This is exactly what Sam Tabor experiences each month at Russo & Daughters, as he is assigned a different job on a regular basis.

Question 2

Which of the following practices would be most consistent with the views of scientific management?

Accepted Answer

Scientific management emphasizes the standardization and simplification of work processes to maximize efficiency and productivity. Job enlargement, job enrichment, and job rotation focus on increasing employees' motivation and job satisfaction, which are not the main concerns of scientific management. Therefore, job simplification is the most consistent practice with the views of scientific management.

Question 3

At Boss Motorcar Company, employees are grouped into teams. Each team is responsible for assembling an entire automobile. Boss gives each team freedom and flexibility to decide how to divide-up the work. The company keeps the employees informed about how their cars are selling, and even shows them the comments customers make about quality and performance on customer satisfaction questionnaires. Boss Motorcar Company is using a strategy of:

Accepted Answer

Boss Motorcar Company is using a strategy of job enrichment, which involves giving employees more responsibility, autonomy, and control over their work. By allowing each team to decide how to divide-up the work, Boss is providing a sense of ownership and involvement in the production process, which can lead to higher job satisfaction and motivation. Furthermore, by keeping employees informed about how their cars are selling and the comments of customers, Boss is providing feedback and recognition for quality work, which further contributes to employee motivation.

Question 4

The practice of moving employees from one job to another to make work more interesting is called:

Accepted Answer

The practice of moving employees from one job to another to make work more interesting is called job rotation. It is a mechanism used by organizations to enhance the job satisfaction and motivation of the employees. It allows employees to learn new skills and gain diverse experiences while keeping them challenged and engaged in their work. Task mobility, job incrementation, and worker alternation are not commonly used terms in relation to this practice.

Question 5

Herzberg's research indicated that employees are motivated by job content. Contemporary managers focus on by increasing the significance of the job, and even providing the employee with important feedback.

Accepted Answer

According to Herzberg's research, employees are motivated by job content, which means that they are more motivated when they feel their job is meaningful and enables them to grow and develop. Job enrichment involves increasing the significance of the job by adding more responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities for employees to learn and develop. This is a contemporary approach to motivation that focuses on enhancing job content. Therefore, job enrichment is the best choice.

Question 6

You are a graduate teaching assistant in the Biology department at Fairview University. You have several graduate student friends who have graduate appointments in the business department and the English department. While everyone's compensation and employee benefits are exactly the same, your department requires you to always show-up and tutor students at least four hours each day and to serve on one university committee each semester. Graduates students at the other departments are not required by their management to follow these rules. Lately, you are doing your best to limit your daily obligation to 2 ½ to 3 hours each day. The motivational theory that most closely correlates with your actions is:

Accepted Answer

The equity theory suggests that employees compare their own inputs (time, effort, and contributions) to their outputs (compensation and benefits) with those of their colleagues. If they perceive an inequity between their own situation and that of others, they may adjust their behavior to achieve a sense of fairness. In this scenario, the graduate teaching assistant perceives an inequity between the requirements of their department and those of their friends' departments, despite the identical compensation and benefits. They are motivated to limit their daily tutoring obligations to achieve a sense of fairness compared to their friends.

Question 7

As the marketing director for Chipper's Golf Resort, you are making plans for the annual golf tournament, and trying to decide on dollar prizes. In past years, you successfully raised $25,000 through registration fees and sponsorship. After learning that in past years, you successfully raised in excess of $25,000 through registration fees and sponsorship, the general manager wants to make the top prize $10,000. His exact words were, "We can attract some great talent at the level!" At your morning meeting, you inquire: "Can we afford to announce a $10,000 prize at the expense of losing out on a portion of the registration fees if some of our past participants decide not to enter the tournament? You explain to the general manager that if you set the prize too high, several better than average golfers in the area will find it to be "out of their league" and will be unmotivated to participate or spend the money. Your analysis of the situation is reasonable according to .

Accepted Answer

The answer of As the marketing director for Chipper's Golf...

Question 8

Brett manages a sales force that sells laboratory supplies to companies and university science labs. He wants to implement a reward program for high performance. Any rep whose territory bills over $500,000 in sales will win a trip for two, to a Caribbean Island. Last year the high billing territory made $400,000 in sales. As his outside consultant on the rewards program project, you suggest that he ask around to make certain that this is something the reps would enjoy. Your other advice is:

Accepted Answer

It is important to consider whether the sales reps believe that the reward is attainable. If it seems unattainable, it may not motivate them to strive for it. It is also important to consider other factors such as the sales reps' preferences and the competitiveness of the payout threshold, but these are not as important as ensuring that the reward is perceived as attainable. Option A is not recommended because setting the payout threshold too high may demotivate the sales reps. Option B may be considered, but it is not the most important factor to consider. Option C is not true, as monetary rewards can be motivational for some individuals.

Question 9

is the degree to which a job requires doing a task with a visible outcome from beginning to end.

Accepted Answer

Task identity refers to the degree to which a job requires doing a task with a visible outcome from beginning to end. This means that the worker can see the direct results of their work and is responsible for completing a whole task.

Question 10

The degree to which a job has a substantial impact on the lives or work of others in the organization is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Task significance refers to the extent to which a job has a significant impact on the lives or work of others in the organization. This can include the level of importance of the job, the degree to which the job affects others, and the potential consequences of not performing the job well.

Question 11

Job combines a series of tasks into one assignment that is more challenging, interesting, and motivating.

Accepted Answer

Job enlargement involves combining a series of tasks into one assignment to make the job more challenging, interesting, and motivating.

Question 12

As a manager, Charlene works hard to ensure that employees are treated fairly, yet she still gets feedback that indicates that some employees don't believe she is fair. This problem most likely results from the fact that:

Accepted Answer

Equity judgments are based on perceptions, and the perceptions of employees are not always accurate. Even if Charlene is treating employees fairly, some employees may perceive otherwise, leading to a feeling of inequity. It is important for Charlene to understand these perceptions and address them to ensure a positive work environment.

Question 13

Managers who advocate job enrichment focus on creating jobs with

Accepted Answer

Managers who advocate job enrichment want to create jobs that provide employees with skill variety and autonomy. This means that employees are given a variety of tasks that require different skills and are given more control over their work, which can lead to greater job satisfaction and motivation. Repetitive motions (A) and simplified tasks (B) do not provide a challenge or opportunity for growth, while very specialized and difficult tasks (C) may lead to burnout or frustration.

Question 14

Which of the following statements best describes the theme behind the Thinking Green box, titled, "Green Team Go"?

Accepted Answer

The theme behind "Green Team Go" is that motivating employees through job enrichment can be effective. The article discusses how employees on the Green Team at Paylocity were given added responsibilities related to sustainability efforts, but they responded positively because it provided them with a sense of purpose and empowerment in their jobs. Choice A is incorrect because there is no mention of the Green Team feeling burdened by their additional work. Choice B is also incorrect because there is no indication of resentment from other Paylocity employees toward the Green Team. Choice D is unrelated to the theme of the article.

Question 15

attempts to increase task efficiency by breaking down jobs into simple steps and assigning people to each of those steps.

Accepted Answer

Job simplification is the method of increasing task efficiency by breaking down jobs into simple steps. This ensures that each employee focuses on a specific task, resulting in increased productivity and efficiency. Job segmentation refers to breaking down larger jobs into smaller ones with different skills required for each. Task restriction and roundabout production are not related concepts to increasing task efficiency through breaking down jobs into simple steps.

Question 16

The characteristic of work that is concerned with the amount of direct and clear information employees receive about performance is called:

Accepted Answer

Feedback refers to the information given to employees about their job performance. It can be both positive and negative, and is important in providing employees with clear expectations and goals, as well as identifying areas for improvement. Feedback can come from supervisors, coworkers, or even customers.

Question 17

The first step toward establishing open communication within an organization is to:

Accepted Answer

Creating an organizational culture that rewards listening will encourage employees to be open and honest in their communication. This will lead to a more productive and collaborative work environment. While suggestion boxes and computer networks can be helpful tools in promoting communication, they are not as effective as cultivating a culture of open communication. A clear chain of command can be beneficial for organizational structure but does not necessarily promote open communication.

Question 18

As companies restructure to create greater efficiencies in their operations, there is a greater opportunity for where management combines specialized tasks in one job, and asking employees to broaden their scope of responsibilities.

Accepted Answer

Job enlargement involves adding more tasks and responsibilities to an employee's job, allowing for more variety and potentially higher job satisfaction. This aligns with the idea of companies restructuring for greater efficiency by combining specialized tasks into one job.

Question 19

Company A just bought one of their competitors (Company B). The CEO announced last week that employees at the newly acquired firm (Company B) will get raises that are equal to what persons doing the same jobs at Company A are making. The announcement has caused quite a stir at Company A because it is common knowledge that the culture at Company B is quite different from their culture. For one thing, Company B employees take hour-long lunches, while Company A lunch breaks are ½ hour. Company B employees get another ½ hour each day for exercise, while Company A employees have never enjoyed this privilege. Company B employees expect three weeks vacation each year, while Company A employees get two weeks only after they have been with the company for three years. If the CEO goes through with his plans, which of the following is a response that he is likely to get from employees at the combined company?

Accepted Answer

Company A employees may feel resentful that they have been working longer hours and receiving fewer benefits than their counterparts at Company B, yet now they will be paid the same. This may lead to a reduction in their effort and motivation at work.

Question 20

Ramon works at Chicago Medical Instruments. His job was recently redefined so that he now has more flexibility in the hours he works and more say in the procedures used on the job. This suggests that Chicago Medical Instruments is trying to change Ramon's job so that it has more:

Accepted Answer

Ramon's job being redefined to have more flexibility in hours and more say in procedures suggests that he now has more autonomy, or control over his own work. Feedback, task identity, and task significance do not necessarily relate to having more say in work procedures or hours.

Quiz 10: Motivating Employees