Question 1

According to Maslow, an individual is motivated first and foremost to satisfy _____ needs.
A) security
B) self-actualization
C) physiological
D) esteem
E) belongingness

Accepted Answer

An individual is motivated first and foremost to satisfy physiological needs.

Question 2

Rewards tied specifically to _____ have the greatest impact on enhancing motivation.
A) outcome
B) performance
C) effort
D) ability
E) skill

Accepted Answer

Rewards that are tied specifically to performance, have the greatest impact on enhancing both motivation and actual performance.

Question 3

According to the two-factor theory, which of the following is a hygiene factor that influences an employee's satisfaction or dissatisfaction?
A) Achievement
B) Recognition
C) Working conditions
D) Advancement and growth
E) The work itself

Accepted Answer

Work conditions are hygiene factors that influence an employee's satisfaction or dissatisfaction.

Question 4

Jessica Weller, a senior manager at DigWell Inc., differentiates the annual pay raises provided to her subordinates based on their individual contributions to the organization. The type of reward system used by Jessica is an example of _____.
A) fixed-rate pay
B) profit sharing
C) gainsharing
D) scanlon plan
E) merit pay

Accepted Answer

Jessica uses a merit pay system as the compensations are based on individual contributions to the organization.

Question 5

Jessica is required to follow a forty-hour work schedule from 9:00 in the morning and ends at 5:00 each day, every week. However, she has the freedom to take a day off by working two extra hours each day. This reflects a _____.
A) variable work schedule
B) flexible work schedule
C) telecommuting arrangement
D) job sharing arrangement
E) traditional work schedule

Accepted Answer

Working a full forty-hours week in a fewer than the traditional five days reflects a variable work schedule.

Question 6

A manager who provides reinforcement on the basis of a particular number of behaviors, rather than on the basis of time is using a(n) _____ schedule.
A) fixed-ratio
B) fixed-interval
C) variable-interval
D) variable-ratio
E) interval-ratio

Accepted Answer

A fixed-ratio schedule gives reinforcement after a fixed number of behaviors, regardless of the time that elapses between behaviors.

Question 7

Aside from motivational strategies such as the content perspective, process perspectives, and reinforcement perspectives, an organization's _____ is its most basic tool for managing employee motivation.
A) strategic plan
B) vision statement
C) objective
D) reward system
E) goal

Accepted Answer

Aside from motivational strategies such as the content perspective, process perspectives, and reinforcement perspectives, an organization's reward system is its most basic tool for managing employee motivation.

Question 8

_____ is an intangible determinant of individual performance.
A) Motivation
B) Management
C) Attribution
D) Personality
E) Contribution

Accepted Answer

Motivation is important because of its significance as a determinant of performance and because of its intangible character.

Question 9

_____ represents an important method that managers can use to enhance employee motivation.
A) Punishment
B) Extinction
C) Absenteeism
D) Turnover
E) Empowerment

Accepted Answer

Empowerment and participation represent important methods that managers can use to enhance employee motivation.

Question 10

Cheri and Aaron both wanted to work part-time, and they found a lawyer who was willing to split one full-time paralegal job between the two of them so that Cheri works mornings and Aaron works afternoons. This arrangement is known as _____.
A) flextime
B) participation
C) OB Mod
D) job sharing
E) reinforcement

Accepted Answer

Job sharing is an alternative work arrangement in which two part-time employees share one full-time job.

Question 11

If one wants to maintain an employee's behavior at a high level with variations in the level of behavior irrespective of the time interval, which of the following schedules of reinforcement would be most successful?
A) Fixed-interval
B) Fixed-ratio
C) Variable-interval
D) Variable-ratio
E) Continuous

Accepted Answer

The variable-ratio schedule varies the number of behaviors needed for each reinforcement.

Question 12

A manager gives her employees a variable bonus every month based on resulting cost savings every time they exceed their sales quota. This type of incentive pay is known as _____.
A) fixed-rate pay
B) profit sharing
C) gainsharing
D) lump-sum bonus
E) pay-for-knowledge

Accepted Answer

Gainsharing programs are designed to share the cost savings from productivity improvements with employees.

Question 13

Windmere allows its administrative employees to arrive any time between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., and to leave any time between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., as long as they work an eight-hour day. This arrangement is known as _____.
A) empowerment
B) compressed work schedule
C) a nine-eighty schedule
D) flextime
E) traditional schedule

Accepted Answer

The freedom given to employees to arrive and leave office within flexible timings portrays an arrangement called flexitime.

Question 14

A manager who provides reinforcement on a periodic basis, regardless of behavior, is using a _____ schedule.
A) variable-interval
B) variable-fixed
C) fixed-ratio
D) fixed-interval
E) variable-ratio

Accepted Answer

The fixed-interval schedule provides reinforcement at fixed intervals of time, regardless of behavior.

Question 15

_____ needs are at the top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
A) Security
B) Self-actualization
C) Physiological
D) Esteem
E) Belongingness

Accepted Answer

At the top of the hierarchy are the self-actualization needs.

Question 16

A criticism against executive compensation in recent years is that:
A) organizations are getting increasingly innovative in their incentive programs.
B) executive compensation is based on the performance of each and every employee in an organization.
C) there seems to be no relationship between organization's performance and executives' compensations.
D) executives are earning a meager amount compared to the typical worker in an organization
E) the gap between the earnings of a CEO and the earnings of a typical worker is significantly less.

Accepted Answer

Compounding the problem created by perceptions of executive compensation is the fact that there often seems to be little or no relationship between the performance of the organization and the compensation paid to its senior executives

Question 17

Assurance on ____ can satisfy the security needs of an employee in the workplace.
A) comfortable work environment
B) positive self-image
C) adequate wages
D) job continuity
E) recognition

Accepted Answer

Security needs can be satisfied in the workplace by assured job continuity (no layoffs).

Question 18

Elena is a sales representative. She gets paid a base salary plus a percentage of sales attained as a commission for a period of time. Her pay is an example of _____.
A) merit pay plan
B) scanlon plan
C) gainsharing program
D) nonmonetary incentives
E) incentive pay plan

Accepted Answer

Sales commission is a form of individual incentive. The compensation that Elina receives is based on an incentive pay plan.

Question 19

Allowing employees to spend part of their time working offsite, usually at home, is called _____.
A) empowerment
B) compressed work schedule
C) flexitime
D) job sharing
E) telecommuting

Accepted Answer

Allowing employees to spend part of their time working offsite, usually at home is called telecommuting.

Question 20

Which of the following programs applies the concepts of reinforcement theory?
A) Modified workweek
B) Work redesign
C) Organizational behavior modification
D) Attribution theory
E) Two-factor theory

Accepted Answer

Organizational behavior modification (OB Mod) is a technique of motivating employees based on reinforcement theory.

Quiz 10: Managing Employee Motivation and Performance

According to Maslow, an individual is motivated first and foremost to satisfy _____ needs.

Rewards tied specifically to _____ have the greatest impact on enhancing motivation.

According to the two-factor theory, which of the following is a hygiene factor that influences an employee's satisfaction or dissatisfaction?

Jessica Weller, a senior manager at DigWell Inc., differentiates the annual pay raises provided to her subordinates based on their individual contributions to the organization. The type of reward system used by Jessica is an example of _____.

Jessica is required to follow a forty-hour work schedule from 9:00 in the morning and ends at 5:00 each day, every week. However, she has the freedom to take a day off by working two extra hours each day. This reflects a _____.

A manager who provides reinforcement on the basis of a particular number of behaviors, rather than on the basis of time is using a(n) _____ schedule.

Aside from motivational strategies such as the content perspective, process perspectives, and reinforcement perspectives, an organization's _____ is its most basic tool for managing employee motivation.

_____ is an intangible determinant of individual performance.

_____ represents an important method that managers can use to enhance employee motivation.

Cheri and Aaron both wanted to work part-time, and they found a lawyer who was willing to split one full-time paralegal job between the two of them so that Cheri works mornings and Aaron works afternoons. This arrangement is known as _____.

If one wants to maintain an employee's behavior at a high level with variations in the level of behavior irrespective of the time interval, which of the following schedules of reinforcement would be most successful?

A manager gives her employees a variable bonus every month based on resulting cost savings every time they exceed their sales quota. This type of incentive pay is known as _____.

Windmere allows its administrative employees to arrive any time between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., and to leave any time between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., as long as they work an eight-hour day. This arrangement is known as _____.

A manager who provides reinforcement on a periodic basis, regardless of behavior, is using a _____ schedule.

_____ needs are at the top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

A criticism against executive compensation in recent years is that:

Assurance on ____ can satisfy the security needs of an employee in the workplace.

Elena is a sales representative. She gets paid a base salary plus a percentage of sales attained as a commission for a period of time. Her pay is an example of _____.

Allowing employees to spend part of their time working offsite, usually at home, is called _____.

Which of the following programs applies the concepts of reinforcement theory?