Question 1

According to McClelland's acquired needs theory, an individual with which of the following need profiles would be comfortable in competitive situations and enjoy her decision-making role?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to McClelland's acquired needs theory, an...

Question 2

Incorporating motivators into a job situation is ________.

Accepted Answer

Job enrichment involves the incorporation of motivators, such as opportunities for achievement, recognition, and personal growth, into a job situation by expanding the scope of responsibilities and increasing the level of challenge and autonomy. Job rotation and job enlargement may provide some variety and challenge, but they do not necessarily address individuals' motivational needs. Total quality management and project management are approaches to organizing and managing work processes, but they do not affect the motivational factors present in a job situation.

Question 3

According to McClelland, people having the desire to do something better or more efficiently than it has ever been done before have a high need for ________.

Accepted Answer

According to McClelland's theory, people with a high need for achievement are motivated by the desire to do things better than they have ever been done before. This need is characterized by a strong drive to set and achieve difficult goals, take calculated risks, and receive feedback on performance. Dominance refers to the desire to have an impact on others and to be in control, power refers to the desire to control others and have authority, affiliation refers to the desire for close personal relationships, and acceptance refers to the desire for approval and recognition from others. None of these needs align with McClelland's definition of a high need for achievement.

Question 4

To maximize satisfaction, people with a high need for achievement are more likely to set goals that are ________.

Accepted Answer

People with a high need for achievement tend to set goals that are challenging but still achievable. This allows them to experience a sense of accomplishment upon achieving their goals, which in turn satisfies their need for achievement. Setting goals that are too easy may not provide sufficient challenge, while setting goals that are impossible to achieve may lead to frustration and a sense of failure. Therefore, the best choice is A.

Question 5

Which of the following behaviors is an attempt to relieve tension and frustration on the part of an employee who lacks motivation due to unsatisfied needs?

Accepted Answer

Increased aggression is a behavior that can result from tension and frustration due to unsatisfied needs. When employees lack motivation, they may become more aggressive in their behavior, lashing out at colleagues or expressing frustration toward their job or employer. This behavior is an attempt to relieve the tension and frustration the employee is experiencing.

Question 6

Eddie Burns is the accounts manager of Avatar Inc., and a very optimistic person. He knows what he wants from his subordinates and believes that they will always do their best to get the work done. Even when work gets delayed, he assumes that they did their best. Eddie's behavior is consistent with ________.

Accepted Answer

Eddie Burns' optimistic attitude and belief in his subordinates' abilities to do their best align with Theory Y, which assumes that employees are self-motivated, want to work, and seek opportunities to achieve their full potential.

Question 7

According to Herzberg, which of the following is needed just to prevent the employee from becoming dissatisfied with work?

Accepted Answer

According to Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, salary is a hygiene factor, which means it is necessary to prevent dissatisfaction but does not necessarily lead to satisfaction. Therefore, it is needed just to prevent the employee from becoming dissatisfied with work.

Question 8

Bill, manager in an IT company assumes his team members are inherently lazy, dislike work, and will avoid work if they can. He believes that his team members need to be closely supervised and comprehensive systems of controls developed. He also relies heavily on threat and coercion to gain their compliance. Bill is a ________ manager.

Accepted Answer

Bill's assumptions and management style align with the characteristics of a Theory X manager, who believe that employees are inherently lazy and require heavy monitoring and control to ensure productivity. Theory X managers also rely on punishment and coercion to gain compliance from their employees.

Question 9

The process of increasing the number of operations an individual performs in a job is ________.

Accepted Answer

Job enlargement involves increasing the number of tasks performed by an individual in a job, while job enrichment involves increasing the level of responsibility and autonomy in a job. Team management involves overseeing the work of a group of individuals, cross training involves training employees in multiple job functions, and job rotation involves rotating employees through different job positions.

Question 10

Meg recently graduated from law school and joined Smith & Sons, a prestigious law firm that she has always wanted to be a part of. Like every other new research associate, she is assigned to a senior member of the firm whom she is required to assist. This typically involves spending several hours researching case histories and preparing briefs. She is well-paid and feels that her boss is supportive. However, Meg leaves the firm within two months. Which of the following, if true, would best explain this contradiction?

Accepted Answer

The fact that Meg is well-paid and feels supported by her boss suggests that her decision to leave the firm is not due to issues with compensation or her supervisor's management style. Instead, her preference for working in a team setup is the most likely explanation for her departure. As a new research associate, Meg may have found the solitary nature of her work to be isolating or unfulfilling, which would explain why she chose to seek a different environment where she could collaborate with colleagues.

Question 11

The most basic motivation strategy for managers is ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The most basic motivation strategy for managers...

Question 12

According to McClelland's acquired needs theory, a manager who has a cooperative, team-centered management style, who prefers to influence subordinates to complete tasks through team efforts, probably has a high need for ________.

Accepted Answer

McClelland's acquired needs theory suggests that people have three basic needs: achievement, power, and affiliation. A manager who prefers a team-centered management style and influences subordinates through team efforts is likely to have a high need for affiliation, as they prioritize building relationships and working cooperatively with others.

Question 13

When Jenn Williams joined Conrad Inc., as a business analyst, she was very happy with her job profile and the pay package. However, one year into the job has made her realize that this is not the right place to be. While the she has a good relationship with her co-workers and her supervisors are understanding, she feels that her hardwork often goes unnoticed. Being an ambitious person herself, this lack of acknowledgment is unsettling. Which of the following is most likely to be true in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

Conrad Inc. focuses more on hygiene factors rather than motivating factors.

Question 14

According to McClelland, people having the desire to maintain close, friendly, personal relationships have a high need for ________.

Accepted Answer

McClelland's theory identifies three basic needs: achievement, power, and affiliation. People with a high need for affiliation have a desire to maintain close, friendly, personal relationships.

Question 15

Which theory proposes managers can be successful with any set of assumptions about human nature, depending upon the situation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which theory proposes managers can be successful...

Question 16

Juno XP is an event management firm. Being a startup, the firm is unable to offer its employees the best salaries but instead engages them by providing challenging work and regular training. Which of the following is most similar to this scenario?

Accepted Answer

M2M & Co. focuses on empowering employees by providing them with opportunities for promotion and allowing them to work independently. Similarly, Juno XP engages its employees through challenging work and regular training rather than providing high salaries. Both organizations prioritize employee development and offer opportunities for growth.

Question 17

________ involves negative assumptions about people that managers often use as a basis for dealing with their subordinates.

Accepted Answer

Theory X is the management theory that involves negative assumptions about people, such as the belief that they are inherently lazy and need to be coerced or punished in order to work hard. This theory leads managers to closely supervise their subordinates and use strict control mechanisms to ensure that they are working productively. By contrast, Theory Y assumes that people are inherently motivated to work and will take initiative and responsibility if given the opportunity to do so.

Question 18

Which theory is a set of essentially positive assumptions about human nature?

Accepted Answer

Theory Y is a set of assumptions that suggests individuals are naturally motivated to work and are capable of self-direction, self-control, and creativity. It has a positive view of human nature and assumes that individuals are responsible and seek out challenging and meaningful work.

Question 19

The process of moving workers from one job to another rather than requiring them to perform only one simple and specialized job over the long run is ________.

Accepted Answer

Job rotation involves moving workers from one job to another, and it helps to prevent boredom, increase employee motivation, and develop a broader range of skills. Choice A, team management, refers to the process of organizing and coordinating a group of individuals to work collaboratively to achieve a common goal. Choice B, job enlargement, refers to increasing the number of tasks that an employee performs to alleviate boredom and monotony. Choice C, job enrichment, involves giving employees more autonomy, responsibility, and decision-making power in their current jobs. Choice E, cross training, refers to training employees to perform tasks outside of their primary job responsibilities to increase flexibility and adaptability.

Question 20

According to Herzberg, ________ influence the degree of job satisfaction.

Accepted Answer

Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory states that motivating factors, also known as motivators, influence job satisfaction. These include aspects like achievement, recognition, and the work itself.

Quiz 17: Motivation