Question 1

Which of the following requires workers to make daily listings of the activities in which they engage as well as the amount of time each activity takes?

Accepted Answer

D)A diary or a log requires workers to make daily listings of the activities in which they engage as well as the amount of time each activity takes. Diaries and logs can be useful in the job analysis process because they often produce a complete picture of the job, especially when used in conjunction with an interview.

Question 2

Job enlargement refers to redesigning jobs in a way that increases responsibility and achievement.

Accepted Answer

Job enlargement refers to assigning workers additional same-level activities. For example, a worker who previously only bolted the seat to the legs of a chair might attach the back as well. Job enrichment refers to redesigning jobs to increase responsibility and achievement.

Question 3

Pocket dictating machines and pagers have replaced traditional diary/log methods in many firms. Which of the following problems have the modern methods most likely eliminated?

Accepted Answer

B)Some firms provide employees with pocket dictating machines and pagers to keep diaries and logs. At random times during the day, the employee is paged. The employee then dictates what he or she is doing. With this method, employers do not have to rely on workers to remember what they did hours earlier when they complete their logs at the end of the day, which was the main problem with paper/pencil diaries.

Question 4

Which of the following is the primary disadvantage of using questionnaires to gather job analysis information?

Accepted Answer

D)The primary drawback of questionnaires is the time required to develop questionnaires and test them to ensure that workers understand the questions. Questionnaires can be structured or open-ended, and many are a combination of the two.

Question 5

Which of the following guidelines is most likely recommended to managers conducting a job analysis?

Accepted Answer

D)Managers should make sure that the job analysis process and the questions asked to employees are clear. Several tools should be used to gather information rather than only one, and employees and supervisors typically complete questionnaires rather than HR managers. Supervisors should be included in group interviews.

Question 6

Which method for collecting job analysis information is considered best for quantifying the relative worth of a job for compensation purposes?

Accepted Answer

D)The position analysis questionnaire's strength is in assigning jobs to job classes for pay purposes. With ratings for each job's decision-making, skilled activity, physical activity, vehicle/equipment operation, and information-processing characteristics, you can quantitatively compare jobs relative to one another and then classify jobs for pay purposes.

Question 7

One of the problems with direct observation is ________, which is when workers alter their normal activities because they are being watched.

Accepted Answer

C)Reactivity occurs when a worker changes what he or she normally does because observation is taking place for the purpose of job analysis. Knowing that they are being watched may cause some workers to alter their normal work behaviors either on purpose or accidentally.

Question 8

How does job analysis support human resource management activities? Briefly describe one of the methods commonly used for gathering job analysis data.

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does job analysis support human resource...

Question 9

What is the difference between job enlargement, job rotation, and job enrichment?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between job enlargement,...

Question 10

What are the steps involved in the job analysis process? Briefly discuss the methods available for collecting job analysis information.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the steps involved in the...

Question 11

Job analysts collecting information through observations and interviews benefit from the use of a(n)________ to guide the process and ensure consistency.

Accepted Answer

A)A structured list or checklist is useful for guiding an interview or performing a personal observation. Electronic diaries are completed by the worker and would not be used for observations or interviews.

Question 12

Interviews for the purpose of collecting job analysis data will most likely address all of the following topics EXCEPT ________.

Accepted Answer

D)Typical questions for job analysis interviews address subjects such as the job's major duties, hazardous conditions, performance standards, and required experience and education. It is less likely that an interviewer would ask an employee questions not related specifically to the job, such as personal questions about the worker's hobbies and free time.

Question 13

Jerome, a manager at an electronics company, needs to gather job analysis information from a large number of employees who perform similar work. Which of the following would be most appropriate for Jerome?

Accepted Answer

C)When a large number of employees perform similar or identical work, conducting a group interview is a fast way to gather information. In most cases, the workers' immediate supervisor attends the group session. It would be costly and time consuming to observe each worker.

Question 14

In reengineered business processes, workers tend to become collectively responsible for overall results rather than individually responsible for just their own tasks.

Accepted Answer

Business process reengineering involves redesigning a business process so that small multidisciplinary, self-managing teams get a task done together, all at once. Such a system leads to workers becoming collectively responsible for overall results rather than merely focused on their individual tasks.

Question 15

A ________ is the time it takes to complete a job.

Accepted Answer

A)A work cycle is the time it takes to complete a job, which may be one minute for an assembly-line worker or weeks for an engineer. Managers collecting data for a job analysis may observe a worker on the job for a complete work cycle and take notes of the worker's activities.

Question 16

Which of the following is the primary disadvantage of using interviews to collect job analysis data?

Accepted Answer

B)The primary disadvantage of conducting employee interviews for the purpose of gathering job analysis data is the distortion of information. Employees may misunderstand the purpose of the interview and either purposely or mistakenly provide incorrect information. Interviews are considered a simple method for collecting detailed job information especially regarding uncommon but important employee activities.

Question 17

Purrfect Pets is a local pet supply store with a following of loyal customers who appreciate the personal service the store's employees provide. After a very profitable year, Purrfect Pets is expanding by opening two more stores. Before hiring employees for the new stores, the manager is considering the idea of conducting a job analysis for each position. Which of the following, if true, would best support the argument that the manager should conduct group interviews to gather job analysis information?

Accepted Answer

D)When a large number of employees perform similar or identical tasks, then a group interview is a quick and inexpensive way to gather job analysis information. The work environment or age of the employees are not important factors in deciding whether a group interview is appropriate.

Question 18

Which data collection method is most frequently used in conjunction with direct observation?

Accepted Answer

A)Managers frequently combine direct observation with personal interviews to gather job analysis information. Often, managers observe the worker for a complete work cycle to gather as much information as possible, and then they follow up with an interview to gain clarification. Another option is to observe and interview at the same time by asking the worker questions as he or she works.

Question 19

For which of the following jobs is direct observation NOT a recommended method for collecting job analysis data?

Accepted Answer

C)Direct observation is particularly useful when jobs consist mainly of observable physical activities, such as with nurses, accounting clerks, assembly-line workers, and salespersons. Observation is less appropriate when a job involves mostly mental activity such as with lawyers and design engineers.

Question 20

Joaquin records every activity in which he participates at work along with the time it takes him to complete each activity. Which of the following approaches to job analysis data collection is most likely being used at Joaquin's workplace?

Accepted Answer

A)Joaquin has been asked to keep a diary or a log of his work activities. With diaries and logs, an employee records every activity and the time spent on each in a log, which provides a complete picture of the job. Diaries and logs are often used in conjunction with interviews, observations, and questionnaires.

Quiz 4: Job Analysis and the Talent Management Process