Question 1

The situation has high task structure,the employees have experience,and there are strong group norms.What would be the appropriate management involvement?

Accepted Answer

High task structure means that the tasks to be performed are well-defined and there is clarity in the roles and responsibilities of each employee. The employees have experience, which means they have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their job effectively. Strong group norms indicate that there is an established set of expectations and values within the group, and employees are likely to adhere to these norms. In such a situation, less management involvement is required as employees are self-directed and can handle their tasks effectively. High management involvement may be perceived as unnecessary and even counterproductive as it may hinder decision-making and creativity among employees. Therefore, option B is the most appropriate choice.

Question 2

Your boss remarks,"The key to an effective motivational program is that it must increase both job satisfaction and work productivity.How should you respond?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Your boss remarks,"The key to an effective...

Question 3

Morgan has decided to set the following goals: To earn an A in her management course this semester,to make the dean's list,and to not only keep up with the readings but to contribute something to the class discussion each time.What criteria have Morgan's goals satisfied?

Accepted Answer

Morgan's goals satisfy all the criteria listed in the answer choices. They are measurable (earning an A, making the dean's list), unambiguous (clearly defined), and behavioral (participating in class discussion). They are also consistent with each other (all related to academic success) and appropriately challenging.

Question 4

Assume Carrie is a poor performer.You have already provided the necessary resources,redesigned her job,and provided her with training,yet her performance is lacking.What is the next step?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Assume Carrie is a poor performer.You have...

Question 5

You have recently noticed that your employees seem to be either requesting or demanding favors from management.More importantly,performance has been flat during that same time.Potentially,which style of management has been employed?

Accepted Answer

Indulging management style involves giving in to the demands and requests of employees, often at the expense of productivity and performance. This aligns with the situation described in the question where employees seem to be demanding or requesting favors and performance has been flat.

Question 6

You paint the eyes on Barbie dolls,a job you have performed for three years.The task is fairly easy and very structured (only three colors and there is only one place to paint them).What do you need from management?

Accepted Answer

Since the task is fairly easy and very structured, the employee would most likely need very little advice and instruction from management. They have been performing this job for three years already and know what is expected of them. Too much direction and strong involvement or constant monitoring from management may even hinder their productivity.

Question 7

The book lays out a step-by-step program for an effective motivational program.If a manager has a Theory X outlook,would he/she buy into this program?

Accepted Answer

A manager with a Theory X outlook believes that employees are inherently lazy, need to be closely monitored and controlled, and will only work if there are punishments or rewards. They are unlikely to buy into a motivational program that focuses on empowering and inspiring employees to take ownership of their work and achieve their goals.

Question 8

Assumptions underlying the elements of an effective motivation program are (1)employees don't want to work hard or assume responsibility, (2)establish easy goals first,and (3)make sure the program discriminates between high performers and low or average performers.Which statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Assumptions underlying the elements of an effective...

Question 9

According to the path-goal theory of leadership,the level of involvement a manager utilizes should (1)be the same for all employees in the department, (2)be either low or high management involvement regardless of the circumstances,and (3)not be influenced by subordinates' expectations.Which statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

None of the statements are correct. According to the path-goal theory of leadership, the level of involvement a manager utilizes should be flexible and vary for each employee based on their individual needs and the situation at hand. The manager should also take into account the expectations and preferences of their subordinates.

Question 10

What should effective motivational programs do in terms of offering rewards?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What should effective motivational programs do in...

Question 11

According to the path-goal theory of leadership,the level of involvement by a manager is dependent on (1)the subordinate's desire for autonomy, (2)how structured the task is,and (3)how much help is already available from the organization.Which statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

The path-goal theory of leadership indeed suggests that a leader's behavior is contingent upon the satisfaction of the subordinates' needs, the task structure, and the work environment, which includes the amount of support and resources provided by the organization. All three statements correctly reflect components considered within this theory.

Question 12

You are a sales manager.One of your salespeople is named Reggie.He has 10 years of experience and appears to be very capable.He rarely calls you,and sales in his district are always good.You know sales lacks routine and one could say the tasks change from day to day.What type of management involvement does Reggie need?

Accepted Answer

Reggie has 10 years of experience and appears to be very capable, with sales in his district always being good. This suggests that Reggie has a high level of task mastery and ability. Additionally, he rarely calls for management support, indicating a desire for autonomy. Therefore, low involvement management would be the best fit for Reggie's needs, as he has both the desire for autonomy and the skills necessary to successfully complete his tasks.

Question 13

Your boss tells you,"People want to do a good job.Think about this.Do you know anyone who takes a career job and says,'I think I'll just sit here and not do any work until they tell me what to do'? No,most people want to work and assume responsibility.So,why is it that people become unmotivated?"

Accepted Answer

Your boss's statement aligns with the beliefs of Theory Y, which posits that people have an inherent desire to work and seek out responsibility. In contrast, Theory X assumes that people are inherently lazy and need to be coerced into working. Theory Z is a theory of management that combines Japanese and American management styles, and is not relevant to the situation described. The notion of deteriorating ability is not applicable here.

Question 14

An effective goal program has goals that are specific,consistent,and appropriately challenging.What is missing?

Accepted Answer

While motivation and autonomy are important factors in achieving goals, they are not necessarily missing from an effective goal program if specific, consistent, and appropriately challenging goals are set. However, feedback is crucial in allowing individuals to track their progress towards these goals and make any necessary adjustments. Therefore, C is the best choice as it is the missing factor from the list provided. Fairness is also important in a workplace or educational setting, but may not directly affect the success of goal attainment.

Question 15

According to the path-goal theory of leadership,if the task structure is low,what should management involvement with employees be?

Accepted Answer

When the task structure is low, meaning the tasks are not clearly defined and may be complex or ambiguous, management involvement should be high. This is because employees will likely need more guidance, support, and clarification to effectively navigate their responsibilities. High management involvement in such situations is seen as constructive, as it helps provide direction and clarity, and satisfying, as it meets employees' needs for support in uncertain or challenging work conditions.

Question 16

Mary has decided to set the following goal: To do the best she can in her management class this semester and to keep up with the readings.Mary's goal satisfies which criteria?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mary has decided to set the following...

Question 17

Three simple questions that a manager should ask his or her employees periodically are (1)What are you doing and why? (2)What do you enjoy the most/least? and (3)What can I do to help you do your job better? Which statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Three simple questions that a manager should...

Question 18

What is the management philosophy the textbook promotes?

Accepted Answer

The textbook promotes a management philosophy where the manager is seen as a facilitator, clearing obstacles away for employees to be successful. This is similar to the role of an offensive lineman in football. Theory X, which assumes employees dislike work and must be coerced, is not promoted.

Question 19

What is a management style that offers no direction or priorities for the employees?

Accepted Answer

Ignoring is a management style where the manager offers no direction or priorities to the employees. This can lead to confusion and lack of productivity among the workforce.

Question 20

You received your Ph.D.from a prestigious state university that had competitive admissions,where students graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class,and where both students and teachers had high expectations for the student.You now teach at an open admissions school.Students here graduated anywhere from the bottom 10 percent to the top 10 percent.What expectations should you have for these students?

Accepted Answer

It is important to have high expectations for all students, regardless of their past academic performance. Lowering expectations based on assumptions about intelligence or past performance can be detrimental to the students' growth and achievement. High expectations can motivate students to work harder and achieve more than they may have initially thought possible.

Quiz 6: Motivating Others