Quiz 4: Analyzing Work and Designing Jobs

Through the process of work flow design,managers analyze the tasks needed to produce a product or service.

Work processes are the activities that a work unit's members engage in to produce a given output.

Jobs that involve teamwork or broad responsibility tend to require a structure based on functions.

Job analysis can only be performed by certified external analysts of the U.S.Department of Labor.

The tasks,duties,and responsibilities (TDRs)of a job are non-observable actions.

All job descriptions within an organization should follow the same format.

In a job specification,a skill refers to a general enduring capability that an individual possesses.

Incumbents are the best source of information for a job analysis.

The Occupational Information Network relies on fixed job titles and narrow task descriptions to describe the occupational requirements.

The Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ)is meant to be completed by job incumbents.

The Fleishman Job Analysis System asks subject-matter experts to evaluate a job in terms of the abilities required to perform the job.

The expanded use of "project-based" organizational structures has reduced the need for analysis of work flows.

Jobs that have survived the downsizing of recession tend to have a narrower scope of responsibilities coupled with increased supervision.

Job design is the process of defining how work will be performed and what tasks will be required in a given job.

Applying industrial engineering to a job essentially increases its complexity.

Industrial engineering provides the best way to motivate employees by adding meaning to their jobs.

In the Job Characteristics Model,task significance defines the degree to which a job requires completing a "whole" piece of work from beginning to end.

Job extension refers to empowering workers by adding more decision-making authority to their jobs.

According to Herzberg's two-factor theory,individuals are motivated more by the extrinsic aspects of work when compared to the intrinsic rewards.

Job sharing is a work option in which several relatively simple jobs are combined to form a job with a wider range of tasks.

Jack has opted for a different work schedule in which he works 40 hours over four days a week,instead of working eight hours a day for five days a week.Jack's schedule can be termed a compressed workweek.

A telework arrangement is easiest to implement for manufacturing workers.

The primary goal of ergonomics is to reduce the information-processing requirements of a job.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA's)role in ergonomics in occupational settings is restricted to setting guidelines and inspecting instances of violation.

One method to simplify a job's mental demands is to limit the amount of memorization required for the job.

Which of the following processes involves analyzing the tasks necessary for the production of a product or service? A) Ergonomics B) Work flow design C) Utilization analysis D) Industrial engineering E) Break-even analysis

In the context of work flow design,which of the following best describes a position? A) The set of duties performed by a person B) A set of related duties fulfilled by many employees C) An aggregate of similar jobs D) The set of skills and abilities that is required of a person in a job E) The collection of tasks that constitute the complete organizational process

Dave wants to set up a manufacturing unit.He has obtained all the required licenses and legal approvals.In order to start production in the unit,which of the following is Dave most likely to do first? A) Examine the processes that will be involved in manufacturing B) Determine the number of people required for production C) Identify the type of products that will need to be manufactured D) Take an inventory of the special equipment, facilities, and systems needed for production E) Estimate the data and information needed by the work unit

Which of the following statements is true of work flow analysis? A) Information cannot be considered to be an input because it is not tangible. B) All outputs must be strictly measured in terms of quantity. C) Outputs may be tangible or intangible products of different work processes. D) Quality standards are not a key criterion in the process of work flow analysis. E) Inputs and outputs are only the two stages required to represent a complete work flow cycle.

Samcys Services Inc.specializes in providing round-the-clock building security services to multinational companies.Which of the following terms most likely represents the service offered by Samcys? A) Outputs B) Inputs C) Tasks D) Jobs E) Processes

Joe's Restaurant,a pizza chain,is known for its quick service.It takes the employees four minutes to prepare the dough and add the sauce and toppings.Cooking and packaging takes another four minutes before the pizza is ready.In this scenario,the employees of Joe's Restaurant are engaged in _____. A) work processes B) task identities C) group dynamics D) job analyses E) ergonomic activities

Kidzi Inc.is a toy manufacturing company.As the new production manager,Andrew notices that the production unit has been underperforming.In an attempt to streamline the existing work flow,Andrew works on a new set of ideas that will help improve the efficiency of the production unit.He first identifies discrepancies in the quality and quantity of the toys produced by Kidzi.Which of the following steps should Andrew consider next in order to get a clearer view of how to increase the effectiveness of the production unit? A) Andrew should identify the raw materials required to generate the end product. B) Andrew should determine the number of employees he will need for production. C) Andrew should carefully examine the work processes used to generate the end product. D) Andrew should have an inventory of equipment, facilities, and systems required for production. E) Andrew should estimate the data and information required by the production unit.

Bitstar Global Inc.is a soft drink manufacturing company.Kelly,the production manager,designs a new work flow for the production unit.She is confident that the new work flow design will help increase the unit's productivity and efficiency.If Kelly is at the last stage of analyzing the work flow,she is _____. A) identifying the tangible outputs of the production unit B) identifying the operating processes that need to be employed in the production of the soft drinks C) identifying the work processes applied to generate the outputs of the production unit D) identifying the inputs utilized in the creation of the soft drinks E) identifying the market forces of demand and supply for the outputs

Koland Corp.is an interior design firm based in California.The firm has a team of interior designers working closely with manufacturers to create home décor products.In the context of a work flow analysis,the interior designers,manufacturers,and home décor products required to provide interior design services collectively constitute the _____. A) outputs B) jobs C) work processes D) operating procedures E) inputs

LRPN Consulting is a business consulting firm based in Nevada.The departments in the organization are based on the functions carried out by employees,such as customer service,marketing,tech support,and business consulting.Which of the following is most likely true of the organizational structure of LRPN Consulting? A) The organizational functions are aligned with the different departments in LRPN. B) The jobs mostly involve teamwork or broad responsibilities. C) The focus is primarily on products or customer groups within LRPN. D) The workers work alone at highly specialized jobs. E) The workers have more authority and are involved in decision making.

A manager of a functional department would require skills in aligning employees' efforts with the organization's higher-level goals.This is a valid statement because: A) employees in a functional department need to work in a team. B) broad responsibilities are assigned to employees working in a functional department. C) employees in functional departments tend to identify more with their own departments rather than with other departments. D) employees expect their managers to empower them by allowing them to work in self-managing teams. E) employees in such departments tend to work in cross-functional teams.

Jenny is a line manager at Maxvin Corp.She is assigned the task of understanding and gathering detailed information about the requirements of carrying out a certain job.Information gathered by Jenny will be used to provide essential knowledge for staffing,training,performance appraisal,and other HR activities.Which of the following most likely corresponds to the task undertaken by Jenny? A) Job analysis B) Job definition C) Job training D) Job swapping E) Job rotation

Adam is the HR manager at Infratech.To boost the productivity and efficiency of his team,Adam decides to create a new position within the team.He gathers necessary information from team members who are already performing the same or similar kind of duties.Based on the information gathered,Adam identifies the mental and physical tasks and any methods and resources required to carry out the job.This indicates that Adam is attempting to _____. A) conduct a job evaluation B) prepare a job description C) conduct a utilization analysis D) conduct conjoint analysis E) implement job standardization

Marjorie has joined the HR department of Thomas Johnson Inc.as an intern.The organization plans on giving all newly hired site engineers copies of their job descriptions to help them understand what the organization expects of them.Marjorie has been given the task of conducting job analyses and creating job descriptions for the site engineers.Which of the following should Marjorie consider while creating the job descriptions? A) Job descriptions do not include the job title. B) Job descriptions focus on the qualities or requirements a person performing a job must possess. C) Job descriptions contain only a brief statement that represents the set of responsibilities. D) Job descriptions contain detailed specifications of the tasks involved in carrying out each duty. E) Job descriptions are lists of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics that an individual must have to perform a job.

Leeding Engines Inc.specializes in manufacturing internal combustion engines for flexible fuel vehicles.Mark,the HR manager,is conducting a job analysis for the organization.He creates a list of tasks,duties,and responsibilities to help him determine how well employees are meeting each job requirement.Mark intends to identify the essential duties of the jobs.If Mark were to formulate job descriptions,which of the following would be his appropriate course of action? A) Mark should make changes in the standard format of the job descriptions within his organization to suit individual jobs. B) Mark should take care to avoid including the titles of the jobs while formulating new job descriptions. C) Mark should refrain from making changes in the job descriptions based on individual performance appraisals. D) Mark should consider preparing new job descriptions whenever a new job is created in the organization. E) Mark should make sure that the job descriptions are not altered once they are created.

N-Pax Technology Corp.,a microchip manufacturing company,is hiring for the position of marketing manager for its new division.Nathan,the HR manager,considers the factual information necessary for performing the job successfully,the candidate's level of proficiency at performing tasks,his or her enduring capabilities,and other personality traits,such as persistence or motivation to achieve.Which of the following most likely relates to the task being carried out by Nathan while hiring for this position? A) Job rotation B) Job definition C) Job evaluation D) Job scope E) Job specification

The difference between job specifications and job descriptions is that job specifications primarily describe the: A) list of the tasks and responsibilities that the job entails. B) observable actions that comprise the various job demands. C) steps involved in getting detailed information about a job. D) details of payment associated with the tasks involved. E) qualities a person performing the job must possess.

Catherine is an HR executive looking for a new job.She comes across an advertisement in a newspaper seeking applications for the position of an HR manager.The advertisement exclusively highlights requirements such as strong communications skills,excellent teamwork abilities,and leadership skills.These requirements constitute a _____. A) job evaluation B) job analysis C) job description D) job specification E) job orientation

INRT Software Solutions is a firm that builds information systems for banks and other financial institutions.In its presentations to prospective clients,the firm claims to have skilled employees.What does INRT Software Solutions mean by this? A) Its employees have previous experience in performing similar jobs. B) It has factual or procedural information that is necessary for successfully performing a task. C) Its employees have a significant level of proficiency required to perform a particular task. D) Its employees are highly motivated. E) Its employees have software certifications.

Linda,a manager at Nixon Corp.,is discussing a client proposal with her colleague Bennett.In order to send a quote for the proposal,Linda and Bennett require certain information pertaining to the proposed project.Which of the following is being sought by Linda and Bennett? A) Knowledge B) Attitude C) Experience D) Personality E) Outlook

Henry has been newly appointed as the head of the HR team at AAS Technologies.In an attempt to establish a more efficient and reliable workflow,Henry has taken up the responsibility of creating job descriptions and job specifications for the newly hired and current engineers within the organization.While doing so,Henry gathers information about the knowledge,skills,abilities,and other characteristics (KSAOs)required for an engineer to successfully perform the job.Which of the following statements highlights the importance of a thorough understanding of KSAOs if Henry is attempting to fill a position? A) KSAOs are a set of characteristics about the work to be performed rather than the person on the job. B) KSAOs are primarily used in job descriptions rather than in job specifications. C) KSAOs play a significant role in interviews and selection decisions. D) KSAOs must be used as a clear basis for selection because they are directly observable in a person. E) Only one element of KSAOs should be considered while developing job specifications.

Information from observers should be used as a supplement to information from incumbents.Identify the statement that is most likely to support this argument. A) Incumbents are a logical source of information; however, they may not be able to provide precise information. B) Incumbents provide accurate estimates of the importance of job duties, whereas supervisors provide accurate information about the time spent on safety-related risk factors. C) Incumbents provide accurate information, but they may have an incentive to exaggerate what they do to appear more valuable to the organization. D) Depending on external job analysts to supplement incumbents' information could be risky due to the relative inexperience of the analysts involved. E) Information provided by observers who look for a match between what incumbents are doing and what they are supposed to do may be unreliable.

Josh,a manager at a manufacturing company,contends that using the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ)provides an organization with information that helps in comparing jobs.His supervisor,Mark,argues that the information provided is valid only when the jobs are similar.Which of the following statements validates Josh's argument? A) The PAQ considers the whole work process, from inputs through outputs. B) Ratings by supervisors and trained analysts are less reliable than incumbents. C) Ratings of job incumbents tend to be less reliable. D) The PAQ can be completed by untrained personnel. E) A person who fills out the questionnaire does not need college-level reading skills.

Orange Banking Group,a corporation that has a global presence,is seeking to hire employees for its IT team.Among the available job positions are those of system administrators and chief technology officer.Who among the following is most likely to be the best source for recruiting employees for these important technical positions? A) HR executives B) Incumbents C) Supervisors D) Line managers E) External job analysts

In the 1930s,the U.S.Department of Labor created the _____ as a vehicle for helping the new public employment system link the demand for skills and the supply of skills in the U.S.workforce. A) Career Development Facilitator (CDF) B) Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) C) Occupational Information Network (O*NET) D) Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) E) Selected Characteristics of Occupations (SCO)

Which of the following is true of the Occupational Information Network (O*NET)? A) It provides listings of fixed job titles and narrow task descriptions. B) It uses a common language that generalizes across jobs to describe the abilities, work styles, work activities, and work context required for various occupations. C) It represents the first attempt made by the U.S. Department of Labor to match the demand and supply of labor. D) It uses an online platform to provide information about available federal jobs. E) It was created by the U.S. Department of Labor in the 1930s as a vehicle for helping the new public employment system link the demand and supply of skills in the U.S. workforce.

ALTS Infosystems is a software consulting firm based in Redmond.The firm uses a standardized job analysis questionnaire containing 194 questions about work behaviors,work conditions,and job characteristics that apply to a wide variety of jobs.In this scenario,ALTS Infosystems is using _____. A) a utilization analysis B) the Fleishman Job Analysis System C) a work flow design D) a conjoint analysis E) the Position Analysis Questionnaire

Which of the following is true of the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ)? A) It considers only the inputs of a work process, ignoring the outputs. B) PAQ reports are very useful for writing job descriptions or redesigning jobs. C) PAQ ratings cannot be used to compare dissimilar jobs. D) The descriptions in the PAQ reports are very clear and specific. E) The PAQ is meant to be completed only by job analysts trained in this method.

Sharon,a manager at an organization,believes that using the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ)is the best way to collect information about employee requirements because it helps in establishing job descriptions.Which of the following statements will explain that Sharon's view is flawed? A) This method considers only the inputs of a work process, ignoring the outputs. B) This method relies on fixed job titles and narrow task descriptions. C) This method cannot be used to compare dissimilar jobs. D) This method allows people without college-level reading skills to fill out the questionnaire. E) This method provides descriptions that are rather abstract.

Which of the following job analysis methods requires subject-matter experts to evaluate a job in terms of abilities required to perform the job? A) Work sampling technique B) Participant observation technique C) Fleishman Job Analysis System D) Position Analysis Questionnaire E) Conjoint analysis technique

To gather information about worker requirements,the Fleishman Job Analysis System typically asks _____ to evaluate a job in terms of the abilities required to perform the job. A) subject-matter experts B) supervisors C) HR specialists D) external analysts E) CEOs

Identify the disadvantage of using the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ). A) It applies exclusively to similar job profiles. B) It measures only the inputs of a work process. C) It fails to provide computerized reports. D) It only deals with the mental processes involved in performing a job. E) It results in abstract reports that are of limited use.

Which of the following HR activities is similar to analyzing a job that does not yet exist? A) Human resource planning B) Performance appraisal C) Job evaluation D) Work redesign E) Selection

Aaron,an HR manager,observes that the number of employees quitting their jobs has been steadily increasing over the last six months.On closer inspection,he finds that a majority of the employees who quit were unhappy with the pay structures.Aaron assesses the significance of each job to the organization,which helps him set up fair pay structures.This in turn helps the organization retain valuable employees.Which of the following most likely relates to the task undertaken by Aaron? A) Job evaluation B) Career planning C) Job training D) Performance appraisal E) Selection

Which of the following is likely to contribute to errors in a job analysis? A) Use of multiple analysis methods to obtain a detailed job analysis B) Inputs from multiple sources like incumbents and supervisors C) Fixed and unchanging job descriptions for various jobs D) Combination of internal and external sources of information for job analysis E) Creation of comprehensive and detailed job description

Steve contends that a manager conducting a job analysis is required not only to define jobs when they are created but also to detect changes in jobs.What is the validity of Steve's argument? A) Errors in job analysis have multiple sources but most result from outdated job descriptions. B) Today's workplace is more or less inflexible and is not constantly subject to change. C) People imagine jobs to be unstable, whereas jobs actually do not change or evolve over time. D) Changes in jobs occur only when there is a change in the descriptions of jobs. E) Steve's argument is incorrect because new jobs do not have job descriptions.

Which of the following best defines competency? A) It is the set of duties performed by a particular team. B) It is the list of tasks, duties, and responsibilities (TDRs) that a particular job entails. C) It is a set of related duties for accomplishing work. D) It is the activity that a work unit's members engage in to produce a given output. E) It is an area of personal capability that enables employees to perform successfully.

Which of the following is true of competency models? A) They help HR professionals ensure that all aspects of talent management are aligned with an organization's strategy. B) They identify and describe a few competencies required for success in a particular occupation or set of jobs. C) They are only applicable to middle managers of an organization. D) They focus more on tasks and outcomes and not on how people work. E) They are only created for different occupational groups in an organization.

Maxwin Infomatics Corp.,a nationwide logistics company,has announced the opening of a new unit for the manufacturing division.Alex,the HR manager,has been asked to help plan for the creation of the new unit.Which of the following relates to the task undertaken by Alex,if he is involved in the process of explaining how an employee will execute his or her tasks? A) Job rotation B) Job evaluation C) Job design D) Job enrichment E) Job extension

Natalie,a manager at a construction company,contends that applying industrial engineering is the simplest way to structure work and maximize efficiency.Which of the following statements supports Natalie's argument? A) Applying industrial engineering reduces the complexity of work. B) Applying industrial engineering makes jobs more dynamic. C) Organizations cannot combine industrial engineering with other approaches to job design. D) Applying industrial engineering makes training people extremely difficult and time consuming. E) Applying industrial engineering to a job increases its complexity.

The industrial engineering approach is most likely to emphasize _____. A) defining work arrangements and reporting requirements B) streamlining jobs to make them simpler, efficient, and automatic C) designing jobs in such a way that they require minimal specialization D) exploring new and diverse ways of doing the same job E) creating complex and challenging jobs that require innovative employees

Matwork Solutions Inc.is a nationwide logistics company that helps in the transportation of food and other essential products across states.Which of the following would be a benefit to the company if it plans on applying industrial engineering to existing jobs? A) Industrial engineering will increase the complexity of the work. B) Industrial engineering will eliminate the need for specialization in the job. C) Industrial engineering will make jobs less specialized and less repetitive. D) Industrial engineering will provide measurable and practical benefits. E) Industrial engineering will represent the best way to make jobs more meaningful.

Javier,a regional manager for a leading automobile company in the U.S.,decides to design a manufacturing job based on the principles of industrial engineering.Following its successful implementation,which of the following outcomes should he expect? A) Increased efficiency B) Increased complexity C) Decreased repetitiveness D) Increased skill requirements E) Decreased specialization

Name the model that was developed by Richard Hackman and Greg Oldham to describe ways to make jobs more motivating. A) The cognitive dissonance model B) The situational leadership model C) The Job Characteristics model D) The Fleishman Job Analysis model E) The Motivation-Hygiene model

According to the Job Characteristics Model,which of the following best describes task identity? A) The extent to which a job requires a variety of skills to carry out the tasks involved B) The degree to which a job allows an individual to make decisions about the way the work will be carried out C) The extent to which a person receives clear information about performance effectiveness from the work itself D) The degree to which a job requires completing a "whole" piece of work from beginning to end E) The extent to which a job has an important impact on the lives of other people

According to the Job Characteristics Model,_____ refers to the job characteristic that reflects the degree to which a job allows an individual to make decisions about the way the work is carried out. A) task knowledge B) task ability C) skill variety D) autonomy E) feedback

Adam contends that telework or telecommuting is profitable for both employers and employees and has been a rising trend.Which of the following statements would accurately explain the validity of Adam's statement? A) Telecommuting may support a strategy of corporate social responsibility. B) Organizations need more office space and greater investments to achieve higher productivity. C) Employees telecommuting may have greater absences from work. D) A telework arrangement is easy to set up for manufacturing workers. E) A telework arrangement is difficult to set up for people in managerial, professional, or sales jobs.

Richard,a researcher,is of the opinion that organizations should empower employees by designing work to be done by self-managing teams.Which of the following statements would validate Richard's argument? A) Self-managing teams are highly involved in decision making. B) Self-managing teams do not have the authority to schedule work or hire team members. C) Organizations do not have to incur additional training expenditures. D) Team members do not have to perform a wide variety of tasks, and they view their effort as significant. E) Self-managing teams consume more time and result in lower productivity.

In terms of the Job Characteristics Model,feedback refers to the extent to which _____. A) a job requires a variety of skills to carry out the tasks involved in the job and its duties B) employees are given the authority to make decisions C) performance appraisals are perceived as transparent and fair by employees D) a job requires a variety of skills to carry out the tasks involved E) a person receives clear information about performance effectiveness from the work itself

In which of the following scenarios will workers be less motivated to perform a job per the Job Characteristics Model? A) When the job requires a variety of skills to be performed B) When the job requires completing the whole piece of work from beginning to end C) When the job has minimal impact on the lives of other people D) When the job allows individuals to take autonomous decisions about the job E) When a person receives clear information about performance effectiveness from the work itself

Which of the following is the objective of job enlargement? A) To make jobs less repetitive and more interesting B) To increase efficiency by identifying the best way to perform a job C) To decrease the burden of decision-making responsibilities for employees D) To assess the relative dollar value of each job to an organization E) To decrease the impact a job has on the lives of other people

Creations Media Inc.,a publishing company,conducted an internal survey on employee satisfaction.The results indicated that a majority of its support staff considered their jobs to be monotonous.In order to make the requisite change,management decided to combine the job duties of assistants,typists,and file clerks into a single job that requires all three kinds of work.Which of the following techniques of job design did this move constitute? A) Job analysis B) Job review C) Job identification D) Job evaluation E) Job extension

Which of the following arrangements would qualify as job rotation? A) A receptionist hired to perform the jobs of file clerk and typist B) Training support staff in front office functions through periods of alternating work arrangements C) Members of the production team making decisions regarding how to resolve problems with customers D) A manager participating in a meeting while on vacation with his family E) A manager directing employees to stop production when quality standards are not met

Which of the following job design techniques involving the addition of decision-making authorities to a job is credited to Frederick Herzberg? A) Job extension B) Job rotation C) Job enrichment D) Job enlargement E) Job sharing

Job enrichment differs from job rotation in that job enrichment: A) empowers workers by adding more decision-making authority to their jobs. B) transfers employees among several different jobs at the same hierarchical level. C) combines several relatively simple jobs to form a job with a wider range of tasks. D) allows employees to mutually exchange work roles at the same organizational level. E) assesses the relative dollar value of each job to an organization.

According to Herzberg's two-factor theory,which of the following factors would motivate individuals the most? A) Meaningfulness of a job B) Fringe benefits of a job C) Shares of company stock D) Salary and allowances E) Periodic bonuses

Identify the step that can be taken by an organization to enhance manufacturing jobs for its employees. A) Divide tasks among employees in greater detail. B) Carry out time-and-motion studies to identify the best way to perform a job. C) Make the tasks repetitive and simple to avoid errors. D) Give employees more authority to manage the production process. E) Establish a centralized decision-making process.

Pamela,the manager of an electronics store in California,gives her staff the authority to resolve customer complaints.She lets the staff decide whether to issue refunds or replace merchandise in case of consumer grievances.Which of the following job design techniques does Pamela implement in her store? A) Job sharing B) Job extension C) Job rotation D) Job enrichment E) Job evaluation

Which of the following is true of self-managing work teams? A) Team members' job duties are narrowly defined. B) Team members usually share work assignments. C) Team members' joint responsibilities are minimal. D) Team members only have the authority to schedule work. E) Team members are only responsible for their individual tasks.

DigiAd Inc.,an advertising firm,requires its employees to be at work between the hours of 11:00 a.m.and 2:00 p.m.This work rule allows employees to work additional hours before or after the time period in order to work the full day.Identify the job design method implemented in this scenario. A) Zero-hour contract B) Flextime C) Compressed workweek D) Telework E) Retroactive overtime

Which of the following best describes job sharing? A) It is a work option in which two part-time employees carry out the tasks associated with a single job. B) It is a work option that allows full-time employees to choose start and end times within the guidelines specified by an organization. C) It is a work option that empowers individual workers by adding more opportunities for specialization in their current job duties. D) It is a work option that enlarges jobs by combining several relatively simple jobs to form a job with a wider range of tasks. E) It is a work option that enlarges jobs in an organization by moving employees among several different jobs.

Susan works 10 hours a day for 4 days a week,while her colleagues work 8 hours a day for 5 days a week.Susan is utilizing a flexible work schedule option known as _____. A) the zero-hour contract B) the compressed workweek C) the flexible workweek D) retroactive overtime E) telework

Which of the following would qualify as a compressed workweek? A) Employees are required to be at work from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and can choose additional hours before or after this period. B) Two part-time employees work in different shifts and share the tasks of a specific job. C) Employees can work in the office two days a week and work from home the other three days. D) Employees can choose to work away from a centrally located work area. E) Employees are permitted to work 10 hours a day, so that they can work fewer days per week.

Revlay Corp.,which is based in California,has clients across the globe.In order to maintain a 24-hour presence,the firm allows its employees to work in shifts.One of the ways to enable this arrangement is a schedule in which full-time workers complete their weekly hours in fewer than five days.For example,instead of working eight hours a day for five days,the employees could complete 40 hours of work in four 10-hour days.Which of the following flexible work arrangements is being implemented by Revlay? A) Zero-hour contract B) Telework C) Retroactive overtime D) Flextime E) Compressed workweek

Which of the following is true of telework arrangements? A) They are the most difficult to implement for people in managerial or professional jobs. B) They are the easiest to set up for manufacturing workers. C) They support the strategy of corporate social responsibility by reducing an employee's need to commute using a vehicle. D) They are limited to employees who are disabled or need to be available for children or elderly relatives. E) They are only provided for employees who hold key strategic positions in a company.

Penta Toy Corp.(PTC)is a firm that manufactures toys.Very often,employees of the firm are on leave citing physical stress.An expert hired by PTC investigates the situation and recommends investing in an ergonomics study of the work environment.In this scenario,the expert is recommending: A) a study of the interface between individuals' physiology and the characteristics of the physical work environment. B) a study of jobs to find the simplest way to structure work in order to maximize efficiency. C) a study of the tasks, duties, and responsibilities of employees in a new job. D) a study of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform a job. E) a study of the relationship between intrinsic rewards and employee motivation in the context of human resource management.

Sairs Info Solutions is a firm that develops software applications for other companies.After the company moves into a new office space,most of the employees complain about the lack of comfortable seating arrangements.Following up on the complaint,the HR department advises management to invest in studying the ergonomics of the new office space.Which of the following would serve as an incentive for the company to invest in the study of ergonomics? A) Ergonomics empowers employees by giving them decision-making authority. B) Ergonomics reduces the physical strain on employees performing a job. C) Ergonomics reduces the number of reporting relationships in a job. D) Ergonomics enlarges jobs by moving employees among different jobs. E) Ergonomics increases a job's mental demands.

The manager of a local grocery store places a short conveyor belt that allows customers to place items on it prior to checking out.This saves the cashier from the physical strain of bending forward and reaching into the carts to retrieve the items.This change is an example of the _____ approach to job design. A) telecommuting B) job enrichment C) ergonomic D) flextime E) job sharing

Which of the following is a strategy used by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)to increase ergonomic job design? A) Issuing regulations rather than guidelines for industries B) Penalizing companies that allow employee participation in ergonomic redesign C) Enforcing violations of its requirement that employers have a general duty to protect workers from hazards, including ergonomic hazards D) Levying fines on employers who issue computers with keyboards instead of touchscreen tablets E) Working with organizations to design workspaces in such a manner that they meet the standards of ergonomics

Anthony,an HR manager at Synergy Inc.,wishes to design jobs that meet mental capabilities and limitations.This task most likely involves ______. A) allowing employees to opt for a compact workweek schedule B) controlling autonomy and stressing error-free work C) increasing the amount of reporting requirements and documentation D) training employees to multitask and self-manage teams E) reducing the information-processing requirements of a job

An investigation at Quadramine Textiles Inc.reveals that when employees feel little or no control over their situation,they tend to become fatigued and dissatisfied.Bobby,the HR manager,suggests simplifying jobs in order to deal with this problem.In this scenario,it can be most beneficial to simplify jobs where: A) employees face the least amount of challenges. B) the costs of errors are severe. C) the scope for errors is minimal. D) employees do not engage in multitasking. E) the information-processing requirements of the jobs are minimal.

The employees at NeiFra Infosystems Inc.,a website design company,have been struggling to provide quality services to clients.An investigation reveals that employees feel dissatisfied and fatigued due to the challenging nature of their jobs.Ellen,the HR manager,suggests simplifying jobs in order to reduce errors and increase accuracy.From the following options,identify a way to simplify the mental demands of employees' jobs. A) Imposing rigorous quality control standards B) Training employees to multitask between different job responsibilities C) Using software that helps with tracking progress D) Providing comfortably designed office chairs E) Increasing the information processing requirements of the job

Discuss the steps in a work flow analysis.

Describe the relationship between work flow design and an organization's structure.

Contrast and compare knowledge,skills,abilities,and other characteristics (KSOAs)and tasks,duties,and responsibilities (TDRs)as they relate to different processes of job analysis.

Briefly describe the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ).What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the PAQ as source of job information?

Job analysis is so important to HR managers that it has been called the building block of everything that personnel do.Describe the instances that demonstrate the advantages of using job analysis in various HR activities.

What method can an organization employ to design jobs with a view of maximizing efficiency?

Describe self-managing work teams.Suggest steps to make such teams more effective.

How does the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)encourage organizations to adopt ergonomic job design?

Describe some ways in which organizations can simplify the mental demands of a job.