Question 1

According to Herzberg, when __________ factors are present, people won't be dissatisfied, but they won't be satisfied either.

Accepted Answer

According to Herzberg's two-factor theory, hygiene factors (such as salary, work conditions, job security, company policies, etc.) are necessary to prevent dissatisfaction among employees, but their presence alone does not lead to job satisfaction. Only the absence of hygiene factors can cause dissatisfaction. This means that when hygiene factors are present, people won't be dissatisfied, but they won't be satisfied either because they do not add to job satisfaction.

Question 2

You are acting as manager and mentor to Melanie, an employee who has been identified as a high achiever. Going by McClelland's three-needs theory, which of the following measures would best help you to motivate Marsha to do her best?

Accepted Answer

According to McClelland's three-needs theory, individuals with a high need for achievement are motivated by tasks that allow them to take personal responsibility for finding solutions to problems.

Question 3

McGregor's Theory Y assumed that individuals were primarily focused on satisfying their __________ needs.

Accepted Answer

McGregor's Theory Y assumes that individuals are motivated by higher-order needs such as self-actualization, achievement, and creativity. Therefore, choice E, higher-order needs, is the best fit.

Question 4

According to the three-needs theory, the best managers tend to be _______.

Accepted Answer

The three-needs theory, developed by David McClelland, suggests that the best managers are typically low in the need for affiliation, as they need to make tough decisions without being overly concerned about being liked.

Question 5

Irene, CEO of a small company, strongly believes in Douglas McGregor's assumptions about human nature. Which of the following management practices is Irene most likely to favor to maximize employee motivation?

Accepted Answer

Irene is most likely to favor participatory management since Douglas McGregor's assumptions about human nature highlight the importance of involving employees in decision-making and valuing their contributions as autonomous and responsible individuals.

Question 6

According to McGregor's Theory Y perspective, employees __________.

Accepted Answer

According to McGregor's Theory Y, employees consider work a natural activity and are self-motivated to achieve their goals. Theory Y assumes that employees are responsible, creative, and capable of working independently without close supervision.

Question 7

__________ assumes that employees have little ambition, dislike work, and want to avoid responsibility.

Accepted Answer

The description provided matches the assumptions of Theory X, which views employees as inherently lazy and unmotivated, and in need of external control and direction.

Question 8

McGregor's Theory X suggests that workers are almost exclusively driven by __________ motivators.

Accepted Answer

McGregor's Theory X states that employees are lazy, dislike work, and must be coerced or enticed into performing well, implying that they are largely motivated by external factors such as rewards, punishments, and incentives. This aligns with the concept of extrinsic motivation.

Question 9

According to Herzberg, which of the following is a motivator?

Accepted Answer

According to Herzberg's two factor theory, motivators are factors that lead to job satisfaction and are related to the work itself, such as achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility, and advancement. The other options listed (A, B, C, and D) are hygiene factors, which are necessary to prevent dissatisfaction but do not necessarily lead to job satisfaction or motivation.

Question 10

According to Herzberg, salary, working conditions, and security are all examples of __________.

Accepted Answer

Herzberg's two-factor theory identifies salary, working conditions, and security as hygiene factors or maintenance factors which, when adequate, prevent dissatisfaction but do not lead to satisfaction.

Question 11

Individuals belief that s/he is capable of performing a task is referred to as _________.

Accepted Answer

Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their ability to successfully perform specific tasks or activities. It is a key component in motivation, goal-setting, and achievement. Self-esteem refers to an individual's overall sense of self-worth, while self-acceptance is the ability to recognize and accept one's strengths and weaknesses. Internal motivation refers to being driven by personal interests and values, as opposed to external rewards or pressure. Self-actualization is the process of fulfilling one's potential and becoming the best version of oneself.

Question 12

People with a high need for achievement ________.

Accepted Answer

People with a high need for achievement prefer moderately challenging goals because they are realistic yet still provide a sense of accomplishment when achieved.

Question 13

According to Herzberg, achievement, recognition, and growth are examples of __________.

Accepted Answer

According to Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, motivators are factors that lead to job satisfaction and include achievement, recognition, and growth. In contrast, hygiene factors are factors that do not lead to satisfaction but can lead to dissatisfaction if they are not present, and extrinsic factors are external rewards or punishments that can motivate behavior. Theory X and Theory Y are theories of management styles, not motivation factors.

Question 14

According to the three-needs theory, the need for ________ is the drive to succeed and excel in relation to a set of standards.

Accepted Answer

The need for achievement is the drive to succeed and excel in relation to a set of standards, according to the three-needs theory. Option A, control, is the need to be in charge of one's environment. Option B, affiliation, is the need for social interaction and positive relationships. Option C, power, is the need to influence others and be in control of one's representation in society. Option E, self-actualization, is the need to fulfill one's potential and achieve personal growth.

Question 15

Believing that individual's attitudes toward work determined success or failure, Herzberg investigated the question "__________"

Accepted Answer

Herzberg's research focused on understanding what motivates employees and what factors cause job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. The question "What do people want from their jobs?" aligns with his research interests and the focus of his studies.

Question 16

The goal-setting theory professes that motivation is maximized by _______.

Accepted Answer

The goal-setting theory proposes that individuals are motivated by challenging and difficult goals rather than easy and achievable goals. The theory suggests that setting specific and challenging goals, with feedback and support, can lead to improved performance and motivation. Autonomy, self-direction, and a positive relationship with a supervisor can also contribute to motivation, but they are not the primary focus of the goal-setting theory.

Question 17

According to Herzberg, which of the following is a hygiene factor?

Accepted Answer

Herzberg defines salary as a hygiene factor, which is an extrinsic motivator. It is necessary to keep employees satisfied, but it does not necessarily lead to positive job attitudes and motivation.

Question 18

According to McGregor's Theory X perspective, employees __________.

Accepted Answer

McGregor's Theory X perspective assumes that employees are inherently lazy and want to avoid responsibility. Therefore, option B is the best choice. The other options, such as A, C, D, and E, reflect the assumptions of McGregor's Theory Y perspective, which assumes that employees like work, are self-motivated, and can exercise self-direction.

Question 19

The three-needs theory of motivation states that there are three ________ needs that are major motives in work.

Accepted Answer

The three-needs theory, developed by David McClelland, identifies three acquired needs: achievement, affiliation, and power, as major motives in work.

Question 20

Lorenzo, a sales executive at Opheus International, was identified early on as a high-achiever. His manager took a personal interest in his career and provided him good assignments, targeted training, and development programs. However, after a couple of years, it was evident that Lorenzo was not living up to his potential. He was demotivated and dissatisfied with his job. Which of the following facts, if true, would explain Lorenzo's lack of motivation?

Accepted Answer

Option D suggests that Lorenzo was moved into a supervisory position where his main responsibility was to provide leads and support to others in his team and to help achieve their targets. This could have been a demotivating factor for Lorenzo as he may have preferred to be in a position where he is responsible for his own success rather than being accountable for the success of others. Additionally, it could be that he did not have the necessary skills or interest in leading others, which could have impacted his job satisfaction and motivation.

Quiz 14: Motivating Employees