Question 1

What is another term for cross-training?
A) work enrichment
B) job sharing
C) work enlargement
D) job enhancement
E) job rotation

Accepted Answer

E) Job rotation, or the periodic shifting of an employee from one task to another with similar skill requirements at the same organizational level, is also called cross-training.

Question 2

Managers at Precision Technologies, a custom-machine shop in Indiana, train workers on all the company's equipment so they can move around as needed in response to incoming orders. Based on this information, which of the following methods is most likely being used by Precision Technologies?
A) job rotation
B) job enlargement
C) job enrichment
D) job sharing
E) flextime

Accepted Answer

A) This is an example of job rotation, or the periodic shifting of an employee from one task to another with similar skill requirements at the same organizational level.

Question 3

Job enrichment increases the degree to which the worker controls the ________.
A) planning, execution, and evaluation of the work
B) planning, execution, and evaluation of company plans
C) horizontal integration of his or her tasks
D) evaluation of his or her peers
E) feedback that a worker receives from his or her supervisor and peers

Accepted Answer

A) Job enrichment expands jobs by increasing the degree to which the worker controls the planning, execution, and evaluation of the work.

Question 4

What is the main strength of job rotation?
A) It eliminates management involvement.
B) It increases motivation.
C) It increases productivity.
D) It decreases training costs.
E) It decreases supervisor work load.

Accepted Answer

B) The strengths of job rotation are that it reduces boredom, increases motivation, and helps employees better understand how their work contributes to the organization. The weaknesses are that training costs increase, and productivity is reduced, and it's more demanding on supervisors.

Question 5

Anya is a graphic designer in a firm specializing in making logos for their clients. Last week, she got client specifications on how to make a new logo. She was able to create a prototype, and having got it initially reviewed by her immediate supervisor, she made changes until the client was satisfied with her final product. Based on this description, it's safe to say that Anya's job is high in ________ and ________.
A) task significance; feedback
B) autonomy; skill variety
C) feedback; skill variety
D) task identity; feedback
E) skill variety; autonomy

Accepted Answer

D) According to the job characteristics model, task identity is the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work. Feedback indicates the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about your own performance.

Question 6

Which of the following is not one of the core job dimensions in the job characteristics model (JCM)?
A) task significance
B) feedback
C) autonomy
D) reward
E) skill variety

Accepted Answer

D) The job characteristics model ( JCM) describes jobs in terms of five core job dimensions: skill variety, the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities; task identity, the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work; task significance, the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people; autonomy, the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling; and feedback, the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about performance.

Question 7

With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines task identity?
A) the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) the degree to which work activities generates direct and clear information about performance
C) the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling and procedure
D) the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people
E) the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities

Accepted Answer

A) The job characteristics model (JCM) describes jobs in terms of five core job dimensions: skill variety, the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities; task identity, the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work; task significance, the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people; autonomy, the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling; and feedback, the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about performance.

Question 8

Increasingly, research on motivation focuses on approaches that link motivational concepts to changes in the way ________ is/are structured.
A) organizational design
B) payment
C) work
D) benefits
E) organizational culture

Accepted Answer

C) Increasingly, research on motivation focuses on approaches that link motivational concepts to changes in the way work is structured.

Question 9

Jobs that score ________ give incumbents a feeling of personal responsibility for the results.
A) high on skill variety
B) low on task significance
C) high on autonomy
D) low on task identity
E) high on feedback

Accepted Answer

C) Jobs that score high on autonomy give incumbents a feeling of personal responsibility for the results.

Question 10

In the job characteristics model (JCM), which three core job dimensions combine to create meaningful work?
A) autonomy, task identity, and feedback
B) skill variety, autonomy, and task significance
C) skill variety, autonomy, and feedback
D) feedback, task identity, and task significance
E) skill variety, task identity, and task significance

Accepted Answer

E) The first three dimensions in JCM-skill variety, task identity, and task significance-combine to create meaningful work that the incumbent will view as important, valuable, and worthwhile.

Question 11

John is a design manager for a production company. He independently assigns teams, chooses projects, researches trends, and is able to work from home two to three days a week. He provides a status report to the design director once a month. Based on this description and as per the job characteristics model, it's safe to say that John's job is high in ________.
A) task identity
B) feedback
C) autonomy
D) task significance
E) skill variety

Accepted Answer

C) Autonomy is the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom, independence, and discretion in scheduling the work and determining the procedures in carrying it out. John has freedom and control over his job procedures and assignments and although John's job has many job characteristics, the description provided best describes autonomy.

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true regarding job rotation?
A) It decreases the flexibility with which an organization can adapt to a change.
B) It decreases employee motivation.
C) It decreases productivity.
D) It decreases supervisory workload.
E) It decreases the flexibility in scheduling work.

Accepted Answer

C) Job rotation increases the flexibility with which an organization can adapt to a change. It reduces boredom and increases motivation. Productivity tends to reduce when a worker moves into a new position and supervisory workload tends to increase because supervisors may have to spend more time answering questions and monitoring the work of recently rotated employees.

Question 13

The periodic shifting of an employee from one task to another with similar skill requirements at the same organizational level is called job ________.
A) enlargement
B) expansion
C) rotation
D) sharing
E) enrichment

Accepted Answer

C) The periodic shifting of an employee from one task to another with similar skill requirements at the same organizational level is called job rotation.

Question 14

With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines skill variety?
A) the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) the degree to which work activities generates direct and clear information about performance
C) the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling and procedure
D) the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people
E) the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities

Accepted Answer

E) The job characteristics model (JCM) describes jobs in terms of five core job dimensions: skill variety, the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities; task identity, the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work; task significance, the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people; autonomy, the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling; and feedback, the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about performance.

Question 15

According to the job characteristics model, ________ indicates the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about your own performance.
A) task significance
B) autonomy
C) feedback
D) task identity
E) skill variety

Accepted Answer

C) According to the job characteristics model, feedback indicates the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about your own performance.

Question 16

Samantha is an emergency medical technician. Yesterday, due to an emergency, she was called to a house where a man suffered a heart attack. She was able to resuscitate the man, and while her colleagues were transporting him to the ambulance she spent 10 minutes calming the 12-year-old daughter, who was home alone with the father at that time. Based on this description, it's safe to say that Samantha's job is high in ________.
A) task identity
B) feedback
C) reward
D) task significance
E) skill variety

Accepted Answer

D) Although Samantha's job has many job characteristics, the description provided best describes Dashay's sense of task significance. Task significance refers to the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives of other people.

Question 17

According to the job characteristics model, task significance is the degree to which ________.
A) a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) work activities generates direct and clear information about performance
C) a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling and procedure
D) a job affects the lives or work of other people
E) a job requires a variety of different activities

Accepted Answer

D) Task significance is the degree to which a job affects the lives or work of other people.

Question 18

According to the job characteristics model, autonomy is defined as the degree to which ________.
A) a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) work activities generates direct and clear information about performance
C) a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling the work
D) a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people
E) a job requires a variety of different activities

Accepted Answer

C) The job characteristics model (JCM) describes jobs in terms of five core job dimensions: skill variety, the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities; task identity, the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work; task significance, the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people; autonomy, the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling; and feedback, the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about performance.

Question 19

Which of the following is not one of the methods of enriching jobs based on the job characteristics model?
A) allow flexible work time
B) establish client relationships
C) open feedback channels
D) combine tasks
E) expand jobs vertically

Accepted Answer

A) The methods of enriching jobs based on the job characteristics model are: combining tasks, forming natural work units, establishing client relationships, expanding jobs vertically, and opening feedback channels. Allowing flexible work time is not a method of job enrichment. Beyond redesigning work itself and including employees in decisions, another approach to motivation is to alter work arrangements with flextime, job sharing, or telecommuting.

Question 20

Aberdone Company has redesigned the jobs of the workers in accounts receivables. Instead of simply billing customers, they are now responsible for what used to be management tasks, such as for following up on non-payment, determining when bills will be sent to a collection agency, and what accounts receivables can be written off as non-collectable. Which of the following methods of job enrichment is used in this example?
A) task combination
B) vertical job expansion
C) formation of natural work units
D) establishing client relationships
E) opening feedback channels

Accepted Answer

B) Expanding jobs vertically gives employees responsibilities and control formerly reserved for management.

Quiz 8: Motivation: From Concepts to Applications

What is another term for cross-training?

Managers at Precision Technologies, a custom-machine shop in Indiana, train workers on all the company's equipment so they can move around as needed in response to incoming orders. Based on this information, which of the following methods is most likely being used by Precision Technologies?

Job enrichment increases the degree to which the worker controls the ________.

What is the main strength of job rotation?

Which of the following is not one of the core job dimensions in the job characteristics model (JCM) ?

With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines task identity?

Increasingly, research on motivation focuses on approaches that link motivational concepts to changes in the way ________ is/are structured.

Jobs that score ________ give incumbents a feeling of personal responsibility for the results.

In the job characteristics model (JCM) , which three core job dimensions combine to create meaningful work?

Which of the following statements is true regarding job rotation?

The periodic shifting of an employee from one task to another with similar skill requirements at the same organizational level is called job ________.

With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines skill variety?

According to the job characteristics model, ________ indicates the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about your own performance.

According to the job characteristics model, task significance is the degree to which ________.

According to the job characteristics model, autonomy is defined as the degree to which ________.

Which of the following is not one of the methods of enriching jobs based on the job characteristics model?