Exam 14: Managing & Enhancing Performance: The Big Picture

Scenario 14.1 Wilkinson Inc., a manufacturer of baby strollers, experiences a decline in sales in the first quarter of a financial year.The top management of Wilkinson meets to discuss ways to improve sales and decides to employ a range of performance-enhancement techniques for its employees.It then entrusts department heads to frame suitable plans for their respective departments. -Refer to Scenario 14.1.The management of Wilkinson implements a group incentive plan by which the senior executives of the company can purchase company stocks in the future at a predetermined rate.They can sell the stocks when there is an increase in stock prices.This incentive plan is called a(n) _____.

Eugene works in a garment factory and is in charge of sewing pockets on newly stitched shirts.Her employer provides her additional training, and she is now qualified to stitch an entire shirt.On which of the following aspects of the job characteristics approach is Eugene's employer focusing to enhance her performance?

The management of Garza Silva Inc.allows its employees to report to work four days a week instead of five but for longer hours.This enables full-time employees to avail three days off a week instead of two.Which of the following best describes the arrangement illustrated in this scenario?

Describe the two common alternate work schedule arrangements.

Consider the job of a cashier in a supermarket.How will a supermarket manager use the job characteristics approach to improve the design of the cashier position?

Romero Inc.manufactures paper products from 100 per cent recycled scrap.One set of workers at Romero Inc.has the full-time job of sorting scrap as it enters the facility.If the scrap is not sorted properly, the manufacturing process creates defective paper.The quality of sorting is regularly monitored by checking the quality of the paper products, and necessary instructions are given to the scrap sorters.Which of the following aspects of the job characteristics approach is high for the scrap sorters' job?

_____ is an example of a human resource indicator.

Describe the common team and group incentive systems used by organizations.

Scenario 14.1 Wilkinson Inc., a manufacturer of baby strollers, experiences a decline in sales in the first quarter of a financial year.The top management of Wilkinson meets to discuss ways to improve sales and decides to employ a range of performance-enhancement techniques for its employees.It then entrusts department heads to frame suitable plans for their respective departments. -Refer to Scenario 14.1.The human resource department suggests an arrangement by which employees with low-stress jobs are allowed to work for longer hours for four days and avail off for three days instead of two.Through this system, Wilkinson's management intends to prevent employees from using work time for their personal chores.This alternate arrangement is called _____.

It is difficult to manage group reward systems when group members do not contribute equally at work.

In a Scanlon plan,the distribution of gains is tilted much more heavily toward employees.

One method of improving performance feedback isto provide feedback on a regular basis through feedback interviews.

_____ is an alternative work arrangement under whichemployeesdo almost all of their work at home andreceive assignments electronically.

Scenario 14.1 Wilkinson Inc., a manufacturer of baby strollers, experiences a decline in sales in the first quarter of a financial year.The top management of Wilkinson meets to discuss ways to improve sales and decides to employ a range of performance-enhancement techniques for its employees.It then entrusts department heads to frame suitable plans for their respective departments. -Refer to Scenario 14.1.The administrative department of Wilkinson suggests a scheme by which the routine clerical work will be allotted to different employees during a week.This will reduce boredom and improve productivity by making employees capable of handling multiple tasks.This work arrangement is called _____.

Which of the following is an exclusive challenge for human resource departments in faith-based businesses?

Incentive compensation is one of the oldest forms of performance-based rewards.

Which of the following conditions should be met while applying goal setting as a performance-enhancement technique in an organization?

A _____ is an example of a group incentive plan.

Which of the following is performed at the beginning of a training process?

According to the job characteristic approach, the number of tasks a worker does in a job is called _____.