Deck 4: Motivational Principles As Applied to Supervision

Question 1

Elements intrinsic in a job that promote job performance are called motivation factors.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Self-fulfillment needs are the first level of needs that must be satisfied.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Successful supervisors reward employees based on which needs are currently driving the employee.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

According to expectancy theory, employees must be able to perceive a relationship between the effort they put into their work and the accompanying rewards they receive; otherwise, they will not be motivated.

Question 5

One of the biggest problems that a supervisor must face at work concerns employees with attitude problems who have a negative impact on co-workers.

Question 6

Frank just hired a new employee named Joe, who appears to have strong social needs. The best way for Frank to motivate Joe is to offer Joe a good benefits package.

Question 7

Maslow believed that people are motivated to satisfy certain needs that range from low-level needs to high-level needs, in a descending priority.

Question 8

Supervisors cannot succeed at their jobs if they do not understand how to motivate employees to work to their full potential.

Question 9

Since people tend to be more alike than different, it is a mistake for a supervisor to try to tailor his or her supervisory approach to individual employees.

Question 10

Most psychologists who study human behavior and personality are convinced that all behavior is caused, goal-oriented, and motivated.

Question 11

It does not matter what the reward, as long as a reward exists employees will perform to the highest possible standard.

Question 12

According to the expectancy theory, when nurses' aides perceive that their high-performing co-workers are not being rewarded any more than average or even substandard performers, they will not believe that a performance/reward relationship exists, so they will not be motivated to perform well.

Question 13

Parents who encourage autonomy and dependence give the child valuable lessons.

Question 14

According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory, a person must satisfy physiological needs before attempting to satisfy safety needs.

Question 15

If Maslow's theory is correct, a person will be unable to satisfy biological needs until security needs are satisfied first.

Question 16

People are the most important resource that a supervisor is asked to manage.

Question 17

Height, weight, and physique influences the human personality.

Question 18

Challenging or interesting work and recognition for accomplishments are examples of hygiene factors.

Question 19

Expectancy theory is based on worker perceptions, not relationships.

Question 20

Herzberg would disagree with the notion that most employees are motivated primarily by money.

Question 21

According to Aubrey Daniels' ABC guide for shaping behavior, it is imperative for supervisors to separate the behavior from the antecedents in order to identify the root cause of any behavioral issue.

Question 22

When Joe showed up late to work for the third time his supervisor cut him a break by writing him up instead of terminating him. This is an example of positive reinforcement.

Question 23

Job rotation is when a supervisor assigns challenging tasks and gives the employee more decision-making responsibilities.

Question 24

When employees participate in making the decisions that affect them, they are more likely to accept those decisions.

Question 25

Theory Y supervisors have a limited view of employees' abilities and motivations.

Question 26

Job enlargement does not result in improved employee performance.

Question 27

According to Theory Y, employees must be threatened or coerced to get them to accomplish their work objectives.

Question 28

Theory X is the better approach to supervisoring employees when tasks must be accomplished quickly.

Question 29

The behavior of a difficult employee can sometimes be improved if the supervisor provides that employee more opportunities for personal fulfillment.

Question 30

The best way for a supervisor to handle difficult employees is simply to ignore them.

Question 31

Participative management tends to be more time-consuming.

Question 32

Participative management sounds great in theory, but the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

Question 33

Job rotation is the process of switching job tasks among employees in a work group.

Question 34

According to equity theory, employees perform better when they believe that their efforts lead to desired rewards.

Question 35

Job enrichment programs are especially well-suited to satisfying an employee's biological and security needs.

Question 36

Which of the following influences of early childhood has a lifelong influence?

A) Music.
B) Climate.
C) Affection.
D) Geographic location.

Question 37

According to Theory X, most workers dislike work, avoid responsibility, and must be coerced into working.

Question 38

Job redesign consists of job rotation, job enlargement, and job enrichment.

Question 39

Good behavior occurs less frequently when it goes unrecognized.

Question 40

According to Professors Hackman and Oldham, training employees with a variety of skills as opposed to one specialty will increase motivation.

Question 41

Which of the following is NOT an example of a hygiene factor?

A) Safe work environment.
B) Responsibility for work.
C) Supervision.
D) Money.

Question 42

Which of the following is a disadvantage of the Theory Y approach?

A) It supports the development of negative motivation among employees.
B) It is often resented by employees.
C) It does not promote or allow personal growth for the employee.
D) It is not useful for employees who prefer firm direction from their supervisors.

Question 43

Which of the following is a good way for a supervisor to deal with difficult people?

A) Give them two oral warnings, then terminate them.
B) Always take time to listen to their side of the story.
C) Threaten to transfer them to another department.
D) Ignore them.

Question 44

The least important of Maslow's hierarchy is:

A) Self-fulfillment.
B) Social.
C) Self-respect.
D) Security.

Question 45

Equity theory:

A) Proposes that employees are not motivated by factors in the work environment.
B) Suggests that employees are motivated by higher-order needs only after lower-level needs have been satisfied.
C) Explains how people strive for fairness in the workplace.
D) Holds that employees perform better when they believe their efforts lead to desired rewards.

Question 46

The process of making behavior occur less frequently because it is linked to an undesirable consequence is called:

A) Extinction.
B) Punishment.
C) Avoidance.
D) Positive reinforcement.

Question 47

The core job dimension that relates to the completion of a whole, identifiable piece of work is called:

A) Task identity.
B) Skill variety.
C) Autonomy.
D) Task significance.

Question 48

A primary difference between Maslow's theory and Herzberg's theory is that:

A) Herzberg thought that money is the prime motivator for employees.
B) Maslow believed that all employees' needs are basically the same.
C) Herzberg believed that employees are not particularly motivated by lower-level needs.
D) Maslow believed that employees are not particularly motivated by lower-level needs.

Question 49

According to Herzberg, elements that are intrinsic in a job that promote job performance are:

A) Social factors.
B) Stimulus factors.
C) Motivation factors.
D) Hygiene factors.

Question 50

Which of the following is NOT included in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs:

A) Physiological.
B) Organizational.
C) Social.
D) None of the above.

Question 51

Which of the following statements regarding employee behavior is NOT true?

A) What would be a favorable consequence for a supervisor is not necessarily desirable for an employee.
B) The best way for an employee to learn what is expected on the job is by trial and error.
C) Employee behavior is likely to be unsatisfactory unless the supervisor identifies what the employee should do and explains it to the employee.
D) Behavior with favorable consequences tends to be repeated.

Question 52

As the head of a one-parent household, Henrietta must make certain that she and her children are covered by her benefits at work. According to Maslow, Henrietta is probably trying to fulfill which of the following needs?

A) Biological.
B) Self-respect.
C) Safety.
D) Self-fulfillment.

Question 53

The degree to which an employee can see how their work impacts others is known as:

A) Feedback.
B) Task identity.
C) Task significance.
D) Skill variety.

Question 54

Which of the following is true about Theory X management?

A) It is never appropriate.
B) It takes more of a supervisor's time than Theory Y management.
C) It is almost always better to use than Theory Y management.
D) It is effective under certain circumstances.

Question 55

Increasing the number of tasks an individual performs on the job is called:

A) Job enlargement.
B) Job rotation.
C) Job enrichment.
D) Job redesign.

Question 56

Which of the following is NOT an implication of equity theory for supervisors?

A) It provides another explanation for how perceptions of fairness influence performance.
B) It acquaints supervisors with the potential disasters that can occur when rewards are not aligned with employees.
C) It helps supervisors determine which employees are the most productive.
D) It encourages supervisors to find out what employees want and need and see as just and equitable rewards for their contribution.

Question 57

Which of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is the first and most important?

A) Physiological.
B) Social.
C) Security.
D) Self-fulfillment.

Question 58

Supervisors who intend to reward an employee should remember that the most important characteristic of a reward probably is that:

A) It should be extremely valuable.
B) It should be given in private so as not to cause jealousy among the rest of the staff.
C) It should be tied primarily to an employee's status and seniority.
D) It should be something the recipient wants.

Question 59

According to Herzberg, which of the following statements is most likely to motivate employees?

A) "Your performance continues to fall short of my expectations."
B) "If you want this week's paycheck you will work overtime as needed."
C) "You're lucky you still have a job with this company."
D) "If we close this deal, you will be recognized by top management."

Question 60

Simon and Diana perform the same work. They are each paid the same, but Simon believes that Diana is paid more. In this case:

A) Simon experiences negative inequity.
B) Diana experiences negative inequity.
C) Simon experiences overpayment inequity.
D) Inequity does not exist, because both Simon and Diana receive the same pay for the same work.

Question 61

How should supervisors handle difficult employees?

Question 62

Define personality. Name four primary determinants of personality.

Question 63

Explain how Maslow's lower and higher level needs are related to Herzberg's hygiene factors and true motivators. Give examples.

Question 64

Under what circumstances might Theory X techniques be used effectively?

Question 65

Well-designed jobs lead to increased motivation, higher-quality performance, and higher satisfaction among employees. What three psychological states must employees experience for these outcomes to occur?

Question 66

Describe the five core job dimensions.

Question 67

What are physiological needs and how important are they?

Question 68

Bettina's supervisor has assigned her an extremely challenging task and has given Bettina more personal authority in how to perform the task. This is an example of:

A) Job rotation.
B) Job enlargement.
C) Job enrichment.
D) Job security.

Question 69

What is the difference between hygiene and motivation factors?

Question 70

Which of the following is NOT an example of participatory management in action?

A) Emmanuel solicits suggestions from his staff on the best way to meet an important deadline.
B) Terri assigns several employees to a self-directed work team.
C) Martha gives her employee, Fred, a $50 bonus for a job well done.
D) Flagston Industries institutes a quality circle program for employees.