Deck 8: Employee Behavior and Motivation

Question 1

Equity theory is based on the premise that workers prefer a workplace where all employees are paid equally.

Answer 1

False
Explanation:Equity theory focuses on people evaluating their treatment by the organization relative to the treatment of others.

Question 2

Two-factor theory examines the relationship between effort and performance.

Answer 2

False
Explanation:Two-factor theory examines the contributors to motivation.

Question 3

MBO involves managers and subordinates in setting goals and evaluating progress.

Answer 3

True
Explanation:As workers become more adept at what they do, rewards can be used less frequently.

Question 4

The use of teams can increase motivation and job satisfaction.

Question 5

Motivation factors are directly related to the work that employees perform; hygiene factors refer to the environment in which they work.

Question 6

Hygiene factors affect motivation only if they are absent or fail to meet expectations.

Question 7

Participation and empowerment work more effectively in large firms than in small firms.

Question 8

In terms of a psychological contract, inducements represent what employees will contribute to an organization.

Question 9

According to many experts, motivational impact is the biggest advantage of MBO.

Question 10

The essence behind management by objectives (MBO) is that performance goals are used to direct and motivate behavior.

Question 11

Individuals may satisfy social needs by making and maintaining friendships at work.

Question 12

When people feel they are being inequitably treated, they are likely to ask for raises, increase their efforts, and work longer hours.

Question 13

Performance behaviors contribute directly to company productivity.

Question 14

With job sharing, companies often experience increased turnover.

Question 15

According to the classical theory of motivation, attention from the supervisor is more of a motivator than money.

Question 16

According to expectancy theory, people are motivated to work toward rewards that they want and that they believe they have a reasonable chance of obtaining.

Question 17

Job rotation is a form of job enrichment.

Question 18

Positive reinforcement is used when a company or manager provides a reward when employees exhibit desired behaviors.

Question 19

For an individual to feel equitably treated, his ratio of contribution to return must be the same as the other individual's ratio with whom he or she is comparing.

Question 20

With job rotation, conventional office space is redesigned to accommodate jobs that are less dependent on assigned spaces.

Question 21

What is emotionality?

A) the ability of a person to get along with others
B) the degree to which someone tends to be positive or negative
C) the number of things a person tries to accomplish at once
D) the relative rigidity of an individual's beliefs
E) the likelihood that a person will react aggressively

Question 22

You need to assign a task to one of your employees. The task involves a high level of detail. To whom should you assign the task?

A) Amy, who exhibits high agreeableness and low conscientiousness
B) David, who exhibits more negative emotionality and low agreeableness
C) Sarah, who exhibits high openness and low negative emotionality
D) Winston, who exhibits high conscientiousness and low extraversion
E) Liza, who exhibits high creativity and low negative emotionality

Question 23

Organizational commitment reflects an individual's identification with the organization and its mission.

Question 24

An employee with a low level of social skills would be unlikely to do which of the following?

A) be very detail oriented
B) circulate a get-well card
C) produce creative work
D) work well independently
E) track milestones effectively

Question 25

Which of the following aspects of the psychological contract is provided by the employee?

A) benefits
B) pay
C) skills
D) security
E) status

Question 26

According to research, emotional intelligence cannot be developed or learned.

Question 27

Which of the following is the set of expectations held by employees and the organization regarding what the employee will contribute and what he or she will receive?

A) psychological contract
B) nondisclosure agreement
C) job satisfaction
D) mutual commitment
E) self expression

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT a central aspect of organizational citizenship?

A) reporting structure
B) corporate culture
C) workgroup attitude
D) business field
E) team composition

Question 29

The extent to which people are self-aware is an aspect of which of the following?

A) attitude
B) emotional intelligence
C) negative emotionality
D) social skills
E) empathy

Question 30

Michelle has been working at AdCo for five years. The company recently hired a new college graduate to work in a position very similar to Michelle's position. In a casual conversation with the new hire, Michelle discovers that the new employee is making $4,000 more annually than she is. What might Michelle's reaction be?

A) Michelle may feel that the psychological contract has been broken.
B) Michelle may feel that her job description no longer applies.
C) Michelle may feel that her supervisor is not empathetic.
D) Michelle may feel that her person-job fit cannot be improved.
E) Michelle may feel that she has benefitted from the Hawthorne effect.

Question 31

Balancing anxiety, fear, and anger so that they do not overly interfere with getting things accomplished is a part of emotional intelligence.

Question 32

What is the term for behavior that is related to doing a certain job?

A) performance behavior
B) interpersonal behavior
C) disruptive behavior
D) potential behavior
E) assertive behavior

Question 33

Behaviors that detract from, instead of contribute to, organizational performance are known as what?

A) inclusive
B) disruptive
C) counterproductive
D) turnover
E) associative

Question 34

Which of the following aspects of the psychological contract is provided by the organization?

A) competency
B) effort
C) loyalty
D) status
E) talent

Question 35

Which of the following would have the lowest cost to an organization?

A) absenteeism
B) workplace violence
C) sexual harassment
D) theft
E) racism

Question 36

Which of these behaviors best indicates good organizational citizenship?

A) being willing to help new employees
B) asking for a pay raise
C) meeting job performance standards
D) keeping regular hours
E) using office supplies for business use

Question 37

Which of these is one of the "big five" personality traits?

A) openness
B) logic
C) creativity
D) organization
E) musical talent

Question 38

Which of the following might you, as a manager, expect to see in an employee who has a low degree of conscientiousness?

A) a tendency to be unprepared at meetings
B) an inability to work in a team setting
C) a tendency toward mood swings
D) a high level of comfort with other people
E) an ability to meet deadlines without fail

Question 39

Which would an employee who is productive but keeps to himself be lacking in?

A) organizational citizenship
B) workplace aggression
C) performance behavior
D) personal productivity
E) self-esteem

Question 40

When does turnover occur?

A) when people quit their jobs
B) when managers reprimand staff
C) when employers cut down costs
D) when employees call in sick
E) when benefits are improved

Question 41

What is the Hawthorne effect?

A) the belief that employees are motivated by money alone
B) the conclusion that workers are more productive if management pays attention to them
C) the determination that the level of lighting in a workplace has no effect on productivity
D) the theory that workers are more productive if their jobs are analyzed closely
E) the unspoken agreement between the employee and the employer

Question 42

Sue works very hard and is the most productive worker on her dayshift. When a position opens on the evening shift, Sue is encouraged to apply but does not; she has children and wants to be home in the evening. Based on expectancy theory, which explains why Sue doesn't apply for the job?

A) the effort-performance issue
B) the rewards-personal goals issue
C) the performance-rewards issue
D) her personal goals
E) her family demands

Question 43

What is the term for the extent to which a person's contributions and the organization's inducements match?

A) employee equity
B) person-job fit
C) psychological contract
D) time-motion study
E) team culture

Question 44

Brooke was excited to take a job at Film, Inc. She was looking forward to working with the man who had hired her because of his experience and status within the industry. Eight months after her hire, Brooke's supervisor retired. Which aspect of the psychological contract might Brooke feel has been violated?

A) benefits
B) career opportunities
C) pay
D) job security
E) talent

Question 45

If an employee needs to feel that she is a part of a team and yet her position involves working alone, which of the following may not be right?

A) the pay scale
B) the person-job fit
C) the employee's attitude
D) the organization's plan
E) the team structure

Question 46

Which is an example of a modified work schedule?

A) job sharing
B) job redesign
C) job rotation
D) job enrichment
E) job elimination

Question 47

Which of the following best describes scientific management?

A) a theory of motivation holding that job satisfaction depends on two factors, hygiene and motivation
B) a theory of motivation holding that people are motivated to work toward rewards that they want and that they have a reasonable chance of obtaining
C) a theory of motivation holding that people evaluate their treatment by the organization relative to the treatment of others
D) a theory of motivation holding that managers should analyze jobs to find the most efficient methods and use money as a primary motivator
E) a theory of motivation that people will work more productively as long as they receive some kind of attention from management

Question 48

Tina is the most productive employee in her department. When her manager retires, Tina doesn't apply for the job, in spite of her excellent record and the pay and prestige associated with the job. She believes that the job will go to someone who has more seniority. Based on expectancy theory, which would explain why Tina doesn't apply for the job?

A) the effort-performance issue
B) the rewards-personal goals issue
C) the performance-reward issue
D) her personal goals
E) her family demands

Question 49

According to Maslow's model, a set of needs will be a motivator until which of the following occurs?

A) The needs are satisfied.
B) New needs are identified.
C) The person becomes self-motivated.
D) A supervisor changes the work.
E) The needs are replaced by hygiene factors.

Question 50

Which of the following lists Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs in order, starting with the most basic?

A) physiological, security, social, esteem, self-actualization
B) social, security, physiological, esteem, self-actualization
C) physiological, self-actualization, security, esteem, social
D) physiological, esteem, security, social, self-actualization
E) esteem, self-actualization, social, physiological, security

Question 51

Douglas believes that his employees are self-motivated and growth-oriented. He is what type of manager?

A) Theory Y
B) Theory X
C) classical
D) hierarchical

Question 52

What is telecommuting an example of?

A) job sharing
B) job rotation
C) modified work scheduling
D) work sharing
E) modified workplace planning

Question 53

Jane is a very conscientious worker, but she has poor social skills. Which of the following jobs might be best for her?

A) working independently on spreadsheets
B) providing customer service
C) handling problems in a call center
D) training new employees
E) working in public relations

Question 54

Because job permanence is less likely, which of the following are some companies offering in order to keep the psychological contract in balance?

A) additional promotions
B) additional vacation time
C) fewer training opportunities
D) flexible scheduling
E) additional sick days

Question 55

Which of the following allows people to choose their working hours by adjusting a standard work schedule on a daily or weekly basis?

A) job enrichment
B) flextime programs
C) job enlargement
D) job redesign
E) work sharing

Question 56

Which of the following theories focuses on people evaluating their treatment by the organization relative to the treatment of others?

A) equity theory
B) hierarchy of needs
C) expectancy theory
D) goal-setting theory
E) X and Y theory

Question 57

What is MOST useful about Theory X and Theory Y?

A) They shed light on managers' attitudes toward employees.
B) They provide a useful blueprint for taking action.
C) They help managers better understand employees.
D) They accurately depict the attitude of employees at work.
E) They support management decisions and plans.

Question 58

Which of the following works to achieve a more satisfactory fit between workers and their jobs?

A) job redesign
B) team management
C) MBO
D) participative management
E) person-position fitting

Question 59

Which of the following helps explain why some people do not work as hard as they can when their salaries are based purely on seniority?

A) two-factor theory
B) Maslow's hierarchy of human needs
C) scientific management
D) expectancy theory
E) Theory X and Theory Y

Question 60

Employees are given a voice in how they do their jobs and how the company is managed according to what theory?

A) participative management and empowerment
B) job enrichment
C) job design
D) modified work schedules
E) scientific management

Question 61

How are equity theory and the psychological contract connected?

Question 62

Jack is a manager at StyleCo. His CEO has started a program that encourages employee empowerment. Jack presented the idea to his staff, and the employees seem reluctant to take part. Jack tells his CEO that his staff is not interested in empowerment. What assumption is Jack making that the CEO needs to take into account?

Question 63

How does expectancy theory explain employee motivation?

Question 64

Kent wants to motivate the maintenance staff to be more productive. He starts by providing training and assures employees that high productivity will be rewarded. Employees are asked to identify the rewards that would mean the most to them. Kent likely subscribes to which theory of motivation?

A) equity
B) expectancy
C) two-factor
D) hierarchy of needs
E) productivity

Question 65

Which of the following is assumed by the manager?

A) The meetings would be more effective if they were held once a week.
B) The staff meetings are not the cause of the workers' bad moods.
C) If the workers make valuable contributions, then the meetings will be successful.
D) Successful meetings will be an important contributor to the success of the organization.
E) The workers' moods will be more positive at 10 am than at any other time of the day.

Question 66

Discuss modified work schedules and how they increase job satisfaction.

Question 67

What are some potential consequences of employees being dissatisfied?

Question 68

Under what conditions might the use of work teams be inappropriate?

Question 69

How can teams lead to higher levels of employee motivation and satisfaction in smaller firms?

Question 70

Terry generally likes her job and works hard. However, Terry's level of effort has declined recently. Terry became aware that a new employee, with far less experience, was hired at Terry's current salary. Terry's lack of motivation can best be described by which theory of motivation?

A) equity
B) expectancy
C) two-factor
D) scientific management
E) planning

Question 71

If the manager's statements are all True, which of the following must also be True?

A) If the employees make valuable contributions during a staff meeting, then that meeting will be successful.
B) If the employees are in positive moods during a staff meeting, then that meeting will be successful.
C) If the employees did not make valuable contributions during a staff meeting, then they must have been in negative moods.
D) If the employees do not make valuable contributions during a staff meeting, then that staff meeting cannot be successful.
E) If the employees are not in positive moods during a staff meeting, then they will not make valuable contributions during that staff meeting.

Question 72

The reasoning behind the company's exercise policy assumes which of the following?

A) Exercise is the most effective way to improve the moods of the workers.
B) The exercise that the workers would engage in will be more strenuous than the exercise they would do on their own.
C) Most employees will not exercise more unless they are forced to do so.
D) Adopting the policy will not require the company to purchase any special equipment or reallocate any office space.
E) The employees who would exercise during the work day are not getting enough exercise.

Question 73

How can managers minimize the chance of workplace violence?

Question 74

Contrast Theory X and Theory Y.

Question 75

Discuss the potential benefits to the employer from a flextime program.

Question 76

According to the two-factor theory, how should managers enhance motivation?

Question 77

Why is workplace violence increasing?

Question 78

Discuss management by objectives (MBO).

Question 79

How does Maslow's hierarchy of needs model explain employee motivation?

Question 80

In what three ways is job redesign typically implemented?