Deck 4: Job Analysis and Work Design

Question 1

Employee empowerment grows in an organizational culture that promotes satisfaction,support,and recognition.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The critical incidents method of job analysis is based on interviewing the job incumbent/employee.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The critical incident method focuses on employee behaviours critical to job success.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

At Eastman Kodak Company,teams are responsible for manufacturing entire product lines.This type of team is referred to as a "task force."

Question 5

Job analysis is an important step toward ensuring an organization's HR practices are valid and job-related.

Question 6

A job consists of different duties and responsibilities performed by one person.

Question 7

Employee involvement groups (EIs)are groups of highly trained individuals using consensus decision making to perform independent job tasks and solve problems.

Question 8

Job sharing is effective for employees who desire to phase in to retirement.

Question 9

Job analysis is the process of obtaining information about jobs by determining what the duties,tasks,or activities of those jobs are.

Question 10

Human resource information systems have limited potential to impact the job analysis process.

Question 11

Job design is concerned with changing,modifying,and enriching jobs in order to capture the talents of employees while improving performance.

Question 12

Job design is concerned with changing,modifying,and enriching jobs in order to capture the talents of employees while improving performance.

Question 13

The job characteristics model suggests that the motivated,satisfied,and productive employee is one who (1)experiences meaningful work; (2)experiences responsibility for work outcomes; and (3)has knowledge of the results of his or her work activities.

Question 14

Industrial engineering is a technique of job design that is concerned with efficiency and behavioural considerations of a job.

Question 15

Adding more meaningful tasks to an employee's job in an effort to make it more rewarding is an example of job enrichment.

Question 16

Most job descriptions include a job title,a job identification section,and a job duties section.

Question 17

The real advantage of job enrichment is that it applies to all employees.

Question 18

Discrepancies between knowledge,skills,and abilities (KSAs)and job requirements provide clues to training needs.

Question 19

In the job characteristics model,skill variety refers to the amount of freedom held by the employee to schedule work and perform activities.

Question 20

Job design should facilitate the achievement of organizational goals while recognizing the capabilities and needs of those who are to perform it.

Question 21

When writing a job description,it is essential to use statements that are terse,direct,and simply worded.

Question 22

Empowerment encourages employees to become innovators and managers of their own work.

Question 23

An example of a job-related specification might be to require three to five years' experience for a job as senior compensation analyst.

Question 24

Managers cite one of the reasons for implementing compressed workweek schedules as that it can improve employee job satisfaction and morale.

Question 25

The job title is of psychological importance as well as descriptive.

Question 26

Common methods of analyzing jobs include interviews,questionnaires,observation,and diaries.

Question 27

Inherent in the concept of work teams is that employees,not managers,are in the best position to contribute to work performance.

Question 28

The competency-based approach to job analysis focuses on standard job duties,tasks,and the like.

Question 29

Employees participate in flextime when they do entirely different jobs on a rotating schedule.

Question 30

A problem with job descriptions is that they tend to broaden the scope of activities performed by a jobholder.

Question 31

Job design considers organizational objectives,industrial engineering considerations,ergonomic concerns,and job descriptions.

Question 32

Job enrichment is a way of increasing employee empowerment.

Question 33

Job analysis is now considered outdated because it can't keep up with the current state of change in today's fast-paced work world.

Question 34

To promote uniformity across organizations,the National Occupational Classification should be used as the sole source for classifying jobs.

Question 35

All group-based work techniques have two things in common: enhancing communication and increasing synergy.

Question 36

Job enrichment incorporates the behavioural needs of employees into their jobs.

Question 37

A statement of the different duties,tasks,and responsibilities of a job is known as a job description.

Question 38

Relying on generic job descriptions tends to reduce role ambiguity.

Question 39

As a manager,if you designed a job so that an employee could perform the job from beginning to end according to the job characteristics model,you would be creating task identity.

Question 40

Ultimately,the purpose of job analysis is to value a job and establish its pay rate.

Question 41

Adjustments in work schedules are considered to be a part of job analysis and job design.

Question 42

An owner of a mall-based retail shop chain has asked front-line sales associates to attend a twice-yearly all-day meeting where they share ideas about possible new products,innovations,and ideas about improving work flow.What is the owner most likely attempting to implement?

A)job involvement
B)job enrichment
C)brainstorming
D)a culture audit

Question 43

Which of the following is an example of an employee involvement group?

A)a group of employees who come together once a year to brainstorm new workflow ideas
B)a group of employees who meet after work hours to discuss their interest in hiking and other outdoor activities
C)a group of employees who are allowed to take specialized training courses in statistical analysis
D)a group of employees who meet weekly to brainstorm a sequel to a popular product line

Question 44

What is a key objective of the National Occupational Classification compiled by the federal government?

A)It helps to speed up audits by the government.
B)It allows for greater uniformity of job titles and job descriptions across the country.
C)It serves as the base for the Job Classification Guide.
D)It transforms career planning.

Question 45

Job specifications usually cover two areas: (1)the skill required to perform the job and (2)the level of autonomy inherent in the position.

Question 46

The standard format for job descriptions is contained in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles.

Question 47

Employee interviewing is the most accurate method of job analysis because the employee is least likely to exaggerate essential job functions.

Question 48

Telecommuting is the use of personal computers,networks,and other communications technology to do work in the home that is traditionally done in the workplace.

Question 49

What is a key advantage of division of labour in organizations?

A)improved efficiency
B)less need for managers
C)greater creativity
D)increased employee autonomy

Question 50

Sally is interviewing an employee,asking him to describe his job,how it is performed,what work is done,and what tools and equipment are used.What style of job analysis is Sally performing?

A)the critical incidents style of job analysis
B)the task analysis style of job analysis
C)the PAQ style of job analysis
D)the occupation classification style of job analysis

Question 51

What is often cited as the most important factor contributing to the success of employee involvement groups?

A)team pay and benefits
B)appropriate job design
C)organizational design
D)comprehensive training of employees

Question 52

According to the work of Herzberg,which of the following methods can managers use to enrich the jobs of employees?

A)improving pay
B)increasing benefits
C)adding more responsibility to jobs
D)improving leadership

Question 53

What is the typical method used by organizations to design compressed work weeks?

A)giving employees the work to do at home
B)giving a free day off
C)increasing the number of hours worked per day
D)giving a week off every month

Question 54

If the criteria used to evaluate employee performance are vague and not job related,what is the most likely result?

A)The organization can be charged with unfair discrimination.
B)The organization can suffer productivity losses.
C)The organization can suffer from bad publicity.
D)The organization can suffer from lack of trust and commitment from employees.

Question 55

There are many methods of job analysis and many different ways of compiling the data,but all of the methods rely on some form of employee/job incumbent interview.

Question 56

What is the main difference between job analysis and job design?

A)Job analysis looks at jobs as they currently are; job design is about reorganizing work.
B)Job analysis is required to ensure that HR functions are based on sound and valid data; job design is focused on compensation and the financial worth of the work.
C)Job analysis is a process; job design is a function.
D)Job analysis is the study of jobs as currently performed; job design is concerned with changing job structures to improve efficiency.

Question 57

In a newspaper ad,Company A stated that for the HRIS Supervisor's job,the following are required: an appropriate university degree,five years of corporate experience,and working knowledge of statistical analysis and software." What are these requirements an example of?

A)a job requirement
B)a job description
C)a position
D)a job specification

Question 58

Job specifications describe the duties,tasks,and responsibilities performed on the job and therefore play a key role in performance appraisal.

Question 59

Which of the following is an example of a job specification?

A)To be a grocery store cashier,you need to know how to work a cash register,know the rules of the store,and know basic math.
B)To be a grocery store cashier,you have to deal with the public and be able to stand on your feet for long hours.
C)A grocery store cashier assists customers in paying for their grocery items and answering questions about products.
D)A grocery store cashier is responsible for making sure items are bagged or tagged,and that all customers pay for their items.

Question 60

Job enrichment can improve employee performance in cases of dissatisfaction with pay and benefits.

Question 61

Team synergy is heightened when team members engage in behaviours such as support,active listening,consensus decision making,and which of the following?

A)disagreement
B)prioritizing options
C)charismatic leadership
D)unanimity

Question 62

Which of the following is most likely to result in a successful telecommuting situation?

A)The telecommuters have to check in frequently throughout the day to let their managers know exactly what they are working on and how it is going.
B)The managers who are trained in formalized telecommuting procedures make random calls to the telecommuters at home to ensure all is going well and work is getting done.
C)The telecommuters are expected to attend regular on-site meetings and are trained in technical aspects of telecommuting.
D)Telecommuting is only allowed when the work at hand does not involve interaction of any kind.

Question 63

What is the concept called when "the interaction and outcome of team members are greater than the sum of their individual efforts"?

A)optimal performance
B)positive culture
C)energy
D)synergy

Question 64

There could be legal challenges if specific performance requirements of a job are not based on which of the following?

A)best practices in industry
B)peer evaluations
C)interview data
D)valid job-related criteria

Question 65

What is the ultimate purpose of job analysis?

A)to make sure that societal decisions are fair
B)to increase performance and productivity of the organization
C)to have a sense of what employees should be or are doing in their jobs
D)to organize work in a meaningful way

Question 66

Which of the following is most correct when it comes to job analysis?

A)Artificial inflation of job duties must always be double-checked against the NOC.
B)A job analyst must weigh information obtained from the NOC above incumbent data.
C)A job analyst must weigh manager information more heavily than job incumbent data.
D)More information about the job is always better.

Question 67

Why is job analysis considered the cornerstone of HRM?

A)because the information collected serves many HRM functions
B)because it is done in a scientifically sound and valid way
C)because the information comes from job incumbents who know the job the best
D)because it is required by law

Question 68

In discussing how jobs can be enriched,Frederick Hertzberg suggested several factors that can help in this process.Which of the following is NOT one such factor?

A)increasing the level of difficulty of the job
B)allowing employees to retain more authority over work outcomes
C)adding new tasks to the job that require employee growth
D)increasing the pay for work done

Question 69

What do we call the type of work schedule in which employees can adjust their daily starting and quitting times,provided that they work a certain number of hours per day or week?

A)a compressed workweek
B)a shorter workweek
C)a flextime arrangement
D)an adaptable schedule

Question 70

Employee empowerment is a technique of involving employees in their work through which of the following processes?

A)development
B)inclusion
C)team building
D)banding

Question 71

What is the most important difference between competency-based analysis and all other forms of job analysis discussed in the textbook?

A)Competency-based analysis is better at keeping pace with the quickly changing nature of work.
B)Competency-based analysis relies solely on information obtained from job incumbents.
C)Competency-based analysis focuses on how the job is currently done.
D)Competency-based analysis requires a very high degree of training on the part of the analyst.

Question 72

What is a job specification?

A)a statement of the knowledge,skills,and abilities required to perform the job
B)a statement of the tasks,duties,and responsibilities associated with the job
C)a group of related activities and duties
D)the different duties and responsibilities performed by one employee

Question 73

What factors does Herzberg describe as key to enriching jobs?

A)pay,promotion,pension,purpose,and perks
B)achievement,recognition,growth,responsibility,and performance of the whole job
C)safety needs,social needs,self-esteem needs,and self-actualization
D)skill variety,task identity,task significance,autonomy,and feedback

Question 74

What is an important drawback of allowing employees to telecommute?

A)difficulty in developing appropriate performance standards
B)less work?0?life balance
C)increased work conflict
D)increased absenteeism

Question 75

Company A is planning to set up a "virtual team" for a project.Which of the following is the best advice for this team to be successful?

A)Team members should be selected based on certain personal characteristics such as a collaborative mindset.
B)All team members should understand advanced computer and telecommunications technology so that breakdowns in communication do not occur frequently.
C)Team members should all have Skype accounts.
D)Team members should NOT meet in person.

Question 76

Behavioural-based job design studies focus on two key simultaneous outcomes.What are these?

A)organizational efficiency and employee job satisfaction
B)organizational efficiency and effectiveness
C)organizational restructuring and job design
D)employee autonomy and job design

Question 77

What is a position?

A)a group of related activities and duties
B)the different duties and responsibilities performed by one employee
C)a statement of the knowledge,skills,and abilities required to perform work
D)a statement of the tasks,duties,and responsibilities associated with work

Question 78

"The IT specialist is responsible for the smooth running of all staff computers" is most likely an excerpt from which of the following?

A)a job description
B)a job specification
C)a job analysis
D)a job position

Question 79

Which of the following is a downside of job sharing?

A)increased compensation
B)less innovation
C)potential distrust among employees
D)reduced employee appraisals

Question 80

Which of the following is NOT a method to conduct job analysis?

A)task inventory development
B)the critical incident method
C)the position analysis questionnaire
D)divisional job analysis