Deck 6: Designing a Motivating Work Environment

Question 1

In the most effective performance appraisal meetings,criticism of the individual personality traits is very important.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The job characteristics model is an attempt to design jobs for increased motivational potential.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Nucor Steel's formula for success is to centralize decision making and rigidly define employee and manager job duties.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The most effective goals are easy ones.

Question 5

Job specialization entails breaking down jobs into their simplest components.

Question 6

Skill variety and task significance are the most important elements in deciding motivational potential.

Question 7

Adequate notice ensures that there is two-way communication during the performance appraisal process.

Question 8

You are a Walt Disney Company management trainee.The first three months of your job you will be working in the restaurant and hospitality area.The next three months you will be in the merchandising area,followed by three months in lodging and finally,three months in park operations.The Walt Disney management trainee program is designed using the job rotation philosophy.

Question 9

In a supermarket study,cashiers rotated through different departments had lower stress levels and less pain in their necks and shoulders.

Question 10

Research shows that the psychological state of meaningfulness is the most important state for employee attitudes and behaviors.

Question 11

Leaving employees free to choose job performance methods is an important element of scientific management techniques.

Question 12

Access to information is a key factor in empowering employees.

Question 13

If used on a short-term basis,relative ranking appraisals may help an organization become more performance-oriented because they tend to weed out employees with persistent performance problems.

Question 14

Goal commitment is higher when employees have trust-based relationships with managers.

Question 15

The performance appraisal meeting is the most important component of a performance appraisal.

Question 16

Goal setting is one of the most influential theories of motivation.

Question 17

Evidence of the success of Nucor Steel is the low turnover rate and nonunion status of the firm.

Question 18

Quality expert Edward Deming has advocated for abolishing performance appraisals in the workplace.

Question 19

The Nucor Steel Company's incentive system penalizes low performers,but sets no upper limit on the amount high performers can earn annually.

Question 20

Job enlargement involves moving employees from job to job at different intervals.

Question 21

Research in Western countries suggests that empowerment is an effective tool to motivate employees.

Question 22

In a pay system based upon commission,rewarding only sales volume could encourage salesmen to heavily discount merchandise.

Question 23

The notion of using incentives to increase performance is a very old idea,actually going back to the time of Napoleon.

Question 24

Leniency bias is a common problem in performance appraisals.

Question 25

To increase the effectiveness of performance meetings,increase employee participation.

Question 26

Which of the following factors has the most influence on worker motivation?

A)pay
B)growth opportunities
C)job design
D)recognition

Question 27

One technique to reduce the likelihood of unethical behavior resulting from goal setting is to create multiple levels of goals and distribute rewards according to the goals achieved rather than rewarding only those who reach the highest goal.

Question 28

Gift cards as awards to employees are not appreciated because they are often purchased for stores and restaurants that employees do not frequent.

Question 29

In China,goals high in specificity are more motivational in contrast to the low specificity goals preferred by employees in Western cultures,including the United States.

Question 30

Some research shows that Chinese employees are more motivated than American employees when the goals set for them are very difficult.

Question 31

Merit pay is a permanent pay raise based on past performance.

Question 32

Which of the following is a reason why Nucor Steel is so effective at motivating its employees?

A)The incentive system penalizes lower performers and places strict limits on how much can be made by those that perform well.
B)The firm has a centralized structure that retains decision making at upper levels in the organization.
C)Employees have the opportunity to fix problems that they see occurring during production.
D)Employees are only promoted from within the organization.

Question 33

Job specialization

A)is breaking down jobs into their simplest components and assigning them to employees so that each person will perform a few tasks in a repetitive manner.
B)refers to expanding the tasks performed by employees to add more variety.
C)involves moving employees from job to job at regular intervals.
D)allows workers more control over how they perform their own tasks.

Question 34

Scientific management's primary focus is

A)goal setting.
B)efficiency.
C)flexibility.
D)motivation.

Question 35

Countries high in power distance respond positively to appraisal systems where lower level employees give feedback to their managers.

Question 36

Even though goal setting is a good motivational tool,there is strong evidence that goal setting can also lead to unethical behavior.

Question 37

Research suggests Indian employees are more satisfied when they are empowered in the workplace than their counterparts in the United States or Poland.

Question 38

The use of stock options remains a popular incentive technique in start-up organizations.

Question 39

Attractive women are rated lower if they are employed in non-management jobs and higher if they are in management jobs.

Question 40

A key element of the scientific management philosophy is

A)using training and specific instructions to maximize task variety.
B)minimizing waste by identifying the most efficient method to perform the job,while still retaining high levels of autonomy.
C)expanding the nature of tasks performed by employees to add more variety to the job.
D)breaking down jobs into their simplest components to facilitate specialization.

Question 41

The local high school band needs to raise money to pay for a trip to New York City.It decides to sell sandwiches.Early Saturday morning,20 volunteers report to the school cafeteria to make sandwiches.Stations are set up to make the 500 sandwiches ordered for that day.Station one has four individuals cutting sandwich buns,station two has four individuals placing the meats on the rolls,station three,etc.The individual who devised the sandwich-making production plan is operating under a

A)job specialization approach.
B)job rotation approach.
C)job enlargement approach.
D)job enrichment approach.

Question 42

Job rotation

A)is breaking down jobs into their simplest components and assigning them to employees so that each person will perform a few tasks in a repetitive manner.
B)refers to expanding the tasks performed by employees to add more variety.
C)involves moving employees from job to job at regular intervals.
D)allows workers more control over how they perform their own tasks.

Question 43

Job enrichment

A)is breaking down jobs into their simplest components and assigning them to employees so that each person will perform few tasks in a repetitive manner.
B)refers to expanding the tasks performed by employees to add more variety.
C)involves moving employees from job to job at regular intervals.
D)allows workers more control over how they perform their own tasks.

Question 44

Frederick Taylor's work led to a fundamental change in management philosophy.The change

A)was understanding that managers could not influence the output levels of employees.
B)was understanding that repetitive activities are the direct result of job generalization.
C)paved the way for today's automation and standardization.
D)was increasing the complexity of jobs in the workplace for greater productivity.

Question 45

Skill variety refers to

A)the extent to which the job requires a person to utilize multiple high level skills.
B)the degree to which a person is in charge of completing an identifiable piece of work from start to finish.
C)whether a person's job substantially affects other people's health,work or well-being.
D)the degree to which a person has the freedom to decide how to perform his tasks.

Question 46

Maria works at a factory in Lima,Peru where she sews blue jeans for a major American firm.On Mondays,she sews the side seams of the jeans,on Tuesdays she sews on pockets,Wednesdays she presses finished jeans,Thursdays she folds jeans,packages sets of twelve in shrink wrap and places them in boxes,and on Friday she sews decorative stitching on the pockets and side seams.Maria is working under the job design technique of

A)job specialization.
B)job enrichment.
C)job enlargement.
D)job rotation.

Question 47

Which of the following statements about job enlargement is accurate?

A)Job enlargement has more positive effects when employees are given more simple tasks.
B)When jobs are enlarged,employees view themselves as less capable.
C)Job enlargement is beneficial because it is positively related to higher quality customer service.
D)The intent behind job enlargement is to decrease the variety of tasks to be performed so that human resources are used effectively.

Question 48

Which of the following statements is accurate regarding job rotation?

A)Rotation is the regular movement of employees through firm jobs.
B)Rotation leads to increased turnover.
C)Rotation is an opportunity for employees to use skills they already have.
D)Rotation leads to slightly elevated blood pressure measured in employees using the process due to their movement between jobs.

Question 49

Feedback refers to

A)the extent to which the job requires a person to utilize multiple high level skills.
B)the degree to which a person is in charge of completing an identifiable piece of work from start to finish.
C)the degree to which people learn how effective they are being at work.
D)the degree to which a person has the freedom to decide how to perform his tasks.

Question 50

Which of the following statements is true about job design approaches?

A)Job rotation takes place only with lower level jobs in an organization.
B)Job enrichment may lead to employee frustration or dissatisfaction with pay.
C)Job specialization is effective in rapidly changing work environments.
D)Job enlargement implementation leads employees to feel less capable of performing job tasks.

Question 51

Olaf works on an assembly line in an Oslo factory.Last month the assembly line processes were overhauled.Olaf is still responsible for soldering electrical contacts on an appliance component,but now he is also expected to review each component for quality defects after he solders.If he notes any defects,he can place the component in the scrap bin.If he scraps five such pieces in succession,he is permitted to press an emergency button above his station,which stops the assembly line completely.This job re-design is a reflection of the _____ ______________ philosophy.

A)job rotation
B)job enlargement
C)job enrichment
D)job specialization

Question 52

Job enlargement

A)is breaking down jobs into their simplest components and assigning them to employees so that each person will perform few tasks in a repetitive manner.
B)refers to expanding the tasks performed by employees to add more variety.
C)involves moving employees from job to job at regular intervals.
D)allows workers more control over how they perform their own tasks.

Question 53

Which of the following is an advantage to job specialization?

A)Training costs are higher,but because of the specialized nature of tasks,they are learned more fully.
B)The nature of the jobs leads to lower absenteeism.
C)Staffing costs are lower because the repetitive nature of tasks makes skill requirements lower.
D)The nature of the jobs is especially effective in rapidly changing environments.

Question 54

Task significance refers to

A)the extent to which the job requires a person to utilize multiple high level skills.
B)the degree to which a person is in charge of completing an identifiable piece of work from start to finish.
C)whether a person's job substantially affects other people's health,work or well-being.
D)the degree to which a person has the freedom to decide how to perform his tasks.

Question 55

Which of the following statements about job enrichment are true?

A)Job enrichment may lead to dissatisfaction with one's pay.
B)Job enrichment is a suitable technique to be used with any employee.
C)Job enrichment may be associated with reduced productivity and increased absenteeism.
D)The technique allows employees to try out other job roles.

Question 56

Stuart works on an auto assembly line.Last year he was responsible for welding the upper panel of the wheel well onto the left rear wheel area.This year,he is also responsible for welding all parts of the entire left rear wheel area.This auto assembly line underwent a job re-design using the ________ ________technique.

A)job specialization.
B)job enrichment.
C)job rotation.
D)job enlargement.

Question 57

Which of the following is an advantage of job rotation?

A)employees become cross-trained due to their movement between jobs.
B)managers have greater scheduling flexibility in a job rotation system.
C)employees experience less boredom in a job rotation system.
D)all of the above.

Question 58

Job specialization can

A)increase the number of employees needed to complete the job.
B)minimize training costs.
C)lead to greater motivation among employees.
D)be very effective in rapidly changing environments.

Question 59

Autonomy refers to

A)the extent to which the job requires a person to utilize multiple high level skills.
B)the degree to which a person is in charge of completing an identifiable piece of work from start to finish.
C)whether a person's job substantially affects other people's health,work or well-being.
D)the degree to which a person has the freedom to decide how to perform his tasks.

Question 60

Task identity refers to

A)the extent to which the job requires a person to utilize multiple high level skills.
B)the degree to which a person is in charge of completing an identifiable piece of work from start to finish.
C)whether a person's job substantially affects other people's health,work or well-being.
D)the degree to which a person has the freedom to decide how to perform his tasks.

Question 61

Which of the following is true regarding the motivating potential of a job?

A)An employee whose expectation for his job is to pay the bills will have high growth strength.
B)Even though a job is designed with the express purpose of motivating individuals,some employees may not find the job motivational.
C)Career stage does not influence the importance of the five core characteristics.
D)Employees with high growth need strength will respond less favorably to jobs with high motivating potential.

Question 62

In order to increase the feedback you receive,you could

A)avoid asking your superior for feedback.Managers will look less favorably upon you if you continually bother them for feedback.
B)develop a positive relationship with your manager.
C)defend yourself by explaining your behavior when you receive negative feedback.
D)seek positive feedback rather than negative feedback.

Question 63

One of the dimensions of structural empowerment is

A)meaningful work.
B)confidence that you can perform the job.
C)feeling that one has autonomy at work.
D)access to information.

Question 64

Which of the following statements regarding the relationship between feedback and performance is true?

A)The mere presence of feedback is sufficient to motivate employees to better performance.
B)Regardless of whether feedback is positive or negative in nature,employees will feel motivated by it.
C)Feedback is detrimental to performance in about one-third of the cases.
D)The manner in which feedback is delivered has no bearing on its motivation effects.

Question 65

If you say to yourself,"As soon as I finish reading this chapter in my textbook,I am going to play Guitar Hero for an hour," this specific goal has motivated you because

A)it has given you direction.
B)it has energized you to keep going until you have accomplished the goal.
C)it has provided you with self-esteem.
D)it has caused you to re-think how you are working.

Question 66

A fashion designer who creates pieces for a large fashion house for a New York or Paris runway show has

A)high task identity.
B)low task identity.
C)low skill variety.
D)low autonomy.

Question 67

Which of the following is a core job characteristic in Hackman and Oldham's job characteristics model?

A)role variety
B)task importance
C)feedback
D)pay

Question 68

According to the formula for the motivating potential score of a job,the most important elements in deciding motivation potential are

A)skill variety and autonomy.
B)task significance and task identity.
C)autonomy and feedback.
D)skill variety and feedback.

Question 69

Which of the following statements regarding SMART goals is correct?

A)Easy goals are the most effective goals.
B)When goals are specific,stress is higher.
C)Adding a time limit to a goal leads to short-term decision making and ignoring the long term consequences.
D)Effective goals tend to be aggressive.

Question 70

Which of the following is considered a psychological state in Hackman and Oldham's job characteristics model?

A)motivation
B)meaningfulness
C)creativity
D)engagement

Question 71

Which of the following is considered an outcome in Hackman and Oldham's job characteristics model?

A)task significance
B)feedback
C)satisfaction
D)task variety

Question 72

___________ is an example of felt empowerment.

A)Meaningful work
B)Leadership style
C)Organizational structure
D)Organizational climate

Question 73

Which of the following psychological states has research identified as the most important for employee attitudes and behaviors?

A)responsibility
B)knowledge of results
C)motivation
D)meaningfulness

Question 74

Which of the following best describes the elements of Hackman and Oldham's job characteristics model?

A)Three psychological states lead to five core job characteristics which lead to five outcomes.
B)Five core job characteristics lead to five outcomes which produce three psychological states.
C)Five core job characteristics lead to three psychological states which lead to five outcomes.
D)Three psychological states lead to five outcomes which are analyzed for five core job characteristics.

Question 75

Employee autonomy

A)makes the employees more reactive in doing their jobs.
B)increases motivation at work.
C)decreases employee creativity.
D)decreases employee effectiveness.

Question 76

The "M" in "SMART" goals stands for

A)Measurable
B)Motivating
C)Minimal
D)Management

Question 77

Structural empowerment

A)refers to making a person powerless.
B)is the degree to which a person has higher order needs such as esteem and self-actualization.
C)refers to the aspects of the work environment that give employees discretion,autonomy and the ability to do jobs effectively.
D)is the degree to which a person has the freedom to decide how to perform his tasks.

Question 78

To empower your employees,

A)retain information on the job until it is absolutely needed.
B)take away employee power so your manager accountability is not compromised.
C)make sure managers continue to manage in such a manner that they are stepping in with routine responses to issues.
D)change the company structure so employees have more power on the job.

Question 79

Which of the following statements is true about empowerment?

A)The notion of empowerment is appropriate for all employees.
B)Empowerment is a relatively easy concept to implement in the workplace.
C)Employees who are nervous about empowerment may also worry about the increased responsibility.
D)Empowerment is not related to job performance.

Question 80

Which of the following factors determine empowerment?

A)structure
B)access to information
C)leadership style
D)all of the above