Deck 5: Theories of Motivation

Question 1

A high need for power is always a destructive element in the workplace.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

To influence instrumentality,make sure rewards are seen as desirable.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

According to Herzberg,hygiene factors are part of the context of the job.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Individuals with a high need for achievement may neglect managerial activities,like coaching,because they view it as a waste of time.

Question 5

The frustration-regression hypothesis offered by Alderfer suggests individuals frustrated in their attempts to satisfy one need regress to another.

Question 6

Salary is a motivator in Herzberg's two-factor theory.

Question 7

High levels of perceived justice create higher levels of employee commitment.

Question 8

One way to deal with perceived inequity is to decrease your own inputs.

Question 9

You worked really hard on your paper and were very proud to get an A on it.Then you found out that everyone who wrote ten pages or more got an A and now you are upset.You are experiencing high distributive justice.

Question 10

People perceived as fair recognize that what they believe is fair may differ from what others perceive as fair.

Question 11

Benevolents expect to receive substantial compensation for relatively little input.

Question 12

One effective way of achieving procedural justice is to allow employees a voice in decision making.

Question 13

Process-based theories view motivation as a rational process.

Question 14

Job security is an example of Maslow's safety needs.

Question 15

Motivation is a function of the interaction between performance,ability and environment.

Question 16

The absence of hygiene factors in the work environment leads to worker dissatisfaction.

Question 17

Equity theory suggests that those perceiving inequity can react to the situation by having the referent decrease inputs.

Question 18

Expectancy theory's instrumentality dimension refers to the degree to which one believes that effort leads to performance.

Question 19

Over-rewarded individuals experience a great deal of guilt and will substantially increase their effort to restore feelings of equity.

Question 20

Alderfer's existence needs correspond to Maslow's physiological and safety needs.

Question 21

*Disney tries to offer every park visitor a great experience and believes that its high level of employee engagement is due to their unifying mission:

A)"We create happiness"
B)"Customers first"
C)"Employees are #1"
D)"We make magic"

Question 22

Maslow's physiological needs may be satisfied by

A)food.
B)feeling danger-free.
C)feelings of importance.
D)human bonds.

Question 23

To reduce the frequency of negative behaviors,remove the rewards that followed those unwanted behaviors.

Question 24

Expectancy theory is a need-based theory.

Question 25

*The first example of employee appreciation at Disney was

A)all employees became honorary Mouseketeers
B)Walt Disney gave a special team 100 shares of Disney stock,$50,000 cash and a Ferrari for developing ideas to draw people to the park.
C)a play-day at the parks.
D)Walt Disney gave all managers 100 shares of Disney stock.

Question 26

Reinforcement theory is based on behavioral and operant conditioning.

Question 27

The phenomenon of "the folly of rewarding A while hoping for B" suggests that at times,people are rewarded for the wrong kind of behavior.

Question 28

Giving an employee a sales commission every time he makes a sale is an example of a continuous reinforcement schedule.

Question 29

Which of the following statements is correct?

A)Performance is a function of the interaction between motivation,ability and environment.
B)Motivation is a function of the interaction between ability,environment and performance.
C)Ability is a function of the interaction between motivation,performance and environment.
D)Performance is a major influence on motivation,ability and environment.

Question 30

Motivation refers to

A)having the skills and knowledge required to perform the job.
B)a function of performance,ability and environment.
C)the intention of achieving a goal,leading to goal-directed behavior.
D)the only key to high performance.

Question 31

Using the extinction approach to get a coworker to quit using inappropriate jokes during his conversations means you ignore the jokes instead of laughing at them.

Question 32

Ability refers to

A)having the resources,information and support one needs to perform well.
B)having the skills and knowledge required to perform the job.
C)the intention of achieving a goal,leading to goal-directed behavior.
D)the function of performance,motivation,and environment.

Question 33

Michael needs to discipline one of his employees.Before doing so,he should make sure the punishment he is administering fits the crime.

Question 34

Which of the following is true about motivation?

A)Being motivated is the same as being a high performer.
B)Motivation is the sole reason why people perform well.
C)Motivation is a key influence over an employee's performance level.
D)Motivation is usually the most critical factor in a person's performance.

Question 35

*The underlying philosophy of The Walt Disney Company is that

A)if you pay employees enough,they will fake happiness
B)happy employees will lead to happy customers
C)the customer is always right
D)with a well-written employee manual,all employees are accountable

Question 36

*One way that Disney creates and keeps happy employees today is

A)asking new employees what types of rewards would they appreciate.
B)publishing a comprehensive pay scale.
C)using customer surveys to reward staff.
D)promoting from within.

Question 37

Extinction is increasing the frequency of desirable behaviors.

Question 38

Motivation is culturally based.

Question 39

*Which of these is NOT a way that Disney creates a motivated workforce that keeps customers happy?

A)Recognizing mission-aligned behavior
B)Rewarding creativity
C)Listening to employees
D)Hiring introverts and training them to be happy extroverts

Question 40

*Which of these is NOT a factor of environment?

A)support
B)information
C)skills
D)resources

Question 41

How could a firm best satisfy an employee's safety needs?

A)Enroll the employee in a Microsoft Office training course.
B)Provide an employee appreciation luncheon.
C)Develop a weekly employee bowling league.
D)Create a job security clause in the employment contract.

Question 42

Maslow's theory of motivation is criticized because

A)research does not support the argument that satisfied needs no longer motivate behavior.
B)its "frustration-regression" hypothesis has no practical implications for the workplace.
C)the research methodology employed does not fully account for the attribution of cause to the individual or the situation.
D)substantial empirical research has indicated little practical application of the theory.

Question 43

The simple premise of Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory is

A)more than one human need operates at one time.
B)work environment aspects that satisfy an individual are very different than those aspects which dissatisfy an individual.
C)individuals acquire three types of needs as a result of their life experiences.
D)human beings have needs that are hierarchically ranked.

Question 44

In comparing Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory to Alderfer's ERG theory

A)ERG theory recognizes more than one need may operate at one time.
B)Maslow's theory recognizes more than one need may operate at one time.
C)ERG theory is based upon observations of individuals in clinical settings.
D)Maslow's theory suggests that individuals who are frustrated in their attempts to satisfy one need may regress to another one.

Question 45

Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory of motivation

A)suggests once basic needs are satisfied,higher order needs become motivators.
B)enjoys strong research support.
C)is a systematic approach managers can utilize to explain the similar needs employees have at any given time and the similar reactions of employees to similar treatment.
D)was developed based on Maslow's observations of individual employees in a variety of workplace settings.

Question 46

Alderfer's existence needs correspond to Maslow's

A)social needs.
B)esteem needs.
C)self-actualization needs.
D)safety needs.

Question 47

Individuals with a high need for affiliation

A)want to influence others.
B)have a strong need to be successful.
C)desire to make an impact on the organization.
D)want to be accepted by others.

Question 48

One way to satisfy self-actualization needs is to

A)pursue a master's degree through a company's tuition reimbursement program.
B)go out to dinner once a month with coworkers from your department.
C)get a $100 suggestion bonus from your firm for a labor cost saving tip you placed in your department's suggestion box.
D)receive an employee of the week award.

Question 49

Alderfer's growth needs correspond to Maslow's

A)social needs.
B)safety needs.
C)esteem needs.
D)physiological needs.

Question 50

Esteem needs are

A)the need to bond with other human beings.
B)the desire to form lasting attachments.
C)the desire to feel important.
D)the freedom from an uncertain future.

Question 51

Your paycheck could likely satisfy which of the following needs identified by Maslow?

A)physiological needs.
B)esteem needs.
C)safety needs.
D)all of the above.

Question 52

Which of the following statements is true?

A)A need for achievement can be a destructive element in relationships with colleagues.
B)A high need for affiliation serves as a real advantage in managerial positions especially with regard to conducting performance appraisals.
C)A high need for power is a trait of those successful in the sales area.
D)A need for power can have an altruistic form.

Question 53

Which of the following is a hygiene factor in Herzberg's theory of motivation?

A)promotion opportunities.
B)interesting work.
C)salary.
D)achievement.

Question 54

The ability for employees to do interesting and rewarding work at The Walt Disney Company satisfies which of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

A)safety
B)self-actualization
C)social
D)physiological

Question 55

According to ERG theory,if an individual is frustrated in the growth opportunities of his job,

A)he may regress only to relatedness needs.
B)he may regress only to existence needs.
C)he may regress to either relatedness or existence needs.
D)he will be motivated by the next higher need in his need hierarchy.

Question 56

Maslow's social needs could be satisfied by

A)receiving an employee of the month award.
B)getting promoted to assistant manager from a supervisor position.
C)attending a department picnic after work.
D)taking a class on Microsoft Office.

Question 57

Alderfer's theory of motivation revised Maslow's theory of needs by

A)relaxing the basic assumptions of Maslow's theory of needs.
B)assuming needs are hierarchically-based.
C)re-ordering the hierarchy of needs.
D)assuming needs are grouped into five categories.

Question 58

Which of the following is a criticism of Herzberg's theory of motivation?

A)The primary research methodology used to arrive at hygiene and motivator factors is flawed.
B)The classification of factors as hygiene or motivator is missing the factor of satisfiers.
C)Pay should be classified as a motivator,not as a hygiene factor.
D)The theory suggests that improving the environment only goes so far in motivating employees.

Question 59

Which of the following is a motivator factor in Herzberg's theory of motivation?

A)working conditions
B)salary
C)company policy
D)recognition

Question 60

Maslow's theory of motivation suggests

A)employee needs are ordered.
B)employee needs are grouped in three categories.
C)employee needs are divided into motivator and hygiene categories.
D)employee needs are acquired as the result of life experiences.

Question 61

Joaquin received the Chancellor's Award and an $8,000 scholarship for a research paper and formal presentation he created.He believes that he worked hard for the paper and the presentation and deserved the award.Joaquin would feel a sense of

A)high interactional justice.
B)high interpersonal justice.
C)high distributive justice.
D)high procedural justice.

Question 62

Michele is being considered for a managerial position at Halliburton.She completes a TAT as part of an assessment center exercise for prospective managers.Facilitators will examine the results carefully for their manager choices knowing that

A)individuals high in need for achievement may find it difficult to delegate authority to subordinates.
B)individuals high in need for affiliation are especially effective at providing critical feedback to employees.
C)individuals high in need for power have difficulties disciplining poor performers.
D)individuals high in need for achievement are especially effective at coaching and meeting with subordinates.

Question 63

Interactional justice is

A)the degree to which outcomes received from the organization are perceived to be fair.
B)the degree to which fair decision-making procedures are used to arrive at a decision.
C)the degree to which people are treated with respect,kindness and dignity in interpersonal interactions.
D)the belief that high levels of effort will lead to high performance.

Question 64

Which of the following need-based theories has received the greatest amount of research support?

A)Herzberg's two-factor theory
B)Maslow's hierarchy of needs
C)Alderfer's ERG theory
D)McClelland's acquired needs theory

Question 65

Ramone feels that he was unfairly passed over for a promotion at his firm.How might he deal with the perceived inequity?

A)Have the referent decrease inputs.
B)Maintain current perceptions of the referent's inputs.
C)Increase his inputs.
D)Increase his outcomes.

Question 66

Research on equity theory suggests

A)those who perceive inequity increase their work performance.
B)those who feel over-rewarded experience little distress over the situation.
C)those who feel over-rewarded experience guilt over the situation.
D)those who perceive inequity encourage their fellow coworkers to work less hard.

Question 67

Which of the following is a need-based theory of motivation?

A)Expectancy theory.
B)ERG theory.
C)Reinforcement theory.
D)Equity theory.

Question 68

What job would be best suited for someone with a high need for affiliation?

A)sales
B)teacher
C)engineer
D)entrepreneur

Question 69

Michael has two finals,accounting and organizational behavior,on the same day of finals week.Based on expectancy theory,which of the following statements suggest how he should allocate his limited study time?

A)For the previous three OB exams Michael studied for hours and received below average grades.He spent fewer hours studying for accounting and earned above average grades.He therefore decides to focus his efforts equally on OB and accounting.
B)Accounting is Michael's major,OB is a general business requirement in his academic program.Michael aspires to be a CPA,so he decides to focus his study time on Accounting.
C)Michael is switching to another college for a communication major after this semester.His business courses will not count toward his total credits at the new college.His grades on these exams will not matter,but he decides to focus on his accounting anyway.
D)Michael loved the group work format that his OB instructor used to teach the course and disliked the lecture format utilized by his accounting professor.He decides to focus his attention on OB.

Question 70

If you wanted to be perceived as a fair person,take this piece of advice:

A)"People are selfish,they care only about their own justice level."
B)"Treat everyone equally when distributing rewards.Differentiation in rewards often leads to unfairness."
C)"Make your own decisions,you are the boss.Since you are accountable for those decisions,you do not need to waste time listening to everyone's opinions."
D)"Think before you speak.Be considerate of others."

Question 71

Abdul tends to emphasize harmonious interpersonal relationships,prefers to be with friends,and enjoys family events.Abdul would probably be categorized as being

A)low in need for achievement.
B)high in need for affiliation.
C)high in need for power.
D)low in need for affiliation.

Question 72

All of the following are actions those who perceive inequity typically undertake to "balance the scales" EXCEPT

A)steal.
B)begin to arrive at work late.
C)quit.
D)produce higher quality work.

Question 73

Individuals who expect yearly wage increases without exhibiting increased performance may be labeled

A)benevolents.
B)entitleds.
C)equitably insensitive.
D)expectancy sensitive.

Question 74

*Needs-based theories propose that a manager's job is to determine what employees' needs are and then to

A)eliminate those needs
B)redefine those needs
C)redirect those needs
D)create the work environment that meets those needs

Question 75

You work for your college's annual alumni fund.You have averaged 25 phone calls in a three-hour shift throughout your employment.Your supervisor now demands that you increase that number to 40 calls per three-hour shift.You feel that you do not have the skills or the time to make 40 calls and that this is an unrealistic goal.According to expectancy theory,you are experiencing

A)low expectancy.
B)low instrumentality.
C)low valence.
D)low equity.

Question 76

Nejah is reading a report on employee justice perceptions.The article notes which of the following points?

A)High levels of justice create higher levels of organizational citizenship behaviors.
B)High levels of justice create lower levels of employee commitment to the organization.
C)Low levels of justice create higher levels of customer satisfaction.
D)High levels of justice lead to support of unionization.

Question 77

Which of the following is a process based theory of motivation?

A)Alderfer's ERG theory.
B)Herzberg's two-factor theory.
C)Skinner's reinforcement theory.
D)McClelland's acquired needs theory.

Question 78

Chloe and Francois are graphic designers at Highland Lithographics.Both have the same job description.Earlier this month,Chloe found out that Francois makes $12.50 an hour while she makes $11.00.What theory of motivation best explains why Chloe went to her boss to complain about the pay disparity?

A)ERG theory
B)Equity theory
C)Expectancy theory
D)Reinforcement theory

Question 79

*McClelland designed a method of showing the subject an ambiguous image and having them write a story about it.The name of this method and what it assesses is the

A)ERG Theory;hierarchical need
B)Thematic Apperception Test;dominant need
C)Two-Factor Theory;hierarchical need
D)Acquired-Needs Theory;subordinate need

Question 80

Research on procedural justice suggests

A)it is best to exclude employees from commenting on potential changes in company procedures like performance appraisals because they do not understand the decision-making process anyway.
B)it is best to unexpectedly announce department-wide layoffs because when employees suspect changes in their job status are upcoming,they tend to become much less productive.
C)it is best to be consistent in the manner in which employees are disciplined for violating company policy for situations like cell phone usage.
D)it is best to send an announcement of changes to the company benefit package for the next fiscal year without providing explanatory details because employees do not understand the financial implications anyway.