Question 1

Woodworth & Baines is a retail chain that has taken up numerous measures to improve employee attitude, motivation, and organizational performance. New training programs, employee engagement initiatives, and an employee welfare council were the three main strategies implemented as part of the employee empowerment program. Norman Kilner was one of twenty employees nominated to the employee welfare council where they were required to interact with the management to promote the interests of the employees. Additionally, the job roles of these twenty employees were vertically enhanced to give them more autonomy in the organization. However, six months into the employee empowerment program, a survey by HR revealed no actual change in employee attitudes. Similarly, a survey conducted by the production manager revealed that work productivity had not increased by any substantial measure either. Which of the following, if true, would best explain this outcome?

Accepted Answer

A)   Management strengthened the regulations relating to employee absenteeism in this period.
B)   Management retained the degree of control they had in the organizational affairs.
C)   The company moved from a merit-based to a piece-rate pay system in the last quarters.
D)   The employees performed poorly because of the lack of training and development programs.
E)   Management implemented a 360-degree feedback system for performance appraisals.F) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 2

With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines task identity?

Accepted Answer

A)   the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B)   the degree to which work activities generate direct and clear information about performance
C)   the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling and procedure
D)   the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people
E)   the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activitiesF) B) and D)
G) C) and D)

Question 3

With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines skill variety?

Accepted Answer

A)   the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B)   the degree to which work activities generate direct and clear information about performance
C)   the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling and procedure
D)   the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people
E)   the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities tapping different abilitiesF) C) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 4

Jobs with high autonomy give incumbents a feeling of personal responsibility for the results.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Daichi Inc. is a Japanese software development firm known for its high quality products. Recently, the company held its annual conference and awarded all those employees who were in the top five percent with substantial monetary rewards. Their performance was evaluated on the basis of target achievement, client feedback, and quality ratings. Employees whose performance had not changed drastically were given a minor raise and those who faired badly received no incentives. Many employees blamed the company of creating differences among employees because they felt that it would harm the company in the long run, but Daichi Inc. truly believes that to retain and motivate its best performers, a large incentive is a good step. Daichi Inc. is using a(n)  ________ here.

Accepted Answer

A)   piece-rate plan
B)   employee stock ownership plan
C)   modular plan
D)   merit-based plan
E)   flexible benefits planF) C) and D)
G) D) and E)

Question 6

Flexible spending plans allow employees to set aside pretax dollars up to the dollar amount offered in the plan to pay for particular benefits, such as health care and dental premiums.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Compare and contrast the job characteristics model and mutual assistance programs in terms of how they lend meaning to an employee's role.

Accepted Answer

The first three dimensions of the job ch...

Question 8

Explain how participative management can enhance skill variety, task identity, and autonomy as described in the Job Characteristics Model (JCM).

Accepted Answer

Skill variety, the degree to which a job...

Question 9

Job design is defined as the ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   degree to which the job rewards competence
B)   way the elements in a job are organized
C)   degree to which the job contributes to profit margins
D)   degree of decision-making power with the immediate superiors
E)   way the job is evaluated in terms of its relative worth to other jobsF) C) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 10

Employee recognition programs are highly susceptible to political manipulation by management.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The periodic shifting of an employee from one task to another with similar skill requirements at the same organizational level is defined as ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   job enlargement
B)   job analysis
C)   job rotation
D)   job sharing
E)   job enrichmentF) D) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true regarding employee recognition?

Accepted Answer

A)   Employee recognition is an extrinsic reward.
B)   Critics argue that employee recognition programs are highly susceptible to political manipulation by management.
C)   Employee recognition programs are expensive.
D)   Centralized programs across multiple offices in different countries can hinder the process of employee recognition programs.
E)   Employee stock option is a more powerful workplace motivator than recognition.F) B) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 13

List and describe the various flexible benefits plans.

Accepted Answer

The three most popular types of benefits...

Question 14

A variable-pay program bases a portion of an employee's pay on some individual and/or organizational measure of performance.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Which of the following is the distinct characteristic of participative management programs?

Accepted Answer

A)   joint decision making
B)   representative participation
C)   performance norms
D)   establishment of work councils
E)   autocratic decision makingF) A) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 16

An MNC in a developing country is operating amidst severe space constraints, and the infrastructural conditions in the city are bad, causing a lot of lost man-hours. Anticipating rapid growth in the months to come, the company has created a recruitment plan based on its revenue expectations. However, it wants to manage this expansion without undertaking an expensive physical expansion. Which of the following could be a solution for the company?

Accepted Answer

A)   profit-sharing
B)   groupshifting
C)   telecommuting
D)   gainsharing
E)   codeterminingF) B) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 17

Internal equity refers to the worth of the job to the organization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

An advantage of the ________ plan is that benefits accrue to groups of workers, high-performing workers pressure weaker performers to work harder, improving performance for the group as a whole.

Accepted Answer

A)   modular
B)   gainsharing
C)   skill-based pay
D)   flexible benefits
E)   profit-sharingF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 19

Beyond redesigning the nature of the work itself and involving employees in decisions, another approach to making the work environment more motivating is to alter work arrangements to meet employee needs. Which of the following is designed to give an employee greater control of their schedule?

Accepted Answer

A)   flextime
B)   gainsharing
C)   job rotation
D)   job enlargement
E)   job enrichmentF) C) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 20

Which of the following statements is true regarding gainsharing?

Accepted Answer

A)   Gainsharing focuses on productivity gains rather than profits.
B)   Gainsharing involves paying employees based on the number of new skills acquired by them in a specific time period.
C)   Gainsharing does not distribute profits, only gains in profits.
D)   Employees working under gainsharing plans have a greater feeling of psychological ownership.
E)   Gain sharing encourages social loafing.F) C) and E)
G) B) and D)

Exam 8: Motivation: From Concepts to Applications

Compare and contrast the job characteristics model and mutual assistance programs in terms of how they lend meaning to an employee's role.

Correct Answer
verified
The first three dimensions of the job ch...
View Answer

An advantage of the ________ plan is that benefits accrue to groups of workers, high-performing workers pressure weaker performers to work harder, improving performance for the group as a whole.

Correct Answer
verified

Internal equity refers to the worth of the job to the organization.

Correct Answer
verified

List and describe the various flexible benefits plans.

Correct Answer
verified
The three most popular types of benefits...
View Answer

With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines task identity?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following statements is true regarding gainsharing?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Jobs with high autonomy give incumbents a feeling of personal responsibility for the results.

Correct Answer
verified

Job design is defined as the ________.

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following is the distinct characteristic of participative management programs?

Correct Answer
verified

Employee recognition programs are highly susceptible to political manipulation by management.

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following statements is true regarding employee recognition?

Correct Answer
verified

Beyond redesigning the nature of the work itself and involving employees in decisions, another approach to making the work environment more motivating is to alter work arrangements to meet employee needs. Which of the following is designed to give an employee greater control of their schedule?

Correct Answer
verified

A variable-pay program bases a portion of an employee's pay on some individual and/or organizational measure of performance.

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines skill variety?

Correct Answer
verified

The periodic shifting of an employee from one task to another with similar skill requirements at the same organizational level is defined as ________.

Correct Answer
verified

Explain how participative management can enhance skill variety, task identity, and autonomy as described in the Job Characteristics Model (JCM).

Correct Answer
verified
Skill variety, the degree to which a job...
View Answer

Flexible spending plans allow employees to set aside pretax dollars up to the dollar amount offered in the plan to pay for particular benefits, such as health care and dental premiums.

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 8: Motivation: From Concepts to Applications

Compare and contrast the job characteristics model and mutual assistance programs in terms of how they lend meaning to an employee's role.

Correct AnswerverifiedThe first three dimensions of the job ch...View AnswerShow Answer

An advantage of the ________ plan is that benefits accrue to groups of workers, high-performing workers pressure weaker performers to work harder, improving performance for the group as a whole.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Internal equity refers to the worth of the job to the organization.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

List and describe the various flexible benefits plans.

Correct AnswerverifiedThe three most popular types of benefits...View AnswerShow Answer

With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines task identity?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements is true regarding gainsharing?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Jobs with high autonomy give incumbents a feeling of personal responsibility for the results.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Job design is defined as the ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is the distinct characteristic of participative management programs?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Employee recognition programs are highly susceptible to political manipulation by management.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements is true regarding employee recognition?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Beyond redesigning the nature of the work itself and involving employees in decisions, another approach to making the work environment more motivating is to alter work arrangements to meet employee needs. Which of the following is designed to give an employee greater control of their schedule?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A variable-pay program bases a portion of an employee's pay on some individual and/or organizational measure of performance.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines skill variety?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The periodic shifting of an employee from one task to another with similar skill requirements at the same organizational level is defined as ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Explain how participative management can enhance skill variety, task identity, and autonomy as described in the Job Characteristics Model (JCM).

Correct AnswerverifiedSkill variety, the degree to which a job...View AnswerShow Answer

Flexible spending plans allow employees to set aside pretax dollars up to the dollar amount offered in the plan to pay for particular benefits, such as health care and dental premiums.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified
The first three dimensions of the job ch...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
The three most popular types of benefits...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
Skill variety, the degree to which a job...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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