11: Motivating Employees

According to Douglas McGregor, _____ refers to a set of management attitudes based on the view that people dislike work and must be coerced to perform.

Theory X

Based on Douglas McGregor's theory of motivation, a manager who follows _____ would adopt an autocratic leadership role keeping a close eye on employees and looking for occasions when they need to be disciplined to keep them performing adequately.

Theory X

Which of the following are true of process theories of motivation?

They concern the mechanism involved in motivation.

True or false: According to Herzberg's two-factor theory of motivation, satisfaction results from the absence of hygiene factors.

This is false. According to Herzberg's two-factor theory of motivation, dissatisfaction results from the absence of hygiene factors, which include salary and relationships with others.

True or false: In the context of motivation theories, supervisors need not offer a variety of rewards for employees.

This is false. Supervisors must consider individual differences in designing rewards for employees. What motivates one person may not motivate another, so supervisors need to offer a variety of rewards. At the same time, to avoid discrimination, employers must distribute benefits fairly.

True or false: According to the content theories of motivation, money inspires people when it meets their requirements.

This is true. The content theories of motivation imply that money motivates people when it meets their needs. If money is to work as a motivator, employees must believe they are able to achieve the financial rewards their organization offers.

True or false: The way a pay plan is structured can influence the degree to which employees are motivated to perform well.

This is true. The way a pay plan is structured can influence the degree to which employees are motivated to perform well. Some pay plans offer bonuses, commissions, or other kinds of pay for meeting or exceeding objectives

True or false: To motivate employees with the possibility of a raise and a belief that pay rates are fair, an organization must let them know what they can hope to earn.

This is true. To motivate employees with the possibility of a raise and a belief that pay rates are fair, an organization must let them know what they can hope to earn. A typical compromise between maintaining privacy and sharing information is for the organization to publish pay ranges.

Some theories of motivation, such as Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, have focused on what things motivate workers. These are called _____ theories.

content

______ are referred to as the payments for meeting or exceeding objectives.

financial incentives

is a policy that grants employees some leeway in choosing which 8 hours a day or which 40 hours a week to work.

flextime

McClelland's theory of motivation considers _____, whereas Maslow's theory of motivation does not.

individual differences

_____ involves moving employees from job to job to give them more variety.

job rotation

_____ is an arrangement in which two part-time employees share the duties of one full-time job.

job sharing

Giving people incentives that cause them to act in desired ways is known as ____.

motivation

McClelland's theory of motivation is based on the assumption that _____.

people develop various needs through their life experiences

In Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, the most basic needs are _____ needs.

physiological

According to Herzberg's two-factor theory of motivation, satisfaction results from the _____.

presence of motivating factors

According to _____, high expectations lead to high performance.

the Pygmalion effect

In the hierarchy of needs theory, Abraham Maslow assumes that people are motivated by _____.

unmet needs

Identify the researchers whose content theories of motivation are widely used.

- Abraham Maslow - David McClelland - Frederick Herzberg

Identify the major process theories of motivation.

- Vroom's expectancy-valence theory - Skinner's reinforcement theory

Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs

1. physiological 2. safety 3. love/belonging (social) 4. esteem 5. self-actualization

achievement-power-affiliation theory

1. the need for achievement 2. the need for power 3. the need for affiliation

Identify a true statement about providing feedback to employees.

A supervisor should give employees feedback about their performance as employees need to know how well they are doing.

How can supervisors treat employees as individuals by building a sense of cohesion and belonging?

By using team-building activities

_____ ensures that no employee feels threatened or intimidated in any way in an organization.

Enforcing a zero tolerance policy on workplace bullying

Identify a way to motivate employees in an organization.

Gamification

_____ is an effort to make a job more interesting by adding more duties to it.

Job enlargement

_____ theory of motivation assumes different people have different patterns of needs, whereas _____ theory of motivation assumes the same pattern of needs for all people.

McClelland's; Maslow's

Identify a typical compromise between maintaining privacy and sharing information in an organization.

Publishing pay ranges

Identify an advantage of flexible work arrangements.

Reduced employee absence

Identify a common element of most motivation theories.

Supervisors must consider individual differences in designing rewards.

Which of the following should be met in order for money to work as a motivator for employees in an organization?

The employees must believe that they can attain the financial rewards offered by the organization.

According to Abraham Maslow, _____ is an example of a person's security needs.

a home in a safe neighborhood

David McClelland's theory of motivation is called the _____.

achievement-power-affiliation theory