MIE 330 Ch 4: The analysis and design of work

Which of the following was replaced by the Occupational Information Network (O*NET)?

Dictionary of Occupational Titles Explanation The Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) was born during the 1930s. The Department of Labor abandoned the DOT in 1998 and developed an entirely new system for classifying jobs, which is referred to as the Occupational Information Network, or O*NET.

When team members on Tonya's unit craft their professional goals for the new year, she is expecting at least one goal to be tied to the unit's goals. How will she measure the individuals' performance based on this link?

Individual accountability of behavior should be a critical indicator of performance. Explanation For teams to be effective, it is essential that the level of task interdependence matches the level of outcome interdependence. It is critical to establish individual accountability of behavior within a group.

Which of the following is true about O*NET? a)It is beneficial only for employers, not job seekers. b)It relies exclusively on narrow task descriptions. c)It is a private job-listing index that employers can use free of cost. d)It uses a common language that generalizes job specifications across various occupations.Correct e)It relies exclusively on fixed job titles.

It uses a common language that generalizes job specifications across various occupations. Instead of relying on fixed job titles and narrow task descriptions, the O*NET uses a common language that generalizes across jobs to describe the abilities, work styles, work activities, and work context required for various occupations that are more broadly defined.

Which of the following questions should be addressed right after the inputs required for production have been established?

What tasks are required in the production of the output? Explanation Once the inputs required for the production have been established, the next step is to focus on the process. The question to be addressed is 'What tasks are required in the production of the output?'

_______ provides a longitudinal overview of the dynamic relationships by which inputs are converted into outputs.

Work-flow design Explanation Whereas work-flow design provides a longitudinal overview of the dynamic relationships by which inputs are converted into outputs, organization structure provides a cross-sectional overview of the static relationships between individuals and units that create the outputs.

Work-flow design is the process of

analyzing the tasks necessary for the production of a product. Explanation Work-flow design is the process of analyzing the tasks necessary for the production of a product or service, prior to allocating and assigning these tasks to a particular job category or person.

Inez has been given the authority to make decisions about how to accomplish her work. The "Job Characteristics Model" classifies this as

autonomy Explanation According to the "Job Characteristics Model," jobs can be described in terms of five characteristics: skill variety, task identity, autonomy, feedback, and task significance. Autonomy is the degree to which the job allows an individual to make decisions.

All decisions for the coffee chain, JoBos, are made by the founder and chief executive officer. This company has a ________ decision-making structure.

centralized Explanation Centralized authority is decision-making authority residing at the top of the organizational chart. When authority is distributed through the lower levels, an organization has a decentralized decision-making structure.

Units that are a part of the ________ structure act almost as separate, self-sufficient, semi-autonomous organizations.

divisional Explanation Units in divisional structures act almost as separate, self-sufficient, semi-autonomous organizations. Divisional structures combine a divisional departmentalization scheme with relatively low levels of centralization.

Which of the following is concerned with examining the interface between individuals' physiological characteristics and the physical work environment?

ergonomics Explanation A job design that comes primarily from the sciences of biomechanics (i.e., the study of body movements), work physiology, and occupational medicine and it is usually referred to as ergonomics. Ergonomics is concerned with examining the interface between individuals' physiological characteristics and the physical work environment.

Divisional structures are more appropriate than functional structures when

flexible responsiveness is required. Explanation Divisional structures are most appropriate in unstable, unpredictable environments, where it is difficult to anticipate demands for resources and coordination requirements between jobs are not consistent over time. This type of structure also helps support organizations that compete on differentiation or innovation, because flexible responsiveness is central to making this strategy work.

Job design interventions emphasizing the motivational approach focus on

increasing the meaningfulness of jobs Explanation Job design interventions emphasizing the motivational approach tend to focus on increasing the meaningfulness of jobs. Much of the work on job enlargement, job enrichment, and self-managing work teams has its roots in the motivational approach to job design.

Alita and Frederick have worked for Sanctuary Falls for more than 20 years combined. They are a resource to HR when completing a job analysis because they are

incumbents Explanation In general, it will be useful to go to the job incumbent to get the most accurate information about what is actually done on the job. Sometimes, supervisors look over the information generated by the job incumbent.

Which of the following includes a list of the tasks, duties, and responsibilities that a job entails?

job description Explanation A job description is a list of the tasks, duties, and responsibilities (TDRs) that a job entails. It is one of the two types of information that are most useful in job analysis.

Which of the following is the process of defining the way work will be performed and the tasks that will be required in a given job?

job design Explanation Job design is the process of defining how work will be performed and the tasks that will be required in a given job. To effectively design jobs, one must thoroughly understand the job as it exists (through job analysis) and its place in the larger work unit's work-flow process (work-flow analysis).

Which of the following includes the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics that an individual must have to perform a job?

job specification Explanation A job specification is a list of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) that an individual must have to perform a job.

Which of the following approaches views job satisfaction as one of the most important outcomes of job design?

motivational approach Explanation The motivational approach focuses on the job characteristics that affect psychological meaning and motivational potential, and it views attitudinal variables (such as satisfaction) as the most important outcomes of job design.

Jeff was recently hired as a new manager. He is looking for the ________ to see the relationships between individuals and units.

organization structure Explanation Whereas work-flow design provides a longitudinal overview of the dynamic relationships by which inputs are converted into outputs, organization structure provides a cross-sectional overview of the static relationships between individuals and units that create the outputs. Organization structure is typically displayed via organizational charts that convey both vertical reporting relationships and horizontal functional responsibilities.

The most common source of error in the job analysis process results from job descriptions being

outdated Explanation Although there are numerous sources for error in the job analysis process, most inaccuracy is likely to result from job descriptions simply being outdated. Hence, in addition to statically defining the job, the job analysis process must also detect changes in the nature of jobs.

Which stage in a work-unit activity analysis focuses on the product, information, or service provided?

output Explanation The output stage focuses on what product, service, or information is provided. It looks into how the output can be measured.

Which of the following approaches to job design identifies the "one best way" to perform a job?

scientific management approach Explanation The scientific management approach first sought to identify the "one best way" to perform a job.

Which of the following sources is most appropriate for providing accurate information regarding the importance of job duties?

supervisorsCorrect

According to the "Job Characteristics Model," ________ is the degree to which a job requires completing a "whole" piece of work from beginning to end.

task identity Explanation Task identity is the degree to which a job requires completing a 'whole' piece of work from beginning to end. Autonomy is the degree to which the job allows an individual to make decisions about the way the work will be carried out.

customer service representatives who seek to solve problems for customers need to understand their

task significance. Explanation According to the "Job Characteristics Model," jobs can be described in terms of five characteristics: skill variety, task identity, autonomy, feedback, and task significance. Task significance is the extent to which the job has an important impact on the lives of other people.

Functional structures are more appropriate than divisional structures when

the organization competes on costs. Explanation Functional structures are most appropriate in stable, predictable environments, where demand for resources can be well anticipated and coordination requirements between jobs can be refined and standardized over consistent repetitions of activity. This type of structure helps support organizations that compete on cost, because efficiency is central to making this strategy work.