Chapter 8
_________ refers to adding high-level responsibilities to a job to increase intrinsic motivation. A. Job enrichment B. Job rotation C. Job standardization D. Relational job design E. Job analysis
A. Job enrichment
The job of baker in a bakery who is responsible for the design, baking, decorating, and finishing of all wedding cakes would be high in ___________________. A. task identity B. skill variety C. task significance D. skill significance E. autonomy
A. task identity
________ refers to working from home at least 2 days a week through virtual devices that are linked to the employer's office. A. Telecommuting B. Job sharing C. Job analysis D. Job design E. Flextime
A. Telecommuting Telecommuting refers to working from home at least 2 days a week through virtual devices that are linked to the employer's office. Next Question
Relational job design focuses on __________________. A. constructing jobs so that the employee perceives the positive difference he or she makes in the lives of others by the job the employee performs B. ensuring uniformity in the tasks of similar job positions in different departments of an organization C. periodically shifting employees from one task to another with similar skill requirements D. combining various activities at the same level in the organization and adding them to the existing job E. adding higher-level responsibilities to a job to increase its intrinsic motivation
A. constructing jobs so that the employee perceives the positive difference he or she makes in the lives of others by the job the employee performs Relational job design, with its focus on prosocial motivation, involves constructing jobs so employees see the positive difference they can make in the lives of others directly through their work. Next Question
_________________refers to two or more employees who split the same full-time job. A. Flextime B. Job sharing C. Shared employment D. Telecommuting E. Job enrichment
B. Job sharing Job sharing allows two or more individuals to split a traditional full-time job. One employee might perform the job from 8:00 A.M. to noon, perhaps, and the other from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M., or the two could work full but alternate days.
Research has shown that job enrichment practices were related to all of the following EXCEPT __________. A. absenteeism B. input quality C. output quality D. financial performance E. labor productivity
B. input quality In a survey of over 20,000 British employees, job enrichment practices were related to organizations' financial performance, labor productivity, absenteeism, and output quality through improvements in job satisfaction. Input quality is not related to job enrichment. Next Question
One of the benefits of telecommuting includes _______. A. reduced coworker relationships B. reduced role stress and turnover C. feelings of isolation D. more work-family conflict E. social loafing
B. reduced role stress and turnover Telecommuting has several benefits. It is positively related to objective and supervisor rated performance and job satisfaction and, to a lesser degree, it reduces role stress and turnover intentions.
__________ is the way the elements in a job are organized. A. Task significance B. Job characteristics C. Job design D. Task identity E. Job characteristics model
C. Job design
Which of the following is a method of job redesign? A. Job standardization B. Process standardization C. Job rotation D. Job relocation E. Job process
C. Job rotation Job rotation is the periodic shifting of an employee from one task to another with similar skill requirements at the same organizational level.
According to the Job Characteristics Model, the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about your own performance is called ________. A. task identity B. skill variety C. feedback D. autonomy E. motivating potential score
C. feedback
Which dimension of the job characteristics model describes the degree to which a job affects the lives or work of other people? A. Skill identity B. Autonomy C. Task significance D. Feedback E. Task variety
C. Task significance Task significance is the degree to which a job affects the lives or work of other people. The job of a nurse helping patients in a hospital intensive care unit scores high on task significance; sweeping floors in a hospital scores low.
According to the Job Characteristics Model, _______ is the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities. A. Task identity B. Autonomy C. Task significance D. Skill variety E. Feedback
D. Skill variety
According to the author, redesigning jobs therefore has the practical implication of all EXCEPT _________. A. job rotation B. increased job satisfaction C. job enlargement D. increased job dissatisfaction E. reduced turnover
D. increased job dissatisfaction Redesigning jobs has important practical implications—reduced turnover and increased job satisfaction. Increased job dissatisfaction is not a practical implication.
Flextime allows employees to ________________. A. come to work when there is something to do B. come to work during hours they select C. work from home D. vary work hours within limits E. work part-time and get paid for a full-time job
D. vary work hours within limits Flextime allows workers to vary work hours within limits and usually contains certain core hours, which the employee is required to work.
Research suggests that the negative aspect of flextime __________. A. increased job satisfaction B. reduced tardiness C. increased work-life balance D. reduced absenteeism E. reduced goal accomplishment
E. reduced goal accomplishment Two German studies suggest that that if flextime is used too much, it can undermine goal accomplishment.