Chapter 8: Motivation Applications

The job characteristics model describes five dimensions of a job. A job can be enriched by modifying one or more of these five dimensions. Which of the following methods of job enrichment involves modifying skill variety and task identity dimensions of a job? A) combining tasks B) forming natural work units C) establishing client relationships D) expanding jobs vertically E) opening feedback channels

A) combining tasks

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? A) flextime B) gainsharing C) job rotation D) job enlargement E) job enrichment

A) flextime

Managers at Flavors, a restaurant chain, train their employees such that in the absence of employees, someone trained in the same skills can step in and do the job equally well. Thus, many modules in training are extensive as they provide employees with details of the skill sets required for different jobs. In practice, this lengthy training program does help the company as a well-trained and flexible workforce is at their disposal at all times. The managers at Flavors use ________. A) job rotation B) vertical enhancement C) telecommuting D) job sharing E) flextime

A) job rotation

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

A) the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work

18) Which of the following, if true, would strengthen the argument in favor of adopting job rotation? A) The company is currently facing numerous budget constraints. B) The company can enhance productivity of existing employees in various areas for different projects. C) Two front-level managers have resigned in the last quarter as they were not promoted. D) The company has launched a new brand which is cannibalizing one of its existing products. E) The company has recently given employees new responsibilities by combining their routine tasks into natural work units.

B) The company can enhance productivity of existing employees in various areas for different projects.

Which of the following statements is true of the job characteristics model? A) The operation of the model is universal and unaffected by cultural factors. B) The operation of the model is relatively individualistic in nature. C) The operation of the model requires employees to have similar skill sets. D) The operation of the model cannot be quantitatively measured. E) The operation of the model fulfils only extrinsic motivational needs.

B) The operation of the model is relatively individualistic in nature.

One of the methods of job enrichment is to expand jobs vertically. This method involves modifying the ________ dimension of the job. A) task significance B) autonomy C) feedback D) task identity E) skill variety

B) autonomy

Job enrichment is the process of ________. A) periodic shifting of an employee from one task to another with similar skill requirements at the same organizational level B) expansion of jobs by increasing the degree to which the worker controls the planning, execution, and evaluation of the work C) redistribution of power within the organization through work councils and board representations D) distribution of a significant degree of power between subordinates and supervisors E) evaluation of an employee wherein subordinates, peers, and managers provide comprehensive feedback

B) expansion of jobs by increasing the degree to which the worker controls the planning, execution, and evaluation of the work

An arrangement that allows two or more individuals to split a traditional 40-hour-a-week job is called ________. A) flextime B) job sharing C) gainsharing D) telecommuting E) job rotation

B) job sharing

After the training and development manager at Add Worth, Nicole Hayes, resigned, the CEO has made it a priority that the position be filled soon by someone of equal expertise and experience as Nicole. To locate the right candidate, Jennifer Ray, the HR manager, has been contacting recruitment firms, checking job sites, and pushing for referrals from the employees. However, she has only found candidates with little or no experience in the field who were willing to work full time for the position. At the next meeting with the CEO, Jennifer proposes an alternative strategy; she suggests hiring two experienced candidates who are open to the idea of handling the training needs on a part-time basis as a team. The CEO listens to her proposal but is not too convinced by it. Which of the following, if true, would strengthen Jennifer's proposal to use work sharing for the vacant position? A) Trainers are exempted from the requirement of being at the office throughout the common core period of the workday. B) The employees of the company on the work council have planned to demand the flextime option. C) A good proportion of the company's prized workforce comprises employees from the baby boomer generation who are set to retire in the impending future. D) The headhunting firms that Jennifer contacted are usually helpful in generating a good pool of potential candidates. E) A rival firm recently adopted telecommuting to reduce administrative costs cutting into its bottom line.

C) A good proportion of the company's prized workforce comprises employees from the baby boomer generation who are set to retire in the impending future.

Which of the following statements is true regarding job sharing? A) It expands jobs by increasing the degree to which the worker controls the planning, execution, and evaluation of the work. B) It is also called cross-training. C) It allows two or more individuals to split a traditional 40-hour-a-week job. D) It involves periodic shifting of an employee from one task to another with similar skill requirements at the same organizational level. E) Job sharing is a method of job enrichment.

C) It allows two or more individuals to split a traditional 40-hour-a-week job.

Which of the following statements is true regarding job rotation? A) It decreases the flexibility with which an organization can adapt to a change. B) It decreases employee motivation. C) It decreases productivity in the short-run. D) It decreases supervisory workload. E) It decreases the flexibility in scheduling work.

C) It decreases productivity in the short-run.

According to the job characteristics model, autonomy is defined as the degree to which ________. A) a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work B) a job generates direct and clear information about performance C) a job provides the worker freedom, independence, and discretion D) a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people E) a job requires a variety of different activities

C) a job provides the worker freedom, independence, and discretion

Telecommuting is an option that suits professionals like ________. A) trainers B) nurses C) analysts D) receptionists E) sales representatives

C) analysts

Which of the following is the major drawback of job sharing from management's perspective? A) increase in supervisory workload B) increased costs for providing supporting infrastructure (such as desk and computer) to two employees instead of one C) difficulty in finding compatible partners D) difficulty in designing the reward structure E) difficulty in coordinating schedules

C) difficulty in finding compatible partners

According to the job characteristics model, ________ indicates the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information about your own performance. A) task significance B) autonomy C) feedback D) task identity E) skill variety

C) feedback

The periodic shifting of an employee from one task to another with similar skill requirements at the same organizational level is defined as ________. A) job enlargement B) job analysis C) job rotation D) job sharing E) job enrichment

C) job rotation

A prerequisite condition for job rotation is the ________. A) presence of high level of autonomy among workers B) presence of high need for affiliation among workers C) presence of employees with similar skill sets and requirements D) presence of alternative work arrangements for employees to avail E) presence of employee involvement programs

C) presence of employees with similar skill sets and requirements

The job characteristic model fails to consider the role ________ plays in employee motivation. A) job design B) meaningfulness C) social support D) growth need E) responsibility

C) social support

Adam Sears is an assembly line employee with Swenson Motors. Though Adam is popular among his supervisors and colleagues, Adam experiences low morale and lack of motivation. He feels frustrated that his job is restricted to fixing nuts and bolts on the car parts. He fears that he has no chances of advancing in his career as he cannot completely assemble a car. Which of the following is true with regard to Adam? A) Adam's job has high task complexity. B) Adam's job has a high span of control. C) Adam's job has low role definition. D) Adam's job has low task identity. E) Adam's job has high task significance.

D) Adam's job has low task identity.

According to the job characteristics model, task significance is the degree to which ________. A) a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work B) a job generates direct and clear information about performance C) a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling work and determining its procedure D) a job bears an impact on the lives or work of other people E) a job requires a variety of different activities

D) a job bears an impact on the lives or work of other people

Janice and Shane are both senior software analysts. They have worked together on projects for six years and get along very well. Janice is anticipating the arrival of her first child and will not be able to work on a full-time basis in the future. Shane is also contemplating opening his own business as a home media installation consultant and does not want to continue to work full time. They both need some income. Which of the following alternative job structures would be best for Janice and Shane? A) job enlargement B) telecommuting C) job rotation D) job sharing E) job enrichment

D) job sharing

The core dimensions of the job characteristics model can be combined into a single predictive index called ________. A) extrinsic motivation score B) personal outcome score C) job diagnostic score D) motivating potential score E) potential development score

D) motivating potential score

Samantha Barnes is an emergency medical technician. Recently, during an emergency call, she was able to resuscitate a man who had a cardiac arrest. Subsequently, she spent some time calming the 12-year-old daughter of the patient and looked after her till the rest of the patient's family arrived at the hospital. Based on this description, it can be concluded that Samantha's job is high in ________. A) task identity B) feedback C) extrinsic rewards D) task significance E) job rotation

D) task significance

Employees who use the flextime option have to ________. A) work from the office for three days of the week B) work from home on a relatively permanent basis C) work from the office based on a schedule fixed with the compatible partner they function with D) work from the office during the common core period and put in the extra hours as per their convenience E) work from home only two days a week

D) work from the office during the common core period and put in the extra hours as per their convenience

CalTrack Services has been facing employee-related issues like decreased productivity, low morale, and poor organizational commitment in recent times. At a meeting to discuss strategies to address these issues of immediate concern, Joe McEnroe, the production manager, proposed that the roles of employees working on key projects be enhanced to increase autonomy. He felt that this would enhance productivity, motivation, and accountability. Taking a cue from McEnroe, Paul Wilbur suggested job rotation as a solution to the problem they were facing. Paul felt that a change of job roles would make the employees keener to learn and perform. He emphasized that job rotation would help management create a larger skill base to choose from, depending on the needs of specific projects. 17) Which of the following, if true, would weaken the argument of adopting job rotation? A) The employees of the company have similar skill sets which are suited to transfer of learning. B) The company has been conducting professional training programs to keep all employees up-to-date with the developments in the field. C) AmWeb, one of the major rival firms, witnessed a substantial rise in profits following its cross-training program for employees. D) The research evidence favoring job rotation has rarely used samples from the service industry. E) The company is now entering its busiest business season with multiple project deadlines.

E) The company is now entering its busiest business season with multiple project deadlines.

Which of the following alternative work arrangements enables the organization to draw on the talents of more than one individual in a given job? A) telecommuting B) flextime C) gainsharing D) profit-sharing E) job sharing

E) job sharing

For management, the major downside of telecommuting is ________. A) decreased productivity B) increased turnover C) reduced morale D) difficulty in scheduling work E) less direct supervision of employees

E) less direct supervision of employees

Which of the following series of dimensions of the job characteristics model (JCM) combine to create meaningful work? A) autonomy, task identity, and feedback B) skill variety, autonomy, and task significance C) skill variety, autonomy, and feedback D) feedback, task identity, and task significance E) skill variety, task identity, and task significance

E) skill variety, task identity, and task significance

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

E) the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities tapping different abilities