MGMT 365 - FINAL - Chapter 4

Natalie, a manager at a construction company, contends that applying industrial engineering is the simplest way to structure work and maximize efficiency. Which of the following statements supports Natalie's argument?

Applying industrial engineering reduces the complexity of work.

A manager of a functional department would require skills in aligning employees' efforts with the organization's higher-level goals. This is a valid statement because

employees in functional departments tend to identify more with their own departments rather than with other departments

Job enrichment differs from job rotation in that job enrichment:

empowers workers by adding more decision-making authority to their jobs

Orange Banking Group, a corporation that has a global presence, is seeking to hire employees for its IT team. Among the available job positions are those of system administrators and chief technology officer. Who among the following is most likely to be the best source for recruiting employees for these important technical positions?

external job analysis

Identify the step that can be taken by an organization to enhance manufacturing jobs for its employees

Give employees more authority to manage the production process

Which of the following best describes job sharing?

It is a work option in which two part-time employees carry out the tasks associated with a single job

Which of the following best defines competency?

It is an area of personal capability that enables employees to perform successfully

Identify the disadvantage of using the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ)

It results in abstract reports that are of limited use.

Joe's Restaurant, a pizza chain, is known for its quick service. It takes the employees four minutes to prepare the dough and add the sauce and toppings. Cooking and packaging takes another four minutes before the pizza is ready. In this scenario, the employees of Joe's Restaurant are engaged in _____.

work processes

Which of the following HR activities is similar to analyzing a job that does not yet exist?

work redesign

Which of the following is true of self-managing work teams?

Team members usually share work assignments

Adam contends that telework or telecommuting is profitable for both employers and employees and has been a rising trend. Which of the following statements would accurately explain the validity of Adam's statement?

Telecommuting may support a strategy of corporate social responsibility

Name the model that was developed by Richard Hackman and Greg Oldham to describe ways to make jobs more motivating

The Job Characteristics model

Josh, a manager at a manufacturing company, contends that using the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ) provides an organization with information that helps in comparing jobs. His supervisor, Mark, argues that the information provided is valid only when the jobs are similar. Which of the following statements validates Josh's argument?

The PAQ considers the whole work process, from inputs through outputs

Which of the following is true of the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ)?

The PAQ is meant to be completed only by job analysts trained in this method

According to the Job Characteristics Model, which of the following best describes task identity?

The degree to which a job requires completing a "whole" piece of work from beginning to end

In the 1930s, the U.S. Department of Labor created the _____ as a vehicle for helping the new public employment system link the demand for skills and the supply of skills in the U.S. workforce

Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT)

Which of the following would qualify as a compressed workweek?

Employees are permitted to work 10 hours a day, so that they can work fewer days per week

Which of the following is a strategy used by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to increase ergonomic job design?

Enforcing violations of its requirement that employers have a general duty to protect workers from hazards, including ergonomic hazards

Dave wants to set up a manufacturing unit. He has obtained all the required licenses and legal approvals. In order to start production in the unit, which of the following is Dave most likely to do first?

Identify the type of products that will need to be manufactured

Which of the following arrangements would qualify as job rotation?

Training support staff in front office functions through periods of alternating work arrangements

In terms of the Job Characteristics Model, feedback refers to the extent to which _____.

a person receives clear information about performance effectiveness from the work itself

Jenny is a line manager at Maxvin Corp. She is assigned the task of understanding and gathering detailed information about the requirements of carrying out a certain job. Information gathered by Jenny will be used to provide essential knowledge for staffing, training, performance appraisal, and other HR activities. Which of the following most likely corresponds to the task undertaken by Jenny?

Job analysis

Marjorie has joined the HR department of Thomas Johnson Inc. as an intern. The organization plans on giving all newly hired site engineers copies of their job descriptions to help them understand what the organization expects of them. Marjorie has been given the task of conducting job analyses and creating job descriptions for the site engineers. Which of the following should Marjorie consider while creating the job descriptions?

Job descriptions contain detailed specifications of the tasks involved in carrying out each duty.

Which of the following job design techniques involving the addition of decision-making authorities to a job is credited to Frederick Herzberg?

Job enrichment

Creations Media Inc., a publishing company, conducted an internal survey on employee satisfaction. The results indicated that a majority of its support staff considered their jobs to be monotonous. In order to make the requisite change, management decided to combine the job duties of assistants, typists, and file clerks into a single job that requires all three kinds of work. Which of the following techniques of job design did this move constitute?

Job extension

N-Pax Technology Corp., a microchip manufacturing company, is hiring for the position of marketing manager for its new division. Nathan, the HR manager, considers the factual information necessary for performing the job successfully, the candidate's level of proficiency at performing tasks, his or her enduring capabilities, and other personality traits, such as persistence or motivation to achieve. Which of the following most likely relates to the task being carried out by Nathan while hiring for this position?

Job specification

Penta Toy Corp. (PTC) is a firm that manufactures toys. Very often, employees of the firm are on leave citing physical stress. An expert hired by PTC investigates the situation and recommends investing in an ergonomics study of the work environment. In this scenario, the expert is recommending:

a study of the interface between individuals' physiology and the characteristics of the physical work environment

According to the Job Characteristics Model, _____ refers to the job characteristic that reflects the degree to which a job allows an individual to make decisions about the way the work is carried out

autonomy

The manager of a local grocery store places a short conveyor belt that allows customers to place items on it prior to checking out. This saves the cashier from the physical strain of bending forward and reaching into the carts to retrieve the items. This change is an example of the _____ approach to job design

ergonomic

Bitstar Global Inc. is a soft drink manufacturing company. Kelly, the production manager, designs a new work flow for the production unit. She is confident that the new work flow design will help increase the unit's productivity and efficiency. If Kelly is at the last stage of analyzing the work flow, she is _____.

identifying the inputs utilized in the creation of the soft drinks

Koland Corp. is an interior design firm based in California. The firm has a team of interior designers working closely with manufacturers to create home décor products. In the context of a work flow analysis, the interior designers, manufacturers, and home décor products required to provide interior design services collectively constitute the _____

inputs

Maxwin Infomatics Corp., a nationwide logistics company, has announced the opening of a new unit for the manufacturing division. Alex, the HR manager, has been asked to help plan for the creation of the new unit. Which of the following relates to the task undertaken by Alex, if he is involved in the process of explaining how an employee will execute his or her tasks?

job design

Pamela, the manager of an electronics store in California, gives her staff the authority to resolve customer complaints. She lets the staff decide whether to issue refunds or replace merchandise in case of consumer grievances. Which of the following job design techniques does Pamela implement in her store?

job enrichment

An investigation at Quadramine Textiles Inc. reveals that when employees feel little or no control over their situation, they tend to become fatigued and dissatisfied. Bobby, the HR manager, suggests simplifying jobs in order to deal with this problem. In this scenario, it can be most beneficial to simplify jobs where

the costs of errors are severe

Kidzi Inc. is a toy manufacturing company. As the new production manager, Andrew notices that the production unit has been underperforming. In an attempt to streamline the existing work flow, Andrew works on a new set of ideas that will help improve the efficiency of the production unit. He first identifies discrepancies in the quality and quantity of the toys produced by Kidzi. Which of the following steps should Andrew consider next in order to get a clearer view of how to increase the effectiveness of the production unit?

Andrew should carefully examine the work processes used to generate the end product

Revlay Corp., which is based in California, has clients across the globe. In order to maintain a 24-hour presence, the firm allows its employees to work in shifts. One of the ways to enable this arrangement is a schedule in which full-time workers complete their weekly hours in fewer than five days. For example, instead of working eight hours a day for five days, the employees could complete 40 hours of work in four 10-hour days. Which of the following flexible work arrangements is being implemented by Revlay?

Compressed workweek

Sairs Info Solutions is a firm that develops software applications for other companies. After the company moves into a new office space, most of the employees complain about the lack of comfortable seating arrangements. Following up on the complaint, the HR department advises management to invest in studying the ergonomics of the new office space. Which of the following would serve as an incentive for the company to invest in the study of ergonomics?

Ergonomics reduces the physical strain on employees performing a job.

Steve contends that a manager conducting a job analysis is required not only to define jobs when they are created but also to detect changes in jobs. What is the validity of Steve's argument?

Errors in job analysis have multiple sources but most result from outdated job descriptions

Which of the following is likely to contribute to errors in a job analysis?

Fixed and unchanging job descriptions for various jobs

Which of the following job analysis methods requires subject-matter experts to evaluate a job in terms of abilities required to perform the job?

Fleishman Job Analysis System

DigiAd Inc., an advertising firm, requires its employees to be at work between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. This work rule allows employees to work additional hours before or after the time period in order to work the full day. Identify the job design method implemented in this scenario

Flextime

Javier, a regional manager for a leading automobile company in the U.S., decides to design a manufacturing job based on the principles of industrial engineering. Following its successful implementation, which of the following outcomes should he expect?

Increased efficiency

Information from observers should be used as a supplement to information from incumbents. Identify the statement that is most likely to support this argument

Incumbents provide accurate information, but they may have an incentive to exaggerate what they do to appear more valuable to the organization

Matwork Solutions Inc. is a nationwide logistics company that helps in the transportation of food and other essential products across states. Which of the following would be a benefit to the company if it plans on applying industrial engineering to existing jobs?

Industrial engineering will provide measurable and practical benefits.

Which of the following is true of the Occupational Information Network (O*NET)?

It uses a common language that generalizes across jobs to describe the abilities, work styles, work activities, and work context required for various occupations

INRT Software Solutions is a firm that builds information systems for banks and other financial institutions. In its presentations to prospective clients, the firm claims to have skilled employees. What does INRT Software Solutions mean by this?

Its employees have a significant level of proficiency required to perform a particular task

Henry has been newly appointed as the head of the HR team at AAS Technologies. In an attempt to establish a more efficient and reliable workflow, Henry has taken up the responsibility of creating job descriptions and job specifications for the newly hired and current engineers within the organization. While doing so, Henry gathers information about the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) required for an engineer to successfully perform the job. Which of the following statements highlights the importance of a thorough understanding of KSAOs if Henry is attempting to fill a position?

KSAOs play a significant role in interviews and selection decisions

Linda, a manager at Nixon Corp., is discussing a client proposal with her colleague Bennett. In order to send a quote for the proposal, Linda and Bennett require certain information pertaining to the proposed project. Which of the following is being sought by Linda and Bennett?

Knowledge

Leeding Engines Inc. specializes in manufacturing internal combustion engines for flexible fuel vehicles. Mark, the HR manager, is conducting a job analysis for the organization. He creates a list of tasks, duties, and responsibilities to help him determine how well employees are meeting each job requirement. Mark intends to identify the essential duties of the jobs. If Mark were to formulate job descriptions, which of the following would be his appropriate course of action?

Mark should consider preparing new job descriptions whenever a new job is created in the organization

According to Herzberg's two-factor theory, which of the following factors would motivate individuals the most?

Meaningfulness of a job

Which of the following statements is true of work flow analysis?

Outputs may be tangible or intangible products of different work processes

Adam is the HR manager at Infratech. To boost the productivity and efficiency of his team, Adam decides to create a new position within the team. He gathers necessary information from team members who are already performing the same or similar kind of duties. Based on the information gathered, Adam identifies the mental and physical tasks and any methods and resources required to carry out the job. This indicates that Adam is attempting to _____.

Prepare a job description

Richard, a researcher, is of the opinion that organizations should empower employees by designing work to be done by self-managing teams. Which of the following statements would validate Richard's argument?

Self-managing teams are highly involved in decision making

In the context of work flow design, which of the following best describes a position?

The set of duties performed by a person

LRPN Consulting is a business consulting firm based in Nevada. The departments in the organization are based on the functions carried out by employees, such as customer service, marketing, tech support, and business consulting. Which of the following is most likely true of the organizational structure of LRPN Consulting?

The workers work alone at highly specialized jobs

Which of the following is true of competency models?

They help HR professionals ensure that all aspects of talent management are aligned with an organization's strategy.

Which of the following is true of telework arrangements?

They support the strategy of corporate social responsibility by reducing an employee's need to commute using a vehicle.

Sharon, a manager at an organization, believes that using the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ) is the best way to collect information about employee requirements because it helps in establishing job descriptions. Which of the following statements will explain that Sharon's view is flawed?

This method provides descriptions that are rather abstract

Which of the following is the objective of job enlargement?

To make jobs less repetitive and more interesting

The employees at NeiFra Infosystems Inc., a website design company, have been struggling to provide quality services to clients. An investigation reveals that employees feel dissatisfied and fatigued due to the challenging nature of their jobs. Ellen, the HR manager, suggests simplifying jobs in order to reduce errors and increase accuracy. From the following options, identify a way to simplify the mental demands of employees' jobs

Using software that helps with tracking progress

In which of the following scenarios will workers be less motivated to perform a job per the Job Characteristics Model?

When the job has minimal impact on the lives of other people

Which of the following processes involves analyzing the tasks necessary for the production of a product or service?

Work flow design

Aaron, an HR manager, observes that the number of employees quitting their jobs has been steadily increasing over the last six months. On closer inspection, he finds that a majority of the employees who quit were unhappy with the pay structures. Aaron assesses the significance of each job to the organization, which helps him set up fair pay structures. This in turn helps the organization retain valuable employees. Which of the following most likely relates to the task undertaken by Aaron?

job evaluation

Catherine is an HR executive looking for a new job. She comes across an advertisement in a newspaper seeking applications for the position of an HR manager. The advertisement exclusively highlights requirements such as strong communications skills, excellent teamwork abilities, and leadership skills. These requirements constitute a _____

job specification

Samcys Services Inc. specializes in providing round-the-clock building security services to multinational companies. Which of the following terms most likely represents the service offered by Samcys?

outputs

The difference between job specifications and job descriptions is that job specifications primarily describe the:

qualities a person performing the job must possess

Anthony, an HR manager at Synergy Inc., wishes to design jobs that meet mental capabilities and limitations. This task most likely involves ______.

reducing the information-processing requirements of a job

The industrial engineering approach is most likely to emphasize _____.

streamlining jobs to make them simpler, efficient, and automatic

To gather information about worker requirements, the Fleishman Job Analysis System typically asks _____ to evaluate a job in terms of the abilities required to perform the job.

subject-matter experts

ALTS Infosystems is a software consulting firm based in Redmond. The firm uses a standardized job analysis questionnaire containing 194 questions about work behaviors, work conditions, and job characteristics that apply to a wide variety of jobs. In this scenario, ALTS Infosystems is using _____

the Position Analysis Questionnaire

Susan works 10 hours a day for 4 days a week, while her colleagues work 8 hours a day for 5 days a week. Susan is utilizing a flexible work schedule option known as _____.

the compressed workweek