Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 12e (Robbins/Judge)
Chapter 8 Motivation: From Concepts to Applications
1) 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 generates 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
2) 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 generates 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
3) Increasingly, research on motivation focuses on approaches that link motivational concepts to
changes in the way ________ is/are structured.
A) organizational design
B) payment
C) work
D) benefits
E) organizational culture
4) Which of the following is not one of the core job dimensions in the job characteristics model
(JCM)?
A) task significance
B) feedback
C) autonomy
D) reward
E) skill variety
5) 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) work activities generates direct and clear information about performance
C) a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling and procedure
D) a job affects the lives or work of other people
E) a job requires a variety of different activities
6) 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) work activities generates direct and clear information about performance
C) a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling the work
D) a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people
E) a job requires a variety of different activities
7) John is a design manager for a production company. He independently assigns teams, chooses
projects, researches trends, and is able to work from home two to three days a week. He provides
a status report to the design director once a month. Based on this description and as per the job
characteristics model, it’s safe to say that John’s job is high in ________.
A) task identity
B) feedback
C) autonomy
D) task significance
E) skill variety
8) Samantha is an emergency medical technician. Yesterday, due to an emergency, she was
called to a house where a man suffered a heart attack. She was able to resuscitate the man, and
while her colleagues were transporting him to the ambulance she spent 10 minutes calming the
12-year-old daughter, who was home alone with the father at that time. Based on this description,
it’s safe to say that Samantha’s job is high in ________.
A) task identity
B) feedback
C) reward
D) task significance
E) skill variety
9) In the job characteristics model (JCM), which three core job dimensions 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
10) Jobs that score ________ give incumbents a feeling of personal responsibility for the results.
A) high on skill variety
B) low on task significance
C) high on autonomy
D) low on task identity
E) high on feedback
11) 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
12) Anya is a graphic designer in a firm specializing in making logos for their clients. Last week,
she got client specifications on how to make a new logo. She was able to create a prototype, and
having got it initially reviewed by her immediate supervisor, she made changes until the client
was satisfied with her final product. Based on this description, it’s safe to say that Anya’s job is
high in ________ and ________.
A) task significance; feedback
B) autonomy; skill variety
C) feedback; skill variety
D) task identity; feedback
E) skill variety; autonomy
13) 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.
D) It decreases supervisory workload.
E) It decreases the flexibility in scheduling work.
14) The periodic shifting of an employee from one task to another with similar skill requirements
at the same organizational level is called job ________.
A) enlargement
B) expansion
C) rotation
D) sharing
E) enrichment
15) What is another term for cross-training?
A) work enrichment
B) job sharing
C) work enlargement
D) job enhancement
E) job rotation
16) Managers at Precision Technologies, a custom-machine shop in Indiana, train workers on all
the company’s equipment so they can move around as needed in response to incoming orders.
Based on this information, which of the following methods is most likely being used by
Precision Technologies?
A) job rotation
B) job enlargement
C) job enrichment
D) job sharing
E) flextime
17) What is the main strength of job rotation?
A) It eliminates management involvement.
B) It increases motivation.
C) It increases productivity.
D) It decreases training costs.
E) It decreases supervisor work load.
18) Aberdone Company has redesigned the jobs of the workers in accounts receivables. Instead
of simply billing customers, they are now responsible for what used to be management tasks,
such as for following up on non-payment, determining when bills will be sent to a collection
agency, and what accounts receivables can be written off as non-collectable. Which of the
following methods of job enrichment is used in this example?
A) task combination
B) vertical job expansion
C) formation of natural work units
D) establishing client relationships
E) opening feedback channels
19) Job enrichment increases the degree to which the worker controls the ________.
A) planning, execution, and evaluation of the work
B) planning, execution, and evaluation of company plans
C) horizontal integration of his or her tasks
D) evaluation of his or her peers
E) feedback that a worker receives from his or her supervisor and peers
20) Which of the following is not one of the methods of enriching jobs based on the job
characteristics model?
A) allow flexible work time
B) establish client relationships
C) open feedback channels
D) combine tasks
E) expand jobs vertically
21) 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
22) 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
23) Job ________ expands jobs by increasing the degree to which the worker controls the
planning, execution, and evaluation of the work.
A) sharing
B) enrichment
C) centralization
D) enlargement
E) rotation
24) 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 task identity and task significance dimensions of a job?
A) combining tasks
B) forming natural work units
C) establishing client relationships
D) expanding jobs vertically
E) opening feedback channels
25) 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. Which of the following is designed to give an employee greater control of their
schedule?
A) flextime
B) job centralization
C) job rotation
D) job enlargement
E) job enrichment
26) The evidence on job enrichment shows it ________.
A) reduces absenteeism
B) increases supervisory workload
C) reduces satisfaction
D) increases turnover cost
E) reduces employee motivation
27) 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) job rotation
D) telecommuting
E) job enrichment
28) 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
29) Janice and Shunil are both senior software analysts. They have worked together on projects
for six years and get along great. Janice is pregnant and anticipating the arrival of her first child
and she is not willing to work full time. Shunil would like to experiment with 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 Shunil?
A) job enlargement
B) telecommuting
C) job rotation
D) job sharing
E) job enrichment
30) Which of the following is a job that does not lend itself to telecommuting?
A) an attorney who spends most of her time researching on the computer
B) a copywriter for an advertising firm
C) a car salesman who demonstrates the features of a new model of car
D) a telemarketer who uses the phone to contact clients
E) a product support specialist who handles queries sent by customers
31) 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.
32) Which of the following is a not a management benefit of telecommuting?
A) larger labor pool for recruitment
B) higher productivity of employees
C) decreased office expenditures
D) improved morale in general
E) decreased salary expenses
33) 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
34) After completing cooking school with outstanding grades and recommendations, Joe and
Gary both looked forward to working in restaurants. Joe found work as a short-order cook in a
cramped diner. On many shifts he worked alone, and had to cook a large number of meals on
outdated equipment. Gary found work in a modern hotel kitchen. He had a small staff helping
him prepare a small number of elaborate meals to order. Gary became a highly regarded chef,
while Joe left the restaurant industry. This example illustrates that an individual needs ________
in order to perform well.
A) ability and technical skills
B) strict work rules
C) supportive work context
D) adequate independence
E) critical feedback from superiors
35) ________ is a participative process that uses employees’ input to increase their commitment
to the organization’s success.
A) Job enrichment
B) Employee involvement
C) Organizational reengineering
D) Corporate restructuring
E) Job sharing
36) Which of the following is the distinct characteristic common to all participative management
programs?
A) joint decision making
B) autonomy
C) commitment
D) productivity enhancement
E) quality improvement
37) Participative management is a method of management where ________.
A) representatives of workers form work councils and these councils must be consulted when
management makes decisions about employees
B) few representatives of workers sit on a company’s board of directors
C) subordinates share a significant degree of decision-making power with their immediate
superiors
D) low-level workers meet occasionally with the CEO to discuss problems within their
department
E) low-level workers are responsible for making corporate policy decisions
38) The two major forms of employee involvement are participative management and ________.
A) organizational restructuring
B) job sharing
C) representative participation
D) job rotation
E) job enlargement
39) Almost every country in Western Europe requires companies to practice ________, called
“the most widely legislated form of employee involvement around the world.”
A) participative management
B) corporate restructuring
C) representative participation
D) management by objectives
E) organizational reengineering
40) Which of the following statements is true regarding participative management?
A) Participative management typically has only a modest influence on variables such as
employee productivity and motivation.
B) The two most common forms are works councils and board representatives.
C) It is called “the most widely legislated form of employee involvement around the world.”
D) Research evidence on participative management indicates that it is a sure means for
improving employee performance.
E) Participative management involves few representatives of workers siting on the company’s
board of directors.
41) The two most common forms of representative participation are ________ and board
representatives.
A) quality circles
B) work councils
C) employee unions
D) task teams
E) self-regulatory organization
42) Which of the following terms best describes employees who sit on a company’s board of
directors and represent the interests of the firm’s employees?
A) board representatives
B) works councils
C) quality circles
D) union representatives
E) board leaders
43) Which of the following is Theory X consistent with?
A) the autocratic style of managing people
B) participative management
C) job enrichment
D) the cognitive evaluation theory
E) two-factor theory
44) While setting pay levels initially, an organization has to balance internal equity and external
equity. Here external equity indicates ________.
A) the amount of growth opportunities the job provides to the employee
B) the worth of the job to the employee
C) the worth of the job to the organization
D) competitiveness of an organization’s pay relative to pay elsewhere in its industry
E) the amount of job satisfaction the job provides to the employee
45) Theory Y ________.
A) advocates job sharing
B) if implemented, reduces intrinsic employee motivation
C) encourages telecommuting
D) encourages fixed pay structure
E) is consistent with participative management
46) The ________ pay plan has long been popular as a means of compensating production
workers by paying a fixed sum for each unit of production completed.
A) competency-based
B) gainsharing
C) piece-rate
D) profit sharing
E) merit-based
47) Which of the following is an example of a piece-rate plan?
A) $20 for each hour of work
B) $2 for each unit produced
C) productivity bonus
D) commission
E) paying employees based on number of skills