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Organizational Behavior, 17e (Robbins)
Chapter 8 Motivation: From Concepts to Applications
1) Job design is defined as the ________.
A) degree to which the job rewards competence
B) way the elements in a job are organized
C) degree to which the job contributes to profit margins
D) degree of decision-making power with the immediate superiors
E) way the job is evaluated in terms of its relative worth to other jobs
2) 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
3) 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
4) 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.
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) 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
6) 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 until 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
7) 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
8) 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
9) 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
10) 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
11) Which of the following statements is true regarding 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 fulfills only extrinsic motivational needs.
12) The job characteristics model describes any job in terms of five core job dimensions, and
these five dimensions are skill variety, task significance, recognition, reward, and feedback.
13) John Dunker is one of the best firefighters in his squad, and he recently received an award
for his outstanding performance. From this information, it may be concluded that John's job has
low task significance.
14) Feedback is the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear
information about one's own performance.
15) Jobs with high autonomy give workers a feeling of personal responsibility for the results.
16) What are the various dimensions of the job characteristics model?
17) Andrew is a software tester. He runs through the same types of programs day after day
looking for bugs and reporting them. He is taking night classes on programming. Often, he
knows the best solution to many of the bugs, but he is still learning to code. Describe two job
characteristics that Andrew is striving to improve, and explain two ways that Andrew's manager
can redesign his current job to help him reach his goals.
18) Compare and contrast the job characteristics model and mutual assistance programs in terms
of how they lend meaning to an employee's role.
19) Explain how participative management can enhance skill variety, task identity, and
autonomy as described in the Job Characteristics Model (JCM).
20) How would you relate skill variety, job rotation, and skill-based pay?
21) 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.
22) 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
23) 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
24) 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
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.
Wilbur 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.
25) 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.
26) 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.
27) 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
28) 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
29) 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
30) Job rotation can be applied in any setting where cross-training is feasible, from
manufacturing floors to hospital wards.
31) Job enrichment improves employees' skills by periodically shifting an employee from one
task to another with similar skill requirements at the same organizational level.
32) To enhance the amount of autonomy employees enjoy, a company must provide its
employees with tasks combined into natural work units.
33) What is job enrichment? Describe various methods of job enrichment based on the job
characteristics model.
34) Nora Elm is a newly appointed HR manager at Seven Oaks, a famous PR firm that is not
doing too well at present. As she assumed the post of the HR manager, everyone impressed upon
her the need to energize the employees and motivate them to give their best to the job. After she
met with the employees and managers, she felt that many employees were demotivated because
they had attained their maximum potential in their current job roles. Additionally, she felt that
though the management believed strongly in its employee-friendly nature, this nature was not
manifested in its actions. Those employees who were on the board had begun to mimic the
management's action of attributing the lack of any constructive change to company policies.
Describe any two changes that Nora should propose at the meeting with a rationale for each.
35) ________ is not a benefit of flextime.
A) Reduced absenteeism
B) Decreased work/life balance
C) Increased productivity
D) Reduced tardiness
E) Increased autonomy
36) 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 employees
greater control of their schedule?
A) flextime
B) gainsharing
C) job rotation
D) job enlargement
E) job enrichment
37) 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 per their
convenience
E) work from home only two days a week
38) 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
39) 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 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
40) 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.
41) 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
42) 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
43) 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 job 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.
