QUESTION It is said that as people enter middle age, the focus in their careers shifts from making money to making meaning. What type of reward gains more value for them, and how? What will be an ideal response? ANSWER Answer: Intrinsic rewards have more value to middle-aged workers. The satisfaction that comes from […]
QUESTION Describe scientific management and give an example of where the principle can still be applied in the contemporary workplace. What will be an ideal response? ANSWER Answer: Scientific management conducted time-motion studies of workers as they performed their jobs to improve the productivity of individual workers. This can be applied in manual-task jobs […]
QUESTION Why have psychological motivational theories become more prevalent than scientific management in the modern business world? What will be an ideal response? ANSWER Answer: Most of today’s jobs require more intellectual capacity and less manual labor. Increasing the productivity of workers with intellectual responsibilities is better achieved by understanding them psychologically and motivating […]
QUESTION Marianne believes that it’s important to work with her employees to set goals that motivate them to perform effectively. What theory does she subscribe to? A) equity theory B) Theory Z C) expectancy theory D) management by objectives E) reinforcement theory ANSWER Answer: D Explanation: D) As part of the management-by-objective process, an […]
QUESTION Zack’s food truck business has skyrocketed, but he’s afraid the success is backfiring. Lunchtime lines are too long, and potential customers are leaving, but it’s chaos inside the truck, with staff all crammed into the tight space trying to do their jobs. What theory might help improve the productivity of Zack’s staff? What will […]
QUESTION At the Funny Bunny Toy Company, top managers work toward objectives such as “increase quarterly revenues” and “decrease employee turnover.” Factory staff objectives include “produce 425 bunnies per shift” and “decrease quality rejects on the line by 15 percent.” What does this structure reflect? A) inequity of contributions B) Theory X C) unified hierarchy […]
QUESTION According to job enrichment theory, what three psychological states are affected by the core job characteristics? What will be an ideal response? ANSWER Answer: The core job characteristics affect an employee’s attitudes about meaningfulness of work, responsibility for results, and knowledge of results. Explanation: Positive aspects of the five core job characteristics of […]
QUESTION Juan had heard positive things about using management by objectives to increase productivity, so he implemented it across his biotech company. Yet he was surprised to see that after two years, productivity had increased less than 10 percent. Juan had expected much better results. What most likely caused these poor results? A) Employee objectives […]
QUESTION What are Herzberg’s key factors driving employee satisfaction? Give two examples of each factor. What will be an ideal response? ANSWER Answer: Herzberg believed that motivating factors cause work satisfaction. Examples include achievement, recognition, responsibility, advancement/growth, and the work itself. Hygiene factors cause dissatisfaction. Examples are pay and security, working conditions, interpersonal relationships, […]
QUESTION At the annual company dinner, Don recently received an engraved crystal award for being top salesperson. He has the award and a photo of him with the CEO displayed prominently in his office. Receiving the award was a proud moment for him. In all likelihood, how old is Don? A) 20 B) 27 C) […]
