Motivation II

Question 1

Define Job Characteristics Theory

Answer 1

A motivational theory that focuses on the actual design factors of a job that can increase people’s intrinsic motivation (but not money)

Question 2

What are the five main characteristics of Job Characteristics Theory?

Answer 2

1. Skill variety
2. Task identity
3. Task significance
4. Autonomy
5. Feedback from job

Question 3

Define skill variety

Answer 3

Doing a variety of job activities using a variety of skills and talents

Question 4

Define task identity

Answer 4

Involves doing a whole piece of work (gives more meaning to the work you are doing)

Question 5

Define task significance

Answer 5

Seeing how a job can impact others/society (forces people to see the full effect their job will have)

Question 6

Define autonomy

Answer 6

The freedom to schedule work activities and decide work procedures

Question 7

Define feedback from job

Answer 7

Receiving information about performance effectiveness (so you can adjust performance if needed)

Question 8

What are the personal and work outcomes of high intrinsic motivation as a result of the core job characteristics?

Answer 8

1. High internal work motivation
2. High-quality performance
3. High satisfaction
4. Low absenteeism and turnover

Question 9

Define equity theory

Answer 9

The idea that one’s inputs and one’s outputs should be equal in comparison to a similar worker’s inputs and resulting outputs

Question 10

If someone deems a situation unfair, what four things might they change? (HINT: unfairness motivates CHANGE)

Answer 10

1. Change their inputs
2. Change who they compare themselves to
3. Re-examine and adjust perceptions
4. Re-examine or rationalize whether we value the outcome

Question 11

If someone deems a situation unfair, what six things might they do? (HINT: unfairness motivates ACTION)

Answer 11

1. Restoring justice with unfair actions to boss or company
2. Punishing or retaliating to source of unfairness
3. Theft, sabotage, and politics
4. Forming unions; going on strike
5. High turnover
6. Gossip and bad reputation

Question 12

What are the three forms of organizational justice?

Answer 12

1. Distributive justice
2. Procedural justice
3. Interactional justice

Question 13

Define distributive justice

Answer 13

Perceived fairness defined in terms of the outcomes people receive in social relationships

Question 14

Define procedural justice

Answer 14

Perceived fairness of the way/process allocation decisions are made

Question 15

Define interactional justice

Answer 15

Perceived fairness of the treatment during the decision-making process

Question 16

What are the two aspects of interactional justice?

Answer 16

1. Interpersonal justice

2. Informational justice

Question 17

Define interpersonal justice

Answer 17

Respect and care throughout the decision-making process

Question 18

Define informational justice

Answer 18

Complete information throughout the decision-making process