Chapter 8: From Concepts to Applications of Motivation

Question 1

job design

Answer 1

the way the elements in a job are organized

Question 2

job characteristics model

Answer 2

a model proposing that any job can be described in terms of five core job dimensions: skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback

Question 3

skill variety

Answer 3

the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities

Question 4

task significance

Answer 4

the degree to which a job has a substantial impact on the lives or work of other people

Question 5

autonomy

Answer 5

the degree to which a job provides substantial freedom and discretion to the individual in scheduling the work and in determining the procedures to be used in carrying it out

Question 6

feedback

Answer 6

the degree to which carrying out the work activities required by a job results in the individual obtaining direct and clear information about the effectiveness of his or her performance

Question 7

motivating potential score

Answer 7

a predictive that suggests the motivating potential in a job

Question 8

job rotation

Answer 8

the periodic shifting of an employee from one task to another

Question 9

job enrichment

Answer 9

adding high level responsibilities to a job to increase intrinsic motivation

Question 10

relational job design

Answer 10

constructing jobs so employees see the positive difference they can make in the lives of others directly through their work

Question 11

flextime

Answer 11

flexible work hours (generally go in and work 2 days a week in the office)

Question 12

job sharing

Answer 12

an arrangement that allows two or more individuals to split a traditional 40 hour a week job

Question 13

telecommuting

Answer 13

working from home at least 2 days a week through virtual devices that are linked to the employer’s office

Question 14

employee involvement and participation

Answer 14

a participative process that uses the input of employees to increase the employee commitment to organizational success

Question 15

participative management

Answer 15

a process in which subordinates share a significant degree to decision making power with their immediate superiors

Question 16

representative participation

Answer 16

a system in which workers participate in organizational decision making through a small group of representative employees

Question 17

variable pay program

Answer 17

a play plan that bases a portion or all of an employee’s pay on some individual and/or organizational measure of performance

Question 18

piece-rate pay plan

Answer 18

a play plan in which workers are paid a fixed sum for each unit of production completed

Question 19

merit based pay plan

Answer 19

a pay plan based on performance appraisal ratings

Question 20

bonus

Answer 20

a pay plan that rewards employees for recent performance rather than historical performance

Question 21

profit sharing plan

Answer 21

an organization wide program that distributes compensation based on some established formula designed around a company’s profitability

Question 22

employment stock ownership plan

Answer 22

a company established benefits plan in which employees acquire stock, often at below-market prices, as part of their benefits

Question 23

flexible benefits

Answer 23

a benefits plan that allows each employee to put together a benefits package tailored to his or her own needs and situation

Question 24

employee recognition program

Answer 24

a plan to encourage specific employee behaviors by formally appreciating specific employee contributions