Chapter 8 - Motivation from Concepts to Applications

Question 1

The way the elements in a job are organized.

Answer 1

Job Design

Question 2

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

Answer 2

Job Characteristics Model (JCM)

Question 3

The degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities.

Answer 3

Skill Variety

Question 4

The degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work.

Answer 4

Task Identity

Question 5

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

Answer 5

Task Significance

Question 6

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.

Answer 6

Autonomy

Question 7

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.

Answer 7

Feedback

Question 8

A predictive index that suggests the motivating potential in a job.

Answer 8

Motivating Potential Score (MPS)

Question 9

The periodic shifting of an employee from one task to another.

Answer 9

Job Rotation

Question 10

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

Answer 10

Relational Job Design

Question 11

An arrangement that allows two or more individuals to split a traditional 40-hour-a-week job.

Answer 11

Job Sharing

Question 12

Working from home at least 2 days a week on a computer that is linked to the employer’s office.

Answer 12

Telecommuting

Question 13

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

Answer 13

Employee Involvement and Participation (EIP)

Question 14

A process in which subordinates share a significant degree of decision-making power with their immediate superiors.

Answer 14

Participative Management

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Representative Participation

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Variable-Pay Program

Question 17

A pay plan in which workers are paid a fixed sum for each unit of production completed.

Answer 17

Piece-Rate Pay Plan

Question 18

A pay plan based on performance appraisal ratings.

Answer 18

Merit-Based Pay Plan

Question 19

A pay plan that rewards employees for recent performance rather than historical performance.

Answer 19

Bonus

Question 20

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

Answer 20

Profit-Sharing Plan

Question 21

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

Answer 21

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Flexible Benefits

Question 23

A plan to encourage specific employee behaviors by formally appreciating specific employee contributions.

Answer 23

Employee Recognition Program