According to job characteristics theory, which of the following responsibilities can be described as part of an autonomous job?
- having a strict schedule
- using your own procedures
- using methods proscribed by your manager
- following the instruction manual word for word
- adhering to the way things have always been done
Autonomy comes in multiple forms, including the freedom to control the timing, scheduling, and sequencing of work activities, as well as the procedures and methods used to complete work tasks.
Job Characteristics Theory: A theory that argues that five core characteristics (variety, identity, significance, autonomy, and feedback) combine to result in high levels of satisfaction with the work itself.
According to the job characteristics theory, the degree to which the job provides freedom, independence, and discretion to the individual performing the work is known as
- feedback.
- significance.
- meaningfulness of work.
- autonomy.
- identity.
Autonomy comes in multiple forms, including the freedom to control the timing, scheduling, and sequencing of work activities, as well as the procedures and methods used to complete work tasks.
Autonomy: The degree to which a job allows individual freedom and discretion regarding how the work is to be done.
Greta is responsible for the organization and distribution of relief packages to nations affected by famine throughout the world. According to the job characteristics theory, Greta's job has a high degree of
- variety.
- significance.
- autonomy.
- identity.
- feedback.
Significance is the degree to which the job has a substantial impact on the lives of other people, particularly people in the world at large.
Significance: The degree to which a job really matters and impacts society as a whole.
Hans is an interior designer who works with an architect who builds unique, private luxury homes. Hans is responsible for coming up with the acoustics, lighting, temperature, color, furniture, furnishings, and moldings inside the home, as well as supervising the purchases and installation of materials. He enjoys transforming interior spaces into a unified whole that conveys the personality of the residents who will live there. Hans's job has
- low autonomy.
- low variety.
- high identity.
- high monotony.
- low utilization of ability.
Identity is the degree to which the job requires completing a whole, identifiable, piece of work from beginning to end with a visible outcome. The transformation from inputs to finished product is very visible, and the employee feels a distinct sense of beginning and closure.
Identity: The degree to which a job offers completion of a whole, identifiable piece of work.
Which of the following scenarios demonstrates the core job characteristic of variety?
- Dmitri has to constantly perform before an audience that lets him know how he is doing.
- Anastasia has to spend most of her time out of the office, during which she supervises herself.
- Mariya has to formulate policies that affect thousands of her constituents.
- Ivan has to track a project all the way from conception to implementation.
- Maxim has to answer the phone, provides tours, write reports, and make appointments.
Variety is the degree to which the job requires a number of different activities that involve a number of different skills and talents. Maxim's job requires many activities.
Variety: The degree to which a job requires different activities and skills.
Which of the following examples of work involves the core job characteristic of identity?
- Min-jun took two years to write a novel, from starting the first draft to getting it published.
- Malik works as a jack-of-all trades, which includes carpentry, plumbing, and yard work.
- Harry spends most his day driving from place to place, trying to sell appliances.
- Joan works as a therapist rehabilitating accident victims so they can walk again.
- Diego requires little supervision for his office work because it involves standardized forms.
The core job characteristic of identity is the degree to which the job requires completing a whole, identifiable, piece of work from beginning to end with a visible outcome. By writing a novel, Min-jun does work from the beginning of a project to its end.
Identity: The degree to which a job offers completion of a whole, identifiable piece of work.
Which of the following examples shows feedback obtained directly from the job?
- As a scientist, Zoran receives monthly feedback from his manager about his research.
- As a business executive, Ignas receives feedback from his supervisor twice a year.
- As a politician, Gabila constantly receives feedback from her constituents through email and phone calls.
- As a factory worker, Robert receives feedback from the factory owner via his floor boss at regular intervals.
- As a teacher, Lucinda receives feedback from the principal after each semester.
Feedback from the job is not formal feedback received as performance appraisals, which are given at regular intervals. Instead, it is informal feedback a person receives each day from various people. Through her constituents, Gabila receives feedback directly from her job.
Feedback: In job characteristics theory, it refers to the degree to which the job itself provides information about how well the job holder is doing. In goal setting theory, it refers to progress updates on work goals.
Meaningfulness of work captures the degree to which employees feel that they are key drivers of the quality of the unit's work.
The first psychological state is believing in the meaningfulness of work, which reflects the degree to which work tasks are viewed as something that "counts" in the employee's system of philosophies and beliefs.
Meaningfulness Of Work: A psychological state reflecting one’s feelings about work tasks, goals, and purposes, and the degree to which they contribute to society and fulfill one’s ideals and passions.
Which of the following scenarios shows high growth need strength?
- Fleur knows she might be up for a promotion because of her good work, but she thinks she might refuse because she enjoys her work so much.
- Thijs knows refusing to work overtime will lessen his chance at a promotion, but spending time with his family is more important.
- Although Eduardo's job as mail deliverer doesn't pay well, he is satisfied because he enjoys spending so much time outside.
- Although Barry dislikes aspects of his job as a quality-control manager, he knows other jobs are worse and so decides to stay put.
- Although pleased that she works as a script reader with Aim High Pictures, Maria Fernanda wants to become one of the top scriptwriters in Hollywood.
Growth need strength captures whether employees have strong needs for personal accomplishment or developing themselves beyond where they currently are. Maria Fernanda shows strong growth need strength by wanting to become a top scriptwriter.
Growth Need Strength: The degree to which employees desire to develop themselves further.
According to the job characteristics theory, the degree to which the job requires completing a whole, identifiable, piece of work from beginning to end with a visible outcome is known as
- responsibility for outcomes.
- knowledge of results.
- significance.
- variety.
- identity.
According to the job characteristics theory, the degree to which the job requires completing a whole, identifiable piece of work from beginning to end with a visible outcome is known as identity. The transformation from inputs to finished product is very visible, and the employee feels a distinct sense of beginning and closure.
Identity: The degree to which a job offers completion of a whole, identifiable piece of work.
Farragut Industries wants to promote job enrichment for its employees across all its divisions. Which of the following is an example of putting that in practice?
- After talking with upper management, Joud's supervisor explained to her why Joud can't have more autonomy.
- After talking to a friend, Ghena spent more personal time traveling to make up for her lack of autonomy at work.
- After reading a motivation book, Karam rearranged his meeting schedule to allow for more autonomy.
- After talking with coworkers, Jake demanded that his manager give him more autonomy.
- After consulting with job design consultants, Cheng-En's manager gave him more autonomy.
Job enrichment happens when a company decides to expand or enrich an employee's job. This decision is often based on consultation with job design consultants. The change comes from the company, not from the employee. Therefore, Cheng-En's manager giving him more autonomy is an example of job enrichment.
Job Enrichment: When job duties and responsibilities are expanded to provide increased levels of core job characteristics.
Managers at PopLit, a company that produces comic books and graphic novels, believe in providing continuous feedback to employees regarding their work. Newly hired employees are assigned an established employee to shadow for six weeks. The established employee also reviews the shadow's work and provides tips on improving productivity. In this example, the firm is addressing which of the following critical psychological states that make work satisfying for employees?
- responsibility for outcomes
- identity
- meaningfulness of work
- variety
- knowledge of results
Research suggests that three "critical psychological states" make work satisfying: meaningfulness of work, responsibility for outcomes, and knowledge of results. Knowledge of results reflects the extent to which employees know how well (or how poorly) they're doing.
Knowledge Of Results: A psychological state indicating the extent to which employees are aware of how well or how poorly they are doing.
Lethabo is the marketing manager at BlueSky Concepts, an management consulting firm. His calendar is filled with meetings with heads of the companies, interviewing new employees, giving interviews to business magazines, attending presentations and seminars in different countries, and the like. Lethabo feels that every workday he has something different to do, and he is rarely bored with his job. According to the job characteristics theory, which of the following is True about Jon's job?
- It has high moral significance.
- It has low autonomy.
- It has low labor equity.
- It has high variety.
- It has high identity.
Variety is the degree to which the job requires a number of different activities that involve a number of different skills and talents. When variety is high, almost every workday is different in some way, and job holders rarely feel a sense of monotony or repetition.
Job Characteristics Theory: A theory that argues that five core characteristics (variety, identity, significance, autonomy, and feedback) combine to result in high levels of satisfaction with the work itself.
When your job provides ________, you view the outcomes of it as the product of your efforts rather than the result of careful instructions from your boss or a well-written manual of procedures.
- feedback
- autonomy
- variety
- significance
- identity
Autonomy is the degree to which the job provides freedom, independence, and discretion to the individual performing the work. When your job provides autonomy, you view the outcomes of it as the product of your efforts rather than the result of careful instructions from your boss or a well-written manual of procedures.
Autonomy: The degree to which a job allows individual freedom and discretion regarding how the work is to be done.
Sean is a gas station employee whose job consists of checking out customers who don't pay at the pump. Which of the following statements is True about Sean's job?
- It has high moral significance.
- It has low variety.
- It has low stability.
- It has high utilization of ability.
- It has high identity.
Variety is the degree to which the job requires a number of different activities that involve a number of different skills and talents. When variety is high, almost every workday is different in some way, and job holders rarely feel a sense of monotony or repetition.
Variety: The degree to which a job requires different activities and skills.
Karabo works at United Causes International. Her job requires her to spend eight hours a day entering donor information on Excel spreadsheets. Karabo's job is characterized by
- high autonomy.
- high variety.
- high identity.
- high significance.
- low variety.
Variety is the degree to which the job requires a number of different activities that involve a number of different skills and talents. When variety is high, almost every workday is different in some way, and job holders rarely feel a sense of monotony or repetition.
Variety: The degree to which a job requires different activities and skills.
Luca is a psychologist who has the freedom to set his own schedule with his clients. This indicates that Luca's job has
- low identity.
- low significance.
- high autonomy.
- high significance.
- high variety.
Autonomy comes in multiple forms, including the freedom to control the timing, scheduling, and sequencing of work activities, as well as the procedures and methods used to complete work tasks.
Autonomy: The degree to which a job allows individual freedom and discretion regarding how the work is to be done.
You've worked at a job for several years. Recently, your job growth strength has increased significantly. Which of the following would most likely help you deal with this change?
- Talk to your family and friends about how your job no longer satisfies you.
- Remain at your job because it provides decent autonomy and significance.
- Seek a job that promises to satisfy your needs for autonomy and significance.
- Find outside hobbies in an attempt to satisfy your increased job growth strength.
- Convince yourself that autonomy and significance aren't that important.
When job growth strength increases significantly, core job characteristics become even more powerful. Because of this, you would most likely seek a job that promises to satisfy your needs for autonomy and significance.
In job characteristics theory, the degree to which employees have strong needs for personal accomplishments or developing themselves beyond their current levels is known as
- feedback.
- significance.
- growth need strength.
- autonomy.
- identity.
Growth need strength captures whether employees have strong needs for personal accomplishment or developing themselves beyond where they currently are.
Growth Need Strength: The degree to which employees desire to develop themselves further.
Job characteristics theory argues that variety, identity, significance, autonomy, and feedback result in high levels of the three psychological states (meaningfulness of work, responsibility for outcomes, and knowledge of results), making work tasks more satisfying.
Job characteristics theory argues that five core job characteristics (variety, identity, significance, autonomy, and feedback-"VISAF") result in high levels of the three psychological states (meaningfulness of work, responsibility for outcomes, and knowledge of results), making work tasks more satisfying.
Job Characteristics Theory: A theory that argues that five core characteristics (variety, identity, significance, autonomy, and feedback) combine to result in high levels of satisfaction with the work itself.
According to job characteristics theory, when students tell professors they hope to take more courses with them, this high level of identity positively affects the professors' job satisfaction.
Such statements represent high feedback, not identity. High feedback would increase a professor's job satisfaction.
The moderate to strong positive correlations between the five core job characteristics and job satisfaction indicate all employees want more variety and more autonomous and significant jobs.
Meta-analyses showed that the five core job characteristics are moderately to strongly related to work satisfaction. However, those results don't mean that every employee wants more variety, more autonomy, and so forth.
Job Satisfaction: A pleasurable emotional state resulting from the appraisal of one’s job or job experiences. It represents how a person feels and thinks about his or her job.
When employees are very talented and feel a strong need for growth, their core job characteristics have no effect on their job satisfaction.
When employees are very talented and feel a strong need for growth, the core job characteristics become even more powerful.
Job Satisfaction: A pleasurable emotional state resulting from the appraisal of one’s job or job experiences. It represents how a person feels and thinks about his or her job.
According to the job characteristics theory, the degree to which carrying out the activities required by the job provides the worker with clear information about how well he or she is performing is known as
- feedback.
- significance.
- meaningfulness of work.
- autonomy.
- identity.
Feedback is the degree to which carrying out the activities required by the job provides employees with clear information about how well they're performing. This core characteristic reflects feedback obtained directly from the job as opposed to feedback from coworkers or supervisors.
Feedback: In job characteristics theory, it refers to the degree to which the job itself provides information about how well the job holder is doing. In goal setting theory, it refers to progress updates on work goals.
The psychological state that reflects the degree to which work tasks are viewed as something that "counts" in the employee's system of philosophies and beliefs is known as
- responsibility for outcomes.
- knowledge of results.
- meaningfulness of work.
- variety.
- identity.
The psychological state that reflects the degree to which work tasks are viewed as something that "counts" in the employee's system of philosophies and beliefs is known as meaningfulness of work.
Meaningfulness Of Work: A psychological state reflecting one’s feelings about work tasks, goals, and purposes, and the degree to which they contribute to society and fulfill one’s ideals and passions.
Although Ella works as a waitress in a supper club, she wants to eventually open her own restaurant that combines traditional supper club dishes with more innovative cuisine. According to job characteristics theory, Ella has a high degree of
- the need for power.
- altruism.
- agreeableness.
- growth need strength.
- status.
Growth need strength captures whether employees have strong needs for personal accomplishment or developing themselves beyond where they currently are.
Growth Need Strength: The degree to which employees desire to develop themselves further.
Which of the following is True about knowledge of results?
- It captures the degree to which employees feel that they are key drivers of the quality of the unit's work.
- It reflects the extent to which employees know how well (or how poorly) they are doing.
- It reflects the degree to which work tasks are viewed as something that "counts" in the employee's system of philosophies.
- It captures the degree to which employees feel like their efforts do not really matter because work outcomes are dictated by effective procedures.
- It implies that trivial tasks tend to be less satisfying than tasks that make employees feel like they're aiding the organization in some meaningful way.
Research suggests that three "critical psychological states" make work satisfying: meaningfulness of work, responsibility for outcomes, and knowledge of results. Knowledge of results reflects the extent to which employees know how well (or how poorly) they're doing.
Knowledge Of Results: A psychological state indicating the extent to which employees are aware of how well or how poorly they are doing.