Chapter 4 (Job Analysis and Work Design)

Question 1

Critical incident method

Answer 1

A job analysis method by which important job tasks are identified for job success

Question 2

Employee empowerment

Answer 2

Granting employees power to initiate change, thereby encouraging them to take charge of what they do

Question 3

Employee involvement groups

Answer 3

Groups of employees who meet to resolve problems or offer suggestions for organizational improvement

Question 4

Employee teams

Answer 4

An employee contributions technique whereby work functions are structured for groups rather than for individuals and team members are given discretion in matters traditionally considered management prerogatives, such as process improvements, product or service development, and individual work assignments

Question 5

Ergonomics

Answer 5

An interdisciplinary approach to designing equipment and systems that can be easily and efficiently used by human beings

Question 6

Flextime

Answer 6

Flexible working hours that permit employees the option of choosing daily starting and quitting times provided that they work a set number of hours per day or week

Question 7

Industrial engineering

Answer 7

A field of study concerned with analyzing work methods and establishing time standards

Question 8

Job

Answer 8

A group of related activities and duties

Question 9

Job analysis

Answer 9

The process of obtaining information about jobs by determining the duties, tasks, or activities of jobs

Question 10

Job characteristics model

Answer 10

A job design theory that purports that three psychological states (experiencing meaningfulness of the work performed, responsibility for work outcomes, and knowledge of the results of the work performed) of a jobholder result in improved work performance, internal motivation, and lower absenteeism and turnover

Question 11

Job description

Answer 11

A statement of the tasks, duties, and responsibilities of a job to be performed

Question 12

Job design

Answer 12

An outgrowth of job analysis that improves jobs through technological and human considerations to enhance organization efficiency and employee job satisfaction

Question 13

Job enrichment

Answer 13

Enhancing a job by adding more meaningful tasks and duties to make the work more rewarding or satisfying

Question 14

Job family

Answer 14

A group of individual jobs with similar characteristics

Question 15

Job sharing

Answer 15

The arrangement whereby two parttime employees perform a job that otherwise would be held by one fulltime employee

Question 16

Job specification

Answer 16

A statement of the needed knowledge, skills, and abilities of the person who is to perform the job

Question 17

Position

Answer 17

The different duties and responsibilities performed by only one employee

Question 18

Position analysis questionnaire (PAQ)

Answer 18

A questionnaire covering 194 different tasks that, by means of a five-point scale, seeks to determine the degree to which different tasks are involved in performing a particular job

Question 19

Task inventory analysis

Answer 19

An organization-specific list of tasks and their descriptions used as a basis to identify components of jobs

Question 20

Telecommuting

Answer 20

Use of personal computers, networks, and other communications technology to do work in the home that is traditionally done in the workplace

Question 21

Virtual team

Answer 21

A team with widely dispersed members linked together through computer and telecommunications technology