Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 12e (Robbins/Judge)
Chapter 8 Motivation: From Concepts to Applications
1) With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines skill variety?
A) the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) the degree to which work activities generates direct and clear information about performance
C) the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling and procedure
D) the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people
E) the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities
Answer: E
Explanation: E) The job characteristics model (JCM) describes jobs in terms of five core job dimensions: skill
variety, the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities; task identity, the degree to which a job
requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work; task significance, the degree to which a job has an
impact on the lives or work of other people; autonomy, the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in
scheduling; and feedback, the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information
about performance.
2) With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines task identity?
A) the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) the degree to which work activities generates direct and clear information about performance
C) the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling and procedure
D) the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people
E) the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The job characteristics model (JCM) describes jobs in terms of five core job dimensions: skill
variety, the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities; task identity, the degree to which a job
requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work; task significance, the degree to which a job has an
impact on the lives or work of other people; autonomy, the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in
scheduling; and feedback, the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information
about performance.
3) Increasingly, research on motivation focuses on approaches that link motivational concepts to changes in the way
________ is/are structured.
A) organizational design
B) payment
C) work
D) benefits
E) organizational culture
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Increasingly, research on motivation focuses on approaches that link motivational concepts to
changes in the way work is structured.
4) Which of the following is not one of the core job dimensions in the job characteristics model (JCM)?
A) task significance
B) feedback
C) autonomy
D) reward
E) skill variety
Answer: D
Explanation: D) The job characteristics model ( JCM) describes jobs in terms of five core job dimensions: skill
variety, the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities; task identity, the degree to which a job
requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work; task significance, the degree to which a job has an
impact on the lives or work of other people; autonomy, the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in
scheduling; and feedback, the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information
about performance.
, 5) According to the job characteristics model, task significance is the degree to which ________.
A) a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) work activities generates direct and clear information about performance
C) a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling and procedure
D) a job affects the lives or work of other people
E) a job requires a variety of different activities
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Task significance is the degree to which a job affects the lives or work of other people.
6) According to the job characteristics model, autonomy is defined as the degree to which ________.
A) a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) work activities generates direct and clear information about performance
C) a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling the work
D) a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people
E) a job requires a variety of different activities
Answer: C
Explanation: C) The job characteristics model (JCM) describes jobs in terms of five core job dimensions: skill
variety, the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities; task identity, the degree to which a job
requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work; task significance, the degree to which a job has an
impact on the lives or work of other people; autonomy, the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in
scheduling; and feedback, the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information
about performance.
7) John is a design manager for a production company. He independently assigns teams, chooses projects, researches
trends, and is able to work from home two to three days a week. He provides a status report to the design director
once a month. Based on this description and as per the job characteristics model, it's safe to say that John's job is
high in ________.
A) task identity
B) feedback
C) autonomy
D) task significance
E) skill variety
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Autonomy is the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom, independence, and discretion
in scheduling the work and determining the procedures in carrying it out. John has freedom and control over his job
procedures and assignments and although John's job has many job characteristics, the description provided best
describes autonomy.
8) Samantha is an emergency medical technician. Yesterday, due to an emergency, she was called to a house where a
man suffered a heart attack. She was able to resuscitate the man, and while her colleagues were transporting him to
the ambulance she spent 10 minutes calming the 12-year-old daughter, who was home alone with the father at that
time. Based on this description, it's safe to say that Samantha's job is high in ________.
A) task identity
B) feedback
C) reward
D) task significance
E) skill variety
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Although Samantha's job has many job characteristics, the description provided best describes
Dashay's sense of task significance. Task significance refers to the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives
of other people.
9) In the job characteristics model (JCM), which three core job dimensions combine to create meaningful work?
A) autonomy, task identity, and feedback
B) skill variety, autonomy, and task significance
C) skill variety, autonomy, and feedback
D) feedback, task identity, and task significance
E) skill variety, task identity, and task significance
Chapter 8 Motivation: From Concepts to Applications
1) With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines skill variety?
A) the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) the degree to which work activities generates direct and clear information about performance
C) the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling and procedure
D) the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people
E) the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities
Answer: E
Explanation: E) The job characteristics model (JCM) describes jobs in terms of five core job dimensions: skill
variety, the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities; task identity, the degree to which a job
requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work; task significance, the degree to which a job has an
impact on the lives or work of other people; autonomy, the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in
scheduling; and feedback, the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information
about performance.
2) With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines task identity?
A) the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) the degree to which work activities generates direct and clear information about performance
C) the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling and procedure
D) the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people
E) the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The job characteristics model (JCM) describes jobs in terms of five core job dimensions: skill
variety, the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities; task identity, the degree to which a job
requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work; task significance, the degree to which a job has an
impact on the lives or work of other people; autonomy, the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in
scheduling; and feedback, the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information
about performance.
3) Increasingly, research on motivation focuses on approaches that link motivational concepts to changes in the way
________ is/are structured.
A) organizational design
B) payment
C) work
D) benefits
E) organizational culture
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Increasingly, research on motivation focuses on approaches that link motivational concepts to
changes in the way work is structured.
4) Which of the following is not one of the core job dimensions in the job characteristics model (JCM)?
A) task significance
B) feedback
C) autonomy
D) reward
E) skill variety
Answer: D
Explanation: D) The job characteristics model ( JCM) describes jobs in terms of five core job dimensions: skill
variety, the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities; task identity, the degree to which a job
requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work; task significance, the degree to which a job has an
impact on the lives or work of other people; autonomy, the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in
scheduling; and feedback, the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information
about performance.
, 5) According to the job characteristics model, task significance is the degree to which ________.
A) a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) work activities generates direct and clear information about performance
C) a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling and procedure
D) a job affects the lives or work of other people
E) a job requires a variety of different activities
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Task significance is the degree to which a job affects the lives or work of other people.
6) According to the job characteristics model, autonomy is defined as the degree to which ________.
A) a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work
B) work activities generates direct and clear information about performance
C) a job provides the worker freedom in scheduling the work
D) a job has an impact on the lives or work of other people
E) a job requires a variety of different activities
Answer: C
Explanation: C) The job characteristics model (JCM) describes jobs in terms of five core job dimensions: skill
variety, the degree to which a job requires a variety of different activities; task identity, the degree to which a job
requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work; task significance, the degree to which a job has an
impact on the lives or work of other people; autonomy, the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom in
scheduling; and feedback, the degree to which carrying out work activities generates direct and clear information
about performance.
7) John is a design manager for a production company. He independently assigns teams, chooses projects, researches
trends, and is able to work from home two to three days a week. He provides a status report to the design director
once a month. Based on this description and as per the job characteristics model, it's safe to say that John's job is
high in ________.
A) task identity
B) feedback
C) autonomy
D) task significance
E) skill variety
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Autonomy is the degree to which a job provides the worker freedom, independence, and discretion
in scheduling the work and determining the procedures in carrying it out. John has freedom and control over his job
procedures and assignments and although John's job has many job characteristics, the description provided best
describes autonomy.
8) Samantha is an emergency medical technician. Yesterday, due to an emergency, she was called to a house where a
man suffered a heart attack. She was able to resuscitate the man, and while her colleagues were transporting him to
the ambulance she spent 10 minutes calming the 12-year-old daughter, who was home alone with the father at that
time. Based on this description, it's safe to say that Samantha's job is high in ________.
A) task identity
B) feedback
C) reward
D) task significance
E) skill variety
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Although Samantha's job has many job characteristics, the description provided best describes
Dashay's sense of task significance. Task significance refers to the degree to which a job has an impact on the lives
of other people.
9) In the job characteristics model (JCM), which three core job dimensions combine to create meaningful work?
A) autonomy, task identity, and feedback
B) skill variety, autonomy, and task significance
C) skill variety, autonomy, and feedback
D) feedback, task identity, and task significance
E) skill variety, task identity, and task significance
