Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 100

Organizational Behavior Improving

Performance and Commitment in the


Workplace 5th Edition Colquitt Test
Bank
Visit to download the full and correct content document: https://testbankdeal.com/dow
nload/organizational-behavior-improving-performance-and-commitment-in-the-workpl
ace-5th-edition-colquitt-test-bank/
Chapter 06

Motivation

True / False Questions

1. Motivation determines what employees do at a given moment—the direction in which their


efforts are channeled.

True False

2. Motivation determines the direction, intensity, and outcome of effort.

True False

3. Motivation is not one thing but rather a set of distinct forces.

True False

4. Employees who are engaged completely invest their energies and themselves into the job.

True False

5. Expectancy represents the belief that low performance is the outcome of high efforts.

True False

6. The belief that a person has the capabilities needed to execute the behaviors required for
task success is known as self-actualization.

True False

6-1
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
7. Instrumentality represents the belief that stressful performance will result in positive
outcome(s).

True False

8. Valence can be positive, negative, or zero.

True False

9. Leticia has been assigned a task for which she knows that she does not have the necessary
skills or knowledge. However, she really wants the bonus she can earn by completing the
task. According to expectancy theory, Leticia will be highly motivated to complete the task.

True False

10. Valence can be defined as cognitive groupings or clusters of outcomes that are viewed as
having critical psychological or physiological consequences.

True False

11. Hannah has been asked to give the opening speech at her global company's annual sales
convention. She has successfully given speeches in the past, and her friends have all told her
she would be great at this. These have resulted in a high sense of self-efficacy, and she
accepts the assignment.

True False

12. Motivation that is controlled by some contingency that depends on task performance is called
intrinsic motivation.

True False

13. The attractiveness of many rewards varies across cultures.

True False

6-2
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
14. Research suggests that employees underestimate how powerful a motivator pay is to them.

True False

15. Individuals who value money for the achievement, respect, and freedom it confers value the
rational meaning of money.

True False

16. Pay, bonuses, and promotions are some of the positive-valenced extrinsic outcomes
considered in studies of motivation.

True False

17. A difficult goal is one that stretches an employee to perform at his or her maximum level
while still staying within the boundaries of his or her ability.

True False

18. As goals move from moderate to difficult, the intensity and persistence of the effort needed
are minimized.

True False

19. In the absence of a goal, it is difficult to rely on trial and error to figure out how best to do a
task.

True False

20. When goal commitment is high, assigning specific and difficult goals will have significant
benefits for task performance.

True False

21. Task strategy reflects how complicated the information and actions involved in a task are, as
well as how much the task changes.

True False

6-3
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
22. Extrinsic theory acknowledges that motivation does not just depend on a person's beliefs and
circumstances, but also on what happens to other people.

True False

23. When your ratio of outcomes to inputs is greater than your comparison other's ratio, equity
distress is experienced, and the tension likely creates negative emotions such as anger or
envy.

True False

24. Equity theory argues that you compare your ratio of outcomes and inputs to the ratio of some
"comparison other."

True False

25. In a situation you see as inequitable, cognitive distortion allows you to restore balance
mentally by altering your behavior in certain ways.

True False

26. Meaningfulness reflects energy rooted in the belief that work tasks contribute to some larger
purpose.

True False

27. Self-determination captures the value of a work goal or purpose, relative to a person's own
ideals and passions.

True False

28. A sense of self-determination is a strong driver of extrinsic motivation.

True False

29. Competence brings with it a sense of pride and mastery that is itself intrinsically motivating.

True False

6-4
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
30. Employees with high levels of competence can choose what tasks to work on, how to
structure those tasks, and how long to pursue those tasks.

True False

31. The motivating force with the strongest performance effect is the perception of equity.

True False

32. People who experience higher levels of equity tend to feel higher levels of affective
commitment and of normative commitment.

True False

33. Employees who feel a sense of equity on the job are more likely to engage in citizenship
behaviors, particularly when those behaviors aid the organization.

True False

34. Merit pay and profit sharing offer little in the way of difficult and specific goals.

True False

35. Merit pay represents the most common element of organizational compensation plans.

True False

36. A lump-sum bonus is a bonus received by members of a unit for meeting unit goals.

True False

37. Profit sharing tends to have a stronger motivational effect on employee effort than individual
incentives do.

True False

6-5
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Multiple Choice Questions

38. The set of energetic forces that originates both within and outside an employee; initiates
work-related effort; and determines its direction, intensity, and persistence is known as:

A. organizational commitment.
B. job satisfaction.
C. job performance.
D. motivation.
E. leadership.

39. Grace invests a great deal of energy in her job. She focuses closely, finds her tasks so
interesting that she loses track of time, and takes a lot of initiative. Grace demonstrates a
high level of ______.

A. engagement
B. expectancy
C. instrumentality
D. goal acceptance
E. equity appreciation

40. Effective job performance is most often a function of:

A. motivation and emotions.


B. emotions and ability.
C. ability and expectations.
D. motivation and ability.
E. expectations and emotions.

6-6
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
41. Which theory focuses most specifically on describing the cognitive process that employees go
through to make choices among different voluntary responses?

A. Equity theory
B. Extrinsic theory
C. Expectancy theory
D. Goal setting theory
E. Psychological empowerment theory

42. _____ theory argues that employee behavior is directed toward pleasure and away from pain
or, more generally, toward certain outcomes and away from others.

A. Psychological empowerment
B. Expectancy
C. Goal setting
D. Extrinsic
E. Equity

43. The belief that exerting a high level of effort will result in the successful performance of some
task is known as:

A. instrumentality.
B. valence.
C. equity.
D. expectancy.
E. psychological empowerment.

6-7
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
44. Expectancy is a subjective probability ranging from:

A. 0 to 1.
B. 1 to 5.
C. 10 to 20.
D. -1 to +1.
E. 5 to 1.5.

45. ______ is(are) an important moderator of what individuals consider to be positively or


negatively valent.

A. Culture
B. Expectancy
C. Generalizability
D. Self-efficacy
E. SMART goals

46. The belief that a person has the capabilities needed to execute the behaviors required for
task success is known as:

A. instrumentality.
B. valence.
C. equity.
D. complexity.
E. self-efficacy.

47. When employees consider efficacy levels for a given task, they first consider their:

A. past accomplishments.
B. vicarious experiences.
C. current projects.
D. extrinsic motivators.
E. instrumentality.

6-8
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
48. Employees consider _____ for a given task by taking into account their observations and
discussions with others who have performed similar tasks.

A. emotional cues
B. instrumentality
C. past accomplishments
D. verbal persuasion
E. vicarious experiences

49. Efficacy is moderated by _____, where feelings of fear or anxiety can create doubts about
task accomplishment, while pride and enthusiasm can bolster confidence levels.

A. emotional cues
B. instrumentality
C. past accomplishments
D. verbal persuasion
E. vicarious experiences

50. The belief that successful performance will result in some outcome(s) is known as:

A. instrumentality.
B. valence.
C. complexity.
D. expectancy.
E. self-efficacy.

6-9
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
51. Technically, _____ is a set of subjective probabilities, each ranging from 0 to 1, that
successful performance will bring a set of outcomes.

A. valence
B. instrumentality
C. expectancy
D. self-efficacy
E. complexity

52. The Cotton Yard is a family-run knitting company. It specializes in custom-made woolen
sweaters, pullovers, scarves, and gloves. Younger family members have learned the value of
attention to detail when creating a knit pattern by observing the praise given to knitters who
exhibit this level of attention. Those who now exhibit close attention to detail while knitting
have learned through ______.

A. past accomplishments
B. vicarious experiences
C. lecture sessions
D. emotional cues
E. instrumentality

53. Nathan is defending his first place ranking at the annual debate competition. Just minutes
before his turn, Nathan gets nervous and cannot remember his arguments. His teacher
speaks to him, reminding him of his strong skills in debate, which helps shore up his
confidence. Nathan then delivers his best and successfully defends his title. Which of the
following considerations dictated Nathan's self-efficacy?

A. Past accomplishments
B. Vicarious experiences
C. Verbal persuasion
D. Equity distress
E. Instrumentality

6-10
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
54. Emily and Steffi work at Education Yours, a nonprofit educational institution. Last month,
Steffi, newly hired on a temporary teaching assignment, was asked by her supervisor to teach
an online course. Being new to online teaching, Steffi is considering her efficacy. She talks to
Emily and other individuals who have been teaching online for several years. Emily takes
pride in her teaching and always approaches her teaching with total enthusiasm. Emily tells
Steffi that she believes exerting a high level of effort will result in a successful performance
in her online teaching. Which of the following best describes Emily's belief about exerting
a high level of effort?

A. Valence
B. Equity
C. Expectancy
D. Instrumentality
E. Emotional cues

55. Steffi and Emily work at Education Yours, a nonprofit educational institution. Last month,
Steffi, newly hired on a temporary teaching assignment, was asked to teach an online course.
Being new to online teaching, Steffi talks with Emily and several individuals who have been
teaching online for several years. Emily discusses the pride she takes in her teaching and
says she always approaches her teaching with total enthusiasm. She also expresses her
belief that exerting a high level of effort will result in a successful performance for Steffi in
her online teaching. Emily's self-efficacy source appears to be:

A. past accomplishments.
B. vicarious experiences.
C. verbal persuasion.
D. emotional cues.
E. instrumentality.

6-11
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
56. The efficacy of an individual can be influenced by all of these except:

A. past accomplishments.
B. vicarious experiences.
C. verbal persuasion.
D. the valence of the rewards.
E. emotional cues.

57. The anticipated value of the outcomes associated with performance is known as:

A. instrumentality.
B. valence.
C. equity.
D. expectancy.
E. self-efficacy.

58. The cognitive groupings or clusters of outcomes that are viewed as having critical
psychological or physiological consequences are known as:

A. instrumentality.
B. valence.
C. equity.
D. expectancy.
E. needs.

59. Food, shelter, safety, and protection required for human existence represent _____ needs.

A. physiological
B. relatedness
C. control
D. self-regard
E. self-actualization

6-12
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
60. The need to be able to predict one's future is a(n) _____ need.

A. relatedness
B. control
C. esteem
D. self-actualization
E. self-regard

61. To hold a high evaluation of oneself and to feel effective and respected by others are _____
needs.

A. control
B. self-actualization
C. esteem
D. autonomy
E. relatedness

62. The need to perform tasks that one cares about and that appeal to one's ideals and sense of
purpose is a _____ need.

A. relatedness
B. self-actualization
C. control
D. responsibility
E. self-regard

6-13
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
63. Motivation that is controlled by some contingency that depends on task performance is
known as _____ motivation.

A. control
B. extrinsic
C. intrinsic
D. expectant
E. efficacious

64. Motivation that is felt when task performance serves as its own reward is known as _____
motivation.

A. instrumental
B. extrinsic
C. intrinsic
D. expectant
E. efficacious

65. _____ are defined as the objective or aim of an action and typically refer to attaining a
specific standard of proficiency, often within a specified time limit.

A. Values
B. Goals
C. Internal comparisons
D. Strategies
E. External comparisons

6-14
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
66. Which of these refers to the learning plans and problem-solving approaches used to achieve
successful performance?

A. Expectancies
B. Emotional cues
C. Vicarious experiences
D. Valences
E. Task strategies

67. _____ consists of updates that employees receive on their progress toward goal attainment.

A. Task complexity
B. Goal commitment
C. Feedback
D. Self-efficacy
E. Instrumentality

68. _____ reflects how complicated the information and actions involved in a task are, as well as
how much the task changes.

A. Task complexity
B. Self-efficacy
C. Goal commitment
D. Feedback
E. Instrumentality

6-15
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
69. _____ is defined as the degree to which a person accepts a goal and is determined to try to
reach it.

A. Feedback
B. Self-efficacy
C. Instrumentality
D. Task complexity
E. Goal commitment

70. After his annual performance appraisal, Ted was disappointed with his 10 percent increase in
pay, compared to the 20 percent increase his colleagues received. When Ted spoke to his
manager, he was told his colleagues were able to perform well over the minimum standard.
Ted had not been aware of the minimum he was expected to achieve or the levels generally
achieved by his colleagues. What would help Ted improve his performance?

A. Increasing Ted's goal commitment


B. Increasing Ted's task complexity
C. Setting specific goals
D. Decreasing Ted's valence
E. Increasing Ted's dissonance

71. "S" in the SMART goals stands for:

A. systematic.
B. specific.
C. self-set.
D. scientific.
E. serious.

6-16
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
72. "M" in the SMART goals stands for:

A. measurable.
B. monetary.
C. methodical.
D. model.
E. major.

73. "A" in the SMART goals stands for:

A. affordable.
B. ability.
C. achievable.
D. aspire.
E. assess.

74. "R" in the SMART goals stands for:

A. robust.
B. resolved.
C. requirements.
D. results-based.
E. realist.

75. Which of the following is true about goal setting?

A. Specific, difficult goals are best.


B. Difficult goals reduce motivation.
C. SNARK goals result in the highest levels of goals achievement.
D. Employees work hardest and are most engaged when the goals are easy.
E. Equity is the greatest moderator of goal achievement.

6-17
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
76. "T" in the SMART goals stands for:

A. time-sensitive.
B. task-driven.
C. tenacious.
D. tempered.
E. team-oriented.

77. Managers in global organizations recognize that some motivators are universal; that is, they
work no matter what the culture. Other motivators differ by culture. Which of the following is
not a universal motivator?

A. Participation
B. Interesting work
C. Pay
D. Achievement
E. Growth

78. _____ theory acknowledges that motivation doesn't just depend on your own beliefs and
circumstances but also on what happens to other people.

A. Equity
B. Extrinsic
C. Expectancy
D. Goal setting
E. Psychological empowerment

6-18
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
79. Which theory suggests that employees create a "mental ledger" of the outcomes they get
from their job duties?

A. Expectancy theory
B. Goal-setting theory
C. Equity theory
D. Psychological empowerment theory
E. Extrinsic theory

80. The person who seems to provide an intuitive frame of reference for judging equity is known
as the:

A. equity resolver.
B. comparison other.
C. cognitive distortion creator.
D. goals monitor.
E. outcome evaluator.

81. In equity theory, the internal tension that is caused by an imbalance in the ratios is known
as:

A. cognitive distortion.
B. expectancy.
C. equity distress.
D. goal commitment.
E. cognitive dissonance.

6-19
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
82. Noticing his reduced performance at work, Dan enrolled himself for training sessions offered
by the company and saw his productivity improve. This helped restore his balance of
comparison ratios. Prior to enrolling in the training session, Dan was most likely
experiencing:

A. overreward inequity.
B. self-efficacy.
C. cognitive distortion.
D. expectancy.
E. underreward inequity.

83. In equity theory, rethinking your inputs to restore balance mentally without altering your
behavior in any way is known as:

A. equity distress.
B. instrumentality.
C. cognitive distortion.
D. internal comparisons.
E. external comparisons.

84. A(n) _____ involves a "comparison other" in the same company.

A. equity distress
B. emotional cue
C. cognitive distortion
D. internal comparison
E. external comparison

6-20
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
85. When someone from another company is referred to as the "comparison other," one is
involved in a(n):

A. equity distress.
B. emotional cue.
C. cognitive distortion.
D. internal comparison.
E. external comparison.

86. Allan and Danny have been working for Yummy Treats for about five years, at the same level
of management and doing similar kinds of work. Allan has been focusing on setting specific
and difficult goals for himself and believes that exerting a high level of effort will result in the
successful performance in his job. On the other hand, Danny compares himself to different
managers, such as Jim who works for the competitor in a similar work position. He feels
disheartened when he finds out that he is significantly underrewarded at Yummy Treats.
Allan's focus on concepts such as difficulty and specificity is a key aspect of:

A. equity theory.
B. extrinsic motivation.
C. goal setting.
D. expectancy.
E. psychological empowerment.

6-21
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
87. Allan and Danny have been working for Yummy Treats for about five years, at the same level
of management and doing similar kinds of work. Allan has been focusing on setting specific
and difficult goals for himself and believes that exerting a high level of effort will result in the
successful performance in his job. On the other hand, Danny compares himself to different
managers, such as Jim who works for the competitor in a similar work position. He feels
disheartened when he finds out that he is significantly underrewarded at Yummy Treats.
From Danny's view in this situation, Allan is a(n):

A. empowerment evaluator.
B. internal comparison.
C. valence generator.
D. cognitive distorter.
E. external comparison.

88. Allan and Danny have been working for Yummy Treats for about five years, at the same level
of management and doing similar kinds of work. Allan has been focusing on setting specific
and difficult goals for himself and believes that exerting a high level of effort will result in the
successful performance in his job. On the other hand, Danny compares himself to different
managers, such as Jim who works for the competitor in a similar work position. He feels
disheartened when he finds out that he is significantly underrewarded at Yummy Treats.
From Danny's view in this situation, Jim is a(n):

A. empowerment evaluator.
B. valence generator.
C. cognitive distorter.
D. external comparison.
E. internal comparison.

6-22
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
89. Comparison with others in the same organization doing substantially different jobs is called:

A. job equity.
B. occupational equity.
C. company equity.
D. age equity.
E. educational equity.

90. The dimensions of psychological empowerment include all of these except:

A. meaningfulness.
B. self-determination.
C. competence.
D. impact.
E. needs.

91. The energy rooted in the belief that work tasks contribute to some larger purpose is known
as:

A. self-efficacy.
B. goal commitment.
C. goal setting.
D. vicarious experience.
E. psychological empowerment.

92. _____ captures the value of a work goal or purpose, relative to a person's own ideals and
passions.

A. Meaningfulness
B. Self-determination
C. Competence
D. Impact
E. Integrity

6-23
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
93. Karen is a senior manager at The American Bank. A good part of her workday is spent in
meetings with clients, subordinates at the bank, prospective customers, and the auditors.
Though Karen has such a busy schedule, she manages to find time for her equally important
meetings with the PETA foundation. Karen's commitment to PETA can be classified under
which of the following concepts of psychological empowerment?

A. Meaningfulness
B. Self-determination
C. Competence
D. Expectancy
E. Impact

94. GroundWork is a venture capital firm that helps in financing small businesses. New hires at
the firm are given a project worth $50,000 to work on with minimum interference from the
senior associates. The project has large scope for innovation and creation. What is
management attempting to use as a motivator for the new hires?

A. Meaningfulness
B. Self-determination
C. Surface-level diversity
D. Expectancy
E. Outcome interdependence

95. Which of the following reflects the sense that a person's actions "make a difference,"
indicating that progress is being made toward fulfilling some important purpose?

A. Impact
B. Meaningfulness
C. Self-determination
D. Competence
E. Integrity

6-24
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
96. Larry is a commercial financial analyst but wants to become a commercial lender, so he
engages in self-directed learning, seeks out feedback from his managers, and manages his
own workload. Larry is attempting to build his own _____.

A. meaningfulness
B. valence
C. competence
D. impact
E. instrumentality

97. The efforts of Coach Anderson have made the Silver Hawks the best football team in
Brooklyn. The team owners tell Coach Anderson that his efforts have vastly improved the
team's performance and that they believe his continuing efforts will result in the Silver Hawks
being ranked as the best team on the East Coast. Which psychological empowerment
concept best describes the impact of the owners' comments on Coach Anderson's
motivation?

A. Meaningfulness
B. Self-determination
C. Competence
D. Impact
E. Self-dignity

98. Which of the following is(are) the motivating force(s) with the strongest performance effect?

A. Difficult goals
B. High levels of valence and instrumentality
C. Perceptions of equity
D. High levels of expectancy
E. Self-efficacy and competence

6-25
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
99. Motivation has a _____ effect on job performance.

A. strong positive
B. moderate positive
C. weak positive
D. moderate negative
E. strong negative

100.Equity has _____ effect on citizenship behavior and _____ effect on counterproductive
behavior.

A. a strong positive; a strong negative


B. a moderate positive; a moderate negative
C. no; a moderate positive
D. a moderate negative; a strong negative
E. a strong negative; a moderate positive

101.Which of the following is a unit-focused compensation plan element?

A. Merit pay
B. Lump-sum bonus
C. Gainsharing
D. Profit sharing
E. Piece-rate

Essay Questions

6-26
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
102.Define and explain motivation and its forces.

103.How do employees make the choices that take them in the "right direction"? Justify your
answer with the help of expectancy theory.

104.Identify and explain the mathematical formula for expectancy theory. Construct an example
from your own life to illustrate this theory.

6-27
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
105.Martha was assigned to present the bank's financial statement to its shareholders. The
management chose Martha because she was good at negotiating and had the skills to tackle
any question thrown her way. Though Martha was not confident in the beginning, she
managed to pull it off with ease. Using Martha as an example, define self-efficacy and
identify and explain its determinants.

106.What is the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation? Give some examples of
outcomes associated with each of these. Are you more motivated by extrinsic or intrinsic
outcomes? Explain, using examples from your own life.

107.Identify and explain the factors that alter the effects of goal setting on task performance.

6-28
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
108.Identify and explain the acronym SMART as used in goal setting theory. Give an example of a
SMART goal from your own life.

109.Describe the strategies for fostering goal commitment.

110.Describe equity theory. What are the three general possibilities that can result from the
comparison of the ratio of outcomes and inputs to the ratio of some comparison other?
Describe a situation and your response to it when you experienced a sense of inequity.

6-29
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
111.Identify and explain the possible outcomes of equity theory comparisons and ways to restore
the balance for each outcome.

112.What is psychological empowerment? Identify the four concepts that can make work tasks
intrinsically motivating, and explain each concept.

113.Explain how motivation relates to job performance and organizational commitment.

6-30
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
114.Identify and explain individual-, unit-, and organization-focused compensation plan elements.

6-31
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 06 Motivation Answer Key

True / False Questions

1. Motivation determines what employees do at a given moment—the direction in which their


efforts are channeled.

TRUE

Motivation determines what employees do at a given moment—the direction in which their


effort is channeled.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01 What is motivation?
Topic: Motivation

2. Motivation determines the direction, intensity, and outcome of effort.

FALSE

Motivation determines the direction, intensity, and persistence of effort.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-01 What is motivation?
Topic: Motivation

6-32
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
3. Motivation is not one thing but rather a set of distinct forces.

TRUE

Motivation is not one thing but rather a set of distinct forces. Some of those forces are
internal to the employee, such as a sense of purpose or confidence, whereas others are
external to the employee, such as the goals or incentives an employee is given.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-01 What is motivation?
Topic: Motivation

4. Employees who are engaged completely invest their energies and themselves into the job.

TRUE

Employees who are engaged completely invest themselves and their energies into their
jobs.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01 What is motivation?
Topic: Motivation

5. Expectancy represents the belief that low performance is the outcome of high efforts.

FALSE

Expectancy represents the belief that exerting a high level of effort will result in the
successful performance of some task.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember

6-33
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Expectancy

6. The belief that a person has the capabilities needed to execute the behaviors required for
task success is known as self-actualization.

FALSE

Self-efficacy is defined as the belief that a person has the capabilities needed to execute
the behaviors required for task success.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Self-efficacy

7. Instrumentality represents the belief that stressful performance will result in positive
outcome(s).

FALSE

Instrumentality represents the belief that successful performance will result in some
outcome(s).

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Instrumentality

6-34
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
8. Valence can be positive, negative, or zero.

TRUE

Valence reflects the anticipated value of the outcomes associated with performance.
Valence can be positive, negative, or zero.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

9. Leticia has been assigned a task for which she knows that she does not have the
necessary skills or knowledge. However, she really wants the bonus she can earn by
completing the task. According to expectancy theory, Leticia will be highly motivated to
complete the task.

FALSE

Leticia will have zero motivation to complete the task. Expectancy theory states that if any
element (expectancy, instrumentality, or valence) is zero, the resulting motivation level will
be zero. In this situation, although valence is positive, expectancy is zero. Therefore,
overall motivation will be zero.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Expectancy theory

6-35
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
10. Valence can be defined as cognitive groupings or clusters of outcomes that are viewed as
having critical psychological or physiological consequences.

FALSE

Needs can be defined as cognitive groupings or clusters of outcomes that are viewed as
having critical psychological or physiological consequences.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

11. Hannah has been asked to give the opening speech at her global company's annual sales
convention. She has successfully given speeches in the past, and her friends have all told
her she would be great at this. These have resulted in a high sense of self-efficacy, and
she accepts the assignment.

TRUE

Sources of self-efficacy include past accomplishments, vicarious experiences, verbal


persuasion, and emotional cues.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Self-efficacy

6-36
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
12. Motivation that is controlled by some contingency that depends on task performance is
called intrinsic motivation.

FALSE

Motivation that is controlled by some contingency that depends on task performance is


called extrinsic motivation.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Motivation

13. The attractiveness of many rewards varies across cultures.

TRUE

The attractiveness of many rewards varies across cultures.

AACSB: Diversity
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

14. Research suggests that employees underestimate how powerful a motivator pay is to
them.

TRUE

Research suggests that employees underestimate how powerful a motivator pay is to


them.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium

6-37
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

15. Individuals who value money for the achievement, respect, and freedom it confers value
the rational meaning of money.

FALSE

Individuals who value money for the achievement, respect, and freedom it confers value
the symbolic meaning of money.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

16. Pay, bonuses, and promotions are some of the positive-valenced extrinsic outcomes
considered in studies of motivation.

TRUE

Pay, bonuses, and promotions are some of the positive-valenced extrinsic outcomes
considered in studies of motivation. See Table 6-2.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

6-38
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
17. A difficult goal is one that stretches an employee to perform at his or her maximum level
while still staying within the boundaries of his or her ability.

TRUE

A difficult goal is one that stretches an employee to perform at his or her maximum level
while still staying within the boundaries of his or her ability.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

18. As goals move from moderate to difficult, the intensity and persistence of the effort
needed are minimized.

FALSE

As goals move from moderate to difficult, the intensity and persistence of effort become
maximized.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

6-39
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
19. In the absence of a goal, it is difficult to rely on trial and error to figure out how best to do
a task.

FALSE

In the absence of a goal, it's easy to rely on trial and error to figure out how best to do a
task.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

20. When goal commitment is high, assigning specific and difficult goals will have significant
benefits for task performance.

TRUE

When goal commitment is high, assigning specific and difficult goals will have significant
benefits for task performance.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

6-40
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
21. Task strategy reflects how complicated the information and actions involved in a task are,
as well as how much the task changes.

FALSE

Task complexity reflects how complicated the information and actions involved in a task
are, as well as how much the task changes.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

22. Extrinsic theory acknowledges that motivation does not just depend on a person's beliefs
and circumstances, but also on what happens to other people.

FALSE

Equity theory acknowledges that motivation doesn't just depend on your own beliefs and
circumstances, but also on what happens to other people.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?
Topic: Equity theory

6-41
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
23. When your ratio of outcomes to inputs is greater than your comparison other's ratio, equity
distress is experienced, and the tension likely creates negative emotions such as anger or
envy.

FALSE

When your ratio of outcomes to inputs is less than your comparison other's ratio, the ratio
imbalance triggers equity distress. However, if your ratio is greater than your comparison
other's ratio, the imbalance is likely to cause guilt, not anger or envy.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?
Topic: Equity theory

24. Equity theory argues that you compare your ratio of outcomes and inputs to the ratio of
some "comparison other."

TRUE

Equity theory argues that you compare your ratio of outcomes and inputs to the ratio of
some "comparison other."

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?
Topic: Equity theory

6-42
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
25. In a situation you see as inequitable, cognitive distortion allows you to restore balance
mentally by altering your behavior in certain ways.

FALSE

Cognitive distortion allows you to restore balance mentally, without altering your behavior
in any way.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?
Topic: Equity theory

26. Meaningfulness reflects energy rooted in the belief that work tasks contribute to some
larger purpose.

FALSE

Psychological empowerment reflects energy rooted in the belief that work tasks contribute
to some larger purpose. Meaningfulness addresses the value of a work goal or purpose,
relative to a person's own ideals and passions.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-05 What is psychological empowerment, and what four beliefs determine empowerment levels?
Topic: Empowerment

6-43
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
27. Self-determination captures the value of a work goal or purpose, relative to a person's own
ideals and passions.

FALSE

Meaningfulness captures the value of a work goal or purpose, relative to a person's own
ideals and passions. Self-determination reflects a sense of choice in the initiation and
continuation or work tasks.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-05 What is psychological empowerment, and what four beliefs determine empowerment levels?
Topic: Empowerment

28. A sense of self-determination is a strong driver of extrinsic motivation.

FALSE

The sense of self-determination is a strong driver of intrinsic motivation because it allows


employees to pursue activities that they themselves find meaningful and interesting.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-05 What is psychological empowerment, and what four beliefs determine empowerment levels?
Topic: Empowerment

29. Competence brings with it a sense of pride and mastery that is itself intrinsically
motivating.

TRUE

Competence brings with it a sense of pride and mastery that is itself intrinsically
motivating.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation

6-44
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-05 What is psychological empowerment, and what four beliefs determine empowerment levels?
Topic: Empowerment

30. Employees with high levels of competence can choose what tasks to work on, how to
structure those tasks, and how long to pursue those tasks.

FALSE

Employees with high levels of self-determination can choose what tasks to work on, how
to structure those tasks, and how long to pursue those tasks.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-05 What is psychological empowerment, and what four beliefs determine empowerment levels?
Topic: Empowerment

31. The motivating force with the strongest performance effect is the perception of equity.

FALSE

The motivating force with the strongest performance effect is self-efficacy/competence.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-06 How does motivation affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Topic: Self-efficacy

6-45
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
32. People who experience higher levels of equity tend to feel higher levels of affective
commitment and of normative commitment.

TRUE

People who experience higher levels of equity tend to feel higher levels of affective
commitment and higher levels of normative commitment.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-06 How does motivation affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Topic: Equity theory

33. Employees who feel a sense of equity on the job are more likely to engage in citizenship
behaviors, particularly when those behaviors aid the organization.

TRUE

Employees who feel a sense of equity on the job are more likely to engage in citizenship
behaviors, particularly when those behaviors aid the organization.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-06 How does motivation affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Topic: Equity theory

34. Merit pay and profit sharing offer little in the way of difficult and specific goals.

TRUE

Merit pay and profit sharing offer little in the way of difficult and specific goals.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium

6-46
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Learning Objective: 06-07 What steps can organizations take to increase employee motivation?
Topic: Outcomes

35. Merit pay represents the most common element of organizational compensation plans.

TRUE

Merit pay represents the most common element of organizational compensation plans.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-07 What steps can organizations take to increase employee motivation?
Topic: Outcomes

36. A lump-sum bonus is a bonus received by members of a unit for meeting unit goals.

FALSE

Lump-sum bonuses and gain sharing provide a forum for assigning difficult and specific
goals; the former does so at the individual level and the latter at the unit level.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-07 What steps can organizations take to increase employee motivation?
Topic: Outcomes

37. Profit sharing tends to have a stronger motivational effect on employee effort than
individual incentives do.

FALSE

Profit sharing is unlikely to have strong motivational consequences because an individual


employee can do little to improve the profitability of the company, regardless of his or her
job performance.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking

6-47
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-07 What steps can organizations take to increase employee motivation?
Topic: Outcomes

Multiple Choice Questions

38. The set of energetic forces that originates both within and outside an employee; initiates
work-related effort; and determines its direction, intensity, and persistence is known as:

A. organizational commitment.
B. job satisfaction.
C. job performance.
D. motivation.
E. leadership.

Motivation is defined as a set of energetic forces that originates both within and outside
an employee; initiates work-related effort; and determines its direction, intensity, and
persistence.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-01 What is motivation?
Topic: Motivation

6-48
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
39. Grace invests a great deal of energy in her job. She focuses closely, finds her tasks so
interesting that she loses track of time, and takes a lot of initiative. Grace demonstrates a
high level of ______.

A. engagement
B. expectancy
C. instrumentality
D. goal acceptance
E. equity appreciation

Grace is a highly engaged employee.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-01 What is motivation?
Topic: Motivation

40. Effective job performance is most often a function of:

A. motivation and emotions.


B. emotions and ability.
C. ability and expectations.
D. motivation and ability.
E. expectations and emotions.

Motivation is a critical consideration because effective job performance often requires


high levels of both ability and motivation.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-01 What is motivation?
Topic: Motivation

6-49
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
41. Which theory focuses most specifically on describing the cognitive process that employees
go through to make choices among different voluntary responses?

A. Equity theory
B. Extrinsic theory
C. Expectancy theory
D. Goal setting theory
E. Psychological empowerment theory

The expectancy theory describes the cognitive process that employees go through to make
choices among different voluntary responses.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Expectancy theory

42. _____ theory argues that employee behavior is directed toward pleasure and away from
pain or, more generally, toward certain outcomes and away from others.

A. Psychological empowerment
B. Expectancy
C. Goal setting
D. Extrinsic
E. Equity

Expectancy theory describes the cognitive process that employees go through to make
choices among different voluntary responses and argues that employee behavior is
directed toward pleasure and away from pain or, more generally, toward certain outcomes
and away from others.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium

6-50
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Expectancy theory

43. The belief that exerting a high level of effort will result in the successful performance of
some task is known as:

A. instrumentality.
B. valence.
C. equity.
D. expectancy.
E. psychological empowerment.

Technically, expectancy is a subjective probability, ranging from 0 to 1 that a specific


amount of effort will result in a specific level of performance.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Expectancy

44. Expectancy is a subjective probability ranging from:

A. 0 to 1.
B. 1 to 5.
C. 10 to 20.
D. -1 to +1.
E. 5 to 1.5.

Expectancy is a subjective probability, ranging from 0 to 1 that a specific amount of effort


will result in a specific level of performance.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?

6-51
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Topic: Expectancy

45. ______ is(are) an important moderator of what individuals consider to be positively or


negatively valent.

A. Culture
B. Expectancy
C. Generalizability
D. Self-efficacy
E. SMART goals

Culture is an important moderator of what individuals consider to be positively or


negatively valent.

AACSB: Diversity
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

46. The belief that a person has the capabilities needed to execute the behaviors required for
task success is known as:

A. instrumentality.
B. valence.
C. equity.
D. complexity.
E. self-efficacy.

Self-efficacy is defined as the belief that a person has the capabilities needed to execute
the behaviors required for task success.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?

6-52
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Topic: Self-efficacy

47. When employees consider efficacy levels for a given task, they first consider their:

A. past accomplishments.
B. vicarious experiences.
C. current projects.
D. extrinsic motivators.
E. instrumentality.

When employees consider efficacy levels for a given task, they first consider their past
accomplishments—the degree to which they have succeeded or failed in similar sorts of
tasks in the past.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Self-efficacy

48. Employees consider _____ for a given task by taking into account their observations and
discussions with others who have performed similar tasks.

A. emotional cues
B. instrumentality
C. past accomplishments
D. verbal persuasion
E. vicarious experiences

A vicarious experience is one of the factors that can explain the differences in the levels of
self-efficacy among the employees for a given task.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?

6-53
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Topic: Self-efficacy

49. Efficacy is moderated by _____, where feelings of fear or anxiety can create doubts about
task accomplishment, while pride and enthusiasm can bolster confidence levels.

A. emotional cues
B. instrumentality
C. past accomplishments
D. verbal persuasion
E. vicarious experiences

An emotional cue is one of the factors that can explain the differences in the levels of self-
efficacy among the employees for a given task.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Self-efficacy

50. The belief that successful performance will result in some outcome(s) is known as:

A. instrumentality.
B. valence.
C. complexity.
D. expectancy.
E. self-efficacy.

Instrumentality represents the belief that successful performance will result in some
outcome(s).

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Instrumentality

6-54
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
51. Technically, _____ is a set of subjective probabilities, each ranging from 0 to 1, that
successful performance will bring a set of outcomes.

A. valence
B. instrumentality
C. expectancy
D. self-efficacy
E. complexity

Technically, instrumentality is a set of subjective probabilities, each ranging from 0 to 1,


that successful performance will bring a set of outcomes.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Instrumentality

52. The Cotton Yard is a family-run knitting company. It specializes in custom-made woolen
sweaters, pullovers, scarves, and gloves. Younger family members have learned the value
of attention to detail when creating a knit pattern by observing the praise given to knitters
who exhibit this level of attention. Those who now exhibit close attention to detail while
knitting have learned through ______.

A. past accomplishments
B. vicarious experiences
C. lecture sessions
D. emotional cues
E. instrumentality

Vicarious experience includes observations of the success or failure of others at a given


task and/or discussions with others who have performed similar tasks.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation

6-55
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Self-efficacy

53. Nathan is defending his first place ranking at the annual debate competition. Just minutes
before his turn, Nathan gets nervous and cannot remember his arguments. His teacher
speaks to him, reminding him of his strong skills in debate, which helps shore up his
confidence. Nathan then delivers his best and successfully defends his title. Which of the
following considerations dictated Nathan's self-efficacy?

A. Past accomplishments
B. Vicarious experiences
C. Verbal persuasion
D. Equity distress
E. Instrumentality

Verbal persuasion is one of the factors that can explain the differences in the levels of
self-efficacy among the employees for a given task.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Self-efficacy

6-56
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
54. Emily and Steffi work at Education Yours, a nonprofit educational institution. Last month,
Steffi, newly hired on a temporary teaching assignment, was asked by her supervisor to
teach an online course. Being new to online teaching, Steffi is considering her efficacy.
She talks to Emily and other individuals who have been teaching online for several years.
Emily takes pride in her teaching and always approaches her teaching with total
enthusiasm. Emily tells Steffi that she believes exerting a high level of effort will result in a
successful performance in her online teaching. Which of the following best describes
Emily's belief about exerting a high level of effort?

A. Valence
B. Equity
C. Expectancy
D. Instrumentality
E. Emotional cues

Expectancy represents the belief that exerting a high level of effort will result in the
successful performance of some task.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Expectancy

6-57
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
55. Steffi and Emily work at Education Yours, a nonprofit educational institution. Last month,
Steffi, newly hired on a temporary teaching assignment, was asked to teach an online
course. Being new to online teaching, Steffi talks with Emily and several individuals who
have been teaching online for several years. Emily discusses the pride she takes in her
teaching and says she always approaches her teaching with total enthusiasm. She also
expresses her belief that exerting a high level of effort will result in a successful
performance for Steffi in her online teaching. Emily's self-efficacy source appears to be:

A. past accomplishments.
B. vicarious experiences.
C. verbal persuasion.
D. emotional cues.
E. instrumentality.

Efficacy is dictated in part by emotional cues; feelings of fear or anxiety can create doubts
about task accomplishment, whereas pride and enthusiasm can bolster confidence levels.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Self-efficacy

56. The efficacy of an individual can be influenced by all of these except:

A. past accomplishments.
B. vicarious experiences.
C. verbal persuasion.
D. the valence of the rewards.
E. emotional cues.

When employees consider efficacy levels for a given task, they consider their past
accomplishments, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion, and emotional cues. See
Figure 6-3.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking

6-58
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

57. The anticipated value of the outcomes associated with performance is known as:

A. instrumentality.
B. valence.
C. equity.
D. expectancy.
E. self-efficacy.

Valence reflects the anticipated value of the outcomes associated with performance.
Salary increases, bonuses, and more informal rewards are typical examples of "positively
valenced" outcomes.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

58. The cognitive groupings or clusters of outcomes that are viewed as having critical
psychological or physiological consequences are known as:

A. instrumentality.
B. valence.
C. equity.
D. expectancy.
E. needs.

Needs can be defined as cognitive groupings or clusters of outcomes that are viewed as
having critical psychological or physiological consequences.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking

6-59
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

59. Food, shelter, safety, and protection required for human existence represent _____ needs.

A. physiological
B. relatedness
C. control
D. self-regard
E. self-actualization

Food, shelter, safety, and protection required for human existence represent physiological
needs. See Table 6-1.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

60. The need to be able to predict one's future is a(n) _____ need.

A. relatedness
B. control
C. esteem
D. self-actualization
E. self-regard

The need for control (autonomy, responsibility) is the need to be able to predict and
control one's future. See Table 6-1.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember

6-60
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

61. To hold a high evaluation of oneself and to feel effective and respected by others are
_____ needs.

A. control
B. self-actualization
C. esteem
D. autonomy
E. relatedness

The need for esteem (self-regard, growth) includes holding a high evaluation of oneself
and feeling effective and respected by others. See Table 6-1.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

62. The need to perform tasks that one cares about and that appeal to one's ideals and sense
of purpose is a _____ need.

A. relatedness
B. self-actualization
C. control
D. responsibility
E. self-regard

The need for meaning (self-actualization) is the need to perform tasks that one cares
about and that appeal to one's ideals and sense of purpose. See Table 6-1.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember

6-61
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

63. Motivation that is controlled by some contingency that depends on task performance is
known as _____ motivation.

A. control
B. extrinsic
C. intrinsic
D. expectant
E. efficacious

Motivation that is controlled by some contingency that depends on task performance is


known as extrinsic motivation. Pay, bonuses, promotions, praise, job security, and spot
awards are extrinsic outcomes, which foster extrinsic motivation.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

6-62
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
64. Motivation that is felt when task performance serves as its own reward is known as _____
motivation.

A. instrumental
B. extrinsic
C. intrinsic
D. expectant
E. efficacious

Motivation that is felt when task performance serves as its own reward is known as
intrinsic motivation. Enjoyment, interestingness, accomplishment, knowledge gain, skill
development and personal expression are intrinsic outcomes, which foster intrinsic
motivation.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Valence

65. _____ are defined as the objective or aim of an action and typically refer to attaining a
specific standard of proficiency, often within a specified time limit.

A. Values
B. Goals
C. Internal comparisons
D. Strategies
E. External comparisons

Goals are defined as the objective or aim of an action and typically refer to attaining a
specific standard of proficiency, often within a specified time limit.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium

6-63
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

66. Which of these refers to the learning plans and problem-solving approaches used to
achieve successful performance?

A. Expectancies
B. Emotional cues
C. Vicarious experiences
D. Valences
E. Task strategies

Goals trigger the creation of task strategies, which are defined as learning plans and
problem-solving approaches used to achieve successful performance.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

67. _____ consists of updates that employees receive on their progress toward goal
attainment.

A. Task complexity
B. Goal commitment
C. Feedback
D. Self-efficacy
E. Instrumentality

Feedback consists of updates on employee progress toward goal attainment. Feedback is


one of the variables that specify when assigned goals will have stronger or weaker effects
on task performance.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking

6-64
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

68. _____ reflects how complicated the information and actions involved in a task are, as well
as how much the task changes.

A. Task complexity
B. Self-efficacy
C. Goal commitment
D. Feedback
E. Instrumentality

Task complexity is a moderator that reflects how complicated the information and actions
involved in a task are, as well as how much the task changes. The effects of specific and
difficult goals are almost twice as strong on simple tasks as on complex tasks, though the
effects of goals remain beneficial even in complex cases.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

6-65
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
69. _____ is defined as the degree to which a person accepts a goal and is determined to try to
reach it.

A. Feedback
B. Self-efficacy
C. Instrumentality
D. Task complexity
E. Goal commitment

Goal commitment is defined as the degree to which a person accepts a goal and is
determined to try to reach it. When goal commitment is high, assigning specific and
difficult goals will have significant benefits for task performance.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

70. After his annual performance appraisal, Ted was disappointed with his 10 percent
increase in pay, compared to the 20 percent increase his colleagues received. When Ted
spoke to his manager, he was told his colleagues were able to perform well over the
minimum standard. Ted had not been aware of the minimum he was expected to achieve
or the levels generally achieved by his colleagues. What would help Ted improve his
performance?

A. Increasing Ted's goal commitment


B. Increasing Ted's task complexity
C. Setting specific goals
D. Decreasing Ted's valence
E. Increasing Ted's dissonance

Specific goals increase the probability of goal attainment.

AACSB: Knowledge Application

6-66
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

71. "S" in the SMART goals stands for:

A. systematic.
B. specific.
C. self-set.
D. scientific.
E. serious.

The SMART acronym summarizes many beneficial goal characteristics, standing for
specific, measurable, achievable, results-based, and time-sensitive.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

72. "M" in the SMART goals stands for:

A. measurable.
B. monetary.
C. methodical.
D. model.
E. major.

The SMART acronym summarizes many beneficial goal characteristics, standing for
specific, measurable, achievable, results-based, and time-sensitive.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking

6-67
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

73. "A" in the SMART goals stands for:

A. affordable.
B. ability.
C. achievable.
D. aspire.
E. assess.

The SMART acronym summarizes many beneficial goal characteristics, standing for
specific, measurable, achievable, results-based, and time-sensitive.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

74. "R" in the SMART goals stands for:

A. robust.
B. resolved.
C. requirements.
D. results-based.
E. realist.

The SMART acronym summarizes many beneficial goal characteristics, standing for
specific, measurable, achievable, results-based, and time-sensitive.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking

6-68
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

75. Which of the following is true about goal setting?

A. Specific, difficult goals are best.


B. Difficult goals reduce motivation.
C. SNARK goals result in the highest levels of goals achievement.
D. Employees work hardest and are most engaged when the goals are easy.
E. Equity is the greatest moderator of goal achievement.

A vast amount of research has demonstrated that specific, difficult goals result in the
highest levels of motivation.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

76. "T" in the SMART goals stands for:

A. time-sensitive.
B. task-driven.
C. tenacious.
D. tempered.
E. team-oriented.

The SMART acronym summarizes many beneficial goal characteristics, standing for
specific, measurable, achievable, results-based, and time-sensitive.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking

6-69
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

77. Managers in global organizations recognize that some motivators are universal; that is,
they work no matter what the culture. Other motivators differ by culture. Which of the
following is not a universal motivator?

A. Participation
B. Interesting work
C. Pay
D. Achievement
E. Growth

Interesting work, pay, achievement, and growth are universal motivators. Motivators that
vary according to culture include whether goals are individual or group, the method of
reward, participation in goals setting, and feedback.

AACSB: Diversity
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

6-70
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
78. _____ theory acknowledges that motivation doesn't just depend on your own beliefs and
circumstances but also on what happens to other people.

A. Equity
B. Extrinsic
C. Expectancy
D. Goal setting
E. Psychological empowerment

Equity theory acknowledges that motivation doesn't just depend on your own beliefs and
circumstances but also on what happens to other people.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?
Topic: Equity theory

79. Which theory suggests that employees create a "mental ledger" of the outcomes they get
from their job duties?

A. Expectancy theory
B. Goal-setting theory
C. Equity theory
D. Psychological empowerment theory
E. Extrinsic theory

Equity theory suggests that employees create a "mental ledger" of the outcomes or
rewards they get from their job duties.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?

6-71
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Topic: Equity theory

80. The person who seems to provide an intuitive frame of reference for judging equity is
known as the:

A. equity resolver.
B. comparison other.
C. cognitive distortion creator.
D. goals monitor.
E. outcome evaluator.

Equity theory argues that a person compares his ratio of outcomes and inputs to the ratio
of some comparison other—some person who seems to provide an intuitive frame of
reference for judging equity.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?
Topic: Equity theory

81. In equity theory, the internal tension that is caused by an imbalance in the ratios is known
as:

A. cognitive distortion.
B. expectancy.
C. equity distress.
D. goal commitment.
E. cognitive dissonance.

According to equity theory, any imbalance in ratios triggers equity distress—an internal
tension that can only be alleviated by restoring balance to the ratios.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember

6-72
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?
Topic: Equity theory

82. Noticing his reduced performance at work, Dan enrolled himself for training sessions
offered by the company and saw his productivity improve. This helped restore his balance
of comparison ratios. Prior to enrolling in the training session, Dan was most likely
experiencing:

A. overreward inequity.
B. self-efficacy.
C. cognitive distortion.
D. expectancy.
E. underreward inequity.

In the case of overreward inequity, your ratio of outcomes to inputs is greater than your
comparison other's ratio. Equity distress gets experienced, and the tension likely creates
negative emotions such as guilt or anxiety. Balance could be restored by shrinking your
outcomes, but equity theory acknowledges that such actions are unlikely in most cases.
Instead, the more likely solution is to increase your inputs in some way. You could
increase the intensity and persistence of your task effort or decide to engage in more
"extra mile" citizenship behaviors.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?
Topic: Equity theory

6-73
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
83. In equity theory, rethinking your inputs to restore balance mentally without altering your
behavior in any way is known as:

A. equity distress.
B. instrumentality.
C. cognitive distortion.
D. internal comparisons.
E. external comparisons.

When a person experiences equity distress, cognitive distortion is one of the methods to
reduce the distress and restore balance mentally.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?
Topic: Equity theory

84. A(n) _____ involves a "comparison other" in the same company.

A. equity distress
B. emotional cue
C. cognitive distortion
D. internal comparison
E. external comparison

Job equity and company equity are examples of internal comparisons. Job equity is to
compare with others doing the same job in the same organization. Company equity is to
compare with others in the same organization doing substantially different jobs.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?

6-74
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Topic: Equity theory

85. When someone from another company is referred to as the "comparison other," one is
involved in a(n):

A. equity distress.
B. emotional cue.
C. cognitive distortion.
D. internal comparison.
E. external comparison.

Occupational equity is an example of external comparisons. Occupational equity is to


compare with others doing essentially the same job in other organizations.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?
Topic: Equity theory

6-75
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
86. Allan and Danny have been working for Yummy Treats for about five years, at the same
level of management and doing similar kinds of work. Allan has been focusing on setting
specific and difficult goals for himself and believes that exerting a high level of effort will
result in the successful performance in his job. On the other hand, Danny compares
himself to different managers, such as Jim who works for the competitor in a similar work
position. He feels disheartened when he finds out that he is significantly underrewarded at
Yummy Treats.
Allan's focus on concepts such as difficulty and specificity is a key aspect of:

A. equity theory.
B. extrinsic motivation.
C. goal setting.
D. expectancy.
E. psychological empowerment.

The goal setting theory argues that assigning employees specific and difficult goals will
result in higher levels of performance than assigning no goals, easy goals, or "do-your-
best" goals.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

6-76
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
87. Allan and Danny have been working for Yummy Treats for about five years, at the same
level of management and doing similar kinds of work. Allan has been focusing on setting
specific and difficult goals for himself and believes that exerting a high level of effort will
result in the successful performance in his job. On the other hand, Danny compares
himself to different managers, such as Jim who works for the competitor in a similar work
position. He feels disheartened when he finds out that he is significantly underrewarded at
Yummy Treats.
From Danny's view in this situation, Allan is a(n):

A. empowerment evaluator.
B. internal comparison.
C. valence generator.
D. cognitive distorter.
E. external comparison.

Internal comparisons refer to someone in the same company.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?
Topic: Equity theory

6-77
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
88. Allan and Danny have been working for Yummy Treats for about five years, at the same
level of management and doing similar kinds of work. Allan has been focusing on setting
specific and difficult goals for himself and believes that exerting a high level of effort will
result in the successful performance in his job. On the other hand, Danny compares
himself to different managers, such as Jim who works for the competitor in a similar work
position. He feels disheartened when he finds out that he is significantly underrewarded at
Yummy Treats.
From Danny's view in this situation, Jim is a(n):

A. empowerment evaluator.
B. valence generator.
C. cognitive distorter.
D. external comparison.
E. internal comparison.

External comparisons refer to someone in a different company.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?
Topic: Equity theory

6-78
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
89. Comparison with others in the same organization doing substantially different jobs is
called:

A. job equity.
B. occupational equity.
C. company equity.
D. age equity.
E. educational equity.

Company equity is an example of internal comparisons, in which the comparison is in


reference to someone in the same company. See Table 6-6.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?
Topic: Equity theory

90. The dimensions of psychological empowerment include all of these except:

A. meaningfulness.
B. self-determination.
C. competence.
D. impact.
E. needs.

Models of psychological empowerment argue that four concepts are particularly important:
meaningfulness, self-determination, competence, and impact.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-05 What is psychological empowerment, and what four beliefs determine empowerment levels?
Topic: Empowerment

6-79
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
91. The energy rooted in the belief that work tasks contribute to some larger purpose is known
as:

A. self-efficacy.
B. goal commitment.
C. goal setting.
D. vicarious experience.
E. psychological empowerment.

Psychological empowerment reflects energy rooted in the belief that work tasks contribute
to some larger purpose. Psychological empowerment represents a form of intrinsic
motivation, in that merely performing the work tasks serves as its own reward and
supplies many of the intrinsic outcomes.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-05 What is psychological empowerment, and what four beliefs determine empowerment levels?
Topic: Empowerment

92. _____ captures the value of a work goal or purpose, relative to a person's own ideals and
passions.

A. Meaningfulness
B. Self-determination
C. Competence
D. Impact
E. Integrity

Meaningfulness captures the value of a work goal or purpose, relative to a person's own
ideals and passions.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy

6-80
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Learning Objective: 06-05 What is psychological empowerment, and what four beliefs determine empowerment levels?
Topic: Empowerment

93. Karen is a senior manager at The American Bank. A good part of her workday is spent in
meetings with clients, subordinates at the bank, prospective customers, and the auditors.
Though Karen has such a busy schedule, she manages to find time for her equally
important meetings with the PETA foundation. Karen's commitment to PETA can be
classified under which of the following concepts of psychological empowerment?

A. Meaningfulness
B. Self-determination
C. Competence
D. Expectancy
E. Impact

Meaningfulness captures the value of a work goal or purpose, relative to a person's own
ideals and passions. When a task is relevant to a meaningful purpose, it becomes easier to
concentrate on the task and get excited about it.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 06-05 What is psychological empowerment, and what four beliefs determine empowerment levels?
Topic: Empowerment

6-81
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
94. GroundWork is a venture capital firm that helps in financing small businesses. New hires
at the firm are given a project worth $50,000 to work on with minimum interference from
the senior associates. The project has large scope for innovation and creation. What is
management attempting to use as a motivator for the new hires?

A. Meaningfulness
B. Self-determination
C. Surface-level diversity
D. Expectancy
E. Outcome interdependence

Self-determination reflects a sense of choice in the initiation and continuation of work


tasks. Employees with high levels of self-determination can choose what tasks to work on,
how to structure those tasks, and how long to pursue those tasks.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 06-05 What is psychological empowerment, and what four beliefs determine empowerment levels?
Topic: Empowerment

95. Which of the following reflects the sense that a person's actions "make a difference,"
indicating that progress is being made toward fulfilling some important purpose?

A. Impact
B. Meaningfulness
C. Self-determination
D. Competence
E. Integrity

Impact reflects the sense that a person's actions "make a difference"—that progress is
being made toward fulfilling some important purpose.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember

6-82
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-05 What is psychological empowerment, and what four beliefs determine empowerment levels?
Topic: Empowerment

96. Larry is a commercial financial analyst but wants to become a commercial lender, so he
engages in self-directed learning, seeks out feedback from his managers, and manages
his own workload. Larry is attempting to build his own _____.

A. meaningfulness
B. valence
C. competence
D. impact
E. instrumentality

Competence captures a person's belief in his or her capability to perform work tasks
successfully. Employees can build their own competence by engaging in self-directed
learning, seeking out feedback from their managers, and managing their own workloads.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-05 What is psychological empowerment, and what four beliefs determine empowerment levels?
Topic: Empowerment

6-83
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
97. The efforts of Coach Anderson have made the Silver Hawks the best football team in
Brooklyn. The team owners tell Coach Anderson that his efforts have vastly improved the
team's performance and that they believe his continuing efforts will result in the Silver
Hawks being ranked as the best team on the East Coast. Which psychological
empowerment concept best describes the impact of the owners' comments on Coach
Anderson's motivation?

A. Meaningfulness
B. Self-determination
C. Competence
D. Impact
E. Self-dignity

Impact reflects the sense that a person's actions "make a difference"—that progress is
being made toward fulfilling some important purpose. Managers can instill a sense of
impact by celebrating milestones along the journey to task accomplishment, particularly
for tasks that span a long time frame. Employees can attain a deeper sense of impact by
building the collaborative relationships needed to speed task progress and initiating their
own celebrations of "small wins" along the way.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-05 What is psychological empowerment, and what four beliefs determine empowerment levels?
Topic: Empowerment

6-84
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
98. Which of the following is(are) the motivating force(s) with the strongest performance
effect?

A. Difficult goals
B. High levels of valence and instrumentality
C. Perceptions of equity
D. High levels of expectancy
E. Self-efficacy and competence

The motivating force with the strongest performance effect is self-efficacy/competence


because people who feel a sense of internal self-confidence tend to outperform those who
doubt their capabilities.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-06 How does motivation affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Topic: Self-efficacy

99. Motivation has a _____ effect on job performance.

A. strong positive
B. moderate positive
C. weak positive
D. moderate negative
E. strong negative

Motivation has a strong positive effect on job performance. People who experience higher
levels of motivation tend to have higher levels of task performance.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-06 How does motivation affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Topic: Motivation

6-85
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
100. Equity has _____ effect on citizenship behavior and _____ effect on counterproductive
behavior.

A. a strong positive; a strong negative


B. a moderate positive; a moderate negative
C. no; a moderate positive
D. a moderate negative; a strong negative
E. a strong negative; a moderate positive

Equity has a moderate positive effect on citizenship behavior and a moderate negative
effect on the counterproductive behavior.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 06-06 How does motivation affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Topic: Equity theory

101. Which of the following is a unit-focused compensation plan element?

A. Merit pay
B. Lump-sum bonus
C. Gainsharing
D. Profit sharing
E. Piece-rate

Gainsharing is a bonus received for meeting unit goals for criteria controllable by
employees.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 06-07 What steps can organizations take to increase employee motivation?
Topic: Outcomes

6-86
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Essay Questions

102. Define and explain motivation and its forces.

Motivation is a defined set of energetic forces that originates both within and outside an
employee; initiates work-related effort; and determines its direction, intensity, and
persistence. Motivation is a critical consideration because job performance is largely a
function of two factors: motivation and ability. Motivation is not one thing but rather a set
of distinct forces. Some of those forces are internal to the employee, such as a sense of
self-confidence, whereas others are external to the employee, such as the goals an
employee is given. Motivation also determines a number of facets of an employee's work
effort. Motivation determines what employees do at a given moment. Once the direction of
effort has been decided, motivation goes on to determine how hard an employee works
and for how long.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-01 What is motivation?
Topic: Motivation

6-87
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
103. How do employees make the choices that take them in the "right direction"? Justify your
answer with the help of expectancy theory.

The expectancy theory describes the cognitive process that employees go through to make
choices among different voluntary responses. The theory suggests that our choices
depend on three specific beliefs that are based in our past learning and experience:
expectancy, instrumentality, and valence. Expectancy represents the belief that exerting a
high level of effort will result in the successful performance of some task. Instrumentality
represents the belief that successful performance will result in some outcomes. It is a set
of subjective probabilities, each ranging from 0 (no chance!) to 1 (a mortal lock!) that
successful performance will bring a set of outcomes. Valence reflects the anticipated
value of the outcomes associated with performance. Salary increases, bonuses, and more
informal rewards are typical examples of "positively valenced" outcomes, whereas
disciplinary actions, demotions, and terminations are typical examples of "negatively
valenced" outcomes.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Expectancy theory

6-88
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
104. Identify and explain the mathematical formula for expectancy theory. Construct an
example from your own life to illustrate this theory.

The mathematical formula for expectancy theory is:


Motivational force =

where E → P is expectancy; P → O is instrumentality; V is valence.


Σ signifies that instrumentalities and valences are judged with various outcomes in mind.
Motivation increases as successful performance is linked to more and more attractive
outcomes.
Motivational forces equals zero if performance doesn't result in any outcomes.
Students should construct a personal example illustrating the elements of the theory.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Expectancy theory

6-89
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
105. Martha was assigned to present the bank's financial statement to its shareholders. The
management chose Martha because she was good at negotiating and had the skills to
tackle any question thrown her way. Though Martha was not confident in the beginning,
she managed to pull it off with ease. Using Martha as an example, define self-efficacy and
identify and explain its determinants.

Self-efficacy is the belief that one has the capability needed to execute the behaviors
required for task success. Self-efficacy is influenced by an individual's:

1. Past accomplishments. Has the person succeeded or failed in similar tasks in the past?
2. Vicarious experiences. Have they seen or talked to others who have attempted such
tasks? How did those others do?
3. Verbal persuasion. Have respected others told them "You can do it!"?
4. Emotional cues. Individuals who are fearful or anxious will be less sure of their abilities;
those who are enthusiastic are more sure of their abilities.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Blooms: Analyze
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Self-efficacy

106. What is the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation? Give some examples of
outcomes associated with each of these. Are you more motivated by extrinsic or intrinsic
outcomes? Explain, using examples from your own life.

Extrinsic motivation is motivation that is controlled by some contingency that depends on


task performance. Intrinsic motivation is felt when task performance serves as its own
reward. Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation together represent an employee's "total
motivation" level. Some examples of extrinsic outcomes include pay, bonuses, promotions,
benefits and perks, spot awards, praise, job security, etc. Intrinsic outcomes include
enjoyment, interestingness, accomplishment, knowledge gain, skill development, and
personal expression. Student examples will vary.

AACSB: Knowledge Application

6-90
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 06-02 What three beliefs help determine work effort, according to expectancy theory?
Topic: Motivation

107. Identify and explain the factors that alter the effects of goal setting on task performance.

Factors that alter the effects of goal setting on task performance are:

- Feedback: updates on employee progress toward goal attainment.


- Task complexity: reflects how complicated the information and actions involved in a task
are, as well as how much the task changes.
- Goal commitment: the degree to which a person accepts a goal and is determined to try
to reach it.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

6-91
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
108. Identify and explain the acronym SMART as used in goal setting theory. Give an example
of a SMART goal from your own life.

SMART goals are:


S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Achievable
R = Results-based
T = Time-sensitive

The SMART acronym summarizes many beneficial goal characteristics, although it omits
the all-important "difficult" characteristic. Managers are trained to identify five to seven
SMART goals for each employee and to link rewards directly to goal achievement. In this
way, managers and employees come to understand the "how" of achievement, not just the
"what." Students' examples will vary.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

109. Describe the strategies for fostering goal commitment.

There are five strategies for fostering goal commitment. The first strategy is rewards,
which ties goal achievement to the receipt of monetary or nonmonetary rewards. Publicity
is another strategy, and it publicizes the goal to significant others and coworkers to create
some social pressure to attain it. Support provides supportive supervision to aid
employees if they struggle to attain the goal. Participation is a strategy that collaborates
on setting the specific proficiency level and due date for a goal so that the employee feels
a sense of ownership over the goal. A resource strategy is one that provides the resources
needed to attain the goal and remove any constraints that could hold back task efforts.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Blooms: Understand

6-92
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 06-03 What two qualities make goals strong predictors of task performance, according to goal setting
theory?
Topic: Goal setting theory

110. Describe equity theory. What are the three general possibilities that can result from the
comparison of the ratio of outcomes and inputs to the ratio of some comparison other?
Describe a situation and your response to it when you experienced a sense of inequity.

Equity theory acknowledges that motivation doesn't just depend on your own beliefs and
circumstances, but also on what happens to other people. It suggests that employees
create a "mental ledger" of the outcomes (or rewards) they get from their job duties and
further suggests that employees create a mental ledger of the inputs (or contributions and
investments) they put into their job duties. The first possibility is that the ratio of
outcomes to inputs is balanced between you and your comparison other. The second
possibility is that your ratio of outcomes to inputs is less than your comparison other's
ratio. According to the equity theory, any imbalance in ratios triggers equity distress. The
third possibility is that your ratio of outcomes to inputs is greater than your comparison
other's ratio. Equity distress is experienced again, and the tension likely creates negative
emotions such as guilt or anxiety. Student answers will vary in response to the last portion
of the question.

AACSB: Knowledge Application


Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?
Topic: Equity theory

6-93
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
111. Identify and explain the possible outcomes of equity theory comparisons and ways to
restore the balance for each outcome.

Equity: when the comparison of employees' "mental ledger" of the inputs (contributions
and investments) to the outcomes (rewards) they get from their job duties to another
person is in balance.
Ways to restore balance: No actions are needed to restore balance.

Underreward inequity: when the comparison of employees' "mental ledger" of the inputs
(contributions and investments) to the outcomes (rewards) they get from their job duties
to another person's is out of balance in favor of the other person.
Ways to restore balance: growing one's outcomes by talking to his or her boss or by
stealing from the company; shrinking his or her inputs by lowering the intensity or
persistence of effort.

Overreward inequity: when the comparison of employees' "mental ledger" of the inputs
(contributions and investments) to the outcomes (rewards) they get from their job duties
to another person's is out of balance in favor of oneself.
Ways to restore balance: shrinking one's outcomes; growing his or her inputs through
more high-quality work or through some cognitive distortion.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-04 What does it mean to be equitably treated according to equity theory, and how do employees
respond to inequity?
Topic: Equity theory

6-94
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
112. What is psychological empowerment? Identify the four concepts that can make work tasks
intrinsically motivating, and explain each concept.

Psychological empowerment represents a form of intrinsic motivation in that merely


performing the work tasks serves as its own reward and supplies many of the intrinsic
outcomes. The four concepts that are particularly important are meaningfulness, self-
determination, competence, and impact. Meaningfulness captures the value of a work goal
or purpose, relative to a person's own ideals and passions. Self-determination reflects a
sense of choice in the initiation and continuation of work tasks. Competence captures a
person's belief in his or her capability to perform work tasks successfully. Impact reflects
the sense that a person's actions "make a difference"—that progress is being made
toward fulfilling some important purpose.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-05 What is psychological empowerment, and what four beliefs determine empowerment levels?
Topic: Empowerment

6-95
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
113. Explain how motivation relates to job performance and organizational commitment.

Motivation relates to job performance and organizational commitment in the following


ways:

Task performance-

- Self-efficacy/competence: people who feel a sense of internal self-confidence tend to


outperform those who doubt their capabilities.
- Difficult goals: people who receive difficult goals outperform the recipients of easy
goals.
- Expectancy theory: the motivational force created by high levels of valence,
instrumentality and expectancy is a powerful motivational variable for task performance.

Organizational commitment-

- Equity: employees who feel a sense of equity are more emotionally attached to their
firms and feel a stronger sense of obligation to remain.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 06-06 How does motivation affect job performance and organizational commitment?
Topic: Motivation

6-96
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
114. Identify and explain individual-, unit-, and organization-focused compensation plan
elements.

Individual-focused elements-
- Piece-rate: a specified rate is paid for each unit produced, each unit sold, or each
service provided.
- Merit pay: an increase to base salary is made in accordance with performance
evaluation ratings.
- Lump-sum bonuses: a bonus is received for meeting individual goals but no change is
made to base salary. The potential bonus represents "at risk" pay that must be re-earned
each year. Base salary may be lower in cases in which potential bonuses may be large.
- Recognition awards: tangible awards (gift cards, merchandise, trips, special events, time
off, plaques) or intangible awards (praise) are given on an impromptu basis to recognize
achievement.

Unit-focused elements-

- Gain sharing: a bonus received for meeting unit goals (department goals, plant goals,
business unit goals) for criteria controllable by employees (labor costs, use of materials,
quality). No change is made to base salary. The potential bonus represents "at risk" pay
that must be re-earned each year. Base salary may be lower in cases in which potential
bonuses may be large.

Organization-focused elements-

- Profit sharing: a bonus received when the publicly reported earnings of a company
exceed some minimum level, with the magnitude of the bonus contingent on the

6-97
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
magnitude of the profits. No change is made to base salary. The potential bonus
represents "at risk" pay that must be re-earned each year. Base salary may be lower in
cases in which potential bonuses may be large.

AACSB: Analytical Thinking


Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 06-07 What steps can organizations take to increase employee motivation?
Topic: Outcomes

6-98
Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.

You might also like