Satisfaction at work: Practice Questions

Which technique of job design involves adding more tasks of a similar nature and level of difficulty to an employee's role to reduce repetitive boredom?

Which of Walton's (1974) eight conditions for the Quality of Working Life (QWL) evaluates whether the work permits the exercise of meaningful autonomy and the development of multiple skills?

In the study of workplace sabotage by Giacalone and Rosenfeld (1987), which category of reasons involves an employee engaging in destructive acts to impress peers or to demonstrate their influence within a work group?

According to Herzberg's two-factor theory, which of the following is considered a motivator factor rather than a hygiene factor?

In Hackman and Oldham's job characteristics theory, which core characteristic is defined as the degree to which a job requires the completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work?

Identify the primary purpose of the Job Descriptive Index (JDI) in organizational psychology.

Describe the difference between job enlargement and job rotation as techniques for job design.

Explain how the job characteristic of autonomy specifically leads to the psychological state of experienced responsibility according to Hackman and Oldham.

Describe Herzberg's two-factor theory of job satisfaction. In your answer, distinguish between hygiene factors and motivational factors, providing at least one example for each.

A psychologist measured job satisfaction in two departments using the Job Descriptive Index (JDI). The scores for different facets are summarized below:

Department X: Pay: 12, Supervision: 45, Co-workers: 50, Work: 40, Promotion: 10
Department Y: Pay: 48, Supervision: 15, Co-workers: 12, Work: 18, Promotion: 42

(a) Using the data, compare the satisfaction levels of Department X and Department Y.
(b) Suggest how job design techniques might be used to improve the satisfaction profile of Department Y.