Assignment 4
Student Name: 伍言澈 Score:
___/100
Part I: Multiple Choice Questions (5 points each)
___/40
1. According to Maslow, which of the following is on the top of the hierarchy of needs? A
a. Self-actualization needs
b. Physiological needs
c. Self-esteem needs
d. Safety needs
2. Company A has an average of 85 working days in a quarter. It conducts quality checks to
assess the performance of its employees. The employees who perform well may receive a
bonus after 70 days or 100 days, but the average interval between the completion of tasks and
the receiving of bonus is 85 days. In the context of reinforcement theory of motivation, which
of the following intermittent reinforcement schedules does this scenario best illustrate? A
a. A fixed interval reinforcement schedule
b. A fixed ratio reinforcement schedule
c. A variable interval reinforcement schedule
d. A variable ratio reinforcement schedule
3. Abby's Designer Wear is a large boutique of designer clothes. Over the past year, the
business slowed down, and the boutique started losing its popularity. Abigail, the boutique's
owner, started an employee discussion board where employees shared their inputs on how the
boutique could regain its popularity. After consulting the employees, Abigail launched a
whole new collection of vintage wear that proved to be a sales success. Besides this, the
employees felt happy that their inputs were taken into consideration. The leadership style that
is illustrated in this scenario by Abigail is called __c___.
a. supportive leadership
b. achievement-oriented leadership
c. participative leadership
d. directive leadership
4. Emerald Inc. recently launched a new cell phone designed by Anderson and his team.
However, after the initial days of sale, the gadget seemed to have a technical issue that
required immediate attention. To troubleshoot this problem, Anderson calls a meeting with
his team members and presents the problem to each of them separately. He takes into
consideration the solutions provided by each team member and makes the final decision
based on their inputs. In the context of the normative decision theory, which of the following
decision styles has Anderson adopted in this scenario? D
a. The AI decision style
b. The AII decision style
c. The CI decision style
d. The GII decision style
5. In the context of leadership styles, relationship-oriented leaders with high Least Preferred
Coworker (LPC) scores are better leaders: B
a. in situations where they have no position power.
b. under moderately favorable situations.
c. when tasks are completely unstructured.
d. in highly unfavorable situations.
6. Simon is the manager of the editorial department in a publishing company. Every time an
editor in his team fails to fix the errors in the article he or she is working on, Simon assigns
him or her extra work. In this case, Simon is using ___a__.
a. feedback control
b. feedforward control
c. concurrent control
d. reactive control
7. Jogan Electronics manufactures television sets. It gathers all the components required to
make a television set before customers book television sets for purchase. It accumulates all
the necessary materials for production from its suppliers and ensures that it has all the parts to
manufacture the television sets before it receives a customer order. This type of operation is
called a(n) __a___.
a. assemble-to-stock operation
b. assemble-to-order operation
c. make-to-order operation
d. make-to-stock operation
8. Swiftspan Inc., a construction company, uses 202,500 gallons of paint a year. If the
ordering cost is $32 per order and holding cost is $9 per gallon, the optimal quantity to order
is __c___.
a. 1,200 gallons
b. 2,400 gallons
c. 4,800 gallons
d. 3,600 gallons
Part II: Short Answer Questions (20 points each) ___/60
1. Elaborate two theories of motivation.
Expectancy Theory:
Expectancy Theory suggests that motivation is influenced by three factors:
Expectancy: The belief that one’s efforts will lead to good performance
Instrumentality: The belief that good performance will result in desired rewards
Valence: The value or attractiveness of the rewards
According to this theory, individuals will be motivated to work hard if they believe their
efforts will lead to good performance, which will result in desired rewards that they value.
Therefore, managers should set clear goals, provide feedback, and offer attractive rewards to
increase motivation.
equity theory:
The theory comprises three main elements:
Inputs: The contributions made by an individual, such as effort, skills, and experience.
Outcomes: The rewards or benefits received by the individual in return for their inputs,
including pay, recognition, and promotion.
Referents: The comparison with others to determine if treatment is fair. These referents may
be individuals within the organization or a broader peer group.
According to equity theory, individuals calculate the ratio of their outcomes to inputs and
compare it to the ratio of outcomes to inputs for others. If they perceive their ratio to be lower
than that of others, they will perceive under-reward inequity and may reduce their effort or
seek additional rewards. Conversely, if they perceive over-reward inequity, they may feel
guilty and reduce their rewards or performance.
[Link] explain different types of inventory and give an example of each inventory style.
Raw material inventories - Basic inputs in a manufacturing process
[Link] coils for a company that manufactures metal components
Component parts inventories - Basic parts used in manufacturing that are fabricated from raw
materials
[Link] and resistors for an electronics manufacturer
Work-in-process inventories - Partially finished goods consisting of assembled component
parts
[Link] automobile frame on an assembly line with wheels, engine, and seats yet to be added.
Finished goods inventories - Final outputs of manufacturing operations
eg.A fully assembled smartphone ready for sale to consumers
3. Explain early theories of leadership.
The trait theory of leadership suggests that effective leaders possess certain inherent traits or
characteristics that differentiate them from non-leaders. These traits include drive, desire to
lead, honesty/integrity, self-confidence, emotional stability, and strong cognitive ability and
knowledge of the business. According to this theory, these traits are relatively stable and not
easily changed. Therefore, individuals with these traits are naturally suited for leadership
roles. The theory emphasizes the inherent qualities of leaders, suggesting that leadership
ability is an innate trait.
In contrast, the behavioral theory of leadership focuses on the specific behaviors and actions
that leaders exhibit rather than their inherent traits. It suggests that effective leadership can be
learned and developed through training and practice. Key behaviors identified in this theory
include initiating structure, where the leader sets goals, gives directions, sets deadlines, and
assigns tasks to structure the roles of followers, and consideration, where the leader shows
concern for employees, is friendly and approachable. The theory posits that these behaviors
directly impact follower job performance and satisfaction. It emphasizes that leadership
effectiveness is determined by the specific behaviors leaders display in interacting with
followers.
