SECTION A:
1(a)
Goal setting theory: This theory was
propounded by Edwin Locke, who opines that people are motivated to work towards
goals or objectives they set for themselves or they are part of, the message of
goal setting theory is that individuals are motivated to work towards the
attainment of reasonably, challenging, clear, and verifiable goals.
(b) Hierarchy
of needs theory: The chief exponent of this theory Abraham Maslow maintains
that the needs of employees are arranged in a hierarchy and that one level must
be sufficiently satisfied before ascending to the next level. He however
identifies five levels of needs starting with the most basic needs pertaining
to life and living such as physiological needs, safety needs to social, esteem
and self actualization needs which are not all that necessary for any to be
alive. He used a pyramid to demonstrate his work diagrammatically.
A good student should draw
this diagram and also speak on each of the levels. Correct
answers with a well drawn diagram 20marks
(c) Reinforcement theory: This theory was credited to B. F. Skinner, a Harvard
Psychologist and his associates who developed a technique for motivation
maintaining that the consequences of past behaviour affect future actions, in a
cyclical learning process.
This
process has to do with stimulus
response
consequences
future
response.
The
theory links motivation with behaviour.
2. A good
student should attempt the definition of teams. Eg teams are groups of two or
more people who interact and influence each other, mutually accountable for
achieving common objectives, and perceive themselves as a social entity within
an organization (MCshane and Von Glinow, 2000:208)
The
teams that are commonly identifiable in organizations include:
i. Problem –solving teams: These are
created to deal with specific problems facing an organization like improving
quality, inculcating efficiency, curbing lateness to work etc. Members can only
share ideas on how to proffer solutions to specific problems on process,
methods and other areas but they hardly implement any.
ii. Self-managed work teams: This refers to
a team of about 5-to15 employees who perform highly related or interdependent
jobs. They not only suggest solutions to problems, but may also take up many of
the responsibilities preformed by the supervisors. Therefore, they can plan and
schedule work, assign duties to members, have collective control over the place
of work, make operating decisions, take actions on problems etc.
iii.
Cross-functional
teams: These are teams made up of employees from about the same hierarchical
level but from different work areas, who come together to accomplish tasks. The
teams also allow people from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives
within an organization and even between organizations to exchange information,
develop new ideas solve problems, coordinate complex projects and come up with
meaningful results.
iv.
Virtual teams:
These are teams that use computer technology to tie together physically
dispersed members in order to achieve common goals. Virtual teams can inspite
of distance and differences in offices share information, make decision and
complete tasks.
Each Correct
answer attracts 5 marks x 4 = 20 marks.
QUESTION No 3
The
theory of social learning argues that learning occurs by observing others and
then modeling the behaviours that lead to favourable outcomes and avoiding
those that lead to punishing consequences.
(b)
The four process that have been found to determine the influence of a model on
an individual are:
i. Positive
reinforcement: This involves recognizing and thereby, encouraging employee
desired behaviour or possibility of the behaviour being replaced.
ii. Negative reinforcement: This is the use
of negative consequences like
criticisms, to make employees desist from continuing with an undesired behaviour.
iii. Punishment:
This is the use of negative consequences to discourage the possible repetition
of undesirable behaviour.
iv. Extinction:
This involves the complete non-application of any type of reinforcement or
stimulus in order to modify an undesirable behaviour.
Correct
answer attracts 5 marks X 4 = 20 marks
SECTION B
1. Roman
J. Alday defines organizational behaviour as a branch of the social science
that seeks to build theories that can be applied to predicting understanding
and controlling behaviour in work organizational
Or
Organizational behaviour is the study of application
of knowledge about how people act within organization. This means that it is a
tool for human benefit.
Or
Any other definition that meets the expectations of
the examiners.
Features
of organizational behaviour are as follows:-
i.
It has assumed
the status of a district fold of study. It is a part of general management. It
presents behavioural approach to management.
ii.
It contains body
of research, application associated with a growing concern for in work place.
This means that its study helps in understanding human behaviour.
iii.
The study of
theories and research experiences of organizational facilitate manager for creative
thinking to solve human problems in organizations
iv.
This discipline
is heavily influenced by several other behaviour sciences, social sciences like
psychology, sociology and anthropology.
v.
It provides
national thinking about people
vi.
It has psychological
foundation. The concept like learning, perceptions, attitude, motivation is
borrowed from psychology, sociology and anthropology.
vii.
It is dynamic
rather than static.
Any
five of these or other acceptable features.
Any good definition with 5 points attract
20 marks
2. A good
student should start by defining or operatinalizing individual biographical
characteristics such as biographical characteristics are those that can be
traced specifically to individuals and they relate to persons age, length or
service, marital status and gender etc.
Individual
biographical characteristics could influence employee productivity in the
following ways.
i.
Age: This has to
do with relationship between age which affects absenteeism, rate of turnover,
sickness, lateness. This means that old age affects these factors either
positively or negatively.
ii.
Job experience:
This has to do with the relationship between job experience or tenure and
absenteeism turnover, job satisfaction and productivity. The more people gain
experience and seniority on the job, the more prestige and job satisfaction
they have and vice versa.
iii.
Marital status:
When people become married they usually have more responsibilities, which
continue to increase with the arrival of children. Therefore, marriage can affect
positively or negatively on the employee productivity.
iv.
Gender: This has
to do with the gender issues whether males or females dominate the
organizations and the effect each can cause. It addresses the question of
whether female or male workers are prove to absenteeism, lateness, turnover
etc.
Each answer is 5 mark X 4 = 20
marks
3(a) Communication
processes are the steps involved in the complete transmission of information
from the sender to the receiver allowing room for feedback and covering the
noise as well. This means that the process starts with the purpose which gives
rise to the through and configuring of the message to be sent which is then
encoded.
5 marks
(b) The
importance of communication to organizations according to (Weihrich and Koontz
2005:443) are:
i. To establish and disseminate the goals
of an organization.
ii. To develop the plans for the
achievement.
iii. To
organize human and material resources in the most effective and efficient
way.
iv. To
select, develop and appraise members of any organization.
v. To
lead, direct, motivate and create a climate in which people want to contribute.
vi. To
control performance.