WGU (C202) Managing Human Capital Exam - Topic 1 Question 5 Discussion

Actual exam question for WGU's WGU (C202) Managing Human Capital exam

Question #: 5
Topic #: 1

[All WGU (C202) Managing Human Capital Questions]

What is an advantage of a pay-for-performance plan?

AIt rewards those who are most knowledgeable.

BIt connects performance with intrinsic motivation.

CIt recognizes the most tenured employees.

DIt provides a positive reinforcement method.

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: D

A pay-for-performance plan is advantageous because it provides a method of positive reinforcement, which directly links an employee's compensation to their performance. This system incentivizes employees to achieve high performance by rewarding them with financial bonuses or raises based on their achievements. Positive reinforcement encourages desirable behaviors and high productivity, aligning individual performance with organizational goals.

Reference

Managing Human Capital Textbook

'Pay for Performance: Evaluating Performance Appraisal and Merit Pay' by George T. Milkovich and Alexandra K. Wigdor

SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) guidelines on pay-for-performance plans

by Tawna at Nov 25, 2025, 01:22 AM

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Francoise

9 hours ago

I disagree, it can lead to unhealthy competition.

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Ulysses

6 days ago

Wait, does it really reward knowledge over tenure?

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Magdalene

11 days ago

Positive reinforcement is a solid approach!

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Daniel

16 days ago

I think it mainly rewards the most tenured employees.

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Jeanice

21 days ago

Tenured employees? What is this, a retirement home? Give me that performance-based pay any day!

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Nana

26 days ago

Haha, I'm just hoping my boss doesn't read my answers and dock my pay. Option D it is!

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Emerson

1 month ago

B seems like a good option too. Connecting performance with motivation is key for employee engagement.

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Henriette

1 month ago

I agree, D is the best choice. It's all about that sweet, sweet cash incentive!

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Telma

1 month ago

Option D is the correct answer. A pay-for-performance plan provides a positive reinforcement method to motivate employees.

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Camellia

2 months ago

I feel like we discussed how pay-for-performance plans can help recognize top performers, so I might lean towards A.

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Catarina

2 months ago

I'm a little confused by this question. What exactly are the differences between the answer choices? I'll have to re-read the question and options more closely.

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Hoa

2 months ago

A pay-for-performance plan sounds like it would be a good way to motivate employees and reward their hard work. I'm pretty confident that D is the right answer here.

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Denise

2 months ago

I’m not entirely sure, but I remember something about intrinsic motivation being linked to performance. Maybe B is the right choice?

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Reta

2 months ago

Definitely connects performance with motivation!

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Dulce

2 months ago

I think option D makes sense because positive reinforcement is a key part of motivation theories we covered.

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Barrett

3 months ago

A is valid too. Knowledgeable workers deserve recognition.

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Yaeko

3 months ago

I recall a practice question where we debated the benefits of rewarding employees, and I think D was mentioned as a strong point.

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Raul

3 months ago

Hmm, this is a tricky one. I'm not totally sure about the differences between intrinsic motivation and positive reinforcement. I'll have to think this through carefully.

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Samira

3 months ago

I think the key here is to focus on the advantages of a pay-for-performance plan. Option A seems too narrow, while C is not really an advantage. I'm leaning towards either B or D as the best answer.

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