Question 1

What is being described here? A process by which a consultative forum is used by managers principally to inform employees about decisions that have already been taken.&#10;A) Joint consultative committee&#10;B) European Works Council&#10;C) Pseudo-consultation&#10;D) Team briefing

Accepted Answer

Pseudo-consultation is a process in which managers use a consultative forum only to inform employees about decisions that have already been taken, without actually seeking their input or opinions. The other options - Joint consultative committee, European Works Council, and Team briefing - all involve genuine consultation and collaboration between managers and employees.

Question 2

Which of the following is not a commonly advanced justification for encouraging employee voice in an organisation?&#10;A) It can improve the quality of management decision-making&#10;B) It has a positive impact on employee engagement&#10;C) It contributes to the effective management of change&#10;D) It helps multi-national organisations to achieve greater coherence

Accepted Answer

Encouraging employee voice is often justified on the basis of improving decision-making, employee engagement, and effective management of change. However, achieving greater coherence in multi-national organisations is not typically cited as a justification for encouraging employee voice.

Question 3

Which of the following sequences correctly represents Marchington and Cox's 'escalator' of employee involvement?

Accepted Answer

C

Question 4

What is being described here? A form of employee involvement which involves groups of around a dozen employees meeting regularly to generate ideas aimed at improving productivity.&#10;A) Team briefing&#10;B) Quality circles&#10;C) Team working&#10;D) European Works Councils

Accepted Answer

Quality circles involve small groups of employees meeting regularly to generate ideas for improving productivity, quality, and other aspects of work. Team briefing is a method of communicating updates or sharing information with a team. Team working is a general term for collaboration among employees. European Works Councils are bodies set up to facilitate information and consultation of employees in multinational companies.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about information sharing in UK workplaces is the most accurate?&#10;A) Formal systems of communication are present in a good majority of UK workplaces&#10;B) Information sharing on the part of management is never a form of employee involvement&#10;C) Information sharing has no effect on employee commitment&#10;D) Quality circles are the most common method used for information sharing

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that formal systems of communication, such as staff meetings or newsletters, are present in the majority of UK workplaces and are a key part of information sharing. The other options are inaccurate. B is incorrect as management sharing information can be a form of employee involvement. C is incorrect as information sharing has been linked to higher employee commitment. D is incorrect as quality circles are not the most common method used for information sharing.

Question 6

In which of these countries are co-determination mechanisms most well-established?&#10;A) France&#10;B) Germany&#10;C) UK&#10;D) Italy

Accepted Answer

Co-determination mechanisms, which involve employee representatives having a say in management decisions, are most well-established in Germany. In Germany, 50% of supervisory board members must be employee representatives, giving workers significant influence in the decision-making process. While France, the UK, and Italy also have some forms of worker representation, they are not as extensive or established as Germany's co-determination system.

Deck 17: Employee Voice