Deck 1: Introduction to Human Resource Management

Question 1

Which of the following best defines line authority?

A)management over a small staff in a public firm
B)management with flexible decision-making powers
C)a manager's right to advise other managers or employees
D)a manager's right to issue orders to other managers or employees

Answer 1

D
Explanation: D) Line authority is a a manager's right to issue order to other managers or employees,which creates a superior-subordinate relationship.Staff authority refers to a manager's right to advise other managers or employees,which creates an advisory relationship.

Question 2

Gerard is authorized to direct the work of subordinates and is responsible for accomplishing the organization's tasks.Gerard is most likely a ________.

A)training specialist
B)staff manager
C)line manager
D)recruiter

Answer 2

C
Explanation: C) A line manager is authorized to direct the work of subordinates and is responsible for accomplishing the organization's tasks.Unlike line managers,staff managers lack the authority to issue orders down the chain of command.Recruiters and training specialists are specialties within the HR department,and HR managers are usually staff managers rather than line managers.

Question 3

Which function of the management process requires a manager to establish goals and standards and to develop rules and procedures?

A)planning
B)organizing
C)staffing
D)leading

Answer 3

A
Explanation: A) Planning,organizing,staffing,leading,and controlling are the five main functions of management.The planning function involves establishing goals and standards,developing rules and procedures,and forecasting.

Question 4

Personnel activities associated with human resource management most likely include all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A)orienting and training new employees
B)appraising employee performance
C)building employee commitment
D)developing customer relationships

Question 5

In most organizations,human resource managers are categorized as ________,who assist and advise ________ in areas like recruiting,hiring,and compensation.

A)staff managers; line managers
B)line managers; middle managers
C)line managers; staff managers
D)functional managers; staff managers

Question 6

________ is the process of acquiring,training,appraising,and compensating employees,and attending to their labor relations,health and safety,and fairness concerns.

A)Labor relations
B)Human resource management
C)Behavioral management
D)Organizational health and safety management

Question 7

Which of the following has historically been an integral part of every line manager's duties?

A)responding to customer complaints
B)handling personnel issues
C)creating personnel policies
D)establishing dress codes

Question 8

When managers use metrics to assess performance and then develop strategies for corrective action,they are performing the ________ function of the management process.

A)planning
B)leading
C)controlling
D)organizing

Question 9

Celeste spends most of her time at work establishing goals for her staff of fifty employees and developing procedures for various tasks.In which function of the management process does Celeste spend most of her time?

A)leading
B)controlling
C)organizing
D)planning

Question 10

A line manager's human resource responsibilities most likely include all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A)maintaining department morale
B)controlling labor costs
C)protecting employees' health
D)marketing new products and services

Question 11

According to experts,the primary hindrance to a firm's productivity is its inability to ________.

A)establish effective manufacturing facilities
B)acquire and maintain human capital
C)use advanced accounting controls
D)attain adequate cash and credit

Question 12

In the management process,which of the following is an activity associated with the leading function?

A)maintaining employee morale
B)setting performance standards
C)training new employees
D)developing procedures

Question 13

Which of the following includes five basic functions--planning,organizing,staffing,leading,and controlling?

A)job analysis
B)strategic management
C)management process
D)adaptability screening

Question 14

The basic functions of the management process include all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A)planning
B)organizing
C)outsourcing
D)leading

Question 15

Which function of the management process includes selecting employees,setting performance standards,and compensating employees?

A)organizing
B)planning
C)motivating
D)staffing

Question 16

________ is the right to make decisions,to direct the work of others,and to give orders.

A)Leadership
B)Authority
C)Management
D)Responsibility

Question 17

Jolene,a manager,delegates the responsibility for a project to Lee,her subordinate.Jolene is most likely involved in which function of the management process?

A)staffing
B)organizing
C)motivating
D)leading

Question 18

Which of the following is the person responsible for accomplishing an organization's goals by planning,organizing,staffing,leading,and controlling personnel?

A)manager
B)entrepreneur
C)generalist
D)marketer

Question 19

Which of the following best explains why human resource management is important to all managers?

A)Technological changes and global competition require clear organization charts.
B)Sophisticated accounting controls are supported by human resource managers.
C)An enthusiastic labor force is likely to provide financial support to local unions.
D)Investing in human capital enables managers to achieve positive results for the firm.

Question 20

Larry,a manager at a commercial real estate firm,has established a monthly sales quota for his sales team.Which basic function of management best describes Larry's actions?

A)planning
B)organizing
C)controlling
D)staffing

Question 21

All of the following are the most common reasons that firms decide to globalize EXCEPT ________.

A)reducing labor costs
B)supervising quality control methods
C)seeking new foreign products to sell
D)forming international partnerships

Question 22

All of the following are functions of the human resource manager EXCEPT ________.

A)ensuring that line managers are implementing HR policies
B)advising line managers about how to implement EEO laws
C)representing the interests of employees to senior management
D)integrating the duties of line managers with staff managers

Question 23

Which of the following is most likely a line function of the human resource manager?

A)ensuring that line managers are implementing HR policies
B)advising line managers about how to implement EEO laws
C)representing the interests of employees to senior management
D)directing the activities of subordinates in the HR department

Question 24

In most firms,line managers work in conjunction with HR managers when ________.

A)visiting college campuses to recruit
B)interviewing job applicants
C)administering preemployment tests
D)testing employees for drugs

Question 25

Which of the following responsibilities is shared by line managers and human resource managers in most firms?

A)preemployment testing
B)benefits administration
C)initial screening interviews
D)performance appraisals

Question 26

All of the following are ways in which an HR manager most likely assists and advises line managers EXCEPT ________.

A)administering health and accident insurance programs
B)representing employees' interests to upper management
C)making strategic business planning decisions
D)hiring, training, and evaluating employees

Question 27

Which of the following focuses on using centralized call centers and outsourcing arrangements with vendors as a way to provide specialized support for certain HR activities?

A)embedded HR units
B)corporate HR groups
C)HR centers of expertise
D)transactional HR groups

Question 28

An HR generalist at Wilson Manufacturing has been assigned to the sales department to provide HR management assistance as needed.Which of the following best describes the structure of the HR services provided at Wilson Manufacturing?

A)transactional HR groups
B)embedded HR units
C)HR centers of expertise
D)corporate HR groups

Question 29

In general,how many human resource employees would be on staff for a firm with 500 total employees?

A)1
B)2
C)5
D)10

Question 30

Human resource managers generally exert ________ within the human resources department and ________ outside the human resources department.

A)line authority; implied authority
B)staff authority; line authority
C)functional authority; line authority
D)staff authority; implied authority

Question 31

All of the following are examples of human resource specialties EXCEPT ________.

A)job analyst
B)financial advisor
C)compensation manager
D)labor relations specialist

Question 32

Which of the following human resource management specialties calls for collecting data to write job descriptions?

A)job analyst
B)job training specialist
C)compensation manager
D)EEO coordinator

Question 33

Which of the following refers to the authority exerted by an HR manager as coordinator of personnel activities?

A)staff authority
B)line authority
C)functional authority
D)corporate authority

Question 34

________ functions involve assisting and advising line managers,and they are the central aspect of a human resource manager's job.

A)Staff
B)Advocacy
C)Line
D)Coordinative

Question 35

Roberta Whitman has recently been hired by Jackson Pharmaceuticals as the senior vice president of human resources.Jackson Pharmaceuticals has a history of problems within its HR department including difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified employees,EEO violations,inadequate employee training programs,and confusion regarding health benefit enrollment and coverage.With years of experience transforming HR departments in other firms,Whitman believes she can correct the problems at Jackson Pharmaceuticals. Which of the following best supports the argument that Whitman should create embedded HR units and assign relationship managers to each department within the firm?

A)Employees frequently complain about the inconsistent assistance they receive from the HR department due to its large size.
B)The global nature of the firm makes it difficult for the HR department to effectively communicate corporate messages to employees scattered around the world.
C)Centralized call centers would enable the HR department to provide specialized support on daily transactional activities.
D)Line managers want to implement additional screening and evaluations to improve the quality of their subordinates.

Question 36

Roberta Whitman has recently been hired by Jackson Pharmaceuticals as the senior vice president of human resources.Jackson Pharmaceuticals has a history of problems within its HR department including difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified employees,EEO violations,inadequate employee training programs,and confusion regarding health benefit enrollment and coverage.With years of experience transforming HR departments in other firms,Whitman believes she can correct the problems at Jackson Pharmaceuticals. Which of the following best supports Whitman's idea to develop a transactional HR group to handle benefits administration?

A)An embedded HR unit would assist top management with big picture issues as well as benefits administration.
B)Extensive training has been provided to line managers so that they fully understand the different insurance options available to employees.
C)Outside vendors specializing in all aspects of benefits administration would provide improved support to the firm's employees.
D)Lower insurance premiums would eliminate the need for outsourcing services and improve employee health coverage.

Question 37

How have globalization and increased competition most likely affected human resource management?

A)Corporate intranets are used by HR managers to communicate important messages.
B)HR managers need to focus on integrating ethics into a firm's policies and practices.
C)Benefits administration is increasingly being handled internally as a way to lower costs.
D)HR managers need to focus on big picture issues to help firms achieve their strategic goals.

Question 38

Which of the following is an example of a coordinative function performed by HR managers?

A)ensuring that line managers are adhering to a firm's sexual harassment policies
B)voicing employee concerns about health benefits and wages to upper management
C)providing upper management with relevant data on national employment trends
D)assisting line managers with hiring, evaluating, and firing employees

Question 39

One of the ________ functions of a human resource manager includes directing the activities of his or her subordinates in the HR department.

A)coordinative
B)corporate
C)staff
D)line

Question 40

________ refers to the tendency of firms to extend their sales,ownership,and/or manufacturing to new markets abroad.

A)Expansion
B)Globalization
C)Export growth
D)Diversification

Question 41

An HR manager who wants to analyze the costs associated with each new hire will most likely use which of the following?

A)podcasts
B)Web portal
C)data warehouse
D)public domain software

Question 42

Which of the following best explains why top HR executives are being paid increasingly high salaries?

A)A firm's vision is only effective when HR managers play a strategic role in its development.
B)Effective HR managers increase corporate profitability and organizational performance.
C)Transactional activities are more cost-effective when outsourced by HR.
D)Business strategies developed by HR managers are quantifiable.

Question 43

Over the next few years,employers may face a severe labor shortage because ________.

A)there are fewer people entering the workforce than there are retiring baby boomers
B)one-third of single mothers are not employed in the U.S. labor force
C)there are too many nontraditional workers holding multiple jobs
D)older employees are more family-centric than younger employees

Question 44

Which of the following best describes a nontraditional worker?

A)workers near retirement age
B)ethnically diverse workers
C)workers with multiple jobs
D)service-based workers

Question 45

Evidence-based human resource management relies on all of the following types of evidence EXCEPT ________.

A)scientific rigor
B)existing data
C)research studies
D)qualitative opinions

Question 46

Which of the following best explains the shift from manufacturing to service jobs in the U.S.?

A)creation of integrated supply chains
B)firms producing their own raw materials
C)global environmental concerns and legislation
D)Web-based training programs for blue-collar workers

Question 47

Which of the following describes the most significant demographic trend facing the U.S.work force?

A)increased number of aging workers
B)decreased number of contingent workers
C)increased number of blue-collar workers
D)decreased number of bilingual workers

Question 48

Which term refers to a set of quantitative performance measures that human resource managers use to assess their operations?

A)case studies
B)metrics
C)practices
D)ratios

Question 49

Tara Robles earned an MBA degree and is now an HR manager for a Fortune 500 company.In which of the following tasks does Tara's advanced degree benefit her the most?

A)using application service providers to expedite employee services
B)assisting upper management in formulating business strategies
C)distributing pension payments to retiring employees
D)recruiting college graduates for entry-level positions

Question 50

Unlike HR managers of the past,modern HR managers must be able to ________.

A)assist with employee training in various departments within a firm
B)explain HR activities in terms of a firm's finances and productivity
C)determine the most appropriate compensation for employees
D)hire workers who are well-matched to a firm's HR needs

Question 51

Royall & Company streamlined its annual benefits package enrollments by digitizing and aggregating the former paper benefits reports,electronic spreadsheets,and benefit summaries and providing the materials at a single location on the company intranet.Royall is most likely using a(n)________.

A)spam filter
B)Web portal
C)query processor
D)software license

Question 52

Which of the following is a potential disadvantage to consumers of the globalization trend among businesses?

A)increased costs of goods
B)increased insurance costs
C)higher labor union fees
D)reduced job security

Question 53

According to employer surveys,one of the primary challenges of Generation Y employees is their ________.

A)inability to use information technology
B)inadequate multi-tasking skills
C)inability to balance work and family
D)need for constant praise and recognition

Question 54

What term refers to the knowledge,education,training,skills,and expertise of a firm's workers?

A)human resources
B)human capital
C)intangible assets
D)contingent personnel

Question 55

Strategic human resource management refers to ________.

A)formulating and executing human resource policies and practices that produce the employee competencies and behaviors the company needs to achieve strategic aims
B)planning the balance of internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats to maintain competitive advantage
C)emphasizing the knowledge, education, training, skills, and expertise of a firm's workers
D)extending a firm's sales, ownership, and manufacturing to new markets

Question 56

All of the following are ways in which employers use technology to support their human resource management activities EXCEPT ________.

A)paying employees and suppliers electronically
B)offshoring and outsourcing benefits administration services
C)offering online employee training through streaming desktop videos
D)developing data warehouses to compare employees' skills with the firm's needs

Question 57

Globalization,competition,and technology have led to which of the following trends in human resource management?

A)HR managers primarily focus on providing transactional services like recruiting and hiring.
B)Metrics used to measure employee potential have been replaced by standardized testing.
C)HR managers assist top management with developing and implementing new strategies.
D)Employee contracts are frequently used by HR managers to protect the interests of the firm.

Question 58

Which term refers to using external vendors to perform HR jobs that were once handled by a firm internally?

A)freelancing
B)outsourcing
C)rightsizing
D)warehousing

Question 59

Which of the following would provide the best solution for a global firm's HR department that needs to immediately provide employees with corporate information?

A)streaming desktop video
B)electronic outsourcing
C)productivity software
D)network monitoring

Question 60

________ refers to an integrated set of human resource management policies and practices that together result in superior employee performance.

A)Strategic planning
B)Strategic human resource management
C)High-performance work system
D)Human resource scorecard approach

Question 61

The vice president of marketing tells a marketing manager to prepare a presentation by the end of the week.The vice president is most likely exercising which of the following?

A)staff authority
B)procedural authority
C)line authority
D)functional authority

Question 62

In small organizations,line managers frequently handle all personnel duties without the assistance of a human resource staff.

Question 63

Shelly,an HR manager,recently had a meeting with the production manager to determine if the firm's vacation policy was been strictly followed in the production department.Shelly was most likely performing a ________ function.

A)coordinative
B)procedural
C)staff
D)line

Question 64

Communicating is one of the five basic functions of the management process.

Question 65

What is the LEAST likely reason for the growing number of U.S.firms that are re-shoring jobs?

A)free trade areas
B)high shipping fees
C)inadequate quality
D)intellectual property theft

Question 66

Autonomy is the right to make decisions,direct the work of others,and give orders.

Question 67

HR managers who take SHRM certification exams are tested on all of the following areas EXCEPT ________.

A)strategic management
B)workforce planning
C)information technology
D)occupational health and safety

Question 68

Which of the following would most likely provide assistance to executives about long-term strategic plans?

A)centers of expertise
B)embedded HR units
C)corporate HR groups
D)professional employee organizations

Question 69

Human resource managers are generally staff managers.

Question 70

Which of the following refers to the standards someone uses to decide what his or her conduct should be?

A)ethics
B)strategies
C)preferences
D)competencies

Question 71

Setting standards such as sales quotas,quality standards,or production levels is part of the leading function of human resource management.

Question 72

Staff managers have staff authority which enables them to issue orders down the chain of command unlike line managers.

Question 73

Administering health benefits programs,helping line managers comply with EEO laws,and assisting with labor relations are all elements of the ________ function.

A)coordinative
B)procedural
C)staff
D)line

Question 74

Staff managers are authorized to issue orders to subordinates and are directly in charge of accomplishing the organization's basic goals.

Question 75

Hiring the wrong person for the job,committing unfair labor practices,and failing to motivate employees are personnel mistakes that hinder firms from achieving positive results.

Question 76

Human resource managers assist line managers with hiring,training,evaluating,rewarding,counseling,promoting,and hiring employees.

Question 77

Which HR specialty involves preparing job descriptions?

A)compensation manager
B)EEO coordinator
C)job analyst
D)recruiter

Question 78

All of the following are ethical issues that must be considered by human resource managers EXCEPT ________.

A)comparable work
B)workplace safety
C)affirmative action
D)FCC regulations

Question 79

Which organization provides professional certification for human resource managers?

A)Association of Certified HR Managers
B)Society for Human Resource Management
C)Academy of Human Resource Executives
D)Association of Business Administration

Question 80

The planning function of management includes establishing goals and standards and developing forecasts.