Deck 10: Employee Retention, Engagement, and Careers

Question 1

What is one of the results of IBM's on-demand staffing strategy?

A)increased resignations
B)expanded market share
C)increased telecommuting
D)improved employee retention

Answer 1

D
Explanation: D) The on-demand staffing program at IBM is improving employee retention,by minimizing the sorts of layoffs and resignations that might occur if employees skill sets were inconsistent with IBM's needs.Resignations,market share,and telecommuting are less relevant.

Question 2

________ focuses on helping an employee make long-term career plans,while ________ addresses an employee's short-term job skills.

A)Mentoring, coaching
B)Coaching, mentoring
C)Recruiting, coaching
D)Appraising, training

Answer 2

A
Explanation: A) Mentoring means advising,counseling,and guiding an employee towards long-term career goals.Coaching means educating,instructing,and training subordinates in performing short-term job-related skills.Recruiting refers to searching for job candidates.

Question 3

According to a TowersPerrin study,which of the following managerial actions would most likely foster employee engagement?

A)offering improved benefits packages
B)conducting regular performance appraisals
C)linking employee efforts to company goals
D)providing online training sessions to new hires

Answer 3

C
Explanation: C) According to a TowersPerrin study,engagement-supporting actions include making sure employees (1) understand how their departments contribute to the company's success, (2) see how their own efforts contribute to achieving the company's goals,and (3) get a sense of accomplishment from working at the firm. Benefits,performance appraisals,and training are less relevant.

Question 4

As an employer,what is the primary benefit of cutting a high turnover rate?

A)selling stock
B)saving money
C)attracting applicants
D)meeting legal obligations

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the purpose of the 9-box matrix method?

A)selecting new employees
B)identifying effective coaches
C)assessing promotion potential
D)analyzing employee engagement

Question 6

Which of the following terms refers to educating,instructing,and training subordinates?

A)mentoring
B)coaching
C)appraising
D)grading

Question 7

Dick's Sporting Goods is a sports and fitness retailer with over 300 stores in 34 states.After beginning as a small bait and tackle shop in 1948,Dick's has grown to become a leader in the sports and fitness retail industry.Many career opportunities are available Dick's in areas as diverse as IT,product development,merchandising,and store management.Top management at Dick's realizes the importance of hiring and retaining quality employees.As a result,the firm has decided to implement policies,practices,and programs that support employees' career needs. Which of the following,if true,would best support the argument that Dick's should assign a coach to each new employee?

A) The turnover rate of newly hired hourly employees at Dick's Sporting Goods is higher than the industry average.
B)Many new employees at Dick's Sporting Goods have expressed interest in the firm's tuition reimbursement program.
C)Dick's Sporting Goods has integrated preretirement counseling and succession planning into its career management practices.
D) Dick's Sporting Goods uses talent management software to place new employees in the most appropriate positions.

Question 8

Which of the following would most likely reduce voluntary turnover?

A)performance appraisal systems
B)high unemployment rates
C)numerous job opportunities
D)downsizing requirements

Question 9

Which of the following industries has one of the highest turnover rates?

A)food services
B)financial services
C)healthcare services
D)educational services

Question 10

The process of advising,counseling,and guiding employees is known as ________.

A)coaching
B)appraising
C)assessing
D)mentoring

Question 11

Apex Carpet has a very high voluntary turnover rate,which executives at the firm want reduced.What is the most effective way to retain top-performing employees at Apex?

A)conducting more performance reviews
B)developing new recruitment strategies
C)establishing a talent management program
D)revising the organization's mission statement

Question 12

You have been assigned to coach an employee who is struggling with work assignments.Which of the following steps should you most likely complete first?

A)reach agreement with the employee on a plan
B)ask the employee open-ended questions
C)offer ideas and advice to the employee
D)observe the employee on the job

Question 13

According to surveys,high levels of employee engagement are LEAST frequently associated with ________.

A)fewer repeat customers
B)higher performance levels
C)lower turnover rates
D)better corporate earnings

Question 14

The rate at which employees leave a firm is best known as ________.

A)downsizing
B)retirement
C)turnover
D)retention

Question 15

Which of the following statements most likely suggests that an employee is engaged?

A)"I work with intensity."
B)"I take frequent breaks."
C)"I daydream at my desk."
D)"I enjoy talking to co-workers."

Question 16

Which term refers to actions intended to place physical or psychological distance between employees and their work environments?

A)employee disengagement
B)workplace separation
C)job withdrawal
D)attrition

Question 17

What is the first step in retaining employees?

A)providing employees with proper training
B)discussing career plans with workers
C)selecting the right workers
D)identifying worker goals

Question 18

Apex Carpet has a very high voluntary turnover rate,which executives at the firm want reduced.Which of the following should Apex most likely do first in its attempt to retain top-performing employees?

A)administer attitude surveys to all employees
B)provide an across-the-board wage increase
C)evaluate the firm's promotion methods
D)develop online training courses

Question 19

According to research cited in the text,what is the primary reason that top-performing/high commitment employees gave for voluntarily leaving an organization?

A)career development
B)work-life balance
C)promotions
D)salary

Question 20

Robin,the HR manager at Rightway Enterprises,believes that job withdrawal has become a significant problem at the firm.Robin most likely came to this conclusion after observing all of the following employee behaviors EXCEPT ________.

A)frequent vacation time requests
B)idle employee conversations
C)undeserved work breaks
D)excessive absences

Question 21

All of the following are types of career development initiatives implemented by employers EXCEPT ________.

A)401(k)plans
B)career coaches
C)appraisal committees
D)orientation programs

Question 22

Which of the following would most likely increase employee commitment?

A)document the psychological contract
B)create Web-based efficiency programs
C)establish a career development program
D)promise lifetime employment to managers

Question 23

Which of the following best describes career planning?

A)a deliberate process through which someone becomes aware of personal skills, interests, knowledge, and motivations and establishes action plans to attain specific career goals.
B)the lifelong series of activities that contribute to a person's career exploration, establishment, success, and fulfillment
C)a process of helping employees to better understand and develop their career skills and interests and to use these skills and interests most effectively.
D)the process of educating, instructing, and training subordinates as they develop their career interests and job skills.

Question 24

Employers benefit from offering career development programs to employees in all of the following ways EXCEPT ________.

A)supporting recruitment efforts
B)boosting employee commitment
C)enhancing employee strengths
D)facilitating performance analysis

Question 25

Orion Enterprises wants to provide employees with a Web-based library of career development materials,as well as individual career coaches and career workshops.Which term best describes the program that Orion plans to offer?

A)career organization
B)vocational training
C)work sampling
D)career center

Question 26

________ is a process for enabling employees to better understand and develop their career skills and interests and to use these skills and interests most effectively within the company and afterwards.

A)Career management
B)Career development
C)Career planning
D)Performance management

Question 27

Dick's Sporting Goods is a sports and fitness retailer with over 300 stores in 34 states.After beginning as a small bait and tackle shop in 1948,Dick's has grown to become a leader in the sports and fitness retail industry.Many career opportunities are available Dick's in areas as diverse as IT,product development,merchandising,and store management.Top management at Dick's realizes the importance of hiring and retaining quality employees.As a result,the firm has decided to implement policies,practices,and programs that support employees' career needs. Which of the following,if true,would best support the argument that Dick's should add a career development aspect to its human resource activities?

A)Dick's Sporting Goods' current policies and practices categorize the firm as a high-performance work system.
B)Dick's Sporting Goods' performance appraisals will include development plans and individual goal setting.
C)Dick's Sporting Goods' sales volume and hourly employee needs typically fluctuate throughout the year.
D)Dick's Sporting Goods' will screen potential candidates using structured situational interviews.

Question 28

All of the following are the role of the employer in an employee's career development EXCEPT ________.

A)communicating policies and procedures
B)analyzing interests, values, and skills
C)providing performance feedback
D)offering a variety of career paths

Question 29

What is most likely the best tool managers can use to support employees' career development needs?

A)orientation sessions
B)performance appraisals
C)interest inventories
D)graphic-rating scales

Question 30

Tom,who has recently been assigned to coach a new employee,completed a self-evaluation of his coaching skills.Which of the following actions most likely indicates that Tom is an effective coach?

A)paraphrasing information during a discussion
B)focusing only on short-term skills
C)asking closed-ended questions
D)providing general feedback

Question 31

Which of the following is the organization's role in an employee's career development?

A)providing mentoring opportunities to support growth
B)participating in career development discussions
C)providing timely performance feedback
D)establishing goals and career plans

Question 32

Which of the following terms refers to the lifelong series of activities that contribute to a person's career exploration,establishment,success,and fulfillment?

A)performance management
B)career development
C)career management
D)career planning

Question 33

Which of the following refers to an organized learning event in which participants conduct self-assessments,set goals,and develop action plans?

A)competency-based job analysis
B)career planning workshop
C)job instruction training
D)management retreat

Question 34

Which of the following is a specific example of a career development activity?

A)job evaluation
B)training workshop
C)college recruitment
D)performance appraisal

Question 35

In regards to an employee's career development,it is the primary responsibility of the ________ to make career plans,set goals,and utilize development opportunities.

A)employer
B)employee
C)recruiter
D)HR manager

Question 36

All of the following are typical activities of career coaches EXCEPT helping employees to ________.

A)make 1-5 year career plans
B)identify development needs
C)obtain networking opportunities
D)negotiate with firms for higher salaries

Question 37

Dick's Sporting Goods is a sports and fitness retailer with over 300 stores in 34 states.After beginning as a small bait and tackle shop in 1948,Dick's has grown to become a leader in the sports and fitness retail industry.Many career opportunities are available Dick's in areas as diverse as IT,product development,merchandising,and store management.Top management at Dick's realizes the importance of hiring and retaining quality employees.As a result,the firm has decided to implement policies,practices,and programs that support employees' career needs. All of the following questions are relevant to Dick's Sporting Goods' decision to implement a career development program EXCEPT ________.

A)What is the average length of time that an employee works for Dick's Sporting Goods?
B)How would the profits of Dick's Sporting Goods be affected by a change in hiring practices?
C)What are the career needs and opportunities available to minorities and women employed by Dick's Sporting Goods?
D)What will be the effect on recruiting and placement if employees' interests and attitudes are taken into consideration by the HR department at Dick's Sporting Goods?

Question 38

Which of the following is primarily the role of the manager in an employee's career development?

A)providing career information
B)seeking development opportunities
C)providing academic assistance programs
D)providing accurate performance feedback

Question 39

Jackie is working with a coach to identify her personal skills and interests.Afterwards,she will investigate opportunities that fit her skills and interests and set specific career goals.In which of the following activities is Jackie most likely participating?

A)career management
B)career development
C)career planning
D)job training

Question 40

Recent surveys indicate that employers are more likely to retain talented employees by offering all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A)short-term incentives
B)specific leadership opportunities
C)multiple professional experiences
D)broad functional exposure in the firm

Question 41

Which of the following best explains the meaning of the term "glass ceiling"?

A)formal corporate policies that prevent women from receiving the training needed to advance their careers
B)spoken opinions by corporate leaders that women lack the knowledge and skills required for career advancement
C)structural yet subtle barriers in corporate environments that inhibit the rise of talented women to leadership positions
D)inadequate educational opportunities which ultimately limit the network opportunities available to women in the workforce

Question 42

Which of the following best summarizes the Peter Principle?

A)Most executives fear changing the status quo, so they promote based on seniority not competence.
B)A person's level of competence determines how high he or she rises in a firm's hierarchy.
C)People are eventually promoted to positions that are beyond their levels of competence.
D)A person's competency is too difficult to determine, so promotions are based on seniority.

Question 43

All of the following are characteristics of effective mentors EXCEPT ________.

A)developing a trustworthy relationship
B)guiding proteges into important projects
C)focusing on the protege's daily tasks
D)setting high standards for proteges

Question 44

Tanya accused a male superior of sexual harassment.Later,Tanya was turned down for a promotion because the accused superior persuaded Tanya's current supervisor not to promote Tanya.This is most likely an example of ________.

A)demotion
B)retaliation
C)dissonance
D)defensive behavior

Question 45

How are firms using technology for career development programs?

A)using online testing systems to screen applicants
B)providing mentors and coaches with online training systems
C)monitoring employees' performance with electronic performance support systems
D)using talent management systems to integrate employees' appraisal and training information

Question 46

All of the following are characteristic of a formal promotion process EXCEPT ________.

A)Open positions are posted
B)Promotion criteria are made available
C)Job postings are circulated to all employees
D)Promotions are based on unpublished requirements

Question 47

Chelsea Bank employs a diverse group of employees,and the firm wants all of its workers to have equal career advancement opportunities.Which of the following most likely undermines Chelsea Bank's attempt to meet the career development needs of its diverse workforce?

A)scheduling meetings at flexible times such as in the early morning or late evening
B)offering career advancement seminars for women and minorities
C)identifying mentors for women and minorities
D)adopting flexible year-round work schedules

Question 48

Dick's Sporting Goods is a sports and fitness retailer with over 300 stores in 34 states.After beginning as a small bait and tackle shop in 1948,Dick's has grown to become a leader in the sports and fitness retail industry.Many career opportunities are available Dick's in areas as diverse as IT,product development,merchandising,and store management.Top management at Dick's realizes the importance of hiring and retaining quality employees.As a result,the firm has decided to implement policies,practices,and programs that support employees' career needs. Which of the following,if true,would best support the argument that the firm should institute a flexible career track program?

A)Executive positions at Dick's Sporting Goods are rewarded for a combination of seniority and competence.
B)Situational interviews are used at Dick's Sporting Goods to screen potential store managers.
C)Executive positions at Dick's Sporting Goods are predominantly held by men.
D)Over half of all Dick's Sporting Goods stores are run by female managers.

Question 49

Miranda wants to make partner at her law firm.However,she is worried because 70-hour work weeks are the norm for someone striving to make partner.Miranda wants to be fair to her family as well as excel at work.The best way for the law firm to address this problem is by ________.

A)providing Miranda with a female career coach
B)persuading Miranda to temporarily work in a less competitive law firm
C)offering a flexible career track that allows Miranda to periodically reduce her work load
D)providing a career planning workshop to help Miranda determine a more appropriate occupation

Question 50

Which of the following is most likely to occur when a new employee's high expectations and enthusiasm confront the reality of a boring job?

A)halo effect
B)reality shock
C)disparate rejection
D)cognitive dissonance

Question 51

Michele's firm does not have a formal mentoring program.However,entry-level employees,such as Michele,are encouraged to form relationships with experienced workers.Michele wants to make sure that she has an effective mentor relationship.Which of the following mentor relationship guidelines would NOT be recommended to Michele?

A)Clarify in advance how often you want to meet.
B)Use an agenda to guide discussion topics.
C)Clarify what you expect in terms of advice.
D)Select a direct supervisor as a mentor.

Question 52

Frank is a manager at a firm that does not have a career development program,but he wants to support the career development needs of his subordinates.All of the following are ways that Frank can support the career needs of his employees EXCEPT ________.

A)offering employees training opportunities
B)providing employee orientation to new hires
C)using high-performance work system methods
D)discussing career goals during regular performance appraisals

Question 53

Which of the following terms refers to advancements to positions of increased responsibility?

A)transfers
B)appraisals
C)promotions
D)recruitments

Question 54

Smith Industries has established a career development program for its employees that offers career coaching and workshops.However,a recent employee survey indicates that many women still feel dissatisfied about their career opportunities at the firm.Which of the following would most likely improve the attitudes of female employees at Smith Industries?

A)Smith installs an electronic performance support system for telecommuters.
B)Smith provides hardship allowances to all minority employees.
C)Smith increases the number of performance appraisals.
D)Smith implements a flexible career track system.

Question 55

Competence rather than seniority is most likely the basis for promotion when ________.

A)corporate competitiveness is necessary
B)union agreements are involved
C)civil service regulations apply
D)compensation packages are limited

Question 56

ABC Consulting has a formal mentoring program in which senior-level managers are paired with less-experienced employees.Which of the following employees most likely needs a mentor?

A)Raj, who is uncertain how to navigate office politics
B)Jason, who does not perform tasks as quickly as required
C)Michele, who is experiencing personal problems at home
D)Haley, who is working and attending graduate school simultaneously

Question 57

Based on research studies,which of the following is most likely a true statement about mentoring programs?

A)Traditional mentoring programs are more effective for male than for female employees.
B)When the mentor and protege work in different departments, mentoring is more effective.
C)Proteges have more respect for mentors who work two levels above their own rank in a firm.
D)Required mentoring relationships are more effective than informal mentoring relationships.

Question 58

Which of the following is the simplest and most often used method for predicting the future performance of a candidate for promotion?

A)prior performance
B)aptitude tests
C)assessment centers
D)psychological exams

Question 59

Reality shock can most likely be prevented by providing new employees with ________.

A)flexible schedules
B)performance appraisals
C)reassignments
D)accurate job previews

Question 60

Which of the following terms refers to reassignments to similar positions in other parts of a firm?

A)transfers
B)layoffs
C)dismissals
D)promotions

Question 61

Routinely transferring employees to different cities is most likely no longer a common corporate practice because ________.

A)relocation expenses are no longer tax deductible
B)baby boomer employees are nearing retirement
C)most firms allow top executives to telecommute
D)firms realize that such moves disrupt family stability

Question 62

Poor attendance and voluntary turnover are most likely characteristics of ________.

A)decreasing employee engagement
B)minimal job expectations
C)shrinking labor markets
D)poor supervision

Question 63

All of the following methods are used by firms to recruit and retain retirement-age workers EXCEPT ________.

A)implementing phased retirement programs
B)allowing workers to telecommute
C)using psychometric selection tests
D)reducing work responsibilities

Question 64

For many employees,professional growth opportunities act as an incentive to remain with a firm because such programs indicate that a company cares about its workers.

Question 65

Career development is the lifelong series of activities that contributes to a person's career exploration,establishment,success,and fulfillment.

Question 66

A manager who frequently reminds employees how their efforts contribute to accomplishing the company's goals will most likely ________.

A)trigger creativity
B)minimize disagreements
C)eliminate early retirements
D)boost employee engagement

Question 67

IBM initiated an on-demand staffing strategy to meet the changing technological needs of its customers.

Question 68

Interpersonal communication skills are an essential element for effective coaching.

Question 69

The primary purpose of Accenture's say,stay,and strive program is to ________.

A)promote minority employees
B)mentor newly hired workers
C)assess employee engagement
D)identify training and development needs

Question 70

Studies indicate that traditional mentoring is less effective for men than it is for women.

Question 71

Employers that focus on talent management are primarily interested in retaining ________.

A)educated workers
B)senior-level employees
C)mission-critical employees
D)workers with global experience

Question 72

Which of the following terms refers to the automated end-to-end process of planning,recruiting,developing,managing,and compensating employees throughout the organization?

A)performance management
B)human resource management
C)management by objectives
D)talent management

Question 73

The final step in the coaching process requires the coach and the employee to agree on the problem and a change plan.

Question 74

A career is the occupational positions one holds at a single organization.

Question 75

According to research,the turnover rate is relatively the same across all industries in the U.S.

Question 76

Boring jobs,low pay,inadequate supervision,and poor working conditions are likely to lead to job withdrawal.

Question 77

Why are an increasing number of firms focusing on retirement planning?

A)concerns about future labor shortages
B)surveys of current employee attitudes
C)modifications to the promotion process
D)increases in health insurance premiums

Question 78

According to the court system,promotions based on subjective assessments ________.

A)support employers in adverse impact claims
B)violate the Americans with Disabilities Act
C)must be supported by objective evidence
D)are valid under the Civil Rights Act of 1991

Question 79

Studies indicate that approximately 40% of the global workforce is engaged.

Question 80

All of the following are true statements about retirement EXCEPT ________.

A)most employees who plan to work after 65 must do so for financial reasons
B)most employees expect to continue working after normal retirement age
C)most employees who plan to work after 65 want a part-time position
D)many retirement age workers want to stay active through working