Deck 11: Retail Organization and Human Resource Management

Question 1

A major advantage of specialization of tasks in retailing is _____.

A)the generation of broad-based potential managers
B)the need for fewer employees
C)greater employee expertise
D)less boredom

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Under the basic Mazur plan,a buyer's duties include _____.

A)controlling expenses and meeting departmental profit goals within his/her department
B)providing staff services to all of the retailer's merchandising divisions
C)operating all branch units
D)being constantly on the sales floor to supervise selling personnel

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Centralized managers supervise branch store personnel,but are physically removed from the branch units,in which form of organization?

A)diversified retailer organization
B)equal store organization
C)separate store organization
D)main store control

Answer 3

D

Question 4

An advantage of a tall retail organization is _____.

A)many employees reporting to one manager
B)quick handling of problems within the organization
C)quick communication throughout the organization
D)close worker supervision

Question 5

A tall organization is characterized by _____.

A)a short channel of communication
B)quick handling of problems
C)a large number of subordinates reporting to one supervisor
D)several management levels

Question 6

Proper use of specialization gives each employee _____.

A)a relatively homogeneous cluster of work tasks
B)more discretion on the job
C)greater job satisfaction
D)greater job-related incentives

Question 7

The reporting relationships among employees within a retail firm are described by the _____.

A)job description
B)weighted application blank
C)goal-oriented job description
D)hierarchy of authority

Question 8

Each employee is responsible for limited functions under _____.

A)independent ownership
B)specialization
C)centralization
D)a branch-store system

Question 9

In the Mazur plan,the merchandising division is responsible for _____.

A)buying only
B)selling only
C)buying and selling
D)accounting and control

Question 10

Retail tasks can be performed _____.

A)by the retailer,manufacturer,wholesaler,specialists,or consumers
B)only by the retailer
C)by the retailer,manufacturer,or wholesaler
D)by the retailer,manufacturer,wholesaler,or specialists

Question 11

The four functional areas defined in the Mazur plan are _____.

A)buying,selling,store operations,and accounting
B)merchandising,communications,store management,and financial accounting
C)marketing,management,accounting,and finance
D)product,price,promotion,and distribution

Question 12

A functional classification assigns jobs into divisions such as _____.

A)East,West,North,and South
B)main store and branches
C)sales promotion,buying,and store operations
D)furniture,giftware,and clothing

Question 13

In the main store control organization,_____.

A)merchandise managers are placed in branch stores
B)most authority remains with headquarters managers
C)decentralization is practiced
D)each branch has autonomy for merchandising and operations

Question 14

A flat organization has _____.

A)a long channel of communication
B)a clear hierarchy of authority
C)many subordinates reporting to one supervisor
D)many levels of management

Question 15

A major advantage of a flat organization is _____.

A)good communication among levels of supervision
B)a long channel of communication
C)the existence of several levels of supervision
D)fewer employees reporting to each manager

Question 16

The simplest organization pattern in retailing can be found in which retail format?

A)department store
B)supermarket
C)independent
D)chain

Question 17

A job description contains an outline of _____.

A)superior/subordinate relationships
B)behaviorally-based job objectives
C)the job title,objectives,duties,and responsibilities
D)compensation benefits

Question 18

Personnel are best adapted to local conditions through which method of classifying jobs?

A)geographic classification
B)functional classification
C)product classification
D)interdivisional classification

Question 19

What organizational format best describes a situation where a large number of subordinates report to one manager?

A)diversified retailer
B)tall organization
C)chain organization
D)flat organization

Question 20

The basic Mazur plan divides all retail activities into _____.

A)main store and branch store components
B)line components only
C)line and staff components
D)staff components only

Question 21

The retailer most likely to have a flat organization is a _____.

A)small independent retailer
B)chain retailer
C)department store
D)diversified retailer

Question 22

A separate store organization should be utilized when _____.

A)branches are small and customer tastes are similar
B)branches are large and customer tastes vary by location
C)buying and selling functions need to be differentiated
D)stock needs to be transferred among branches

Question 23

A weighted application blank _____.

A)is usually the first step in screening applicants
B)can be used for probing during an interview
C)determines which items correlate with job success
D)requires little interpretation

Question 24

A diversified retailer can best be defined as a _____.

A)multi-line firm operating under central ownership
B)chain form of ownership
C)descrambled merchandising form
D)leased department operation

Question 25

Which of the following relates to a minimum expectation?

A)recognition for good performance
B)the right to a safe workplace
C)a sense of achievement from doing a job well
D)additional compensation for exceptional performance

Question 26

Which selection technique results in a minimum total score becoming a cutoff point for hiring?

A)weighted application blank
B)application blank
C)goal-oriented job description
D)job analysis

Question 27

Job analysis and description,an application blank,the interview,testing,references,and a physical examination are all part of which human resource process?

A)recruitment of retail personnel
B)selection of retail personnel
C)supervision of retail personnel
D)compensation of retail personnel

Question 28

A parent organization operates the branch stores in which organization form?

A)independent organization
B)main store control organization
C)separate store organization
D)equal store organization

Question 29

The gathering of information about each job's functions and requirements is a major attribute of _____.

A)job analysis
B)an application blank
C)a weighted application blank
D)a job description

Question 30

The compensation plan characterized by high control,employee security,and known expenses is a _____.

A)straight-salary plan
B)straight-commission plan
C)salary plus commission plan
D)compensation cafeteria

Question 31

The span of control refers to the number of subordinates reporting to one manager.A firm with a large span of control utilizes a _____ organization.

A)tall
B)flat
C)decentralized
D)functional

Question 32

Job turnover,performance,and absenteeism can often be predicted using a(n)_____.

A)goal-oriented job description
B)application blank
C)weighted application blank
D)job analysis

Question 33

A major disadvantage of extreme task specialization is _____.

A)high degree of work delegation
B)the need for more employees
C)boredom
D)high training time

Question 34

The human resource environment facing retailers is characterized by _____.

A)inexperienced workers,long hours,and high variations in demand
B)low costs,short hours,and low variations in demand
C)highly visible workers,few part-time workers,and low variations in demand
D)less visible workers,few part-time workers,and low variations in demand

Question 35

The earnings of an employee are directly related to productivity in which compensation plan?

A)straight-commission plan
B)straight-salary plan
C)salary plus commission plan
D)compensation cafeteria

Question 36

Compensation cafeterias are characterized by _____.

A)earnings being related to productivity
B)employee choice of salary and fringe benefits components
C)a combination of salary and commission plans
D)a high bonus component

Question 37

A department store utilizes different personnel for the main store (central business district)and for the suburban (regional shopping center)locations.The store utilizes a _____.

A)geographic classification
B)product classification
C)functional classification
D)combination organization chart

Question 38

Pre-training involves the teaching of _____.

A)salesmanship principles and product knowledge
B)various training methods to determine their effectiveness
C)company history and policies and a job orientation
D)aptitude and achievement tests

Question 39

Information that can be obtained only through personal observation and questioning is amassed by which selection method?

A)case method
B)job analysis
C)interview
D)achievement tests

Question 40

The hierarchy of authority within a firm is described in _____.

A)a goal-oriented job description
B)a job description
C)job analysis
D)the organization chart

Question 41

The basic Mazur plan places profit-and-loss responsibility on a department level with which executive?

A)buyer
B)owner-manager
C)operations personnel
D)controller

Question 42

In contrast to organizational arrangements used by small independents,chain retailers _____.

A)use simple organizational arrangements
B)have little departmentalization
C)contain a large number of functional divisions
D)utilize little specialization of functions

Question 43

A significant difference between the organizational structure used by a chain retailer and by a diversified retailer is that the chain retailer more often has _____.

A)elaborate financial controls
B)standardized operations in all units
C)a more complex organization structure
D)a large number of divisions

Question 44

In general,as more employees report to a supervisor,the retail organization tends to become a _____ organization.

A)flat
B)tall
C)combination
D)self-service

Question 45

Which organizational arrangement is most commonly used by both department stores and chain retailers?

A)separate store organization
B)equal store organization
C)main store control organization
D)decentralized organization

Question 46

Which type of retailer generally has the most complex organizational structure?

A)diversified retailer
B)small independent retailer
C)chain store
D)department store

Question 47

Duplication of merchandising and operations decision making occurs in which department store organization plan?

A)main store control
B)separate store
C)centralized
D)equal store

Question 48

The major difference between an application blank and a weighted application blank is that the weighted application blank _____.

A)is completed by the interviewer
B)is verified by references
C)is verified by personal questioning and observation
D)correlates specific factors to job success

Question 49

Which department store organizational format is most suitable when local customer tastes vary widely?

A)centralized organization
B)separate organization
C)equal store organization
D)main store control organization

Question 50

In contrast to organizational arrangements used by small independent retailers,the organizational arrangement used by department stores is categorized by _____.

A)centralized decision making
B)a flat organization
C)specialization of functions
D)simple organizational arrangements

Question 51

Which organization chart best describes a retailer that has adapted the Mazur plan with separate managers for main stores and branches?

A)functional classification
B)geographic classification
C)product classification
D)combination organization chart

Question 52

The recruitment source with which job candidates have the least degree of screening is _____.

A)employment agencies
B)other channel members
C)advertisements
D)employee recommendations

Question 53

The Mazur plan most closely corresponds to which job classification system?

A)functional classification
B)product classification
C)geographic classification
D)combination organization

Question 54

Department stores attempt to accomplish the benefits of both centralization and decentralization in which retail organizational form?

A)diversified retailing
B)main store control
C)separate store
D)equal store

Question 55

The ideal retail management system to use when a chain has few branches and the buying preferences of branch customers are similar to those of main store customers is the _____.

A)separate store organization
B)equal store organization
C)independent organization
D)main store control organization

Question 56

Differences in customer preferences in chains' branch locations are easily overlooked in which retail organizational form?

A)centralized organization
B)separate store organization
C)equal store organization
D)main store control organization

Question 57

Separate store organizations can be distinguished by _____.

A)having merchandise managers placed directly in branch stores
B)merchandise standardization
C)the main store domination of branch store decision making
D)the ease of maintenance of store image across all stores

Question 58

The least attention is given to chains' branches in which retail organizational form?

A)franchise organization
B)main store control organization
C)separate store organization
D)equal store organization

Question 59

Diversified retailers are characterized by the need to _____.

A)coordinate branch store policies with main stores
B)restrict competition
C)control merchandise lines
D)coordinate interdivision competition

Question 60

The major difference between a traditional and a goal-oriented job description is that the traditional job description _____.

A)relates each job to overall organizational goals
B)limits a worker's activities to those listed
C)details informational flows
D)describes the interdependence of job positions

Question 61

A weighted application blank _____.

A)assigns values to education and experience factors and computes candidate scores used in hiring decisions
B)is simpler than a conventional application blank
C)contains aptitude,as well as achievement test items
D)combines an interview with the conventional application process

Question 62

The Mazur plan separates responsibility for buying and selling activities between two key executives.

Question 63

Which retail training method does not require active participation by trainees?

A)case study
B)role playing
C)lecture
D)behavior modeling

Question 64

Buyers are able to effectively control sales personnel in the Mazur plan since they are constantly on the selling floor.

Question 65

The retail training method that involves active participation by trainees is _____.

A)sensitivity training
B)video
C)lecture
D)pre-training

Question 66

All retail tasks must be performed by retailers.

Question 67

The simplest form of retail organization is most likely to be found in independents.

Question 68

In the main store control organization,most authority remains with managers at the headquarters store.

Question 69

In the main store control organization,the main store and branch unit organizations are decentralized.

Question 70

Flat organizations have a large number of subordinates reporting to one supervisor.

Question 71

A firm that assumes that employees can be self-managers would most likely _____.

A)use a centralized management style
B)use a participatory management style
C)use extreme specialization
D)have a tall organization

Question 72

In the separate store organization,each store has autonomy for merchandising and operations decisions.

Question 73

Which retail personnel selection technique is most likely to be used for senior management positions and least likely to be used for lower-level positions (such as cashiers and salespeople)?

A)application blank
B)psychological testing
C)interview
D)reference checks

Question 74

Tall organizations are characterized by loose supervision and fewer employees reporting to each manager.

Question 75

While lower-level retail personnel are commonly paid on the basis of salaries,top retail management personnel are commonly paid on the basis of _____.

A)salary only
B)a salary plus commission plan
C)commission only
D)a compensation cafeteria

Question 76

The major advantage of a compensation cafeteria plan over a traditional salary and bonus plan is the _____.

A)fixed cost nature
B)tie to productivity
C)flexibility
D)limits on compensation

Question 77

A major advantage of a salary plus commission plan in comparison to a straight-commission plan to the employee is _____.

A)higher possible overall compensation
B)greater incentive to increase productivity
C)greater flexibility in payment options
D)greater stability of earnings

Question 78

A firm that believes that employees must be closely supervised and controlled would most likely employ _____.

A)a promotion-from-within policy
B)comprehensive training programs to enrich employees
C)job rotation and a flat organization
D)specialization and a tall organization

Question 79

Chain retailer organizations are often characterized by a large number of functional divisions,centralized authority and responsibility,standardized operations,and an elaborate control system.

Question 80

The major difference between pre-training and training is that pre-training is more _____.

A)related to federal and state regulations
B)related to future,as well as present positions
C)related to selling and buying functions
D)company specific