Deck 2: Trends in Human Resource Management

Question 1

When two firms in one industry join together to hold a greater share of the industry,it represents a consolidation.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

An organization undergoes reengineering by reviewing the critical features of its product designs.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

A large gap exists between the social system and the technical system in high-performance work systems.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Most organizations are looking for educational achievements to find employees who can handle a variety of responsibilities,interact with customers,and think creatively.

Question 5

Successful organizations treat all their workers as knowledge workers.

Question 6

Knowledge workers in an organization do not work directly with customers.

Question 7

Individuals who arrive in the United States without meeting the legal requirements for immigration or asylum are referred to as undocumented immigrants.

Question 8

When two companies merge,HRM plays an important role that includes preparing employees to resolve conflicts.

Question 9

Teamwork gives employees the authority and ability to decide on how to do their work.

Question 10

The members of Generation X are characterized by their comfort with the latest technology,and the need to be noticed,respected,and involved.

Question 11

Laurie Corp. ,a major watch manufacturer,purchases Smith Inc. ,a smaller company that makes watch bands.Following this purchase,the watch band operations are performed by the Smith Division of Laurie Corp.This scenario is an example of an acquisition.

Question 12

A New York City-based company shifts its warehouses and operations to a low-rent area that is 50 miles away.This is an example of offshoring.

Question 13

The use of employee empowerment has shifted the recruiting focus away from general cognitive and interpersonal skills toward technical skills.

Question 14

Early-retirement programs are one of the most effective approaches to downsizing.

Question 15

Virtual teams rely on communications technology such as videoconferences,e-mail,and cell phones to keep in touch and coordinate activities.

Question 16

Skilled knowledge workers generally do not have job opportunities in a slow economy.

Question 17

Total quality management is intended to bring about a continuous process of quality improvement.

Question 18

Total quality management proposes that every employee in the organization receive training in quality.

Question 19

Traditional management thinking treated human resource management primarily as a means to support a company's strategy.

Question 20

An individual who is actively seeking employment is a part of an organization's external labor market.

Question 21

Which of the following racial groups will form the majority of the U.S.labor force according to the 2014-2024 Employment Projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics?

A) African Americans
B) Whites
C) Hispanics
D) Asians
E) Native Americans

Question 22

Given the increasing use of computers to do routine tasks,which of the following skills is most likely to be actively sought by U.S.employers today?

A) physical strength
B) mastery of a particular piece of machinery
C) interpersonal skills
D) ability to perform routine tasks
E) ability to work with a tool

Question 23

Managing cultural diversity involves

A) forming different pay structures for various groups.
B) creating separate career tracks for employees with families.
C) avoiding the use of affirmative action policies.
D) reducing cultural diversity by selective hiring.
E) encouraging career development for women and minorities.

Question 24

In the context of alternative work arrangements,contract company workers are employed directly by a company.

Question 25

Which of the following scenarios exemplifies an individual in the external labor market?

A) Katie,a contract worker,working for a certain period specified in a written contract.
B) Andrew,a temporary worker,being paid by a company for his services.
C) Jill,an engineering graduate,looking for a job.
D) Hilary,an employee,going through training.
E) Salim,an employee,securing his financial services certification.

Question 26

Mega Homes wants to expand rapidly by building homes in major markets throughout the United States.Which of the following forecasts by the Bureau of Labor Statistics presents the most significant challenge to rapid expansion?

A) whites continuing be the largest racial group
B) more women participating in the paid labor force
C) Asian-Americans being the fastest-growing racial group
D) greater racial and ethnic diversity
E) a slowing growth rate for the U.S.civilian labor force

Question 27

Anne,a business researcher,believes that organizations will have to spend a lot of money on employee health care in the future.Her colleague Nick argues that organizations will not have to increase their spending on employee health care benefits.Which of the following statements weakens Nick's argument?

A) The labor force is expected to grow at a greater rate by 2024 than at any other time in U.S.history.
B) The largest proportion of the labor force is expected to be in the 16- to 25-year age group.
C) The fastest-growing age group is workers 16-25,who are prone to having accidents.
D) The fastest-growing share of the workforce is at least 55 years old.
E) The total cost of labor in the United States will decrease considerably in the near future.

Question 28

According to the National Association of Manufacturers,manufacturing companies have difficulty finding enough people who can operate their computer-controlled machinery.Which of the following actions is the most reasonable response to that difficulty?

A) Hiring unqualified employees and hoping they will catch on eventually.
B) Relying more on employees' physical strength than technical skills.
C) Hiring high school students before they learn that manufacturing is not a desirable career.
D) Paying tuition for employees to attend four-year colleges and universities.
E) Working with community colleges to set up apprenticeship and training programs.

Question 29

The external labor market consists of

A) contract workers in the organization.
B) current employees of the organization.
C) individuals who are actively seeking employment.
D) employees who have direct contact with customers.
E) employees of the immediate competitors of the organization.

Question 30

The processing and transmission of digitized human resource information is called electronic human resource management.

Question 31

Best Appliances wants to improve the quality of and lower the costs in its service department.A strategy being considered involves directing technicians on exactly how to complete service calls,which should improve customer service in addition to lowering labor costs.In addition,the technicians will work under a contract so the company doesn't have to pay the employer's share of Social Security for those workers.Is this a possible strategy for Best Appliances to employ?

Question 32

Moore Corp. ,a financial services company,specializes in customers' preferences and cost-efficient processes.They also encourage self-managing teams that make all decisions regarding business development and the sale of services to their customers.The firm ensures that there is a good fit between its work system and its people.This scenario implies that Moore has a

A) workforce analysis system.
B) high-performance work system.
C) supply chain system.
D) total quality management system.
E) holistic management system.

Question 33

Under the new type of psychological contract,organizations expect employees to contribute time,effort,skills,abilities,and loyalty in return for job security and opportunities for promotion within the organization.

Question 34

Identify the correct statement regarding the composition of the U.S.labor force during the projected 2014-2024 period.

A) The labor force is expected to grow at a greater rate than at any other time in U.S.history.
B) The largest proportion of the labor force is expected to be in the 16- to 25-year age group.
C) The segment of the workforce nearing retirement age will hold steady.
D) Despite a small increase in the number of young workers,the overall workforce will be aging.
E) The total workforce of the United States will considerably decrease.

Question 35

Which of the following refers to organizations that have the best possible fit between their social system and their technical system?

A) Workforce analysis systems
B) Holistic management systems
C) Supply chain systems
D) High-performance work systems
E) Total quality management systems

Question 36

How has the requirement for creating high-performance work systems changed?

A) There is a drive toward low-cost strategy in the labor market.
B) Employees prefer implementation of a 40-hour workweek.
C) Competitors are looking for ways to standardize prices in their respective industries.
D) Employers are looking for ways to tap people's creativity and interpersonal skills.
E) Customers are demanding standardized products over customized products.

Question 37

Rajeev,an Indian citizen,works for an automobile company in India.Currently,he is in the United States to work on a project at the company's office in Salt Lake City,Utah.In this scenario,Rajeev is regarded as an expatriate.

Question 38

Name the agency that is responsible for tracking changes in the composition of the U.S.labor force and forecasting employment trends.

A) the National Statistics Association
B) the Occupational Outlook Bureau
C) the U.S.Census Bureau
D) the Bureau of Economic Analysis
E) the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Question 39

In high-tech industries,such as computer software development,employers press the federal government for immigration laws that allow for a greater supply of foreign-born workers.What is the main reason these companies cite for that effort?

A) There is a lack of adequate technology in the United States.
B) Undocumented immigrants work harder than U.S.citizens.
C) Qualified technical workers are scarce in the United States.
D) U.S workers do not want this physically demanding work.
E) The size of the U.S.workforce is declining.

Question 40

Employees' job security has increased as a result of the new psychological contract.

Question 41

How has the use of employee empowerment affected the recruitment process in the U.S.?

A) It has enhanced the need for people with working knowledge of operating different kinds of machinery.
B) It has substantially increased employment opportunities for workers with less education.
C) It has shifted the focus away from technical skills to general cognitive and interpersonal skills.
D) It has significantly reduced recruitment costs by using low-cost strategies,though it hinders innovation.
E) It has made the recruitment process less time consuming.

Question 42

Which of the following is necessary for the success of employee empowerment?

A) The jobs must be designed in such a manner that the managers have complete control over business processes.
B) Employees must be properly trained to exert their wider authority and use information resources such as the Internet.
C) Pay and other rewards should reflect employees' loyalty to the organization and not their authority.
D) Employers should provide feedback only when employees resign and are about to leave the organization.
E) Employers should create jobs that minimize the need for the employees to come up with innovative ideas and solutions.

Question 43

Oliver works at Tate Corp. ,an environmentally-conscious apparel manufacturing company.He primarily focuses on the tastes and needs of the firm's customers.He achieves this by managing a team that regularly interacts with customers through various promotional activities and events.He also provides insights on how to produce eco-friendly outfits through his specialized knowledge of cost-efficient manufacturing processes.This implies that Oliver

A) is an HR professional.
B) encourages centralized decision making.
C) is a knowledge worker.
D) encourages a narrow business focus.
E) belongs to the external labor market.

Question 44

The growth in e-commerce and the information economy has led to an increase in the demand for employees in

A) technical jobs.
B) mining and resource extraction.
C) agriculture.
D) service occupations.
E) manufacturing.

Question 45

In what way does teamwork make work more significant?

A) It centralizes authority so workers do not have to make decisions.
B) Team members have less authority,so they can relax.
C) Teams get to work on fast-moving assembly lines.
D) Team members contribute to quality and assume many activities traditionally reserved for managers.
E) Teams spare employees from having to work directly with customers.

Question 46

The specific ways in which human resource professionals support an organization's strategy vary according to

A) their level of involvement and the nature of the strategy.
B) the location of the organization's corporate headquarters.
C) the government regulations of the countries in which the organization does business.
D) the mastery of a particular piece of machinery among the employees of the organization.
E) the organization's market share in the industry.

Question 47

Rhea is an employee at Diaz Inc.She specializes in interacting with customers and understanding their preferences in order to design user interface products that meet their needs.Which of the following statements is true about Rhea?

A) She specializes in outsourcing.
B) She is a part of the external labor market.
C) She bases her work on the terms of a psychological contract.
D) She is an on-call worker.
E) She is a knowledge worker.

Question 48

Which of the following statements is TRUE of employee empowerment?

A) Proper training must be provided only to supervisors so that they can exert their wider authority.
B) Managers should ensure that employees are not linked to resources outside the organization,such as customers.
C) Employee empowerment shifts the recruiting focus away from cognitive and interpersonal skills toward general technical skills.
D) Employee empowerment prevents holding employees accountable for the products and services they developed.
E) Jobs must be designed to give employees the necessary latitude for making a variety of decisions.

Question 49

Gilbert,the branch manager of a local bank,wants to initiate a teamwork system because he believes it will improve the performance of the branch.Which of the following statements provides valid support for Gilbert's idea?

A) Teamwork encourages centralized decision making,which will lower costs.
B) Teamwork eliminates the need for quality control.
C) Teamwork makes work motivating for employees and helps reduce labor costs.
D) Teamwork simplifies each job to a few tasks,reducing errors.
E) Teamwork reduces errors because team members must communicate face-to-face.

Question 50

Which of the following occurs when two companies join forces and become one entity?

A) an acquisition
B) a merger
C) a takeover
D) a joint venture
E) a strategic alliance

Question 51

Dave is the project manager at Arc Inc.He encourages his team members to have brainstorming sessions before initiating a project to determine the best method to deliver positive results.He provides his team members with complete authority to execute all production tasks independently.This scenario indicates that Dave promotes

A) centralized decision making.
B) risk aversion.
C) downsizing.
D) outsourcing.
E) employee empowerment.

Question 52

Which of the following is a characteristic of current-day high-performance work systems?

A) mismatches in technical system and social system
B) employee empowerment in decision making
C) increase in individual assignments
D) centralized decision making
E) reduced reliance on knowledge workers

Question 53

Which of the following refers to full involvement in one's work and commitment to one's job and company?

A) job enhancement
B) employee selection
C) employee appraisal
D) job specialization
E) employee engagement

Question 54

Which of the following is a correct statement regarding skilled knowledge workers?

A) They do not have considerable autonomy to make decisions.
B) They are most likely to experience a lack of opportunities in a slow economy.
C) They are not easily replaced because they own the knowledge that the company requires to produce its products.
D) They are not expected to be technically efficient and are only involved in direct interactions with customers.
E) They do not have a lot of job opportunities because employers can simply order these employees to perform tasks.

Question 55

Finch Inc. ,a software company,uses an approach in which software developers and programmers interact directly with customers.The team asks the customers for their requirements,develops a sample,and sends it to them for feedback.The team continues production based on the feedback given by their clients.The firm spends less time on negotiating contracts and documenting processes.This scenario implies that Finch is using which of the following approaches?

A) just-in-time
B) total quality management
C) agile
D) downsizing
E) outsourcing

Question 56

Zino Inc. ,a marketing firm,has employees who work in different cities in different time zones around the country.They coordinate their work efficiently with the help of technology,such as videoconferencing,mobile phones,and e-mail,for the production of marketing activities.Which of the following statements is true of Zino?

A) It has a vertical organizational structure.
B) It does not hold employees accountable for products and services.
C) It encourages virtual teams.
D) It encourages centralized decision-making.
E) It has self-employed individuals with multiple clients.

Question 57

Milton Inc.is a large corporation preparing to acquire Quick Grow,a start-up business.Milton has many policies and procedures based on years of experience.Employees at Quick Grow are used to figuring out the best practices as they go along.How can Milton's HR professionals help the company prepare for the acquisition to succeed in spite of these differences?

A) by replacing Quick Grow's employees with new employees who will follow rules
B) by reassuring everyone that any differences will disappear after the acquisition
C) by identifying the differences and developing employees' skills in conflict resolution
D) by planning systems to ensure there are no conflicts following the acquisition
E) by training employees in how to set up new HR systems

Question 58

Bright Sky Health Care Systems set up a program that encourages employees to share their ideas for patient satisfaction and cost savings.After a year of collecting these ideas,the HR department conducted an employee survey and learned that its employees did not feel very empowered.What else should Bright Sky do to improve the sense of empowerment?

A) Hold employees accountable for their results.
B) Train employees to use information resources.
C) Show that management is listening to the ideas and implementing the valuable ones.
D) Train managers to link employees to resources within and outside the organization.
E) Encourage employees to interact with staff throughout the organization.

Question 59

Cody works at a machine production facility assembling small parts in a specialized division.In addition to his regular job duties,Cody works in tandem with his other coworkers to schedule work,select new team members,and carry out multiple assembly tasks.This style of work is best described as

A) centralized.
B) a virtual team.
C) teamwork.
D) agile development.
E) knowledge work.

Question 60

Which of the following reflects a core value of total quality management?

A) providing quality training to specific employees
B) detecting errors and correcting them as they appear in an error-prone product or service
C) developing generalized methods and processes that only focus on meeting the needs of external customers
D) encouraging cooperation with vendors,suppliers,and customers to improve quality
E) measuring an employee's progress based on how productive the employee appears

Question 61

Lewis Corp. ,an automobile manufacturer,purchases Vision Inc. ,a company that produces auto parts and accessories.This scenario exemplifies

A) consolidation.
B) a partnership.
C) an acquisition.
D) a joint venture.
E) a strategic alliance.

Question 62

When an organization undertakes a complete review of its critical work processes to make them more efficient in an effort to deliver higher quality,it is engaging in

A) outsourcing.
B) offshoring.
C) reengineering.
D) greenfield venturing.
E) codetermining.

Question 63

Iris Corp.has made a name for itself by following long-standing methods to manufacture wooden furniture.Recently,competitors using more modern technology have appeared in the furniture market,and Iris has found its business suffering as a result.Using a TQM approach,which of the following might help Iris Corp.improve?

A) Iris should firmly resist engaging in any risk taking,instead continuing to follow its traditional methods and processes.
B) Iris management should not involve subordinates when looking to solve the corporation's problems.
C) Iris should create an atmosphere that promotes innovation.
D) Iris should ignore its customer needs and requests.
E) Iris should provide quality training only to those in top management.

Question 64

Kelton Inc.produces large quantities of products for their customers within tight deadlines.Recently,customers have been returning their products to Kelton,citing errors and defects in the items they have received.Which of the following total quality management cores values does Kelton need to employ to correct this issue?

A) Kelton needs to promote cooperation with vendors,suppliers,and customers.
B) Kelton managers need to measure progress.
C) Kelton needs to ensure quality is designed into their products so errors are prevented from occurring.
D) Kelton needs to hold down costs.
E) Kelton needs to employ methods to meet the needs of internal customers.

Question 65

Neo Pharmaceuticals and Ayurva Medicines combined their businesses to create a new company,Ayurva Pharmaceuticals Inc.This is an example of

A) an acquisition.
B) a takeover.
C) a partnership.
D) a strategic alliance.
E) a merger.

Question 66

If two firms in one industry join to hold a greater share of the industry,it will be referred to as

A) consolidation.
B) a takeover.
C) an acquisition.
D) a conglomerate.
E) assimilation.

Question 67

Mirth Inc. ,a cookie manufacturer,combines with Herge Corp. ,a chocolate manufacturer,to form a company called Hobbes Inc.This scenario illustrates

A) consolidation.
B) a partnership.
C) an acquisition.
D) a merger.
E) a strategic alliance.

Question 68

Which of the following is true of early-retirement programs that are used as a method of downsizing?

A) they are the most effective
B) they are linked to greater employee suffering and distress
C) they offer a better alternative to the "grenade" approach
D) they help in distinguishing between good and poor performers
E) they are humane

Question 69

Leo Corp. ,a large-scale cell phone manufacturer,buys Milo Inc. ,a small cell phone manufacturer,to secure a greater share of the cell phone industry.This scenario exemplifies

A) consolidation.
B) a partnership.
C) downsizing.
D) a merger.
E) a strategic alliance.

Question 70

According to your text,which of the following is a challenge for human resource management during mergers?

A) scrutinizing balance sheets
B) evaluating the financial worth of the new company
C) developing competitively priced products
D) developing conflict resolution skills
E) sustaining the brand image of the company

Question 71

The HRM function during downsizing is to terminate the workers who

A) are performing multiple organizational roles.
B) are less valuable in their performance.
C) are a part of the external labor force.
D) are older than the other employees.
E) are being paid the highest salaries.

Question 72

Which of the following statements is true about downsizing?

A) HRM cannot,and should not,inform all employees why downsizing is necessary
B) HRM should withhold information regarding downsizing rather than maintain open communication with remaining employees
C) downsizing is associated with positive stock returns
D) downsizing results in higher profitability following layoffs
E) HRM can provide downsized employees with outplacement services to help them find new jobs

Question 73

M&B Textiles Inc. ,a garment manufacturing company,implements a new technology to improve the speed of its production process.To do this effectively,the company decides to train its employees on how to use this new process.The company also implements new quality checks and efficiency measures,reducing the costs of production while delivering better quality products.This process of making changes to vital company technology to make it more efficient is known as

A) outsourcing.
B) codetermining.
C) downsizing.
D) hedging.
E) reengineering.

Question 74

Brighton Corporation recently undertook a reengineering strategy to increase the efficiency of its processes.According to your text,will reengineering have any effect on Brighton's HR department?

A) No;the HR department will continue to accomplish its goals as it always has.
B) Yes;the structure of pay and benefits will have to be redesigned.
C) Yes;employees will require training,but only those in the top managerial positions.
D) Yes;new employees with the same skill sets as current workers will need to be hired.
E) No;employee levels will stay the same,with none being hired or laid off.

Question 75

A chemical company buying a medical equipment manufacturing company is an example of

A) an acquisition.
B) a partnership.
C) a consolidation.
D) a joint venture.
E) a strategic alliance.

Question 76

A downsizing strategy at Archer Corp.has resulted in negative stock returns and lower profitability following the layoffs.According to your text,which of the following best explains the reason for these negative results at Archer?

A) Downsizing tends to eliminate good performers instead of poor performers first.
B) Downsizing demands the HR department have a third-party vendor provide services,which results in lower revenues.
C) Downsizing conducts a complete review of the organization's critical work processes,which results in heavy expenditures.
D) The HRM of a firm must provide downsized employees with multiple stock options.
E) When labor costs fall after a downsizing,sales per employee also tend to fall.

Question 77

During downsizing,the HRM function must "surgically" reduce the workforce by cutting only the workers who are less valuable in their performance.According to your text,which of the following is a reason for this being difficult to achieve?

A) the definition of "less valuable" is fluid and hard to define
B) downsizing companies tend to have a strong,interconnected hierarchy
C) the best workers may leave before the organization lays off anyone
D) voluntary turnover is encouraged for all levels of employees
E) decision making has become decentralized,leaving no department with the power to reduce the workforce

Question 78

Which of the following observations about reengineering is TRUE?

A) it is primarily concerned with production processes
B) critical processes are not altered during this process
C) rapidly changing customer needs and technologies necessitate reengineering
D) it has no impact on human resource practices and systems
E) retaining the current work processes with minimal change requires reengineering

Question 79

According to the core values of total quality management,

A) the progress of employees should be measured through self-evaluation.
B) external customers should not be given any importance while developing any process.
C) only key personnel should receive training in quality.
D) errors in a product or service should be prevented before occurrence.
E) internal customers should be valued more than external customers.

Question 80

As part of a company-wide business strategy,Wright Inc.conducts a comprehensive examination of its critical work techniques to increase their efficiency.The results of the examination are used to create a strategy to provide high-quality goods and services to the firm's customers.Which of the following HRM practices does Wright use?

A) outsourcing
B) reengineering
C) downsizing
D) merger
E) acquisition