Deck 8: Managing Human Resources

Question 1

Human resources management plays a vital strategic role as organizations attempt to compete through people.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

People are a source of competitive advantage when their skills, knowledge, and abilities are not equally available to all competitors.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

A company uses its computerized human resources information system to analyze its past experience with turnover, terminations, retirements, promotions, and transfers. The company is estimating its external labor supply.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Reference information is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain as a result of several highly publicized lawsuits.

Question 5

For important management positions, companies often use web job boards.

Question 6

Managers must forecast the supply of labor that refers to how many and what types of employees the organization actually will have.

Question 7

The behavioral description interview explores what candidates have actually done in the past.

Question 8

Some managers in the United States have responded to the labor shortage by decreasing training budgets.

Question 9

The most popular selection tools are applications and résumés.

Question 10

In the United States, demographic trends have contributed to a shortage of skilled and highly educated workers.

Question 11

When organizations have more people than they need, they can use attrition to reduce the surplus if they have planned far enough in advance.

Question 12

In the context of strategic human resources management, a group of well-chosen, motivated people is easy to imitate.

Question 13

The human resources planning process occurs in three stages: planning, programming, and evaluating.

Question 14

Job analysis may help organizations defend themselves in lawsuits involving employment practices.

Question 15

Employers place the greatest emphasis on responses to newspaper advertisements.

Question 16

Demand forecasting is one of the easiest parts of human resources planning.

Question 17

In the context of selection, drug testing is now a rarely used screening instrument.

Question 18

Job analysis gives managers guidance on the steps to be taken to select employees.

Question 19

Recruitment refers exclusively to external applicants.

Question 20

People can deliver a competitive advantage when their talents are combined and deployed rapidly to work on new assignments at a moment's notice.

Question 21

A company has developed a new cell phone which will be targeted to developing countries. It is estimated that the demand for the new product will initially be slow but would accelerate gradually as the product becomes increasingly familiar to worldwide consumers. In order to determine the number of workers necessary to staff the new production facilities, the company needs to conduct a(n):

A) market search.
B) utilization survey.
C) demand forecast.
D) inventory calculation.
E) recruitment drive.

Question 22

On a day-to-day basis, which of the following is a concern of human resources managers?

A) Managing layoffs
B) Understanding the needs of customers
C) Deciding which products to market
D) Funding increased salaries
E) Analyzing product failure

Question 23

Which of the following is an activity that is conducted during the human resources planning process?

A) Demand forecast
B) Internal recruiting
C) Environmental scanning
D) Training and development
E) Outplacement

Question 24

One of the criteria for creating a competitive advantage through human resources is that they should be:

A) expensive.
B) easily available.
C) difficult to imitate.
D) spontaneous.
E) of low cost.

Question 25

In the context of designing reward systems, internal factors affecting the wage mix include collective bargaining and legal requirements.

Question 26

Management by objectives involves a subordinate and a supervisor agreeing in advance on specific performance goals.

Question 27

When a software company developed a new phone, it had to determine how many production and marketing employees would be required for the launch. The company is involved in _____.

A) demand forecasting
B) outplacement
C) performance appraisal
D) job analysis
E) training and development

Question 28

In the context of human resources management, the programming stage involves:

A) hiring and firing employees.
B) evaluating employee performance levels.
C) determining appropriate automation methods.
D) implementing specific activities like recruitment.
E) calculating legally justifiable compensation levels.

Question 29

It is a good idea to allow some time for debate during a termination interview.

Question 30

The final stage in the human resources planning process involves:

A) evaluating the activities conducted to ensure that they are producing the desired results.
B) discharging employees ineffective at realizing organizational goals.
C) restarting the entire process.
D) evaluating the decisions made for legal compliance.
E) distributing compensation adjustments.

Question 31

Coaching-being trained by a superior-is usually the most effective and direct way to develop managers.

Question 32

The process of using multiple sources of appraisal to gain a comprehensive perspective of one's performance is known as needs assessment.

Question 33

The three basic employee benefits required by law are worker's compensation, health care, and social security.

Question 34

In the context of strategic human resources management, people can increase _____ by helping lower costs, providing something unique to customers, or both.

A) bootlegging
B) value
C) motivation
D) turnover
E) benchmarking

Question 35

In the context of selection methods, content validity refers to the degree that a test actually predicts or correlates with job performance.

Question 36

In the context of human resources management, the planning stage involves:

A) ensuring the availability of the right number and types of people.
B) recruitment of qualified individuals.
C) training of hired individuals.
D) determining the pay scales of employees.
E) evaluating the results of implemented programs.

Question 37

Outplacement refers to laying off large numbers of managerial and other employees.

Question 38

In the context of labor relations, the belief that a union has power to obtain desired benefits can generate a pro-union vote.

Question 39

The Civil Rights Act requires covered employers to give affected employees 60 days' written notice of plant closings or mass layoffs.

Question 40

The estimate an organization makes regarding the number and quality of its current employees and the available external source of workers is known as a(n):

A) demand forecast.
B) job analysis.
C) environmental scan.
D) availability analysis.
E) labor supply forecast.

Question 41

Which of the following is a step taken by companies when there is a labor surplus?

A) Hiring better employees
B) Using attrition if they have planned far enough in advance
C) Promoting current employees to new positions
D) Outsourcing work to contractors
E) Using their compensation policy to attract talent

Question 42

In the context of selection methods, which of the following is true of personality tests?

A) They are illegal.
B) They are universally used.
C) They are hard to defend in court.
D) They have no relationship with job satisfaction.
E) They are highly valid.

Question 43

_____ builds on recruiting and involves decisions about whom to hire.

A) Job analysis
B) Selection
C) Performance appraisal
D) Comparable worth
E) Diversity training

Question 44

Which of the following is a function of job analysis?

A) It provides basic information that help prospective employers make a first cut through candidates.
B) It provides the information required by virtually every human resources activity.
C) It explores what candidates have actually done in the past.
D) It focuses on hypothetical situations.
E) It measures a range of intellectual abilities.

Question 45

In a performance test, the test taker

A) performs a sample of the job.
B) takes a paper-and-pencil honesty test.
C) is measured for general aptitude.
D) is evaluated for drug use.
E) only solves mathematical problems.

Question 46

Which of the following is true of a termination interview?

A) It is usually easier than a selection interview since both participants know each other.
B) It should be conducted by the immediate superior.
C) It should be conducted away from company premises for security purposes.
D) It must not be put in writing in order to avoid a lawsuit.
E) It should allow time for a lengthy question and answer period.

Question 47

_____ refers to the degree to which a test actually predicts or correlates with job performance.

A) Redundancy
B) Criterion-related validity
C) Downsizing
D) Reliability
E) Outplacement

Question 48

Jake applied for a summer job as a bookkeeper. As part of his employment screening, he was asked to take an exam with numerical aptitude questions. This type of selection test is referred to as a:

A) performance test.
B) cognitive ability test.
C) validity test.
D) personality test.
E) certification test.

Question 49

A managerial performance test in which candidates participate in a variety of exercises and situations is known as a(n)_____.

A) background check
B) assessment center
C) job analysis
D) performance appraisal
E) reference check

Question 50

Which of the following types of interview explores what candidates have actually done in the past?

A) Situational interview
B) Contingency interview
C) Behavioral description interview
D) Unstructured interview
E) Nondirective interview

Question 51

Which of the following should be done when conducting a termination interview?

A) Tell the employee indirectly that he or she has been fired.
B) Rush the fired employee offsite as becomes a security issue.
C) Allow time for debate during a termination session.
D) Fire people when they have just returned from a vacation.
E) Provide written explanations of severance benefits.

Question 52

Which of the following is an advantage of a structured interview?

A) It helps establish rapport.
B) It is more likely to be free of bias and stereotypes.
C) It provides a sense of the applicant's personality.
D) It helps prospective employers make a first cut through candidates.
E) It helps measure a range of intellectual abilities.

Question 53

The selection technique that involves asking each applicant the same questions and comparing their responses to a standardized set of answers is a(n):

A) structured interview.
B) nondirective interview.
C) termination interview.
D) invalid interview.
E) analytical interview.

Question 54

_____ tests are administered by employers to assess the honesty of a job candidate.

A) Behavioral
B) Personality
C) Performance
D) Integrity
E) Situational

Question 55

Joe and Mike applied for a managerial position with a company. After their interviews, they compared notes and found that they had been asked the same questions. In the context of the given scenario, they had been subjected to a(n) _____ interview.

A) telephone
B) panel
C) invalid
D) structured
E) nondirective

Question 56

A company wants to hire a model to appear in a television ad to promote their products. Prospective candidates have been asked to audition so that the company can choose the most suitable person. The candidates are being subjected to a(n) _____ test.

A) discriminatory
B) reference
C) performance
D) integrity
E) analytical

Question 57

Recruitment refers to:

A) a tool for determining what is done on a given job and what should be done on that job.
B) the development of a pool of applicants for jobs in an organization.
C) a system of organizational activities to attract, develop, and motivate an effective and qualified workforce.
D) choosing from among qualified applicants to hire into an organization.
E) a technique that involves asking all applicants the same questions and comparing their responses.

Question 58

Outplacement refers to:

A) recruiting from external sources.
B) hiring from external applicants.
C) an illegal activity under the WARN Act of 1989.
D) dismissing people from the company.
E) helping dismissed workers find employment elsewhere.

Question 59

The legal concept that an employee may be terminated for any reason is known as:

A) plausible termination.
B) employment-at-will.
C) downsizing.
D) outplacement.
E) terminal validity.

Question 60

Which of the following is true of the provisions of the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act?

A) Employees are normally exempt from overtime pay if they have considerable discretion in how they carry out their jobs.
B) Discrimination in employment based on race, sex, color, national origin, and religion is prohibited.
C) Employment discrimination against people with disabilities is prohibited.
D) Equal opportunity clauses are required in federal contracts.
E) Unpaid leave is required for medical or family needs.

Question 61

When objective performance measures are unavailable but the company still wants to base pay on performance, it uses a(n) _____.

A) gainsharing plan
B) profit-sharing plan
C) individual incentive plan
D) merit pay system
E) stock option plan

Question 62

Which of the following is true of the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974?

A) It requires employees to pursue workplace safety.
B) It states that pregnancy qualifies a woman to receive the same benefits that she would with any other disability.
C) It protects private pension programs from mismanagement.
D) It requires certain employers to provide health insurance to their employees.
E) It states that men and women should be paid equally for equal work.

Question 63

In the context of performance appraisals, in a(n) _____ technique, the manager keeps a regular log by recording each significant employee behavior that reflects the quality of his or her performance.

A) critical incident
B) outplacement
C) arbitration
D) trait appraisal
E) results appraisal

Question 64

_____ appraisals, although subjective, focus on observable aspects of performance.

A) Behavioral
B) Results
C) Administrative
D) Trait
E) Developmental

Question 65

_____ training provides employees with the skills and perspectives they need to collaborate with others.

A) Orientation
B) Team
C) Group
D) Diversity
E) Needs

Question 66

In the context of training methods, _____ refers to assigning employees to different roles in the organization to broaden their experience and improve their skills.

A) role-playing
B) lecturing
C) needs assessment
D) adverse impact
E) job rotation

Question 67

In the context of incentive systems, _____ reward employees for increasing productivity or saving money in areas under their direct control.

A) gainsharing plans
B) individual incentive plans
C) stock plans
D) profit-sharing plans
E) merit pay systems

Question 68

In the context of employee benefits, _____ provides financial support to employees laid off for reasons they cannot control.

A) Social Security
B) workers' compensation
C) unemployment insurance
D) profit-sharing
E) stock options

Question 69

Training designed to introduce new employees to their jobs and the company, and to familiarize them with policies, procedures, culture, and the like is known as:

A) diversity training.
B) team training.
C) orientation training.
D) performance training.
E) management training.

Question 70

An analysis identifying the jobs, people, and departments for which training is necessary is known as a(n):

A) development.
B) performance appraisal.
C) outplacement.
D) needs assessment.
E) programming.

Question 71

Programs that focus on identifying and reducing hidden biases against people with differences and developing the skills needed to manage a heterogeneous workforce is known as:

A) ethnicity training.
B) team training.
C) group training.
D) diversity training.
E) needs training.

Question 72

Which of the following is true of the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970?

A) Pregnancy qualifies a woman to receive the same benefits that she would with any other disability.
B) Retirement benefits are required to be paid to those who vest or earn a right to draw benefits.
C) Unequal pay for men and women performing equal work is prohibited.
D) Employers must maintain records of injuries and deaths caused by workplace accidents and submit to on-site inspections.
E) Women who perform different jobs of equal worth as those performed by men should be paid the same wage.

Question 73

_____ appraisals involve judgments about employee performance.

A) Behavioral
B) Results
C) Administrative
D) Developmental
E) Trait

Question 74

Which of the following is true of the provisions of the Equal Pay Act (EPA) of 1963?

A) It allows differences in pay in the case of a seniority system or merit system.
B) It requires employees to pursue workplace safety.
C) It states that pregnancy is a disability.
D) It protects private pension programs from mismanagement.
E) It requires employers to provide health insurance to their employees.

Question 75

Which of the following acts prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, sex, color, national origin, and religion?

A) Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938
B) Immigration Act of 1924
C) Family and Medical Leave Act (1993)
D) Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)
E) Civil Rights Act of 1964

Question 76

In the United States, which of the following is an employee benefit required by law?

A) Medical insurance
B) Hospital insurance
C) Cafeteria vouchers
D) Social Security
E) Pension plans

Question 77

In the context of incentive systems, which of the following is true of profit-sharing plans?

A) They reward individual performance.
B) They are used to reward employees for increasing productivity in areas under their control.
C) They are usually implemented in the division or the organization as a whole.
D) They are given on the basis of how a worker's performance measures against an objective standard.
E) They do not give all employees a stake in the company's success.

Question 78

In the context of employee benefits, _____ provides financial support to employees suffering a work-related injury or illness.

A) Social Security
B) workers' compensation
C) unemployment insurance
D) gainsharing
E) profit-sharing

Question 79

The _____ doctrine implies that women who perform different jobs of equal value as those performed by men should be paid the same wage.

A) employment-at-will
B) right-to-work
C) arbitration
D) comparable worth
E) union shop

Question 80

The most common type of incentive plan, which compares a worker's performance against an objective standard with pay determined by his or her own performance is known as a(n):

A) profit-sharing plan.
B) stock plan.
C) gainsharing plan.
D) individual plan.
E) merit pay system.