Question 1

The purpose of a performance appraisal is to:

Accepted Answer

The purpose of a performance appraisal is to evaluate an employee's job performance and provide feedback that can help the employee improve in areas where they may be lacking. It is a tool used to manage and improve employee performance, rather than solely for protection or financial reporting purposes. While a performance appraisal may provide information that can be used to make decisions about the strengths and weaknesses of the firm, this is not its primary purpose.

Question 2

The _____________ is an evaluation of the performance level of employees against established standards to make decisions about promotions,compensation,additional training,or firing.

Accepted Answer

A performance appraisal is a formal evaluation of an employee's job performance against established standards. It is used to make decisions about promotions, compensation, additional training, or firing. Job analysis is the process of gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information about a job's essential duties, responsibilities, and requirements. MBO assessment refers to the management by objectives approach, which involves setting goals for employees and evaluating their achievement towards those goals. Objective analysis is not a term commonly used in the context of performance evaluations.

Question 3

For many types of service organizations such as hospitals,banks and airlines,the primary cost of operations is:

Accepted Answer

Compensation of labor is typically the largest cost for service organizations as they rely heavily on employees to deliver their services. This includes salaries, benefits, and other forms of compensation for both front-line staff and administrative personnel.

Question 4

Managers at the Allerton Bank get a performance appraisal one time each year.The bank uses a relatively new evaluation process that provides feedback about performance not only from superiors but also from subordinates and other managers at the same level.This type of evaluation is known as an):

Accepted Answer

The description of the evaluation process indicates that employees receive feedback not only from superiors but also from subordinates and other managers at the same level. This type of evaluation is commonly referred to as a 360-degree review. A is incorrect because the evaluation process does not necessarily involve feedback from everyone in the organization. C and D are not commonly used terms for this type of evaluation.

Question 5

Tyler's university invited several companies to campus for an internship trade show.Upon speaking with the representative from a Texas accounting firm,Tyler was presented with a brochure describing the kinds of responsibilities the company's interns assume;the training they receive;the pay and travel expense reimbursement;and potential opportunities for future employment.Referring to the information provided in the Making Ethical Decisions box titled,"Are Unpaid Interns Too Interred?" how would you rate this opportunity?

Accepted Answer

This opportunity is a good one because the company is transparent about the job duties, pay, and future opportunities. The Making Ethical Decisions box does not apply to this situation as the company is offering paid internships.

Question 6

Jorge Martinez hates to do performance appraisals of his subordinates because he always struggles when he has to evaluate their performance.In order to make the actual performance evaluations a better experience for all,Jorge should:

Accepted Answer

Setting clear, reasonable, and measurable performance standards and communicating them clearly to subordinates is an effective way to make performance appraisals easier for both the manager and the employees. This way, everyone knows what is expected of them and how their performance will be evaluated. Using a written test or having employees evaluate each other may not be reliable or accurate indicators of actual job performance. The principle of motion economy may be helpful in improving efficiency, but may not be the most effective method for evaluating performance.

Question 7

Which of the following statements about performance appraisals is the most accurate?

Accepted Answer

The discussion phase of a performance appraisal should allow two-way communication. One of the advantages of a performance evaluation is that it not only gives a manager a chance to help an employee improve his or her performance; it also gives the employee an opportunity to make suggestions on how a particular task could be better performed.

Question 8

A newer form of performance appraisal is called the ___________ because it encourages feedback from all around the employee including those who report to him/her.

Accepted Answer

The 360-degree review is a performance appraisal method that gathers feedback from various sources, including superiors, peers, subordinates, and sometimes even customers. It provides a comprehensive evaluation of an employee's performance from different perspectives, rather than just relying on the supervisor's assessment.

Question 9

Managers at Wrise & Schein want to make sure their decisions about compensation,promotions and firings are based on sound information that meet legal requirements.One way to achieve this objective would be to:

Accepted Answer

Establishing an effective performance appraisal system would provide a basis for evaluating employee performance and making decisions about compensation, promotions, and firings. This would help ensure that decisions are based on sound information and legal requirements. Outsourcing all such decisions to an outside expert may not be practical or cost-effective, and basing decisions on the Hay system alone may not take into account individual performance and other relevant factors. Making sure that decisions are not influenced by the employee's immediate supervisor is important but may not be enough to ensure sound and legal decisions.

Question 10

Workers who are paid a __________ receive a fixed compensation weekly,biweekly,or monthly.

Accepted Answer

Workers who are paid a salary receive a fixed compensation on a regular basis, such as weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Commission refers to a percentage of sales, piece rate pays workers based on the number of units they produce, and royalty is paid to owners of intellectual property for the use of their work.

Question 11

Blue-collar and clerical workers who punch a time clock typically are paid an):

Accepted Answer

Hourly wage is the most common way of paying blue-collar and clerical workers who punch a time clock. They are paid based on the number of hours they work. Commission is paid based on the sales they make, salary is a predetermined amount paid regardless of hours worked, and piecework rate pays workers based on the amount of work completed.

Question 12

The first step in the performance appraisal process is to:

Accepted Answer

Establishing performance standards is the first and crucial step in the performance appraisal process. It sets the expectations for employees and creates a baseline against which their performance can be evaluated. Performing a human resource inventory, analyzing jobs, and discussing firm objectives may be necessary steps in some cases, but they do not come before establishing performance standards.

Question 13

A department manager evaluated the performance of her subordinates as part of a performance appraisal process.If she follows the six-step appraisal process,the next step is:

Accepted Answer

The next step after evaluating the performance of subordinates is to meet with them to discuss the results. This step allows the manager to provide feedback, address any concerns or issues, and set goals for improvement. It is an important step in improving employee performance and promoting job satisfaction. Writing up a performance review report and submitting it to top management, adjusting standards, and making decisions about training, promotions, and pay raises all come later in the appraisal process.

Question 14

The last step in performance appraisal is to:

Accepted Answer

The last step in performance appraisal is to use the results to make decisions about compensations, promotions, and additional training. This step is important for the employee as it outlines the potential rewards and areas of improvement based on their performance.

Question 15

As a project manager for a large construction company,Tyler decided to make the performance appraisal process as painless as possible for his work crew.He spent a considerable amount of time creating performance standards he felt were reasonable,and after six months time,he scheduled individual appointments with each worker to discuss strengths and weaknesses and areas that needed improvement according to the standards he privately set.Some employees were sent to vestibule training,and one even got a promotion with additional compensation.What did Tyler fail to do correctly?

Accepted Answer

Tyler failed to communicate the performance standards to the employees, which means there is a possibility that the employees did not know what was expected of them in terms of performance. This could have led to confusion and inconsistencies in the appraisal process.

Question 16

The information contained in performance appraisals helps managers:

Accepted Answer

Performance appraisals provide information on an employee's strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, which help managers make decisions about promotions, compensation, training, and firing. The other options (A, B, and C) are not directly related to performance appraisals.

Question 17

The __________ system is a pay system that is based on job tiers,with each tier having a strict pay range.

Accepted Answer

The Hay system is a pay system that is based on job tiers, with each tier having a strict pay range. The other options listed (Steiner, Gantt, Gilbreath) do not refer to specific pay systems related to job tiers.

Question 18

Referring to the Making Ethical Decisions box titled,"Are Unpaid Interns Too Interred?" the passage reflects on:

Accepted Answer

The passage reflects on evaluating internships to determine if they provide valuable work experience or future opportunities.

Question 19

Unlike a traditional performance appraisal,a 360-degree review:

Accepted Answer

A 360-degree review involves feedback from not only the employee's manager, but also from peers, subordinates, and even customers or clients. This allows for a more well-rounded and comprehensive evaluation of the employee's performance, rather than just the perspective of one person or department. It does not involve experts from outside the organization, nor does it necessarily use only objective measures of performance. It also does not compare the performance of each worker to every other worker, as it is focused on the individual being reviewed.

Question 20

Salespeople often are paid a _______ based on a percentage of their sales.

Accepted Answer

Commission is a percentage of the sales amount that a salesperson earns as their compensation. The other options, salary, royalty, and piece rate, do not have a direct correlation to the sales amount and are usually fixed or based on other factors.

Quiz 11: Human Resource Management: Finding and Keeping the Best Employees