Question 1

The purpose of a performance appraisal is to

Accepted Answer

The purpose of a performance appraisal is to improve employee performance by identifying strengths and weaknesses and setting goals and objectives for improvement. Performance appraisals can also be used as a basis for providing feedback, coaching, and training to employees. While performance appraisals may provide information for other purposes such as protecting the firm from lawsuits or determining the firm's strengths and weaknesses, improving employee performance is the primary purpose.

Question 2

The management team at McGowan Brothers want to make sure their decisions about compensation, promotions, and firings are based on sound information that meet legal requirements. One way for the company to achieve this objective would be to

Accepted Answer

By establishing an effective performance appraisal system, McGowan Brothers can ensure that decisions about compensation, promotions, and firings are based on objective information about employee performance. This system should include clear performance standards, regular feedback and coaching, and opportunities for employees to provide input and insights on their own performance. This will help to ensure that decisions about rewards and consequences are fair, consistent, and legally defensible. Outsourcing or basing decisions solely on an external system like the Hay system may not take into account the unique needs and context of the company, while removing the influence of supervisors entirely may undermine their ability to effectively manage their teams.

Question 3

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 type of performance appraisal that involves feedback from different perspectives, including the employee's superiors, peers, subordinates, and even external customers. This approach provides a more comprehensive and well-rounded assessment of an employee's performance, strengths, and areas for development, compared to traditional performance appraisals that rely solely on the manager's feedback. B, C, and D are not commonly used terms in the context of performance appraisals.

Question 4

Arturo hates conducting performance appraisals with his subordinates because he always finds it to be a struggle. In order to make the actual performance evaluations a better experience for all, Arturo should

Accepted Answer

Setting reasonable, understandable, and measurable performance standards and clearly communicating them to subordinates can help provide them with clear expectations and goals to work towards. This can make the performance appraisal process less challenging and more effective because employees will have a clear understanding of how their performance will be evaluated. Basing evaluations on written tests or using the principle of motion economy may not necessarily address the root of Arturo's struggle with performance appraisals. Letting employees evaluate each other can also cause conflicts and biases to arise.

Question 5

Unlike a traditional performance appraisal, a 360-degree review

Accepted Answer

A 360-degree review gathers feedback from the employee's manager, peers, subordinates, and sometimes even customers and suppliers. It provides a more complete picture of the employee's performance and helps identify areas for improvement. The other options do not accurately describe a 360-degree review.

Question 6

Before Street Runner Road Builders allows new employees to operate the heavy machinery it uses to build roads, employees are sent to a nearby classroom where they learn the safe and proper way to work with all of the tools and equipment they will use when they perform their jobs. Street Runner Road Builders is using a training technique known as

Accepted Answer

Vestibule training involves creating a simulated work environment where employees can practice using tools and equipment before actually using them on the job. In this case, sending new employees to a nearby classroom to learn how to safely operate heavy machinery is an example of vestibule training.

Question 7

At Safety First Seat Belts, new workers are immediately assigned to jobs. They learn by doing the actual work and by watching longer-term employees. This company uses a policy of

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes a process of learning by doing the actual work and watching longer-term employees, which is the basis of on-the-job training.

Question 8

The first step in the performance appraisal process is to

Accepted Answer

The first step in the performance appraisal process is to establish performance standards. This involves setting clear and specific expectations for employees' job performance. Before any evaluation can be done, there needs to be a clear understanding of what the job entails and what is expected of the employee. Once performance standards have been established, employees can be evaluated on how well they meet those standards.

Question 9

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 10

Joseph accepted a management trainee position at Rested Resorts. Corporate management believes Joseph has potential to move into a top management position within the organization. They have begun assigning Joseph to a different department every few months so he can obtain the broad perspective needed by top managers. This company is using ________ to develop Joseph's management skills.

Accepted Answer

Job rotation involves moving employees through different departments, positions or tasks to gain experience and knowledge about the organization. Rested Resorts is using job rotation to develop Joseph's management skills and provide him with a broad perspective, which is necessary for top managers. Multitasking involves working on multiple tasks at the same time, understudying involves learning from a mentor, and cross-functional management involves coordinating departments to achieve a common goal. While these may be helpful for employee development, they are not specifically being used in Joseph's case.

Question 11

Patty recently began working in an entry-level management position. She has already shown great promise, so the company has decided to groom her for an upper-level position. Constance, one of the more senior women managers in the company, has agreed to help Patty by introducing her to the right people, and by providing her with the guidance and advice she needs to be successful within the firm. Constance is acting as Patty's

Accepted Answer

Constance is acting as a mentor for Patty, providing her with guidance, advice, and networking opportunities to help her succeed in her career within the company.

Question 12

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 compensation, promotions, and additional training. This step helps organizations recognize top performers, establish appropriate compensation packages, and identify areas for improvement in employee development. Talking to the employee, evaluating their performance, and taking corrective actions are all important steps in the performance appraisal process, but they must be followed by decisions about compensation and development opportunities.

Question 13

Ted says he's working in his dream job. As an engineer for a major defense systems company, he is responsible for using sophisticated airplane and weaponry equipment that creates the exact conditions that one may experience if he or she uses the equipment in a real-life situation. Ted spends several hours each day performing

Accepted Answer

Ted's job involves using sophisticated equipment to create realistic scenarios, which indicates that he is performing simulation training exercises.

Question 14

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 in the six-step appraisal process is to meet with employees to discuss the results. This step allows the manager to provide specific feedback, discuss areas of improvement, and set goals for the upcoming review period. It also provides an opportunity for the employee to share their perspective and ask questions about the evaluation.

Question 15

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

Performance appraisal is the process of evaluating the performance level of employees against the standards set for their job roles. The purpose of this appraisal is to make informed decisions about promotions, compensation, additional training, or firing. Job analysis refers to the process of defining job roles, whereas MBO assessment is a performance management technique that involves setting goals and objectives for employees. Objective analysis is not a commonly used term in human resource management.

Question 16

If you aspire to become a sous chef, you will pursue several types of training and development. Your ________ will include how to perform as a line chef, as you work your way through pastry, grill, pantry, and sauté. The only way you will learn the variations in the line jobs is to experience them! As a(n) ________, you will work alongside another sous chef for a few years in order to learn how to juggle all the middle-management type of activities expected of this professional. Your ________ training will be extensive, as you go to culinary school, attend a community college, and/or take management classes to help you learn to minimize conflict in the kitchen as well as improve the productivity of those you manage.

Accepted Answer

Job rotation will provide you with a broad picture of how each line chef must operate in his/her respective area. You will experience the technical variations of each line. As an apprentice, you work alongside an experienced professional that is performing the duties of the position you want to achieve. Even though you will learn a lot of things on the job, a career as a chef requires you to do extensive off-the-job training at a community college and/or a culinary school.

Question 17

Managers at Bigbux Bank get a performance appraisal once a year. Bigbux uses an 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 a(n)

Accepted Answer

A 360-degree review involves feedback from various sources such as superiors, subordinates, peers, and customers. This type of evaluation is comprehensive and provides a well-rounded view of an individual's performance, making it a valuable tool for performance appraisal. Bigbux Bank's evaluation process matches the description of a 360-degree review, making option B the correct choice.

Question 18

Jamie recently became a member of the Plumbers Union. She has been told she will work with Mac, a skilled and experienced plumber, for at least three years in order to learn all of the skills and techniques of her craft. This type of training is referred to as

Accepted Answer

The type of training described is commonly known as apprenticeship training. This involves a new worker being paired with a skilled mentor in order to learn the skills and techniques of a trade. The period of time for this training is usually several years, and the apprentice is gradually given more responsibility as they gain experience and knowledge.

Question 19

Carl, a control room engineer at Electron Power, Inc.'s power plant regularly practices handling emergency situations in a computerized mockup that duplicates the sights, sounds, and experiences of a real control room under emergency conditions. Electron uses ________ to train its engineers.

Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the question is an example of job simulation, where a mockup environment is used to replicate real-life scenarios and train employees in handling them. This type of training is often used in high-risk industries such as power plants and aviation. Time-intensive training and job replication are not accurate descriptions of the scenario, and vestibule training refers to on-the-job training in a simulated workspace, rather than a computerized mockup.

Question 20

The information contained in performance appraisals helps managers

Accepted Answer

Performance appraisals provide valuable information that can be used by managers to make decisions about promotions, compensation, training, and firing. By evaluating employee performance, managers can identify strengths and weaknesses and determine which employees are best suited for different roles within the organization. This information can also be used to determine employee compensation levels and to identify areas where additional training or development may be necessary. Performance appraisals are an important tool for managers to use in managing their employees effectively.

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