Question 1

All of the following are elements of Vroom's Expectancy Theory except

Accepted Answer

Options A, C, and D are all elements within Vroom's Expectancy Theory.
Key Takeaway: Although addressed by certain motivation theories, the concept of proclivity is not specifically addressed by any of the motivation theories.

Question 2

In behavioral leadership theories, the dimension of leadership behavior known as initiating structure or job-related refers to

Accepted Answer

This dimension of leadership relates to the dimensions of leadership that speak specifically to ensuring that employees successfully perform the work associated with the position.
Key Takeaway: Option A defines the other dimension identified through behavioral leadership theories, referred to as consideration or employee-centered. Option C does not reflect one of the two leadership dimensions. Option D articulates a belief that is ascribed to the trait leadership theories, not the behavioral leadership theories.

Question 3

The four P's refer to

Accepted Answer

The four Ps of marketing is product, place, price, and promotion. These refer to the variables that need to be addressed and controlled in order to best satisfy customers in an organization's target market.
Key Takeaway: There are no generally recognized four Ps of recruiting, employee relations, or project management.

Question 4

All of the following are valuable guidelines for managing a vendor and a relationship with a vendor except

Accepted Answer

Vendors, by definition, are not employees. Whether to classify individuals as employees or contractors is a legal determination, not an emotional or psychological one. While fostering an espirt de corps is essential, that sense of team is separate and distinct from whether an individual is an employee or an independent contractor.
Key Takeaway: Providing positive and constructive feedback is an important part of effectively managing relationships with vendors. Setting clear and reasonable expectations is an important part of effectively managing relationships with vendors. Incorporating upside potential and downside risk into negotiated agreements with contractors is an important part of effectively managing relationships with vendors.

Question 5

Of the following outputs, which is least likely to be supported by information that is generated from an HRIS?

Accepted Answer

Although it is important to recognize and exploit the benefits that can ultimately accrue from an HRIS, it is equally important to recognize the limitations of an HRIS. There are points at which a line must be drawn, and at which technology becomes far less relevant and effective than human beings. Increasing employee commitment is one of those points.
Key Takeaway: An HRIS should provide information that can be used to increase overall employee productivity. An HRIS should provide information that can be used to identify and reward top performers. An HRIS should provide information that will support placing the right people in the right jobs at the right time.

Question 6

A code of ethics will not be effective if

Accepted Answer

Excluding statements relative to how the code will be implemented and upheld greatly diminishes the likelihood that the code will be effective. Doing so, in effect, robs the code of teeth.
Key Takeaway: The code of ethics must be administered consistently if it is to be effective. Calling that a one-size-fits-all approach is just a negative way of saying that everyone will be held to the same standard, which is a good thing. Although it is advisable that the CEO write the introduction to and/or the cover letter that accompanies the code of ethics, the ultimate effectiveness of the code of ethics is less contingent upon that than it is upon the consistent application of the code within the organization. It is quite possible that employees or other might perceive certain elements of the code as threatening or punitive.

Question 7

Offshoring refers to

Accepted Answer

Offshoring refers to the process of outsourwcing to third-party providers whose operations are based overseas.
Key Takeaway: Options A, B and D all are related to outsourcing, which is delegation of company functions to another company, regardless of their location.

Question 8

In the acronym SMART, M stands for

Accepted Answer

Objectives, whether related to performance management or any other HRD initiative, must be measurable.
Key Takeaway: Although goals should be marketable, to the degree that they relate to the overarching objectives of the organization and are, therefore, hopefully widely embraced, marketability is not one of the key driving forces behind goal setting. Options B and D are not the best for similar responses.

Question 9

The process of maintaining awareness of opportunities and threats is known as

Accepted Answer

Environmental scanning refers to the process of maintaining awareness of opportunities and threats.
Key Takeaway: Although maintaining awareness of opportunities and threats is part of SWOT analysis, SWOT analysis also incorporates maintaining awareness of strengths and weakness. Although conducting a SWOT analysis is an essential part of strategic planning, it does not encompass everything that is involved with strategic planning. Although an organization's awareness of threats is likely to highlight the need for contingency planning, those two concepts are synonymous.

Question 10

What two terms are generally used interchangeably to describe methods for obtaining any information that may be necessary to make decisions that will best allow the organization to accomplish its goals?

Accepted Answer

Needs assessment and needs analysis are generally used interchangeably to describe methods for obtaining any information that may be necessary to make decisions that will best allow the organization to accomplish its goals.
Key Takeaway: Assessments and analysis for the organization's needs and goals are necessary to ensure that everyone within the organization understands the long-term goals and how they fit into the bigger picture. These can be measured in any area of business. In human resources, they are often used for training and development, staffing projecting, budgets, and benefit planning.

Question 11

What kind of a statement describes what an organization does and how that is different from what other organizations may do?

Accepted Answer

A mission statement describes what an organization does and how that is different from what other organizations may do.
Key Takeaway: A mission statement is a formal, short, written statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a sense of direction, and guide decision-making. It provides general framework in which the overall strategy of the country is formed.

Question 12

Which of the following questions must be addressed in a needs analysis to select an HRIS?

Accepted Answer

All of the above will need to be addressed in a needs analysis to select an HRIS.
Key Takeaway: As with any project, selecting an HRIS must first begin with a needs analysis to identify a number of key questions. Will the system share any data with other systems in the company? What information will be input into the HRIS? Who will have access to the information in HRIS? Where will the HRIS reside (on the Web? On the Intranet?)? What kinds of reports will the company need to pull from the information on the HRIS? Only once these questions are asked can research begin on a system that will effectively meet the company's needs.

Question 13

The function of marketing is often described by the four P's. Which of the following sets is the four P's?

Accepted Answer

The four P's are: price, product, placement, and promotion.
Key Takeaway: In marketing, the four P's are: price, product, placement, and promotion. The "four P's" concept to describe marketing is commonly used in most textbooks and classes and was proposed by a very prominent marketer, E. Jerome McCarthy, in 1960.

Question 14

In what kind of transaction is a contract provided by an entity that is not otherwise involved in the agreement?

Accepted Answer

In a third-party contract, the contract is provided by an entity that is not otherwise involved in the agreement.
Key Takeaway: Remember that "third-party" always refers to a situation in which someone is involved in a business transaction, deal, or mediation and they are not otherwise directly involved with the situation.

Question 15

Which of the following, developed by a behavioral scientist, explains how people meet their various needs through work?

Accepted Answer

The Hierarchy of Needs, developed by a behavioral scientist, explains how people meet their various needs through work.
Key Takeaway: Abraham Maslow, a behavioral scientist, developed the Hierarchy of Needs in 1954. In this theory, it explains all of the myriad needs that people meet through a successful and satisfying work life: physiological needs (like food and shelter), safety needs, social needs, esteem needs, and needs for self-actualization.

Question 16

During the strategic planning process, it is often necessary to use a PEST analysis. What is PEST an acronym for?

Accepted Answer

During the strategic planning process, it is often necessary to use a PEST analysis. PEST is an acronym for political, economic, social, technology.
Key Takeaway: A PEST analysis, used during the strategic planning process, refers to the "Political, Economic, Social, and Technological" factors that may affect the overall strategy of an organization. In recent years, some analysts have added an "L," which stands for legal and/or an "E" for environmental factors. A PEST analysis can be very useful to understand the potential direction of the business and any ramifications-good or bad-of impending business decisions.

Question 17

What is a picture of an organization's financial situation on a specific day (usually the last day of the accounting period)?

Accepted Answer

The balance sheet is a general picture of an organization's financial situation on a specific day (usually the last day of the accounting period).
Key Takeaway: The balance sheet can be a very useful tool for summarizing financial information and the result of normal business activity. Typical types of information on the organization's balance sheet are the company's assets, liabilities, and equity. The basic balance sheet formula is:
Assets = Liabilities + Equity

Question 18

Which motivational theory surmises that people are motivated only by the reward they will receive when they succeed and that they will constantly weigh the value of that reward against the effort they believe is required to achieve it?

Accepted Answer

The Expectancy Theory surmises that people are motivated only by the reward they will receive when they succeed and that they will constantly weigh the value of that reward against the effort they believe is required to achieve it.
Key Takeaway: The Expectancy Theory, developed by Victor Vroom in 1964, surmises that people are motivated by the reward they will receive when they succeed at a task. The idea is that the employee will then calculate the level of effort they are required to put in to achieve that goal. This calculation is called the valence.

Question 19

What is the correct term for a statistical HR measurement that assesses productivity?

Accepted Answer

A statistical HR measurement that assesses productivity is revenue per employee.
Key Takeaway: Revenue per employee (also known as net income per employee) is a statistical HR measurement that assesses overall corporate productivity. Using the equation of the company's net income divided by the number of employees, the company can compare the resulting number with similar companies. Although the higher the number the better in a general sense, there are no rules about what, exactly, constitutes a good level of income per employee.

Question 20

True or False:
In McGregor's X and Y Theories, Theory X assumes workers are inherently lazy and will avoid work if they can, while Theory Y assumes workers can be ambitious if they are properly motivated.

Accepted Answer

True.
Key Takeaways: Douglas McGregor was a Professor who proposed these two theories of human motivation. In his Theory X assumes workers are inherently lazy and will avoid work if they can, while Theory Y assumes workers can be ambitious if they are properly motivated. McGregor didn't believe either X or Y was right or wrong, but rather that companies tended to follow one approach or the other with regards to managing their employees.

Quiz 6: Strategy