Question 1

All of the following are major areas in which an HR manager assists and advises line managers EXCEPT ________.
A)recruiting
B)hiring
C)strategic business planning
D)compensation

Accepted Answer

C)Human resource managers are usually staff managers. They assist and advise line managers in areas like recruiting, hiring, and compensation.

Question 2

The vice president of marketing tells a marketing manager to prepare a presentation by the end of the week. The vice president is most likely exercising which of the following?
A)staff authority
B)procedural authority
C)line authority
D)functional authority

Accepted Answer

C)Line authority traditionally gives managers the right to issue orders to other managers or employees. Line authority therefore creates a superior (order giver)-subordinate (order receiver)relationship. Staff authority gives a manager the right to advise other managers or employees. It creates an advisory relationship.

Question 3

An HR generalist at Wilson Manufacturing has been assigned to the sales department to provide HR management assistance as needed. Which of the following best describes the structure of the HR services provided at Wilson Manufacturing?
A)shared HR teams
B)embedded HR teams
C)centers of expertise
D)corporate HR teams

Accepted Answer

B)In the embedded HR teams structure, a HR generalist is assigned directly to a department within an organization to provide localized human resource management assistance as needed.

Question 4

Will works at a position in his organization where he maintain contacts within the local community and travels to search for qualified job applicants. Will's position is best described as:
A)recruiter
B)manager
C)labor relations specialist
D)job analyst

Accepted Answer

A)The recruiter maintains contacts within the community and perhaps travels extensively to search for qualified job applicants.

Question 5

Which of the following areas is NOT a major area where human resource managers assist and advise line managers?
A)recruiting
B)hiring
C)compensation
D)performance management

Accepted Answer

D)Human resource managers assist and advise line managers in areas like recruiting, hiring, and compensation.

Question 6

Human resource managers generally exert ________ within the human resources department and ________ outside the human resources department.
A)line authority; staff authority
B)staff authority; line authority
C)functional authority; line authority
D)staff authority; implied authority

Accepted Answer

A)HR managers usually have line authority in the HR department, which means they have the right to direct the activities of the people in their own department. However, outside of the HR department, HR managers are likely to exert implied authority because line managers realize that the HR manager has top management's ear in areas like testing and affirmative action. Staff (assist and advise)function refers to a manager's authority to advise managers or employees outside of his or her department.

Question 7

Which HR specialty involves preparing job descriptions?
A)compensation manager
B)EEO coordinator
C)job analyst
D)recruiter

Accepted Answer

C)Job analysts collect and examine information about jobs to prepare job descriptions. Compensation managers develop compensation plans and handle the employee benefits program.

Question 8

Which of the following is most likely a line function of the human resource manager?
A)ensuring that line managers are implementing HR policies
B)advising top managers about how to implement EEO laws
C)representing the interests of employees to senior management
D)directing the activities of subordinates in the HR department

Accepted Answer

D)Directing members of the HR staff is a line function.

Question 9

Which of the following refers to the authority a manager has to advise other managers or employees?
A)staff authority
B)line authority
C)functional authority
D)corporate authority

Accepted Answer

C)Staff authority refers to a manager's right to advise other managers or employees, which creates an advisory relationship.

Question 10

Which of the following human resource management specialties calls for collecting data to write job descriptions?
A)job analyst
B)job training specialist
C)compensation manager
D)EEO coordinator

Accepted Answer

A)As a job analyst, a human resource manager collects and examines information about jobs to prepare job descriptions.

Question 11

The HR staff member who has the job of advising management on all aspects of union-management aspects is the ________.
A)recruiter
B)line manager
C)compensation manager
D)labor relations specialist

Accepted Answer

D)The labor relations specialist advises management on all aspects of union-management relations.

Question 12

Which organization of the human resource function involves dedicated HR members that assist top management in issues such as developing the personnel aspects of the company's long-term strategic plan?
A)embedded HR teams
B)corporate HR teams
C)centers of expertise
D)shared services

Accepted Answer

B)Corporate HR teams assist top management in top-level issues such as developing the personnel aspects of the company's long-term strategic plan.

Question 13

One of the ________ functions of a human resource manager includes directing the activities of his or her subordinates in the HR department.
A)coordinative
B)corporate
C)staff
D)line

Accepted Answer

D)Line functions and staff functions are the distinct functions of HR managers. Examples of line functions include a human resource manager directing the activities of the people in his or her own department.

Question 14

Which of the following would most likely provide assistance to executives about long-term strategic plans?
A)centers of expertise
B)embedded HR teams
C)corporate HR teams
D)professional employee organizations

Accepted Answer

C)The corporate HR teams focus on assisting top management in "top level" big picture issues such as developing and explaining the personnel aspects of the company's long-term strategic plan. The centers of expertise are like specialized HR consulting firms within the company-for instance, they provide specialized advice in areas such as organizational change. The embedded HR assigns HR generalists directly to departments like sales and production.

Question 15

Which of the following focuses on using centralized call centers and outside vendors as a way to provide specialized support in day-to-day HR activities?
A)embedded HR units
B)corporate HR groups
C)HR centers of expertise
D)shared HR groups

Accepted Answer

D)Transactional (or shared)HR groups focus on using centralized call centers and outsourcing arrangements with vendors, such as benefits advisors, to provide specialized support in day-to-day transactional HR activities to a firm's employees. Activities may include changing benefits plans and providing updated appraisal forms.

Question 16

All of the following are examples of human resource specialties EXCEPT ________.
A)job analyst
B)financial advisor
C)compensation manager
D)labor relations specialist

Accepted Answer

B)HR management specialties include recruiter, EEO coordinator, job analyst, compensation manager, training specialist, and labor relations specialist. HR managers are less likely to serve as financial advisors.

Question 17

Ralph works in the HR department and is in charge of developing the plans for how people are paid and how the employee benefits program is run. Ralph is most likely holding the position of:
A)training specialist
B)recruiter
C)compensation manager
D)job analyst

Accepted Answer

C)The compensation manager develops compensation plans and handles the employee benefits program.

Question 18

________ functions involve assisting and advising line managers.
A)Staff
B)Advocacy
C)Line
D)Coordinative

Accepted Answer

A)Staff functions involve assisting and advising line managers.

Question 19

Roberto Sanchez has recently been hired by Slate Pharmaceuticals as the senior vice president of human resources. Slate Pharmaceuticals has a history of a variety of significant problems within its HR department such as EEO violations, inadequate employee training programs, and employee confusion regarding health benefit enrollment and coverage. With 20 years of experience transforming HR departments in other firms, Sanchez believes he can correct the major problems at Slate Pharmaceuticals. Which of the following best supports the argument that Sanchez should create embedded HR units and assign relationship managers to each department within the company?
A)Employees frequently complain about the inconsistent assistance they receive from the HR department due to its large size.
B)The global nature of the firm makes it difficult for the HR department to effectively communicate corporate messages to employees scattered around the world.
C)Centralized call centers would enable the HR department to provide specialized support on daily transactional activities.
D)Line managers want to implement additional screening and evaluations to improve the quality of their subordinates.

Accepted Answer

A)The embedded HR teams assign HR generalists (also known as "relationship managers" or "HR business partners")directly to departments like sales and production, to provide the localized human resource management assistance the departments need. If employees are unable to receive the HR assistance they need on a regular basis, then it would be appropriate for the firm to assign HR generalists to each department as a direct line to the HR department.

Question 20

Roberta Whitman has recently been hired by Jackson Pharmaceuticals as the senior vice president of human resources. Jackson Pharmaceuticals has a history of problems within its HR department including difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified employees, EEO violations, inadequate employee training programs, and confusion regarding health benefit enrollment and coverage. With years of experience transforming HR departments in other firms, Whitman believes she can correct the problems at Jackson Pharmaceuticals. Which of the following best supports Whitman's idea to develop a shared services arrangement to handle benefits administration?
A)An embedded HR unit would assist top management with big picture issues as well as benefits administration.
B)Extensive training has been provided to line managers so that they fully understand the different insurance options available to employees.
C)Outside vendors specializing in all aspects of benefits administration would provide improved support to the firm's employees.
D)Lower insurance premiums would eliminate the need for outsourcing services and improve employee health coverage.

Accepted Answer

C)The shared services (or transactional)HR teams focus on using centralized call centers and outsourcing arrangements with vendors (such as benefits advisors)to provide specialized support in day-to-day transactional HR activities (such as changing benefits plans and providing updated appraisal forms)to the company's employees. By outsourcing benefits administration, Jackson would allow HR managers to focus on other issues and enable benefits specialists to handle benefits enrollment and coverage issues.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Human Resource Management

All of the following are major areas in which an HR manager assists and advises line managers EXCEPT ________.

The vice president of marketing tells a marketing manager to prepare a presentation by the end of the week. The vice president is most likely exercising which of the following?

An HR generalist at Wilson Manufacturing has been assigned to the sales department to provide HR management assistance as needed. Which of the following best describes the structure of the HR services provided at Wilson Manufacturing?

Will works at a position in his organization where he maintain contacts within the local community and travels to search for qualified job applicants. Will's position is best described as:

Which of the following areas is NOT a major area where human resource managers assist and advise line managers?

Human resource managers generally exert within the human resources department and outside the human resources department.

Which HR specialty involves preparing job descriptions?

Which of the following is most likely a line function of the human resource manager?

Which of the following refers to the authority a manager has to advise other managers or employees?

Which of the following human resource management specialties calls for collecting data to write job descriptions?

The HR staff member who has the job of advising management on all aspects of union-management aspects is the ________.

Which organization of the human resource function involves dedicated HR members that assist top management in issues such as developing the personnel aspects of the company's long-term strategic plan?

One of the ________ functions of a human resource manager includes directing the activities of his or her subordinates in the HR department.

Which of the following would most likely provide assistance to executives about long-term strategic plans?

Which of the following focuses on using centralized call centers and outside vendors as a way to provide specialized support in day-to-day HR activities?

All of the following are examples of human resource specialties EXCEPT ________.

Ralph works in the HR department and is in charge of developing the plans for how people are paid and how the employee benefits program is run. Ralph is most likely holding the position of:

________ functions involve assisting and advising line managers.