Question 1

Rajat, an Indian citizen, works for an automobile company in India. Currently, he is in the United States to work on a project at the company's office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In this scenario, Rajat is regarded as an expatriate.

Accepted Answer

An expatriate is a person who is living and working temporarily in a country other than their own. In this scenario, Rajat is an Indian citizen working temporarily in the United States, making him an expatriate.

Question 2

A large gap exists between the social system and the technical system in high-performance work systems.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 3

Early retirement programs are one of the most effective approaches to downsizing.

Accepted Answer

Early retirement programs can be a tool for downsizing, but their effectiveness varies widely depending on how they are implemented and the specific context of the organization. They are not universally the most effective approach, as other strategies like layoffs, attrition, or hiring freezes might be more suitable depending on the situation.

Question 4

InTime Corp., a major watch manufacturer, purchases Antec Inc., a smaller company that makes watch bands. Following this purchase, the watch band operations are performed by the Antec Division of InTime Corp. This scenario is an example of an acquisition.

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes the purchase of a smaller company by a larger company, which is known as an acquisition.

Question 5

When two companies merge, HRM plays an important role that includes preparing employees to resolve conflicts.

Accepted Answer

HRM (Human Resource Management) plays a crucial role in supporting and managing the integration of employees during a merger or acquisition. This includes preparing employees, ensuring effective communication, resolving conflicts, managing cultural differences, and providing support to the HR teams from both companies. Therefore, preparing employees to resolve conflicts is one of the important roles of HRM during a merger.

Question 6

The processing and transmission of digitized human resource information is called electronic human resource management.

Accepted Answer

Electronic human resource management refers to the use of technology to process and manage HR information, such as employee records, performance evaluations, and benefits information, among other things. This includes the digitization of paper-based records, as well as the use of electronic systems for data storage, tracking, and analysis.

Question 7

Employees' job security has increased as a result of the new psychological contract.

Accepted Answer

The new psychological contract, which emphasizes flexibility, adaptability, and personal development, often leads to decreased job security as it moves away from the traditional promise of long-term employment in exchange for loyalty and consistent performance.

Question 8

Skilled knowledge workers generally do not have job opportunities in a slow economy.

Accepted Answer

Skilled knowledge workers are in demand even in a slow economy, as businesses still require their expertise to stay competitive and innovate. However, job opportunities may be more limited than during a strong economy.

Question 9

Virtual teams rely on communications technology such as videoconferences, e-mail, and cell phones to keep in touch and coordinate activities.

Accepted Answer

Virtual teams work remotely and use various communications technology to communicate and collaborate with each other.

Question 10

Individuals who arrive in the United States without meeting the legal requirements for immigration or asylum are referred to as undocumented immigrants.

Accepted Answer

Undocumented immigrants are individuals who do not have legal authorization to live in the United States.

Question 11

The use of employee empowerment has shifted the recruiting focus away from general cognitive and interpersonal skills toward technical skills.

Accepted Answer

The use of employee empowerment has shifted the recruiting focus toward general cognitive and interpersonal skills in addition to technical skills. Empowering employees requires trust in their decision-making abilities, which is why cognitive and interpersonal skills are also important in the recruiting process.

Question 12

Total quality management is intended to bring about a continuous process of quality improvement.

Accepted Answer

Total quality management (TQM) is a management philosophy that aims to continuously improve the quality of products and services by involving all employees in the organization, focusing on meeting customer needs, and making continuous improvements in all aspects of the organization's operations. TQM is a continuous process of quality improvement, and its goal is to achieve customer satisfaction and organizational success through the delivery of high-quality products and services. Therefore, the statement "Total quality management is intended to bring about a continuous process of quality improvement" is true.

Question 13

Traditional management thinking treated human resource management primarily as a means to support a company's strategy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Traditional management thinking treated human resource management...

Question 14

Total quality management proposes that every employee in the organization receive training in quality.

Accepted Answer

Total quality management emphasizes that quality is everyone's responsibility, not just the responsibility of a separate quality control or quality assurance department. Therefore, all employees should receive training in quality to ensure that a culture of quality is instilled throughout the organization.

Question 15

A Chicago-based company shifts its warehouses and operations to a low-rent area that is 50 miles away. This is an example of offshoring.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of relocation or outsourcing, but not offshoring. Offshoring typically involves moving operations to a different country.

Question 16

Successful organizations treat all their workers as knowledge workers.

Accepted Answer

Successful organizations recognize that all their workers have unique skills, knowledge and experiences to offer, regardless of their job title or position within the company. Thus, they treat all their workers as knowledge workers in order to capitalize on their expertise and improve overall performance.

Question 17

Under the new type of psychological contract, organizations expect employees to contribute time, effort, skills, abilities, and loyalty in return for job security and opportunities for promotion within the organization.

Accepted Answer

Under the new type of psychological contract, organizations do not necessarily offer job security or opportunities for promotion in exchange for employee contributions. Instead, the contract is often more flexible and may include alternative incentives such as work-life balance, personal development opportunities, and a sense of purpose or meaning in the work.

Question 18

Parkers Appliances wants to improve the quality of and lower the costs in its service department. A strategy being considered involves directing technicians on exactly how to complete service calls, which should improve customer service in addition to lowering labor costs. In addition, the technicians will work under a contract so the company doesn't have to pay the employer's share of Social Security for those workers. Is this a possible strategy for Parkers Appliances to employ?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Parkers Appliances wants to improve the quality...

Question 19

The members of Generation X are characterized by their comfort with the latest technology, and the need to be noticed, respected, and involved.

Accepted Answer

Generation X is actually characterized by a more independent and self-reliant nature, as well as a skepticism towards authority and institutions. They are also known for valuing work-life balance and being adaptable to change.

Question 20

When two firms in one industry join together to hold a greater share of the industry, it represents a consolidation.

Accepted Answer

When two firms join together to hold a greater share of the industry, they are consolidating their resources and power in the market. This is known as a consolidation or merger.

Quiz 2: Trends in Human Resource Management