Question 1

Crescendo Inc. distributes musical and band instruments nationwide. Reductions in high school musical programs and the economic recession have led to a sharp downturn in sales. Because of this, a salary freeze has been in effect for three years and increases in supplementary health care premiums have cut into workers' take-home pay. Nevertheless, the firm has avoided layoffs, the workforce has experienced minimal turnover, and the firm has lost only a handful of employees, mostly for health reasons. The CEO considers this continuity of the workforce a healthy sign, but the human resources director is less sanguine. She feels that the workplace culture is becoming inbred and too focused on maintaining job security rather than looking for ways to be truly engaged in the company's goals.
Which of the following, if true, would support the HR Director's position that the firm's workforce is at risk of becoming disengaged?
National polls show that less than a third of all employees are fully engaged in their work.
The firm's stated vision holds that each and every employee must be committed to the company's goals.
There are few job openings in Crescendo for which Crescendo employees can apply.
Crescendo offers only voluntary training programs to prepare workers for job advancement.
Appraisal reviews of employees are held only once a year.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Crescendo Inc. distributes musical and band instruments...

Question 2

What approach is used to settle disputes between the government and public employees like firefighters and police officers?
Strikebreakers
Strikes
Compulsory arbitration
Collective bargaining
Mediation

Accepted Answer

The answer of What approach is used to settle disputes...

Question 3

In arbitration,
the arbitrator's decision is legally binding on both parties.
the arbitrator's decision is not enforceable.
the arbitrator is selected by an employers' association.
the arbitrator suggests a solution, but cannot enforce one.
the arbitrator's sole duty is to prevent the bogging down of negotiations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In arbitration,
the arbitrator's decision is legally binding...

Question 4

After negotiations failed, Acme Baskets, Inc. may choose to use a(n) ________ to prevent union employees from coming to work.
economic strike
strikebreaker
stop work order
boycott
lockout

Accepted Answer

The answer of After negotiations failed, Acme Baskets, Inc. may...

Question 5

In a(n) ________, both parties are legally required to accept the judgment of a neutral third party.
collective bargaining
adjudication
voluntary arbitration
compulsory arbitration
mediation

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a(n) ________, both parties are legally...

Question 6

The human resources department of a large organization is interested in measuring the personality traits of its potential employees. The job applicants have been assured that they should feel free to answer honestly and that all responses will be anonymous.
All of the following point out reasons why the human resources department should be skeptical about the data collected except that
the applicants may not believe that the responses will truly be anonymous.
the applicants may not be able to accurately measure their own personality traits.
the applicants may deliberately exaggerate their positive characteristics.
the applicants' responses may not show any connection between personality and job performance.
the applicants' responses may reflect their mood only at the time of the test.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The human resources department of a large...

Question 7

In which of the following dispute resolution alternatives does the neutral third party dictate a settlement between the two sides, which have agreed to submit to outside judgment?
Arbitration
Strike
Lockout
Boycott
Mediation

Accepted Answer

The answer of In which of the following dispute resolution...

Question 8

Domino Grace is a financial services firm. Currently, it offers competitive salaries and very generous benefit packages. The cost of those packages is very high, but the company believes that these benefits have helped it attract and keep top talent. Domino Grace is completing a merger with Kryptos, Inc. Salaries at Kryptos are slightly below industry averages, and the benefit packages it offers are considerably worse than those offered by Domino Grace. Domino Grace believes that the merger would be in the best interest of the company, but employees at Domino Grace are resisting this change in part because they are worried that they will lose their outstanding benefits after a merger is complete. The CEO of Domino Grace believes that the best way to overcome the employees' resistance to change is through education and communication. The Kryptos CEO believes that it will be necessary to force the employees to accept the changes.
Which of the following, if true, would most strongly support the Domino Grace CEO's argument?
The current proposal calls for all Kryptos employees with outstanding benefit packages to keep them in the merged company.
Shareholders of Domino Grace tend to support the merger.
According to the charters of both companies, any savings from reducing benefits would be recorded in a post-merger report.
A recent economic downturn has reduced the ability of many in the financial services industry to find new jobs.
Kryptos provides paths to advancement that are faster than those offered by most companies in the industry.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Domino Grace is a financial services firm....

Question 9

All of the following are weapons that labour can use to pressure management throughout contract negotiations except a
slowdown.
picket.
boycott.
strike.
lockout.

Accepted Answer

The answer of All of the following are weapons that...

Question 10

The human resources department of a large organization is interested in measuring the personality traits of its potential employees. The job applicants have been assured that they should feel free to answer honestly and that all responses will be anonymous.
The applicants are likely to give inflated estimates of all of the following except
emotional stability, including the person's ability to withstand stress.
conscientiousness, a measure of reliability.
agreeableness, a measure of the ability to cooperate.
risk-taking, a measure of eagerness to take chances.
self-monitoring, a measure of the ability to alter one's behavior based on external factors.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The human resources department of a large...

Question 11

In a(n) ________, a third party suggests, but does not impose, a settlement to a labour dispute.
strike
lockout
boycott
mediation
arbitration

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a(n) ________, a third party suggests,...

Question 12

After several years of sound but unimpressive performance, Foothill Federal was bought out by Cashcorp, a much larger financial organization. Hoping to turn the new network into a stronger asset to the corporation, Cashcorp's managers begin by examining Foothill's existing performance appraisal process. Cashcorp managers quickly determine that employee evaluations have been handled very superficially in the past, typically by division managers at the central location. As a result, seniority, rather than productivity, has been the primary rationale for promotions and rewards. The HR manager assigned to integrating Foothill into the Cashcorp family immediately sees that changes will need to be made in the performance appraisal process. However, he does not want to move too rashly, as the merger has already made the Foothill workforce worried that extensive terminations and layoffs are imminent.
Which of the following, if true, would most strongly support beginning a thorough performance appraisal of the Foothill locations by reassessing performance criteria?
Corporate practice has always been to reassess performance criteria on an annual basis.
The performance goals used by Foothill are quite different from those used by Cashcorp.
The Cashcorp CEO would like to see the new Foothill locations increase their assets by at least 15 percent.
The two best performers among the Foothill branches are the most recently opened, and its employees have the fewest years of service with the firm.
Employees at Foothill have been with the firm an average of twelve years.

Accepted Answer

The answer of After several years of sound but unimpressive...

Question 13

Suppose that your union is unable to reach an agreement with company management. You get a call from your union steward telling you to be at the plant entrance at 8
a.m. with a large sign reading "Unfair to Workers." This activity is called
a wildcat strike.
boycotting.
picketing.
striking.
corporate campaigning.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose that your union is unable to...

Question 14

Which of the following statements about mediation is correct?
The mediator's decision is legally binding.
The mediator has the task of preventing outsiders from making the conflict worse.
The mediator is appointed by management.
The mediator is a neutral third party whose task is to suggest a compromise that will get the negotiations moving ahead.
All of these

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements about mediation...

Question 15

After several years of sound but unimpressive performance, Foothill Federal was bought out by Cashcorp, a much larger financial organization. Hoping to turn the new network into a stronger asset to the corporation, Cashcorp's managers begin by examining Foothill's existing performance appraisal process. Cashcorp managers quickly determine that employee evaluations have been handled very superficially in the past, typically by division managers at the central location. As a result, seniority, rather than productivity, has been the primary rationale for promotions and rewards. The HR manager assigned to integrating Foothill into the Cashcorp family immediately sees that changes will need to be made in the performance appraisal process. However, he does not want to move too rashly, as the merger has already made the Foothill workforce worried that extensive terminations and layoffs are imminent.
Which of the following, if true, would MOST strongly support changing who is responsible for performance appraisals at Foothill?
The supervisors carrying out appraisals were all assigned to Foothill's central location, even though most of the employees they evaluated were at branches.
The web-based performance appraisal software already used by Cashcorp allows employees to do self-evaluations.
Cashcorp has a more detailed and clearer set of corporate objectives than Foothill used in appraisals.
Industry-wide research shows that peer appraisal has a more direct impact on employees than supervisor appraisal.
A regional news report claimed that Cashcorp was prepared to trim the Foothill workforce by up to 30 percent.

Accepted Answer

The answer of After several years of sound but unimpressive...

Question 16

________ are temporary or permanent replacements for striking workers.
Contingent workers
Union breakers
Shop stewards
Strikebreakers
Union busters

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ are temporary or permanent replacements for...

Question 17

Domino Grace is a financial services firm. Currently, it offers competitive salaries and very generous benefit packages. The cost of those packages is very high, but the company believes that these benefits have helped it attract and keep top talent. Domino Grace is completing a merger with Kryptos, Inc. Salaries at Kryptos are slightly below industry averages, and the benefit packages it offers are considerably worse than those offered by Domino Grace. Domino Grace believes that the merger would be in the best interest of the company, but employees at Domino Grace are resisting this change in part because they are worried that they will lose their outstanding benefits after a merger is complete. The CEO of Domino Grace believes that the best way to overcome the employees' resistance to change is through education and communication. The Kryptos CEO believes that it will be necessary to force the employees to accept the changes.
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the Domino Grace CEO's argument?
Kryptos' stable finances offer outstanding long-term stability.
Both Domino Grace and Kryptos use a variety of tools to communicate their corporate cultures, such as stories, awards, and special employee-only events.
Kryptos' latest offer involves paying a higher price to Domino Grace shareholders if the combined company adopts Kryptos' benefits policy.
Domino Grace divisions are assigned based on the customers they serve, and not functional areas.
Kryptos has announced that it would follow Domino Grace's policies for attracting and retaining talent.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Domino Grace is a financial services firm....

Question 18

What is the purpose of union picketing?
To disrupt commerce in general
To prevent customers from entering a store
To seek public sympathy for the union's cause
To urge consumers to shun their firm's product
To prevent products from being delivered to retail outlets

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the purpose of union picketing?
To...

Question 19

Crescendo Inc. distributes musical and band instruments nationwide. Reductions in high school musical programs and the economic recession have led to a sharp downturn in sales. Because of this, a salary freeze has been in effect for three years and increases in supplementary health care premiums have cut into workers' take-home pay. Nevertheless, the firm has avoided layoffs, the workforce has experienced minimal turnover, and the firm has lost only a handful of employees, mostly for health reasons. The CEO considers this continuity of the workforce a healthy sign, but the human resources director is less sanguine. She feels that the workplace culture is becoming inbred and too focused on maintaining job security rather than looking for ways to be truly engaged in the company's goals.
Which of the following, if true, would MOST support the CEO's position that the firm is basically healthy?
Sales have declined proportionally less than those of Crescendo's competitors.
Supervisors report few complaints coming from their subordinates.
With the economy improving, the firm is beginning to turn a profit.
It has been easy to replace the positions that have come open.
The company has always rewarded its top performers in each division.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Crescendo Inc. distributes musical and band instruments...

Question 20

A ______ helps the two sides in a labour dispute clarify the issues that are separating them, while a ______ advises the disputing parties about specific steps they might take to reach a settlement.
arbitrator; mediator
mediator; arbitrator
conciliator; mediator
mediator; conciliator
counselor; arbitrator

Accepted Answer

The answer of A ______ helps the two sides in...

Quiz 8: Managing Human Resources and Labour Relations

What approach is used to settle disputes between the government and public employees like firefighters and police officers? Strikebreakers Strikes Compulsory arbitration Collective bargaining Mediation

After negotiations failed, Acme Baskets, Inc. may choose to use a(n) ________ to prevent union employees from coming to work. economic strike strikebreaker stop work order boycott lockout

In a(n) ________, both parties are legally required to accept the judgment of a neutral third party. collective bargaining adjudication voluntary arbitration compulsory arbitration mediation

In which of the following dispute resolution alternatives does the neutral third party dictate a settlement between the two sides, which have agreed to submit to outside judgment? Arbitration Strike Lockout Boycott Mediation

All of the following are weapons that labour can use to pressure management throughout contract negotiations except a slowdown. picket. boycott. strike. lockout.

In a(n) ________, a third party suggests, but does not impose, a settlement to a labour dispute. strike lockout boycott mediation arbitration

________ are temporary or permanent replacements for striking workers. Contingent workers Union breakers Shop stewards Strikebreakers Union busters

What is the purpose of union picketing? To disrupt commerce in general To prevent customers from entering a store To seek public sympathy for the union's cause To urge consumers to shun their firm's product To prevent products from being delivered to retail outlets

A helps the two sides in a labour dispute clarify the issues that are separating them, while a advises the disputing parties about specific steps they might take to reach a settlement. arbitrator; mediator mediator; arbitrator conciliator; mediator mediator; conciliator counselor; arbitrator