Question 1

________ ensure(s) that new and current employees have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in their jobs and that they are aware of how the organization operates on a day to day basis.

Accepted Answer

Training programs are designed to provide employees with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to do their jobs effectively. These programs can include on-the-job training, classroom instruction, online courses, workshops, and conferences. They are important for ensuring that new employees are up to speed quickly and that current employees have the opportunity to develop new skills and knowledge. Training programs also help employees understand how the organization operates, what its values and goals are, and how they can contribute to its success.

Question 2

A company whose strategy focuses on providing excellent customer service would most likely have the following practices in place EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Job descriptions emphasizing the employee's role in designing quality products would not necessarily contribute to excellent customer service, whereas the other options specifically address customer service training, rewards for positive customer feedback, assessing behavior towards difficult customers, and flexible return policies.

Question 3

In order to correctly build upon employees' competencies it is important to ask all of the following questions EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

While creating incentives can be a motivating factor for employees to attend training, it does not directly address the question of building upon employees' competencies. The other options (A, C, D, E) are all important questions to consider when developing a competency-building training program.

Question 4

How well an employee performs their job is determined by all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Market demand for the company's product may affect a company's success, but it does not determine an individual employee's job performance.

Question 5

At a recent meeting the management team of an organization brainstormed a list of organizational demands that they felt the company was currently facing. Their list mostly included all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The answer of At a recent meeting the management team...

Question 6

An example of an organization who compensates employees based on performance would most likely be:

Accepted Answer

Paying an employee based on the average number of parts they inspect every four hours is a clear example of compensating based on performance, as it reflects the employee's productivity and efficiency in their job tasks.

Question 7

All of the following are characteristic of a smaller organization as opposed to a larger organization EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

All options except B are characteristics of a smaller organization. In contrast, larger organizations often have access to a wider range of resources due to their size and scale.

Question 8

Quality, safety and design might all be parts of a strategy for which of the following organizations?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Quality, safety and design might all be...

Question 9

KLM Associates has had very low employee turnover. They provide the appropriate training to develop employee competency but the organization's management team understands that it must also guide employee motivation and effort. KLM Industries is mostly likely:

Accepted Answer

KLM Associates' approach to maintaining low employee turnover involves not just training for competency but also guiding motivation and effort. This comprehensive strategy suggests they are likely implementing a holistic approach to employee well-being and satisfaction, which could include offering health plans that meet employee needs (A), implementing wellness programs (B), providing consistent and fair performance feedback (C), and ensuring equitable wages (D). All these measures contribute to employee motivation, health, and satisfaction, which are crucial for retaining employees.

Question 10

Dara has just returned from her first department manager meeting in which the CEO shared with the management staff how important it is to dress professionally. He explained that business casual attire was not acceptable and that everyone must "dress to impress." Dara has just been exposed to:

Accepted Answer

The CEO's emphasis on the importance of professional dress indicates an organizational culture that places a high value on presentation and appearance. Thus, Dara has just been exposed to the company's organizational culture.

Question 11

Steven is a manager with a small engineering firm. Jack, who is one of two civil engineers that Steven supervises, has been having an attendance problem lately which severely impacts the productivity of the already small group of staff. Other employees are starting to resent Jack and as a result employee morale has declined as well. Steven would like to terminate Jack but it will take him several months to find a replacement and he can't afford to operate with just one civil engineer. However, if he keeps Jack he may lose other staff to competing firms. This scenario is an example of how ________ can impact the way employees are managed.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Steven is a manager with a small...

Question 12

The majority of your employees are females under the age of 45. Which benefits will most likely attract and retain them?

Accepted Answer

Health insurance is a must-have benefit for employees, especially for those under 45 years old. Additionally, offering vacation time allows employees to take time off and maintain a work-life balance. These benefits can attract and retain female employees in this age group.

Question 13

John was recently hired as the Production Manager for a meat packaging plant. He has all the necessary education, years of experience and abilities required to perform the job. Which of the following is most likely NOT True in regard to John's training needs?

Accepted Answer

John, with his years of experience and abilities, likely already possesses time management skills, making basic time management training less necessary compared to the other options which are more specific to the new role and company.

Question 14

The ________, or OSHA, is the organization which oversees all things related to employee safety on the job.

Accepted Answer

The correct organization that oversees employee safety on the job is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). None of the other options are correct.

Question 15

An effective performance management program:

Accepted Answer

An effective performance management program should include clear communication of performance criteria that is aligned with organizational goals to ensure that employees know what is expected of them and how their performance will be evaluated. Meeting with employees once a year, providing positive feedback only, or using performance management as a disciplinary tool are not enough to ensure effective performance management.

Question 16

The main purpose of recruitment and selection is to:

Accepted Answer

The main purpose of recruitment and selection is to hire employees who have the knowledge, skills and abilities to help the company succeed. Other options, such as filling vacant positions in a timely fashion or offering competitive benefits and compensation, are important but ultimately secondary to finding the right candidates to help achieve organizational goals. Additionally, there is no "one best way" to recruit and select employees, as different methods may be more effective depending on the company and position being filled.

Question 17

Volvo is an automobile manufacturer which is focused on safety in order to give it a competitive advantage over rival car companies. This strategy can be described as a(n):

Accepted Answer

The answer of Volvo is an automobile manufacturer which is...

Question 18

John performs his work as a retail clerk in a satisfactory manner. He has good attendance and arrives on time, he completes special tasks as assigned, and he assists customers as necessary with few customer complaints. He has attended all of the required training for the job but has not made an effort to do any additional training or learn new tasks to make himself more promotable. John is satisfied with being average. As his manager, you would describe John as someone who:

Accepted Answer

John meets the basic requirements of his job and performs satisfactorily, but he lacks the drive or ambition to go above and beyond. While he may have the necessary skills to perform well, he doesn't demonstrate an interest in advancing his knowledge or skills. Therefore, he is competent but lacks the motivation to be a top performer.

Question 19

An employee who has the competency to do the job but lacks the motivation could be compared to an employee who has:

Accepted Answer

An employee with the competency but lacking motivation is similar to one who has the desire (motivation) to do a good job but lacks the tools and resources (competency in terms of necessary support) to complete it. Both scenarios involve a mismatch between what the employee has and what they need to perform effectively.

Question 20

As a manager you provide an annual performance evaluation to each of your employees. You are looking for other ways to provide performance feedback to employees. Which of the following would be the most effective approach to accomplish this?

Accepted Answer

Scheduling routine "check ins" with each employee to discuss accomplishments and challenges would be the most effective way to provide performance feedback. This allows for a regular opportunity to discuss performance in a constructive manner, rather than only once a year. It also shows that the manager is invested in their employees' success and encourages open communication. The other options may have negative effects on employee morale and motivation.

Quiz 1: Managing Employees for Competitive Advantage