HRM Chapter 2

When a reviewer favors the lower rankings on a scale, it is an example of the distribution error known as _______.

strictness

Over the past few years, employee benefit costs have become particularly relevant to HR managers in the area of: a. federal tax rates b. health insurance c. disability coverage d. paid vacation time

b

People often tend to give a higher evaluation to people they consider: a. to be intimidating b. to be difficult c. similar to themselves d. different than themselves

c

The assignment of work to groups of employees with various skills is called: a. HRM b. empowerment c. teamwork d. training

c

The government forecasts a 5% increase in the labor force between now and 2024, which is __________ the increase experienced in the 1990s. a. more than b. about the same as c. lower than

c

The practice of having another company provide services is called: a. insourcing b. downsizing c. outsourcing d. TQM

c

The strategic purpose of an effective performance management process helps the organization _________. a. develop employee skills and knowledge b. provide sufficient information to make decisions c. achieve its business objectives d. hire experienced managers from competing firms

c

When a reviewer rates every employee near the top of the scale, it represents the distribution error known as: a. strictness b. reliability c. leniency d. validity

c

When assessing validity, information that is not gathered but is relevant represents a ________ in the performance measure. a. strategy b. reliability c. deficiency d. contamination

c

Which is one major drawback of using BOS? a. it must be administered by a team b. it can only be used for hourly workers c. it requires large amounts of information d. it only relies on physical characteristics

c

In the ________-________ ________ approach to performance management, a manager scores employees in terms of how the employee compares to each statement associated with a trait.

mixed-standard scales

Interrater reliability refers to a consistency of results when ________ (one/multiple) person(s) measure(s) performance.

multiple

The practice of a U.S. company hiring local workers to work at a facility in a foreign country rather than sending domestic employees is called __________.

offshoring

The two-word term used when employees have online access to information about HR issues is ________-________.

self-service

Which of the following alternative work employee is employed directly by a company for a specific period of time as stated in a written contract? a. temporary worker b. on-call worker c. contract company worker d. independent contractor

c

Which of the following describes the current characteristics of the U.S. labor force? a. it is made up of mostly men b. it is growing younger by the year c. it is growing more diverse d. it is largely composed of immigrants

c

TQM core values

1. Methods and processes are designed to meet the needs of internal and external customers - whomever the process is intended to serve 2. Every employee in the organization receives training in quality 3. Quality is designed into a product or service so that errors are prevented from occurring, rather than being detected and corrected in an error-prone product or service

Total quality management (TQM) definition

A company-wide effort to continually improve the ways people, machines, and systems accomplish work

Agile

Approach companies are using to develop software?; involves weaving development process more tightly into the organization's activities and strategies

Temporary workers

Employed by a temporary agency; client organizations pay the agency for the services of these workers

Expatriates definition

Employees who take assignments in other countries

T/F: It is not necessary for an employee to prepare for a feedback session.

False

T/F: The number and kinds of people in the internal work force determine the kinds of human resources available to an organization.

False

T/F: Dylan is a recent college graduate. As such, he belongs to the fastest-growing group of workers in the workforce.

False. From 2014-2024, the fastest growing age group is expected to be workers 55 and older

On-call workers

Persons who work for an organization only when they are needed

________ involves a complete review of an organization's critical work processes to make them more efficient and able to deliver higher quality.

Reengineering

Independent contractor

Self-employed individuals with multiple clients

An employee who takes an assignment in another country is called a(n): a. expatriate b. TQM c. outsource d. mentor

a

T/F: Immigration is one important source of racial and ethnic diversity in the U.S. workforce.

True

As a result of the current age-related trends in the U.S. job market, by 2024 it is likely that human resource professionals will spend much of their time on issues related to: a. retirement b. continuing education c. employee socialization d. maternity leave

a

In most companies, performance information is generated by the: a. manager b. employee

a

In which type of job are co-workers an excellent source of performance information? a. in a job where the supervisor does not often observe the employee b. in a job where the supervisor doesn't understand his or her managerial role c. in a job where the supervisor is new to management d. in a job where employees work in a team

a

It is predicted that service jobs will have the highest growth rate between 2012-2022 especially those associated with: a. health care b. religion c. education d. warehouse assembly

a

T/F: The principles of total quality management (TQM) provide a basis for performance measurement.

a

Traditionally, human resource management was seen as an administrative function, while today more companies are looking at HRM to support a company's: a. strategy b. communications c. bottom line d. teamwork

a

What has contributed to a shift in the type of skills needed for employees in the U.S. economy? a. use of computers to do routine tasks b. use of racially diverse teams in factories c. use of more women in scientific research positions d. use of more physically challenging jobs

a

What is expected to be the fastest growing age group in the labor force in the next decade? a. workers aged 55 and over b. workers aged 24 to 44 c. workers aged 45 to 54 d. workers aged 16 to 24

a

When managers get together to discuss an employee's activities and outputs, they are engaging in _________ management. a. performance b. relational c. task d. advisory

a

Which method of performance measurement compares employees in the group with each other to establish rankings? a. paired-comparison method b. force-distribution method c. alternation-ranking method d. single-ranking method

a

Which of the following defines a merger? a. two companies become one entity b. one company buys another c. one company opens offices in several locations d. two companies agree to share resources

a

Which of the following is a benefit of ranking employees as part of performance measurement? a. it helps avoid the tendency to rank everyone near the center of the rating scale b. it is not linked to an organization's goals c. it is a difficult technique to use d. it leaves the basis for ranking open to interpretation

a

Which of the following is not considered an alternative work arrangement: a. full-time employee b. on-call worker c. temporary worker d. independent contractor

a

Which of the following functions would be handled by HRM during a merger or acquisition? a. analyze the difference in compensation structure between the two companies b. understand the appraisal review system of both companies c. allocate excess manufacturing resources to an outside source d. contrast the sales figures of the companies

a, b

What are the four components typically used in an OBM technique? a. use a measurement system to see if employee exhibits behaviors b. compare employee behavior to other behaviors c. define a set of key behaviors necessary for job performance d. inform employees of the key behaviors e. direct employee behavior through implied contact f. provide feedback and reinforcement to employee

a, c, d, f

What are the three approaches a manager can take in a feedback session? a. tell and listen b. finger pointing c. ask and answer d. tell and sell e. problem solving

a, d, e

Bart is working with a new client to develop software that tracks product usage in different areas of the country. Bart meets with a client twice a week to go over the development so the product is a better fit for his client's strategy. This approach is known as __________ and is being used by more and more software companies.

agile

Customer service is a key attribute of Sharon's Shoe Shop. She expects all of her employees to provide excellent service and her performance appraisals go over this area in detail. Which criteria for effective performance does Sharon use? a. validity b. fit with strategy c. reliability d. acceptability

b

Define the technical component of a high-performance work system. a. people and how they interact b. equipment and work processes c. cloud computing and marketing strategies d. senior management and e-commerce

b

In the case of performance appraisal, which of the following criteria refers to whether the appraisal measures all the relevant aspects of performance and omits the irrelevant ones? a. fit with strategy b. validity c. reliability d. accountability

b

Matt uses a vendor to provide all of the buttons for his clothing production facility rather than trying to produce buttons himself. Using this vendor is an example of: a. licensing b. outsourcing c. insourcing d. franchising

b

The administrative purpose of a performance management system refers to the ways in which an organization uses the system to: a. provide a way to enhance employees' knowledge and skills b. provide information for day-to-day decisions about salary and benefits c. provide ways in which employees can meet company goals and objectives d. provide employee feedback to improve performance

b

The process of giving employees responsibility and authority to make decisions in the workplace is called: a. employee teamwork b. employee empowerment c. employee engagement d. employee performance management

b

The rating scale known as BARS defines performance dimensions using statements of: a. beliefs b. behavior c. biology d. bracketing

b

What name is given to a computer system that acquires, stores, manipulates, analyzes, retrieves, and distributes information related to an organization's human resources? a. offshoring b. HRIS c. ISO 9000 d. reengineering

b

Which of the following defines an acquisition? a. two companies share resources b. one company buys another c. one company buys materials from another d. two companies become one entity

b

Which of the following is an important issue in e-HRM? a. competition b. privacy c. offshoring d. outsourcing

b

Which performance measure takes into account whether or not something is what the employees want to use? a. generality b. acceptability c. validity d. specificity

b

Why are knowledge workers in a position of power within an organization? a. because they have many years of seniority within the company b. because they own the information the company needs to produce its products and services c. because they keep the company information confidential d. because they possess little-known facts about key personnel

b

Why would customers be the best source of performance information for some workers? a. because customers know that employees are willing to go the extra mile to receive a good review b. because customers may be the only ones to directly observe a worker's performance c. because customers are always looking to report shoddy service d. because employees know that customers are willing to go out of their way to report how they were treated

b

What are the two areas of an employee's work that should be concentrated on in order to effectively improve performance? a. relationships b. motivation c. power d. ability

b, d

Which of the following functions would be handled by HRM during a merger or acquisition? a. allocate excess manufacturing resources to an outside source b. analyze the difference in compensation structure between the two companies c. contrast the sales figures of the companies d. understand the appraisal review system of both companies

b, d

A description of what an employee expects to contribute in an employment relationship and what the employer will provide in exchange for those contributions is called a(n): a. employee bill of rights b. employment contract c. psychological contract d. independent contract

c

According to researchers, when performance feedback performance feedback forms require that subordinates identify themselves as part of the evaluation: a. they tend to lie about their observations b. they tend to provide little or no criticism c. they tend to give managers higher ratings d. they tend to give managers lower ratings

c

Alternative work arrangements allow a company to be ________ and change to meet the current needs of the organization. a. large b. contractual c. flexible d. cultural

c

Alyce works in a customer service department. She was given basic guidelines in responding to customer calls, but she was told that she could make her own decisions regarding product returns based on the customer call. Her company provides her with employee: a. promotion b. diversity c. empowerment d. turnover

c

An intranet provides a solution to the privacy issue associated with e-HRM because it: a. limits the amount of information space b. is accessible to the entire company c. limits access to authorized users d. requires users to pay a fee

c

Bruce works for an energy company in Houston but has been reassigned to the company's office in Indonesia. He will work in Indonesia for the next 2 years. Bruce is an example of a(n): a. external worker b. recruit c. expatriate d. contractor

c

During the recession in 2008 and 2009, many employees who might have otherwise found new employment held onto their jobs rather than risk being without one. As a result, it was up to employers to: a. keep unhappy workers quiet b. put more than one person on a project c. keep employees engaged in their work d. loan employees to competitors

c

Even after the manager told Miles he was doing a great job, Miles still felt he learned how to do an even better job based on what his manager told him about his work performance. This demonstrates how a performance management system has a(n) ___________ purpose. a. ethical b. administrative c. developmental d. strategic

c

Feedback should be ________. In other words, it should tell an employee what is expected of them. a. nebulous b. abstract c. specific d. general

c

From an organization's perspective, the key to survival in a fast-changing environment is: a. employability b. accountability c. flexibility d. respectability

c

Groups of employees who rely on communications technology to keep in touch and coordinate activities are called: a. skill teams b. product teams c. virtual teams d. union locals

c

In terms of work characteristics, Millennials tend to value: a. avoiding confrontation with authority b. employment security c. being noticed and respected by others d. unexpected rewards

c

Over the next decade, the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts most jobs will be in: a. sales occupations b. manufacturing occupations c. service occupations d. financial occupations

c

Which of the following is not a core value of TQM? a. quality is designed into products so that errors are prevented b. all employees receive training in quality c. manufacturing goals are set to expedite production d. processes are designed to meet needs of customers

c

Which of the following is not an effective strategy for companies expanding into global markets? a. keeping up with overseas competitors b. learning about their cultures c. hiring from a domestic talent pool d. preparing employees for global assignments

c

Which source of performance information has expert knowledge of job requirements? a. service representatives b. senior executives c. peers d. clients

c

Which technique for making comparisons as part of a performance appraisal requires managers to rank employees in their group from highest performer to lowest performer? a. complex ranking b. paired comparison c. simple ranking d. forced distribution

c

Work teams often assume many activities traditionally reserved for: a. vendors b. business consultants c. managers d. suppliers

c

What are two ways reengineering might affect human resource management? a. sales force might need to make a lower quota b. licensees might need to redefine shipping parameters c. pay structure might need to be adjusted d. organization might need to recruit employees with a new set of skills

c, d

In a ________ meeting managers discuss employee performance ratings and provide evidence supporting their ratings with the goal of eliminating the influence of rating errors.

calibration

A 360-degree performance appraisal provides a more _________ (narrow/complete) assessment of an employee's work.

complete

The company had received many complaints about Susan's work as a repair technician. In order to evaluate these complaints, her manager started keeping a record of her ineffective behavior which showed how she failed to show up for an appointment, failed to bring necessary tools on work calls and failed to offer the extended warranty to the customer. This is a way to rate behavior by using the _______ _______ method.

critical incident

A system in which people at each level of the organization set goals in a process that flows from top to bottom of the company is called: a. management responsibilities b. managerial goal setting c. management by committee d. management by objectives

d

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by the year 2024 the labor force is expected to: a. grow at an unprecedented rate b. remain steady c. surpass the growth of the 1990s d. grow slightly e. decrease slightly

d

As the human resource manager, Garrett has been asked to find three new marketing employees who can help the company define its social media presence. Which function is Garrett involved in? a. defining the firm's benefits b. developing schedules c. administrative duties d. supporting company strategy

d

In terms of work characteristics, Baby Boomers tend to value: a. income and employment security b. self-management skills c. being noticed by superiors d. opportunities for learning

d

Justine has been told by the HR director that she should rank 10% of her employees as exceptional, 25% as exceeding standards, and 65% as meeting standards. What method for comparing employee performance does this demonstrate? a. single ranking b. simple distribution c. alternation ranking d. forced-distribution

d

Meredith pointed out that Sonja had not been trained on the new development software and would need to be before they could consider her for the management position. Which part of the performance management process does this describe? a. define performance outcomes b. provide ongoing performance discussions c. develop employee morale d. identify improvements needed

d

The biggest challenge human resource management faces when a company expands into a global market focuses on: a. education b. products c. costs d. culture

d

The biggest concern with the use of electronic monitoring of an employee's performance is: a. reliability b. validity c. advocacy d. privacy

d

The first two steps in an effective performance management process involve identifying what the company is trying to accomplish and: a. providing feedback to employees and their managers b. developing organizational support for the process c. encouraging ongoing performance discussions on an informal basis d. developing employee goals and actions to achieve these outcomes

d

The most widely used method for rating employee attributes is called the: a. behavioral description scale b. simple rating scale c. employee characteristics scale d. graphic rating scale

d

What is a major drawback of using a ranking system to evaluate employee performance? a. the ranking system allows managers to evaluate behavior more strictly than others b. the ranking system is objective and avoids favoritism c. the ranking system is easy for new managers to use d. the ranking system is not linked to the organization's goals

d

When a rater has a bias in a favorable direction, it is called the ________ error. a. angel b. smile c. simile d. halo

d

Which of the following is an economic impact of an older workforce? a. young managers supervising older workers b. multiple generations within a workforce c. challenge of motivating older workers d. companies coping with rising healthcare costs

d

Who has the greatest opportunity to observe an employee's behavior on the job? a. the manager b. subordinates c. co-workers d. the employee

d

When Kelly started her new job she was told that she could enroll in a number of training programs by going online and selecting the ones she wanted to participate in. This shows how her company uses _________ human resource management.

electronic

When the organization attempts to determine the kinds of human resources it has available, it looks to see which individuals are actively seeking employment, otherwise known as the _________ labor market.

external

Lillian is always late for work and the human resource manager feels she won't be a good candidate for the assistant manager position because of her tardiness. The HR manager's bias is an example of the _________ error.

horns

Recent research shows that the use of contingent workers has been __________ (increasing/decreasing).

increasing

The best feedback comes to an employee __________ (instantly/annually).

instantly

Devin works as a sales associate for a retail store. Devin would be considered part of the store's ________ labor force.

internal

All the people who are willing and able to work are collectively described as the _______ ________.

labor force

A __________ team would use videoconferencing and e-mail to keep in touch with each other rather than speaking face-to-face.

virtual