HRM Chapter One Quiz Questions

Staff managers are authorized to direct the work of subordinates and are directly in charge of accomplishing the organization's basic goals. True or False

False

Studies show that top managers still do NOT recognize the crucial role human resource managers can play in achieving strategic goals. True or False

False

Supervisors do not spend much of their time on HR/personnel tasks. True or False

False

The individual supervisor's HRM related duties have not changed much in many years. True or False

False

Today's trend is for HR managers to spend more time on administrative, transactional services. True or False

False

All of the following are examples of human resource job duties except: A) recruiter. B) equal employment opportunity coordinator. C) financial advisor. D) labor relations specialist.

Financial advisor

________ maintain contact within the community and publicize openings. A) Job Analysts B) EEO representatives C) Recruiters D) Compensation managers

Recruiters

________ search for qualified job applicants. A) EEO representatives B) Job analysts C) Recruiters D) Training specialists

Recruiters

What are the five job duties for the human resource department?

Recruiters Equal employment opportunity (EEO) representatives Job analysts Compensation managers Training specialists

What tactic will employers likely have to take to fill openings left by retiring employees? A) instituting flexible work hours B) hiring more women C) rehiring retirees D) lowering the retirement age

Rehiring retirees

Of the ten most serious ethical issues, how many were HR related? A) six B) ten C) seven D) four

Six

Which organization provides professional certification for human resource managers? A) Academy of Management B) Society for Human Resource Management C) Academy of HR Partners D) Association of Business Administration

Society of Human Resource Management

A ________ is a company's plan for how it will balance its internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats in order to maintain a competitive advantage. A) mission statement B) strategy C) tactic D) scorecard

Strategy

What are the four main ways that technology improves HR functioning?

Technology improves HR functioning through self-service options, call centers, productivity improvement, and outsourcing.

Which of the following is NOT a factor changing the environment of HRM? A) demographic trends B) economic trends C) "generation Y" D) All of the above.

All of the above

Which of the following is NOT a technology that HR managers use? A) streaming desktop video B) internet- and network-monitoring software C) data warehouses D) All of the above.

All of the above

Which of the following is an issue that HR managers have to deal with today? A) managing ethics B) managing employee engagement C) adding value D) All of the above.

All of the above

Which of the following job titles indicates a position in human resources? A) recruiter B) training specialist C) EEO coordinator D) All of the above.

All of the above

________ is the right to make decisions, to direct the work of others, and to give orders. A) Leadership B) Authority C) Delegation D) Management

Authority

Explain what it means to have authority.

Authority is the right to make decisions, to direct the work of others and to give orders.

Explain the difference between line authority and staff authority. What type of authority do human resource managers have?

Authority is the right to make decisions, to direct the work of others, and to give orders. Line managers are authorized to direct the work of subordinates and are directly in charge of accomplishing the organization's basic goals. Staff managers are authorized to assist and advise line managers in accomplishing these basic goals. Human resource managers are usually staff managers because they are responsible for assisting and advising line managers in areas like recruiting, hiring, and compensation. However, human resource managers do have line authority within their own department.

The ________ HR group focuses on assisting top management in strategic planning. A) corporate B) centers of expertise C) embedded D) transactional

Corporate

The ________ HR group works with the top management team to develop long range plans for the company. A) transactional B) embedded C) centers of expertise D) corporate

Corporate

A strategy is the company's plan on how it will match its internal strengths and weaknesses with its external opportunities and threats. True or False

False

After a period of years, the trend of offshoring is steadily slowing down with many companies bringing jobs back to the U.S. True or False

False

As baby boomers retire from the workforce, there will be more people entering the labor pool than leaving it. True or False

False

Ethical decisions never involve morality. True or False

False

Human resource managers are no longer strategic players, but instead provide transactional support. True or False

False

Industries in production and operation still employee the majority of the U.S. workforce. True or False

False

Line managers can only assist and advise staff managers. True or False

False

Today over ________% (use closest percent) of the U.S. workforce is employed in producing or delivering services. A) 25 B) 50 C) 66 D) 75

66%

No manager wants to: A) have his or her employees not performing at peak capacity. B) hire the wrong person for the job. C) find employees not doing their best. D) All of the above.

All of the above

Describe the trends that are influencing human resource management today.

A suitable answer to this question would address the impact of globalization, off shoring, technological advances, the changing nature of work, human capital growing importance, demographic and workforce trends and the impact of "Generation Y." Examples should be offered to support any opinions given and to bolster the argument that this does indeed affect the environment.

Explain the concept of Strategic Human Resource Management.

A suitable answer would include the definition and an explanation of what it means. Emphasis should be given to the involvement of HR in decisions before plans are made instead of when plans need to be implemented. The student may also discuss the role of HR in spotting trends that may become useful in the future.

All of the following are new HRM skills except: A) improving off shoring skills. B) supplying transactional services while serving more strategic, internal consulting activities. C) improving internal consulting skills. D) All of the above.

All of the above

Which of the following demographic issues represents a challenge for human resource managers? A) increasingly diverse workforce B) aging workforce C) increasing use of contingent workers D) both A and B

Both A and B

The ________ HR group may provide specialized support for organizational change. A) transactional B) corporate C) embedded D) centers of expertise

Centers of expertise

The ________ HR group operates like a specialized HR consulting firm. A) transactional B) corporate C) embedded D) centers of expertise

Centers of expertise

All of the following are a line supervisor's responsibilities for effective HRM except: A) coercing other supervisors to get with the program. B) controlling labor costs. C) developing the abilities of each person. D) starting (orienting) new employees in the organization.

Coercing other supervisors to get with the program

A ________ is a system that enables employees to manage their own benefits and update their personal information. A) company portal B) cybernetic portal C) formulation system D) software based system

Company portal

________ handle the employee benefits program. A) Trainers B) Benefits planners C) Compensation managers D) EEO representatives

Compensation Managers

________ develop pay grades and compensation plans. A) Compensation managers B) Recruiters C) Job analysts D) Trainers

Compensation managers

List five of the practices and/or policies organizations need to carry out the personnel aspects required for human resource management.

Conducting job analysis Planning labor needs Selecting job candidates Orienting and training employees Appraising performance Managing wages and salaries Providing incentives Communicating and managing employee relations

Monitoring software has been found to be illegal for use by human resource managers. True or False

False

Staff managers are always someone's boss. True or False

False

The proportion of younger workers in the workforce is projected to ________. A) stop growing B) decrease C) increase at a slower rate D) decrease at a faster rate

Decrease

A(n) ________ examines current organizational practices for potential action violations. A) EEO representative B) training specialist C) job analyst D) compensation manager

EEO representative

________ investigate EEO grievances. A) EEO representatives B) Training specialists C) Recruiters D) Job analysts

EEO representatives

The ________ HR group focuses on being HR business partners to specific departments. A) embedded B) corporate C) centers of expertise D) transactional

Embedded

The ________ HR group operates as relationship managers for the corporation. A) transactional B) training C) embedded D) centers of expertise

Embedded

The term, ________, refers to the standards someone uses to decide what his or her conduct should be. A) morals B) ethics C) autonomy D) responsibility

Ethics

The term ethics refers to:

Ethics refers to the standards someone uses to decide what his or her conduct should be.

What is ethics?

Ethics refers to the standards someone uses to decide what his or her conduct should be. Ethical decisions always involve morality.

Strategic human resource management refers to ________. A) formulating and executing human resource policies and practices that produce the employee competencies and behaviors the company needs to its achieve strategic aims B) planning the balance of internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats to maintain competitive advantage C) emphasizing the knowledge, education, training, skills, and expertise of a firm's workers D) extending a firm's sales, ownership, and manufacturing to new markets

Formulating and executing human resource policies and practices that produce the employee competencies and behaviors the company needs to its achieve strategic aims

________ refers to the tendency of firms to extend their ownership to new markets abroad. A) Strategic human resources B) Trend analysis C) Globalization D) Outsourcing

Globalization

________ refers to the tendency of firms to extend their sales, ownership, and/or manufacturing to new markets abroad. A) Market development B) Globalization C) Export growth D) Diversification

Globalization

Which of the following is an example of HR management's changing role? A) HR managers must measurably improve organizational performance. B) HR managers must represent the organization even when they are off the clock. C) HR managers must be individually centered so as to ensure that there will be no favoritism. D) None of the above.

HR managers must measurably improve organizational performance

Why are demographic trends important to HR managers?

HR managers need to be cognizant of demographic trends because changes in the availability of workers directly affect recruiting and selection efforts. The changes in the workforce can affect the availability of technologically savvy employees or the availability of skilled labor. Additionally, the availability of employees affects the compensation that needs to be offered to attract and retain valued employees.

In today's business environment, ________ are often the firm's main source of competitive advantage. A) machines B) highly trained and committed employees C) superior organization D) superior advertising

Highly trained and committed employees

________ are specifically responsible for assisting and advising line managers in areas like recruiting, hiring, and compensation. A) Human resource managers B) Staff managers C) Line managers D) EEO officers

Human Resource Management

________ refers to the practices and policies you need to carry out the personnel aspects of your management job. A) Human Resource Management B) Labor Relations C) Organizational Behavior D) Organizational Health and Safety Management

Human Resource Management

The term human capital refers to:

Human capital refers to the knowledge, education, training, skills, and expertise of a firm's workers.

HR managers who pass certification exams in human resource management are knowledgeable in all of the following aspects except: A) strategic management. B) information technology. C) employee and labor relations. D) occupational health and safety.

Information technology

A(n) ________ collects detailed information about job duties. A) EEO representative B) job analyst C) compensation manager D) recruiter

Job analyst

________ use detailed information to prepare job descriptions. A) EEO representatives B) Compensation managers C) Job analysts D) Recruiters

Job analysts

________ are authorized to issue orders to other managers or employees. A) Line managers B) Staff managers C) Advisory board members D) All of the above.

Line managers

List five reasons why human resource concepts and techniques are important to all managers.

No manager wants to: have your employees not performing at peak capacity hire the wrong person for the job experience high turnover find employees not doing their best have your company taken to court because of your discriminatory actions have your company cited under federal occupational safety laws for unsafe practices allow a lack of training to undermine your department's effectiveness commit any unfair labor practices

Effective human resource management could include all of the following responsibilities except: A) placing the right person in the right job. B) training employees. C) controlling labor costs. D) None of the above.

None of the above

Workers who hold multiple jobs or are contingent or part-time are called ________. A) disposable B) seasonal C) temporary D) nontraditional

Nontraditional

Which term refers to letting vendors abroad provide services for a firm? A) external work systems B) application service providers C) offshoring D) data warehousing

Offshoring

List and explain five personnel mistakes you don't want to make as a manager.

The answer should include any of the following: to have your employee not performing at peak; to hire the wrong person; to experience high turnover; to have employees not doing their best; to have the company taken to court because of discriminatory actions; to have your company cited for safety violations; to have your company cited under federal occupational safety laws for unsafe practices; to allow a lack of training to undermine your department's effectiveness; and to commit unfair labor practices. Because this is the first chapter material and the items listed above are not elaborated upon, the grader should allow for logical, even if incorrect, explanations for the chosen five of the eight.

What are the four new ways to organize human resource services?

The transactional HR group The corporate HR group The embedded HR group Centers of expertise

Over the next few years, employers may face a severe labor shortage because ________. A) there are fewer people entering the job market than there are retiring baby boomers B) one-third of single mothers are not in the labor force C) people are living longer D) All of the above.

There are fewer people entering the job market than there are retiring baby boomers

________ organize the training opportunities for a company. A) Trainings specialists B) Change managers C) EEO representatives D) Communication directors

Training specialists

________ plan training activities. A) Training specialists B) Corporate teachers C) Managers D) Job analysts

Training specialists

The ________ HR group focuses on using call centers and outsourced vendors to provide specialized support to the company's employees. A) corporate B) centers of expertise C) transactional D) embedded

Transactional

The ________ HR group may work with benefits specialists to provide support for transactional HR activities. A) corporate B) embedded C) transactional D) compensation

Transactional

Ethical issues such as workplace safety, security of employee records, comparable work, and employee privacy rights are all related to human resource management. True or False

True

HR and line managers share responsibility for most human resource activities. True or False

True

Human resource managers are generally staff managers. True or False

True

Human resource managers can complete professional certification exams to earn the SPHR or PHR certificates. True or False

True

Human resource managers do the following: recruiting, training, evaluating, rewarding, counseling, promoting, and hiring employees. True or False

True

Human resource managers must find new ways to offer traditional transactional HR services. True or False

True

In small organizations, line managers may carry out all personnel duties without the assistance of a human resource staff. True or False

True

In the IBM example in the text, "silos" were identified as a problem contributing to the inadequacy with which different needs were served by the HR department. True or False

True

In the majority of firms, the task of interviewing job candidates is shared between HR and the hiring department. True or False

True

The SHRM Human Resource Certification exams include testing on management practices, staffing, development, compensation, labor relations, and health and safety. True or False

True

The biggest demographic threat affecting employers is retirees. True or False

True

The inability to recruit and maintain a good workforce constitutes a bottleneck for production. True or False

True

There is presently a growing need for knowledge workers. True or False

True

With the aging of its workforce, America is facing a demographic shift as significant as the massive entry of women into the workforce that began in the 1960s. True or False

True

Human resource management ________. A) comprises the concepts and techniques used to control people at work B) is the process of organizing work activities C) is the process of identifying countries with cheaper labor costs and relocating jobs to those countries D) refers to the practices and policies you need to carry out the personnel aspects of your management job, specifically, acquiring, training, appraising, rewarding, and providing a safe, ethical and fair environment for your company's employees

refers to the practices and policies you need to carry out the personnel aspects of your management job, specifically, acquiring, training, appraising, rewarding, and providing a safe, ethical and fair environment for your company's employees