HR Management Test 2 Study Guide

Marcie and Andrew are married. They are both professional employees at the City Zoological Park. Marcie is an exotic-animal veterinarian specializing in big cats, while Andrew is a designer of animal exhibits. The HR Director of a zoo in a different city wants to hire Marcie as Chief of Veterinary Medicine of the zoo. Given this scenario, which of the following actions should the HR Director most likely take to ensure that Marcie accepts the job offer. a. Meeting with Andrew and discussing the concept of encapsulated development. b. Ensuring that the glass ceiling is encouraged in the new organization to make Marcie's transition. smooth c. Giving Andrew an inducement of a job equivalent to his current one so that he and Marcie will. consider the relocation. d. Creating a dual-career ladder in order to give Marcie more incentive to accept the job.

c. Giving Andrew an inducement of a job equivalent to his current one so that he and Marcie will. consider the relocation.

Which of the following is a metric of sales programs in variable pay plans? a.Return on investment b. Accident rates c. Increase in market share d. Turnover costs

c. Increase in market share

Most federal and state entities rely on the criteria for independent contractor status identified by the _____. a. U.S. Treasury Department b. Department of Labor c. Internal Revenue Service d. National Labor Relations Board

c. Internal Revenue Service

In the context of international orientations adopted by transnational companies, identify a true statement about the geocentric orientation. a. It places a strong emphasis on home-country practices, policies, and culture. b. It is a blending of the ethnocentric and regiocentric orientations. c. It emphasizes utilizing the best ideas and practices from anywhere in the world. d. It relies heavily on what is normal in each country.

c. It emphasizes utilizing the best ideas and practices from anywhere in the world.

Which of the following is true of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act? a. It encourages insurance companies to set rates based on an individual's health status. b. It requires firms with 30 or more employees to provide health care coverage. c. It extends dependent coverage up to age 26. d. It eliminates coverage for preventive services.

c. It extends dependent coverage up to age 26.

Which of the following practices is best suited for utilizing safety committees in organizations? a. The committee should have more employees than managers. b. All committee members should belong to the same department to avoid conflicts. c. Member terms should be staggered to provide a fresh perspective and continuous energy. d. The committee should have at least 15 members.

c. Member terms should be staggered to provide a fresh perspective and continuous energy.

Which of the following statements is true of career progression considerations? a. The typical career for individuals today includes fewer positions, transitions, and organizations than in the past. b. Employees today are less mobile, and organizations are more stable as long-term employers than in the past. c. Modern careers are cyclical in that individuals experience periods of high stability followed by transition periods of lower stability. d. External scorecards take precedence over internal values and accomplishments as a person matures and progresses into the later phases of his or her career.

c. Modern careers are cyclical in that individuals experience periods of high stability followed by transition periods of lower stability.

_____ is especially useful when supervisors do not have the opportunity to observe each employee's performance. a. Self-rating b. Outsider rating c. Peer rating d. Employees rating managers

c. Peer rating

Which of the following is true of performance appraisal? a. Performance appraisal refers to the entire series of activities designed to ensure that the organization gets the performance it needs from its employees. b. Performance appraisal provides a link between employee performance and power distance. c. Performance appraisal is the process of determining how well employees do their jobs relative to a standard and communicating that information to them. d. Performance management is a part of performance appraisal.

c. Performance appraisal is the process of determining how well employees do their jobs relative to a standard and communicating that information to them.

_____ is a series of activities designed to align and improve individual performance to drive organizational results. a. Organizational behavior b. Performance modelling c. Performance management d. Organizational performance

c. Performance management

_____ provide customary methods of handling activities and are more specific than policies. a. Rights b. Petitions c. Procedures d. Patents

c. Procedures

Which of the following initiatives by employers can help reduce burnout in employees? a. Increasing expectations of improving quality b. Using positive stress to motivate employees c. Providing monetary rewards to employees with high productivity d. Increasing work hours to compensate for tight deadlines

c. Providing monetary rewards to employees with high productivity

Which of the following statements is true of the Americans with Disabilities Act? a. Those addicted to legal prescription drugs are not considered disabled. b. Addiction to alcohol is not considered a disability. c. Recovering substance abusers are considered disabled. d. Users of illegal drugs are considered disabled.

c. Recovering substance abusers are considered disabled.

Colleen, an active union member, applies for a job at a company that her union has targeted so that she can start organizing efforts in favor of the union. She is also being paid by the union for her efforts. Which of the following practices does this scenario illustrate? a. Onboarding b. Interest arbitration c. Salting d. Corporate intelligence

c. Salting

Ken works in a pharmaceutical company that sells antibiotics at a low cost to several African countries. He later learns that most of these drugs are expired antibiotics that have been repackaged by the company. Ken immediately informs one of his friends, a federal agent, of his company's illegal activities. Which of the following statements is true of the given scenario? a. The Data Protection Act would give the company the power to terminate Ken, and the company may or may not face legal action. b. Ken would receive no protection since no comprehensive whistle-blowing law protects the right to free speech. c. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act would protect Ken from retaliation by his employer. d. Ken's constitutional right to freedom of speech would protect him from any form of retaliation by his employer.

c. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act would protect Ken from retaliation by his employer.

Which of the following statements is true of a transnational company with a regiocentric approach? a. The company's practices vary widely among operations in different countries. b. The company operates in a standardized fashion across all countries. c. The company considers countries as aggregates within a region. d. The company has a global mind-set that adopts ideas without regard to their region of origin.

c. The company considers countries as aggregates within a region.

How do insurance plans offered by employers benefit employees even when the employers do not pay any of the costs? a. The employers pay all of the costs of formal education courses taken up by the employees' dependents. b. If the employers do not contribute to insurance costs, they are required to offer special benefits to their employees. c. The employees are offered insurance plans at lower rates through group programs. d. The amount paid by the employees is tax-free only when the employers make no contribution.

c. The employees are offered insurance plans at lower rates through group programs.

Which of the following international orientations places a strong emphasis on the home-country practices, policies, and culture? a. The regiocentric orientation b. The polycentric orientation c. The ethnocentric orientation d. The geocentric orientation

c. The ethnocentric orientation

Which of the following international orientations adopted by multinational enterprises places a strong emphasis on each country as a unique environment? a. The geocentric orientation b. The regiocentric orientation c. The polycentric orientation d. The ethnocentric orientation

c. The polycentric orientation

Which of the following statements is true of union management relations in the United States? a. Unions make agreements with the government and argue their cases before arbitration tribunals. b. Unions focus exclusively on activism and integration with ruling governmental and political powers. c. Unions typically focus on improving wages, benefits, job security, and working conditions. d. Unions provide training programs that improve worker readiness and allow companies to hire a highly skilled workforce.

c. Unions typically focus on improving wages, benefits, job security, and working conditions.

In the context of intercultural competence, behavioral training is most likely to include: a. the Culture Assimilator method. b. culture-specific training focusing on cultural customs. c. a communication skills course. d. a language course.

c. a communication skills course.

Individual-centered career planning primarily focuses on _____. a. succession planning for key positions b. planning career ladders c. a person's responsibility for a career d. the logical progression of people between jobs in an organization

c. a person's responsibility for a career

In a _____, an employer makes financial contributions to help employees cover their health-related expenses. a. self-directed health plan b. managed care plan c. consumer-driven health plan d. cash balance plan

c. consumer-driven health plan

Kelly spent four days at a training program centered on the use of improved hygiene procedures to reduce infections in long-term care facilities. When she returned to work after the training, Kelly wanted to implement the new practices in her work unit. However, she was unable to do so because of resistance from the nursing staff and the lack of interest of the medical director. As a result, Kelly was not able to use her learning on the job. This scenario exemplifies _____. a. cultural inertia b. translation failure c. encapsulated development d. nontransference of training

c. encapsulated development

Salties is a packaged food manufacturing company. It enters into a business arrangement with an overseas firm that grants the firm the right to use Salties's business model and brand to generate sales. In return, the overseas firm is required to pay a fee to Salties. This scenario most likely exemplifies _____. a. offshoring b. piggybacking c. franchising d. outsourcing

c. franchising

The _____ occurs when a low rating on one characteristic leads to an overall low rating. a. halo effect b. contrast error c. horns effect d. similar-to-me error

c. horns effect

A problem with providing flexibility in benefit choice is that it _____. a. does not cover higher-risk employees b. is typically discriminatory in nature c. increases the risk of adverse selection by employees d. increases attrition rate

c. increases the risk of adverse selection by employees

When opportunities for promotion in an organization are scarce, a good way to keep employees motivated and develop their talents is _____. a. to give them a sabbatical or leave of absence. b. to encourage them to engage in the glass ceiling practice. c. job rotation through lateral transfers d. job enlargement through ethnocentric practices

c. job rotation through lateral transfers

The _____ occurs when ratings of all employees fall at the high end of the scale. a. central tendency error b. recency effect c. leniency error d. primacy effect

c. leniency error

The term _____ refers to a relationship in which experienced managers in a company aid individuals in the earlier stages of their careers. a. sponsorship b. speed networking c. management mentoring d. career prospecting

c. management mentoring

The relationship between job value as determined by job evaluation points and job value as determined by pay survey rates is shown by a _____. a. market scale b. market grade c. market line d. market band

c. market line

During contract negotiations, the management of Wild Mist Inc. and its employee union fail to reach an agreement on an issue related to retirement benefits. A neutral third party is called in to come up with a solution and make a decision on behalf of the management and the union. In the context of bargaining impasses, the process used in the given scenario is referred to as _____. a. collusion b. conciliation c. mediation d. arbitration

c. mediation

Groupings of individual jobs that have approximately the same value to the organization, used when establishing a pay structure, are called _____. a. pay expansions b. pay scales c. pay grades d. pay compressions

c. pay grades

A collection of data on compensation rates for workers performing similar jobs in other organizations is known as a _____. a. pay scale b. pay grade c. pay survey d. pay analysis

c. pay survey

The Railway Labor Act of 1926 was the result of a joint effort between railroad management and unions to: a. prohibit employees from signing yellow dog contracts. b. allow the president of the United States to declare that a strike constitutes a national emergency. c. reduce the number of transportation strikes. d. ensure financial transparency within unions in the railway industry.

c. reduce the number of transportation strikes.

Ramona manages a team of 10 designers at Purple Inc. She encourages all her subordinates to directly approach her and speak with her at any time of the day regarding issues they may be facing at work. Given this information, it can be said that _____. a. the company encourages functional turnover b. Ramona acts as an ombudsman in the company c. the company practices an open-door policy d. the company follows an arbitration system

c. the company practices an open-door policy

Unions in the United States have historically emphasized _____. a. activism and integration with the ruling political party b. the employment of pink-collar workers over blue-collar workers c. wages, benefits, job security, and working conditions d. increasing industrial democracy in workplaces

c. wages, benefits, job security, and working conditions

Individuals who report real or perceived wrongs committed by their coworkers or employers are called _____. a. ombuds b. arbitrators c. whistle-blowers d. union stewards

c. whistle-blowers

What is the normal retirement age for employees in the United States to receive maximum Social Security benefits? a. 57 b. 70 c. 50 d. 67

d. 67

Medici and Athena are companies that manufacture medical equipment. The two companies have partnered for a unique project to create a specialized X-ray machine with the latest and the most expensive technology available. Medici and Athena will share their knowledge and resources as well as ownership and risk in the investment. However, each company will retain its own business identity. Which of the following business forms have Medici and Athena adopted for the project? a. A licensing agreement b. A merger c. Piggybacking d. A joint venture

d. A joint venture

Which of the following is true about management mentoring? a. Mentors provide challenging work, coaching, visibility, protection, and sponsorship to their protégés. in the redefinition stage of the mentoring relationship. b. Mentors and their protégés break up soon after the protégé reaches the cultivation stage of the mentoring relationship. c. Female executives are reluctant to serve as mentors either to other women or to men because they themselves received little help. d. Company mentoring programs that focus specifically on women and individuals of minority racial and ethnic backgrounds have been successful in some large firms.

d. Company mentoring programs that focus specifically on women and individuals of minority racial and ethnic backgrounds have been successful in some large firms.

Which of the following statements is true of the development of human resources? a. In the development process, individuals' careers are unlikely to evolve and shift to different focuses. b. Development focuses on the short-term performance of an employee. c. An effective measure of development is a cost-benefit analysis. d. Development involves efforts to cultivate employees' capabilities beyond those required by their current job.

d. Development involves efforts to cultivate employees' capabilities beyond those required by their current job.

In the context of the Wagner Act and the rulings of the National Labor Relations Board, which of the following is a key to decisions allowing employee-involvement committees and programs? a. Members of affinity groups based on race, gender, or religion in an organization must represent the interests of and speak on behalf of other employees. b. An organization should not treat all solicitation alike, and each solicitation attempt must be treated as a separate case and involve a different employee-involvement committee or program. c. An organization must form communities of interest consisting of employees with widely varying jobs, areas of work, physical locations, and other differences. d. Employee-involvement committees and programs should not deal directly with traditional collective bargaining issues such as wages, hours, and working conditions.

d. Employee-involvement committees and programs should not deal directly with traditional collective bargaining issues such as wages, hours, and working conditions.

Which of the following is a typical abuse-control measure used by employers to keep employees from taking excessive time off around holidays? a. Employees are paid extra to work the days immediately following and preceding a holiday. b. Employees are mandated to take a leave on the last scheduled day before a holiday and the first scheduled workday after a holiday to be eligible for holiday pay. c. Employees are required to work on the weekend before and after a holiday to be eligible for holiday pay. d. Employees are required to work the last scheduled day before a holiday and the first scheduled workday after a holiday to be eligible for holiday pay.

d. Employees are required to work the last scheduled day before a holiday and the first scheduled workday after a holiday to be eligible for holiday pay.

_____ is the study and design of the work environment to address physical demands placed on individuals as they perform their jobs. a. Industrial physiology b. Phrenology c. Kinesthetics d. Ergonomics

d. Ergonomics

Glen, a line manager, is informed that his company will be introducing a stock purchase plan for employees. This implies that _____. a. Glen will receive monthly dividends from his employer b. Glen will be able to sell his share of the company stocks at the market rate c. Glen will be provided financial counseling on the purchase and sale of stocks d. Glen will be able to buy shares in the company at a discount

d. Glen will be able to buy shares in the company at a discount

Which of the following is true of defined benefit retirement plans? a. They are most common in private sector and nonunion workforces. b. They typically do not guarantee benefits. c. In these plans, the investment risk is borne by the employee. d. In these plans, the amount of benefit paid at retirement is predetermined.

d. In these plans, the amount of benefit paid at retirement is predetermined.

Which of the following statements is true of job sequencing? a. It involves women stepping off their career tracks to raise their children. b. It is the primary cause of career plateaus. c. It is a form of job rotation where employees move from one major organizational function to another. d. It gives technical professionals a chance to advance in their organization without moving into management.

d. It gives technical professionals a chance to advance in their organization without moving into management.

Which of the following is true of a pay adjustment matrix? a. It reflects an employee's horizontal movement in an organization. b. It is used to determine the compensation benchmark in a specific organization. c. It is used to determine the compensation benchmark in a specific industry. d. It reflects an employee's eligibility for pay increase based on merit.

d. It reflects an employee's eligibility for pay increase based on merit.

Which of the following statements is true of the Data Protection Act? a. It mandates employers to maintain personnel files and records for a minimum of 10 years. b. It forbids employers from storing sensitive employee information. c. It authorizes employers to release employee information without employee consent. d. It requires employers to keep personnel records up to date and keep only the details that are needed.

d. It requires employers to keep personnel records up to date and keep only the details that are needed.

AirCar LLC, a producer of consumer electronics, used gainsharing to compensate its employees. However, after a change in management, the company decides to replace gainsharing with a stock option plan. Which of the following statements is true of AirCar LLC? a. It used to provide individual incentives, but now it provides organizational incentives. b. It used to provide team incentives, but now it provides organizational incentives. c. It used to provide individual incentives, but now it provides team incentives. d. It used to provide organizational incentives, but now it provides individual incentives.

d. It used to provide organizational incentives, but now it provides individual incentives.

In the context of worker motivation, which of the following is classified as an input in equity theory? a. Vacation b. Job security c. Praise d. Loyalty

d. Loyalty

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 established three agencies within the Department of Labor to oversee various aspects of workplace safety. The _____ is a supporting body that conducts research and develops safety standards. a. Department of Health (DOH) b. American National Standards Institute (ANSI) c. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) d. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

d. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

In the context of graphic rating scales, which of the following belongs to the descriptive category? a. Communication effectiveness b. Employee development c. Decision making d. Quantity of work

d. Quantity of work

In the context of the common mistakes made during succession planning, the provisions of the _____ require boards to increase the priority of CEO succession. a. Financial Administration Act b. Civil Rights Act c. Apportionment Act d. Sarbanes-Oxley Act

d. Sarbanes-Oxley Act

In the United States, which of the following is most likely a reason why laws prohibit police officers and firefighters from conducting strikes? a. Firefighters on strike tend to have unrealistic demands regarding the union authorization process. b. Police officers on strike tend to adopt xenocentric practices. c. Strikes are contradictory to the governing philosophies of public-sector employment. d. Strikes by police officers and firefighters may endanger public health and safety.

d. Strikes by police officers and firefighters may endanger public health and safety.

In the context of a union representation election, which of the following statements is true? a. A union should gain at least 70 percent of the votes to be named as the representative of all the employees in an organization. b. The Railway Labor Act places certain restrictions on the activities of the unions and management before an election. c. The larger the number of employees in a bargaining unit, the higher the likelihood that the union will win. d. Supervisors cannot be included in bargaining units for unionization purposes, except in industries covered by the Railway Labor Act.

d. Supervisors cannot be included in bargaining units for unionization purposes, except in industries covered by the Railway Labor Act.

Which of the following is a drug-testing policy that employers follow when testing current employees? a. Testing the employees only when they are not on duty b. Testing the employees only after getting consent from their immediate family members c. Testing the employees only in cases of substance abuse d. Testing the employees only in cases of probable cause

d. Testing the employees only in cases of probable cause

Thomas, the Department Head of the meat processing unit of a food manufacturing company, refuses to allow an OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) compliance inspector to carry out the inspection process. In this scenario, what action can the OSHA inspector take? a. The OSHA inspector can proceed to search without a warrant if the investigation was initiated by a complaint. b. The OSHA inspector can enter the unit forcefully with the help of his officials. c. The OSHA inspector must show probable cause before proceeding with the search. d. The OSHA inspector must produce a search warrant to enter the unit.

d. The OSHA inspector must produce a search warrant to enter the unit.

Foce is a premium jewelry company based in France. It has a gemstone mining and jewelry-making facility in South Africa. The design and execution team in South Africa adopts the best trends in jewelry fashion from all over the world, irrespective of their origin. The facility also utilizes the most effective advertising methods used the world over. Which of the following international orientations does Foce employ? a. The polycentric orientation b. The ethnocentric orientation c. The regiocentric orientation d. The geocentric orientation

d. The geocentric orientation

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a pharmaceutical company suspects that one of the senior scientists in the company has been selling confidential information to a competitor. The CEO asks the scientist to take a polygraph test. In the context of the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, which of the following is true of the given scenario? a. The CEO can fire the scientist for refusing to take the polygraph test. b. The scientist can sue the firm for illegally attempting to conduct the polygraph test. c. The scientist cannot refuse to take the polygraph test. d. The scientist cannot be terminated for refusing to take the polygraph test.

d. The scientist cannot be terminated for refusing to take the polygraph test.

Which of the following is a disadvantage of providing flexible benefits plans? a. These plans are typically discriminatory in nature. b. There is a risk that these plans will increase the attrition rate. c. These plans do not cover higher-risk employees. d. There is a risk that employees will choose an inappropriate benefits package.

d. There is a risk that employees will choose an inappropriate benefits package.

Which of the following is a disadvantage of using comparative methods for performance appraisal? a. These methods fail to help managers identify good and poor performers within their teams. b. The performance of employees working in the same jobs cannot be measured using comparative methods. c. Compensation is spread equally among employees rather than being based on performance. (Incorrect) d. These methods reduce the level of cooperation and citizenship within the organization. (Correct)

d. These methods reduce the level of cooperation and citizenship within the organization.

Which of the following is a benefit that employers must provide? a. Public-service leave b. Education assistance c. Wellness programs d. Unemployment compensation

d. Unemployment compensation

The _____, which prohibited employers from using unfair labor practices, declared that the official policy of the U.S. government was to encourage collective bargaining. a. Landrum-Griffin Act b. Railway Labor Act c. Taft-Hartley Act d. Wagner Act

d. Wagner Act

Sylvia and Co. provides enrollment and recordkeeping services to Widgeton Inc. In this scenario, Sylvia and Co. is most likely _____. a. Widgeton's subsidiary b. Widgeton's parent organization c. an in-house claims processor d. a third-party administrator

d. a third-party administrator

The process whereby representatives of management and workers negotiate over wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment is called _____. a. salting b. decertification c. contract ratification d. collective bargaining

d. collective bargaining

According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, if a state's minimum wage is higher than the federal minimum wage, _____. a. employers must pay the difference as employee benefits b. employers must pay the lower wage c. employers are free to choose between either of the two d. employers must pay the higher wage

d. employers must pay the higher wage

In the context of guidelines used by the courts to determine whether noncompete agreements are legally acceptable, a noncompete agreement should: a. have a duration of three years or more. b. allow employees to work within the current area of specialization. c. prohibit employees from working in new fields of employment. d. grant employees additional "consideration" beyond regular employment.

d. grant employees additional "consideration" beyond regular employment.

The _____ allows the rater to mark an employee's performance on a continuum indicating low to high levels of a particular characteristic. a. category scaling method b. comparative method c. behavioral rating scale d. graphic rating scale

d. graphic rating scale

Clarence is the Assistant Vice President of Quality Control for a medical equipment manufacturing firm. The management of the firm has given Clarence paid leave of three months to boost his morale. As a result, Clarence is currently teaching science in a high school in Haiti. At the end of the school semester, he will resume his job duties with his employer. Clarence is most likely _____. a. in mandatory retirement b. rotating through a non-core function c. in phased retirement d. on a sabbatical

d. on a sabbatical

The _____ to safety management focuses on designing safe jobs, developing and implementing safety policies, and using safety committees. a. individual approach b. engineering approach c. systems approach d. organizational approach

d. organizational approach

The purpose of a material safety data sheet (MSDS) is to: a. ensure that confidential information about hazardous substances is available only to authorized employees. b. record cases where workers exposed to hazardous substances have been injured. c. provide employees with antidotes to be taken if exposed to hazardous substances. d. record information regarding the chemical composition of hazardous substances available to employees.

d. record information regarding the chemical composition of hazardous substances available to employees.

Rights are offset by _____, which are obligations to perform certain tasks and duties. a. policies b. procedures c. patents d. responsibilities

d. responsibilities

In the context of peer ratings, employees are most likely to distinguish between good and poor performers when: a. they fear reprisals from their peers. b. they establish performance standards based on their own performance. c. their peers belong to the same ethnicity. d. their peers are not working in the same place.

d. their peers are not working in the same place.

In the context of incentives, an example of gainsharing is _____. a. using employee unions to encourage and promote a positive environment in organizations b. distributing surplus yields among employees when their performance improves above the baseline c. identifying favorable employee behavior and rewarding employees who adhere to the set standards d. using employee committees to calculate and pass on savings to employees

d. using employee committees to calculate and pass on savings to employees

Claudia, a Legal Assistant, worked with Malag Inc. for 10 years after which she became fully vested. This implies that she _____. a. will receive the maximum amount of pension available under her company's retirement plan when she retires b. can transfer her entire pension fund balances to a new employer's plan if she moves to a new company c. can no longer move her retirement benefits to another employer d. will receive the amounts contributed by both the employer and herself when she retires

d. will receive the amounts contributed by both the employer and herself when she retires

Carla, a 52-year-old software engineer, has been laid off twice in her life, once because of downsizing and once because of the acquisition of her organization by a rival company. She has now hit a career plateau after working with her current employer for five years. Carla is frustrated; each time she has changed jobs, she has adapted and acquired more skills and expanded her knowledge base. Which of the following patterns best describes Carla's career progression? a. A cycle of stability and instability b. A linear progression interrupted by transitions. c. A series of successive plateaus d. A self-reflective spiral

a. A cycle of stability and instability

In the context of U.S. labor laws, airlines and their employees were added to those covered by the _____ in 1936. a. Airline Employment Act b. Taft-Hartley Act c. Railway Labor Act d. Wagner Act

a. Airline Employment Act

Which of the following is a common mistake made by organizations during succession planning? a. Allowing the CEO to direct the planning process. b. Looking externally as well as internally for succession candidates. c. Focusing on other employees apart from the top management executives. d. Including the boards of directors and HR in the process of CEO succession.

a. Allowing the CEO to direct the planning process.

In the context of graphic rating scales, which of the following is a behavioral dimension? a. Communication effectiveness b. Quantity of work c. Dependability d. Attendance

a. Communication effectiveness

The high turnover rate of nursing staff is a major concern at Briar Mountain Regional Medical Center. Many experienced nurses resist moving into management despite having adequate managerial skills and being offered managerial opportunities, but exit interviews indicate that many of the best nurses leave. Briar Mountain because they feel they cannot advance in the organization. Which of the following steps would be the most efficient in reducing the turnover of the nursing staff? a. Implementing a dual-career ladder for the nursing staff. b. Hiring nurses who are in the late phase of their careers, where advancement is less of a concern to them c. Offering to pay tuition for nurses who wish to enroll in MBA programs so that they are qualified to take up managerial positions. d. Encouraging encapsulated development of the nurses.

a. Implementing a dual-career ladder for the nursing staff.

Which of the following is a strategy that is most frequently used by employers offering health care benefits to control and reduce their costs? a. Increasing employee contributions b. Expanding family coverage c. Instituting low-deductible plans d. Decreasing deductibles and copayments

a. Increasing employee contributions

In the context of organizational justice, which of the following is true of distributive justice? a. It is the perceived fairness in the allocation of outcomes among employees. b. It is the extent to which good faith and fair dealing exist between employers and at-will employees. c. It is the extent to which a person affected by an employment decision feels treated with dignity and respect. d. It is the perceived fairness of the processes used to make decisions about employees.

a. It is the perceived fairness in the allocation of outcomes among employees.

_____ typically consists of approaches that monitor and reduce medical costs through restrictions and market system alternatives. a. Managed care b. A medical option plan c. Utilization review d. A medical review program

a. Managed care

Which of the following is true of performance standards? a. Performance standards should be established before the work is performed. b. Performance standards must be based only on quantitative criteria. c. Performance standards should be established while the work is being performed. d. Performance standards must be based only on qualitative criteria.

a. Performance standards should be established before the work is performed.

In the context of the international orientations adopted by multinational enterprises, which of the following statements is true of the polycentric orientation? a. Practices, culture, and policies rely heavily on what is normal in each country. b. Home-country approaches typically dominate the operations in other countries. c. This orientation considers countries as aggregates within a region. d. The idea of this orientation is to create a global mind-set that adopts ideas without regard to their origin.

a. Practices, culture, and policies rely heavily on what is normal in each country.

Which of the following is typically part of the organizational approach to safety management? a. Providing employee safety training b. Applying ergonomic principles c. Developing and implementing safety policies d. Designing appropriate work settings and equipment

a. Providing employee safety training

Cherry is a smartphone manufacturing company based in India. The sales of Cherry phones are declining because of intense competition from similar products in the market. Cherry decides to pursue global opportunities by opening marketing and sales offices in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. With this move, the company hopes to reduce investment risk and achieve stable sales. Which of the following is most likely the reason for Cherry's decision to pursue global expansion? a. Reducing dependence on current markets b. Decreasing efficiencies/economies of scale c. Obtaining investment capital for increased production d. Accessing a deeper, more diverse talent pool of skilled managers

a. Reducing dependence on current markets

Which of the following is a part of security audits? a. Reviewing an organization's disaster plans b. Validating employee screening and selection c. Identifying the whistle-blowers in a company d. Conducting due diligence after a merger

a. Reviewing an organization's disaster plans

In the context of performance information, which of the following is an example of results-based information? a. Sales volume b. Teamwork c. Initiative d. Customer satisfaction

a. Sales volume

Zara, an HR Manager at Fluxin LLC, is responsible for implementing a guided self-appraisal system using management by objectives (MBO) in her organization. She starts by developing specific standards for employee performance. Which of the following is most likely to be Zara's next step? a. Setting of objectives b. Frequent performance discussions c. Job review and agreement d. Implementation of the performance standards

a. Setting of objectives

Which of the following is a tool that helps people determine preferences among vocational occupations? a. The Holland Interest Inventory test b. The Apley grind test. c. The Apgar test d. The Ballard Maturational Assessment

a. The Holland Interest Inventory test

Which of the following is true of an employer who uses the first-quartile strategy of compensation? a. The employer pays the employees below market levels. b. The employer pays the employees above market levels. c. The employer pays the employees on par with the market levels. d. The employer determines the pay independent of the market scenario.

a. The employer pays the employees below market levels.

In the context of economic interdependence, which of the following is a concern of the critics of globalization? a. The extremely low wage rates paid by some international firms for labor in developing countries b. The domination of local businesses over international firms c. The nonregulation of the quality of merchandise produced in foreign markets d. The reduction in economies of scale as a result of international trade

a. The extremely low wage rates paid by some international firms for labor in developing countries

In the context of talent development approaches, which of the following is true of classroom courses? a. The lecture system sometimes used in classroom instruction reduces learner participation. b. The effectiveness of classroom instruction is independent of the size of the group of trainees. c. The effectiveness of classroom instruction is independent of the instructor's styles and subject matter. d. The lecture system used in classroom instruction encourages active listening.

a. The lecture system sometimes used in classroom instruction reduces learner participation.

Identify a true statement about the non-equity approaches of entering the international market. a. They provide businesses a low-cost entry into new, global markets. b. They present more financial risk to companies than equity approaches. c. They demand extensive assistance from the HR department of the home country. d. They include joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and direct investment.

a. They provide businesses a low-cost entry into new, global markets.

Which of the following statements is true of right-to-work laws? a. They restrict compulsory union membership. b. They require that all union members have legal work permits. c. They promote closed shops in organizations. d. They prohibit union meetings during work hours.

a. They restrict compulsory union membership.

In the context of unions, which of the following statements is true of white-collar workers? a. They view unions as not being in touch with the concerns of the more educated workers in technical and professional jobs. b. They tend to believe that unions are open to change. c. They view unions as being oriented primarily toward pink-collar workers. d. They believe that issues related to the nature of jobs should be considered permissive and not mandatory by unions.

a. They view unions as not being in touch with the concerns of the more educated workers in technical and professional jobs.

Which of the following is an early warning sign of workplace violence? a. Verbally abusive b. Destruction of property c. Insubordination d. Physical altercation

a. Verbally abusive

_____ involves the termination of an individual's employment for reasons that are illegal or improper. a. Wrongful discharge b. Dysfunctional turnover c. Voluntary turnover d. Deconstructive discharge

a. Wrongful discharge

Morris, a cashier at Zulu Supermarket, is experiencing pain in his wrist because of repetitively and frequently turning his wrist to scan bar codes on store items. Given this information, it can be said that Morris most likely suffers from _____. a. a cumulative trauma disorder b. developmental coordination disorder c. a neurodevelopmental disorder d. acute stress disorder

a. a cumulative trauma disorder

A(n) _____ is an arrangement where workers who don't join a union must make payments equal to union dues and fees to get union representation services. a. agency shop b. union shop c. open shop d. closed shop

a. agency shop

The _____ occurs when a rater gives all employees a score within a narrow range in the middle of the scale. a. central tendency error b. primacy effect c. recency effect d. similar-to-me error

a. central tendency error

A provision that permits an organization to require an employee to return rewards obtained through unethical or negligent actions is known as a(n) _____. a. clawback provision b. excessive fines provision c. say-on-pay provision d. double jeopardy provision

a. clawback provision

A percentage of the revenue generated by sales that is given to an agent or salesperson is called _____. a. commission b. wage c. basic salary d. severance pay

a. commission

The process of deliberately making conditions intolerable to get an employee to quit is referred to as _____. a. constructive discharge b. voluntary turnover c. dysfunctional turnover d. wrongful discharge

a. constructive discharge

The goal of the _____ phase of the positive discipline approach to discipline is to heighten employee awareness of organizational policies and rules. a. counseling b. final warning c. discharge d. written documentation

a. counseling

A _____ is a retirement program in which employees are promised a pension amount based on age and years of service. a. defined benefit plan b. defined contribution plan c. cash balance pension plan d. stock purchase plan

a. defined benefit plan

Paul recently graduated from college and joined an information technology firm. When he starts work, Paul is taken aback by the differences between college life and professional life. He is dissatisfied with his unsupportive supervisor and is concerned about the lack of frequent feedback and the uncertainty of the logistical aspects of solving work problems. This scenario best exemplifies _____. a. entry shock b. ethnocentrism c. a cyclical career d. a premature career plateau

a. entry shock

Nelson, the HR Director of a large organization, is concerned about the lack of a large internal pool of talent for middle and upper management jobs. He feels there may be employees with high management potential in lower-level jobs who have not been identified and selected for development. To most accurately identify such employees, Nelson should: a. establishes an assessment center that allows employees to nominate themselves. b. review the performance appraisals of employees in upper management. c. ask employees in middle management to supervise their managers for one fiscal quarter. d. ask all the employees in middle management to take extensive psychological tests.

a. establishes an assessment center that allows employees to nominate themselves.

Stock option plans give employees the right to purchase a(n) _____. a. fixed number of shares of company stock at a specified exercise price for a limited period of time b. unlimited number of shares of company stock at a specified exercise price for an unlimited period of time c. fixed number of shares of company stock at a specified exercise price for an unlimited period of time d. unlimited number of shares of company stock at a specified exercise price for a limited period of time

a. fixed number of shares of company stock at a specified exercise price for a limited period of time

A court order that directs an employer to set aside a portion of an employee's wages to pay a debt owed to a creditor is known as _____. a. garnishment b. distraint c. sequestration d. liquidation

a. garnishment

A certain country in the Mediterranean region is known for its nurturing, cooperative culture. The people of this country prefer cooperation over competition. In the context of the dimensions of country cultures developed by Dutch scholar Geert Hofstede, this country is most likely to have _____. a. low scores on the masculinity versus femininity dimension b. high scores on the long-term orientation dimension c. low scores on the indulgence versus restraint dimension d. high scores on the power distance index dimension

a. low scores on the masculinity versus femininity dimension

The _____ occurs when a rater gives greater weight to information received first when appraising an individual's performance. a. primacy effect b. recency effect c. leniency error d. central tendency error

a. primacy effect

Indirect costs associated with workplace accidents include _____. a. time and production lost by coworkers b. fines for safety violations c. damage to work equipment d. workers' compensation premiums

a. time and production lost by coworkers

Gerald is confused as to why his 26-year-old daughter is changing jobs for the third time since graduating from college five years ago. His daughter tells him that she has learned everything she can from her. current job and that she wants to explore other jobs. She also tells him that she wants a job that pays more. and provides better benefits than her current job. In the context of typical career phases, Gerald's daughter is in the stage of her career where most people's needs and concerns are _____. a. to identify interests and acquire capabilities. b. to deal with lifestyle preferences and limitations. c. to achieve personal integrity and incorporate their values into their work life. d. to establish a political power base within their organization.

a. to identify interests and acquire capabilities.

In the context of union-management cooperation, successful organizational restructurings occur when: a. unions obtain and share information with their members and work constructively with the company management. b. members of affinity groups based on race, gender, or religion within an organization represent the interests of and speak on behalf of other employees. c. organizations form a sham company union and coerce workers into joining the union to keep legitimate unions from organizing the employees. d. teams of employees, referred to as labor organizations, collude with the management of an organization to carry out management goals without interference from labor unions.

a. unions obtain and share information with their members and work constructively with the company management.

Chu, an Operating Manager, needs to terminate one of his subordinates, who works on the same floor. The employee, even after several warnings, has been poorly executing work-related duties. Which of the following is the most appropriate medium for dealing with the termination? a. An e-mail communication b. A face-to-face meeting c. A video conference d. A telephonic conversation

b. A face-to-face meeting

FruYa is a company in the United States that manufactures and sells fruit jams and preserves. FruYa's best-selling product is its pineapple preserve, and the company has set up a processing and bottling plant in Brazil, which is one of the world's top pineapple producing countries. Which of the following is the most likely reason for FruYa's global expansion? a. Accessing a deeper, more diverse talent pool of skilled managers b. Accessing better and cheaper raw material supplies c. Countering seasonal fluctuations in sales d. Obtaining investment capital for increased production

b. Accessing better and cheaper raw material supplies

Amanda is suspended by her manager for refusing to work the night shift. She decides to file a grievance with the HR unit in her company. Which of the following should be Amanda's first step? a. Applying for arbitration to settle the grievance b. Discussing the grievance with her union steward and supervisor c. Setting up an impartial third party to resolve the grievance d. Filing a written complaint with the U.S. secretary of labor

b. Discussing the grievance with her union steward and supervisor

Which of the following is true of employee benefits? a. Workers in the United States are entitled to greater employee benefits than workers in many other nations. b. Employee benefits are used to create and maintain a competitive advantage for organizations. c. Surveys show that a majority of individuals regard employee benefits as unimportant in their decision to join or remain with an organization. d. Employers who are seen as skimping on employee benefits are often viewed positively within a community.

b. Employee benefits are used to create and maintain a competitive advantage for organizations.

In the context of international assignments, which of the following actions by a multinational enterprise (MNE) clearly conveys the message that the MNE is making a commitment to its host country? a. Employing third-country nationals b. Employing host-country nationals c. Returning an expatriate to the home country d. Assigning an expatriate to an international assignment

b. Employing host-country nationals

Which of the following most frequently renders a person unfit to perform a hazardous job? a. Lack of interest b. Fatigue and illness c. Drug use d. Alcohol abuse

b. Fatigue and illness

Which of the following is a direct cost associated with workplace accidents? a. Time and production lost by coworkers b. Fines for safety violations c. Time lost by supervisors d. Reduced work group efficiency

b. Fines for safety violations

_____ is the extent to which a person affected by an employment decision feels treated with dignity and respect. a. Restorative justice b. Interactional justice c. Distributive justice d. Procedural justice

b. Interactional justice

Which of the following statements is true of a union shop? a. It requires job applicants to have a union card to be considered for employment. b. It requires workers to join the union, usually 30 to 60 days after being hired. c. It requires workers who refuse to join the union to pay a special fee to get union representation services. d. It requires a union to represent all employees in a company, including nonmembers of the union.

b. It requires workers to join the union, usually 30 to 60 days after being hired.

RedCat LLC, a footwear manufacturing company, used to practice gainsharing. After organizational restructuring, the management decides to replace gainsharing with profit sharing. Which of the following is true of RedCat LLC? a. It used to provide organizational incentives, but now it provides individual incentives. b. It used to provide team incentives, but now it provides organizational incentives. c. It used to provide individual incentives, but now it provides team incentives. d. It used to provide individual incentives, but now it provides organizational incentives.

b. It used to provide team incentives, but now it provides organizational incentives.

Which of the following is true of the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA)? a. It exclusively covers employees in the government sector. b. It was enacted in 1990 as an amendment to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). c. It extends dependent coverage up to age 60. d. It has set the maximum retirement age for employees to be eligible for retirement benefits at 60 years.

b. It was enacted in 1990 as an amendment to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).

Which of the following is an immeasurable cost associated with accidents in an organization? a. Damage to work equipment b. Negative impact on employees' group morale c. Reduced work group efficiency d. Time and production lost by coworkers

b. Negative impact on employees' group morale

Which of the following is typical of the entitlement philosophy of compensation? a. Industry comparisons of total rewards b. Pay and raises based on length of service c. No raises for poor-performing employees d. Market-adjusted pay scales

b. Pay and raises based on length of service

Which of the following is true of organizations that practice a performance-driven approach? a. Employee rewards vary significantly from person to person and are not based on individual performance. b. Performance evaluations link results to employee compensation and development. c. Employee rewards are standardized irrespective of job duties. d. Performance appraisal activities are not valued by managers and employees and are often viewed as a bureaucratic exercise.

b. Performance evaluations link results to employee compensation and development.

In the context of worker motivation, which of the following is classified as an outcome in equity theory? a. Time b. Praise c. Loyalty d. Effort

b. Praise

According to critics, which of the following alliances, formed in 1994, has encouraged employers in the United States to relocate jobs to Mexico where pay is much lower than in the United States? a. The Trans-Pacific Partnership b. The North American Free Trade Agreement c. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development d. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

b. The North American Free Trade Agreement

Which of the following is included in the narrative method of performance appraisals? a. The ranking method b. The critical incident method c. The forced distribution method d. The graphic rating scale

b. The critical incident method

During contract negotiations at a manufacturing company, the union negotiator brings up the issue of increasing workers' wages. Which of the following statements is true in this situation? a. This is a nonnegotiable issue because determining wages is part of management rights. b. The management needs to negotiate on this issue as it is a mandatory issue. c. This is an illegal issue, and the management should refuse to negotiate. d. The management need not negotiate on this issue because it is a permissive issue.

b. The management needs to negotiate on this issue as it is a mandatory issue.

_____ is defined in legal terms as an individual's freedom from unauthorized and unreasonable intrusion into personal affairs. a. Just cause b. The right to privacy c. The right to dissent d. Due process

b. The right to privacy

The emotional component of intercultural competence training is most likely to include _____. a. language courses b. coaching that clarifies prejudices c. lessons on the history of a culture d. training on cultural customs

b. coaching that clarifies prejudices

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) of 1988 _____. a. mandates the payment of severance pay to employees in the case of mass layoff or plant closings b. does not mandate severance pay in case of mass layoffs or plant closings c. does not require employers to give prior notice of mass layoff or plant closings d. requires employers to give six months' notice of mass layoff or plant closings

b. does not mandate severance pay in case of mass layoffs or plant closings

A(n) _____ is a program that provides counseling and other help to employees having emotional, physical, or other personal problems. a. level 1 health promotion plan b. employee assistance program c. employee health education curriculum d. level 3 health promotion plan

b. employee assistance program

A(n) _____ is a physical or electronic manual that explains a company's essential policies, procedures, and worker benefits. a. yellow-dog contract b. employee handbook c. noncompete agreement d. employer memorandum

b. employee handbook

The Privacy Act of 1974, which includes provisions affecting HR recordkeeping systems, applies only to _____. a. nongovernmental organizations and charities b. federal agencies and organizations supplying services to the federal government c. companies operating in the private sector d. companies operating in the business sector

b. federal agencies and organizations supplying services to the federal government

The most highly unionized part of the workforce in the United States is the _____. a. manufacturing sector b. government sector c. mining sector d. agricultural sector

b. government sector

Grouping jobs into pay grades based on similar market survey amounts is known as _____. a. market pegging b. market banding c. market lining d. market scaling

b. market banding

According to a 1986 amendment to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), _____. a. older workers should be discouraged from retiring before the normal retirement age b. most employees cannot be forced to retire at a specific age c. employees above age 50 are ineligible for full pension benefits d. workers should contribute to defined benefit plans

b. most employees cannot be forced to retire at a specific age

Every employer that is engaged in commerce and has at least _____ must comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. a. 20 employees b. one employee c. 10 employees d. five employees

b. one employee

Compa-ratio = _____. a. total pay divided by the midpoint of the pay range b. pay level divided by the midpoint of the pay range c. pay level divided by the total number of employees d. total pay divided by the total number of employees

b. pay level divided by the midpoint of the pay range

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) defines a _____ as an illness or injury that requires inpatient care or continuing treatment by a health care provider for medical problems that exist beyond three days. a. mental disorder b. serious health condition c. life-threatening illness d. chronic disease

b. serious health condition

The _____ occurs when a manager uses only the lower end of the scale to rate employees. a. leniency error b. strictness error c. primacy effect d. recency effect

b. strictness error

One of the primary reasons for the unionization of employees in the United States is _____. a. the absence of ethnocentric work practices b. that employees are dissatisfied with how they are treated by their employers c. the democratic leadership style used by the management of most companies d. that employees are concerned about the increased reshoring of manufacturing jobs

b. that employees are dissatisfied with how they are treated by their employers

In general, women's career advancement is negatively affected by _____. a. the butterfly effect b. the glass ceiling c. dual-career ladders d. global development

b. the glass ceiling

In the context of the dimensions of country cultures developed by Dutch scholar Geert Hofstede, a hierarchical society is most likely to have high scores on _____. a. the long-term orientation dimension b. the power distance index dimension c. the indulgence versus restraint dimension d. the individualism versus collectivism dimension

b. the power distance index dimension

_____ recognizes that for many jobs, employee performance is multidimensional and crosses departmental, organizational, and even national boundaries. a. Peer rating b. Self-rating c. 360-degree rating d. Outsider rating

c. 360-degree rating

Two locomotive manufacturing companies have become partners in a special project to build a final assembly plant for their engines in China. The two companies will share ownership and risk in the investment. However, each company will retain its original business identity. Which of the following business forms does this scenario exemplify? a. A licensing agreement b. A merger c. A joint venture d. An acquisition

c. A joint venture

Sam, an HR Manager, is asked to deal with a violent employee who is threatening her supervisor for not giving her an increment. Which of the following should Sam avoid while talking to the employee? a. Providing an immediate response to the concerns voiced b. Responding to the employee's emotions c. Asking questions that do not require detailed explanations d. Getting assistance from a manager not directly affected by the situation being discussed

c. Asking questions that do not require detailed explanations

Which of the following is typically a responsibility of the HR unit for ensuring that policies, procedures, and rules are effectively followed in a company? a. Reviewing HR policies and rules with all employees b. Applying HR policies, procedures, and rules c. Designing formal mechanisms for coordinating HR policies d. Giving feedback on the effectiveness of HR policies and rules

c. Designing formal mechanisms for coordinating HR policies

_____ protects employees from unjust or arbitrary discipline or termination. a. Constructive discharge b. impeachment c. Due process d. Functional turnover

c. Due process

Which of the following is most likely to make managers more responsive toward employees? a. Peer rating b. Self-rating c. Employee ratings of managers d. Supervisory ratings of subordinates

c. Employee ratings of managers

The Taft-Hartley Act requires that the _____ be notified of disputes over contract renewals or modifications if they were not settled within 30 days after the designated date. a. National Labor Relations Board b. U.S. secretary of labor c. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service d. American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations

c. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

You are conducting a training session on security management for a group of senior employees. Which of the following suggestions would you give the employees for effectively dealing with potentially violent employees? a. Avoid notifying security personnel as this might provoke violent reactions and worsen the situation. b. Avoid asking questions that require long answers or explanations as this might irritate them. c. Get assistance from others, perhaps a manager not directly affected by the situation being discussed. d. Intimidate them and respond to them strongly so as to indirectly demonstrate a position of power.

c. Get assistance from others, perhaps a manager not directly affected by the situation being discussed.