Management People Organizations

Which of the following characteristics concerning pay-for-performance programs may help increase the probability that the program has the intended effects and decrease the probability of unintended consequences and problems

careful alignment with human resource strategy careful alignment with organizational strategy balancing of objectives

Which of the following has improved the process of finding valid predictors of future job performance?

cloud-based data processing

Which of the following system factors exist beyond workers' control but help determine whether they receive merit pay?

co-workers customers equipment

Tests that differentiate people on the basis of mental rather than physical capacities are known as

cognitive ability tests.

Chelan is a manager and must measure the performance of her employees. The method she uses requires her to analyze the performance of each employee in relation to other workers. What is the approach that Chelan will be using?

comparative

Mao Lin is a computer engineer. She has degrees in computer science and has worked in the field for two decades. Mao Lin is personable and hard working but also extremely knowledgeable. She is capable of overseeing projects and employees, is organized, and has the technical skills to understand both the big picture and the details. This description indicates that Mao Lin has

competencies

What term is used to describe the various sets of skills, knowledge, abilities and personal characteristics associated with the successful performance of a job?

competencies

When a test includes scenarios that are representative of the types of things a job incumbent might face on the job, the test is considered

content valid

The degree of relatedness between two sets of numbers is known as the

correlation coefficient

When there is a substantial correlation between test scores and job-performance scores, then ______ validity can be established

criterion-related

Tova works for a mobile business that grooms dogs. She visits clients' homes to groom their pets and is always in the field. Which of the following would be the best source of information for her performance review?

customers

When a performance measure does not measure all aspects of performance, it is considered

deficient

Which of the following steps are part of the attribute approach?

defining a set of desired traits evaluating whether individuals posses certain desired traits

When using behaviorally anchored rating scales, organizations seek to define performance dimensions by

developing behavioral anchors associated with different levels of performance

According to W. Edwards Deming, rating individual performance is an unfair practice because

differences between workers are almost entirely the result of the system they work in rather than the people

Pay plans are used in part to do which of the following?

direct employee behavior energize employee behavior control employee behavior

Managers are often evaluated by their employees. Employees who report to a manager are known as

direct reports

When it comes to evaluating the fairness of distributed rewards, employees tend to focus on which aspects?

distributive procedural

The top strategic purpose of a performance management system is establishing a link between

employee activity and organizational goals

Specificity is relevant to which of the following aspects of performance management?

employee development achieving strategic goals

Which type of plan not only provides stock ownership in the company to its employees but also potential tax and financial advantages to employers?

employee stock ownership

Once effective behaviors have been defined, the behavioral approach requires managers to assess how well

employees exhibit them

Reference letters are unreliable predictors of job success primarily because most of them are

excessively positive

When considering employee compensation, Blank______ theory is focused on the effects of incentives.

expectancy

Employees notice how some employees get paid differently, and their perceptions of Blank______ will influence their behaviors.

fairness

When implementing a performance management strategy, organizations develop which of the following?

feedback systems definitions of the expected results measurements systems

Which of the following administrative decisions are typically made with the aid of performance management information?

layoffs promotions pay raises

A colleague receives a significant reward for work you accomplished together, but you do not receive a similar reward. What impact might that have on you?

loss of motivation inconsistent future performance

Communication, documentation, and organization maintenance are several of the basic purposes of an organization's performance _____ system

management

For the modern corporation, ownership is nearly always separate from

management

Which of the following conditions help gainsharing succeed?

management commitment strong levels of cooperation commitment to continuous improvement

Which of the following is the most frequently used source of performance information?

managers

Though a behavioral observation scale offers managers important insights, it can also require more information than

managers can process

Under a profit-sharing system, payments are

not part of base salary

What should effective performance evaluations systems measure?

objectives behaviors

In order to make high performance more likely in the future, employers are well advised to .

offer a monetary reward for high employee performance

Skinner labeled behavior that is learned when one acts on the environment to produce desired consequences behavior.

operant

Which of the following are components of a balanced scorecard's perspectives of performance?

operations customer learning

Employee performance can be measured at the Blank______ level.

organizational unit individual

Which of the following are examples of comparative approaches?

paired comparison ranking forced distribution

When one set of numbers in a measurement goes up as another set of numbers goes down, the two sets of numbers exist in a ______.

perfect negative relationship

Organizations use a process known as ______ to decide which applicants will or will not be allowed into the organization.

personnel selection

The process of establishing an empirical relationship between pre-hire test scores and post-hire job performance is known as

predictive validation

Which of the following is an example of negative reinforcement?

probationary periods for new hires

What term describes the process in which a manager rates the employees within his or her department from the best to the worst performers?

simple ranking

Questions that pertain to specific situations that are likely to arise in the course of the job are asked as part of a(n) ______ interview.

situational

When testing quantitative ability, one seeks to measure an applicant's ability to do which of the following?

solve arithmetic problems

A performance measure that does a good job of telling employees what is expected of them and how to meet those expectations is said to have a high level of

specificity

In order to determine how much validity is sufficient, one usually tests for which of the following

statistical significance

One way that employees can achieve ownership in the company they work for is via

stock options

Job performance management systems that bring out job performance that is in line with the strategies, goals, and culture of the organization is said to have

strategic congruence

Unlike merit pay, individual incentives are rarely based on

subjective ratings

The results approach assumes that ______ can be eliminated from the process of measuring the results of a work group.

subjectivity

Peer evaluations are particularly useful to management when

supervisors are not often able to observe the employee

Which of the following are considered limitations of content validation?

the large role subjective judgment plays the assumption that the new hire has to have the knowledge, skills, and abilities being measured at the time of hire

Thorndike's observations that led to the law of effect were that behavior with ______ consequences tends to disappear.

unfavorable

Feedback in traditional merit pay programs typically flows in which direction

unidirectionally, from supervisor to subordinate

Feedback in traditional merit pay programs typically flows in which direction?

unidirectionally, from supervisor to subordinate

What term describes a performance appraisal process for managers that includes direct reports' evaluations?

upward feedback

WarningDue in less than 8 hours Multiple Select Question Select all that apply Which of the following would be expected in a performance management system that is designed with a strong quality orientation?

use of multiple sources in the evaluation of person and system factors an emphasis on cooperation in performance problem solving between managers and employees involvement of both internal and external customers to set standards and measure performance

When a performance measure assesses all relevant aspects of performance, and only the relevant aspects of performance, that measure test is considered

valid

The first step in validity generalization involves determining that a specific test is a

valid predictor for a specific job

If an empirical association can be shown to exist between a selection measure and scores for job performance, the ______ of a selection method can be established.

validity

In terms of job selection and placement, the extent to which a given measure of performance is related to performance on the job is known as

validity

When a firm is unable to use criterion-related or content validation, which selection method does it typically use instead?

validity generalization

Merit pay, or merit bonuses, is a form of Blank______ pay.

variable

One type of cognitive ability test measures an individual's _____, which is the person's capacity to understand and use written and spoken language.

verbal comprehension

After a company has decided the kind of performance it expects from employees, it must develop

ways to measure performance

Under which circumstances is it important for a company to use interviewers who are good at assessing a job candidate's growth potential and ability to fit in with the established corporate culture?

when the company hires candidates with little or no experience

When is it appropriate to use customer evaluations of employee performance?

when the job involves direct service to the customer when the evaluations serve a strategic goal

According to research findings, when an organization changes from a pay strategy that has below average variability to one with above average variability, on average they will experience a return on assets of approximately

2%

Which of the following statements about self-ratings are true?

Employees tend to inflate their ratings. Ratings should not be the sole source of performance information.

Which of the following can be influenced by promotions and pay raises?

Employees' intentions of quitting Employees' perception of fairness Employees' emotional well-being

Which of the following are the first two steps in the performance management process?

Identify and develop performance measures for key performance dimensions. Identify the company's goals and objectives.

Which of the following statements are true about the practice of illegal discrimination in employee selection methods?

Illegal discrimination is associated with expensive legal settlements and awards. Illegal discrimination can lead to costly litigation. Illegal discrimination can damage a company's social reputation.

True or false: Merit pay exists in most organizations.

True

Which of the following has been revealed by research on the use of objectives to measure performance?

Use of objectives usually increases productivity. Commitment to the objectives from top management results in high productivity.

Evidence concerning the reliability and validity of reference checks indicates that they are ______ predictors of future performance and success on the job.

Weak

Pay programs that recognize employee contributions differ depending on whether payouts are Blank______.

a fixed cost part of base pay variable

Organizations often worry that merit pay increases may lead to which of the following?

a sense of entitlement

Donaldo just went through his performance evaluation. His manager gave him timely and complete feedback about areas needing improvement and training available to help him. Donaldo disagreed with his manager's assessment and decided not to make any changes to his work performance. Which criterion of performance measure is exemplified by Donaldo's reaction?

acceptability

Which of the following are important criteria for evaluating a performance management system?

acceptability specificity reliability

Which of the following are purposes of an organization's performance management system?

administrative strategic developmental

Which of the following focuses on how employee compensation can be used to align the divergent interests and goals of an organizations' various stakeholders?

agency theory

The personality dimension known as ______ is described as how good-natured, forgiving, and courteous a person is.

agreeableness

Which of the following are among the five major dimensions measured in a personality inventory?

agreeableness extroversion adjustment

What type of ranking is being used when managers look over a list of employees, decide who is best and cross that name off the list, decide who is the worst employee and cross that name off the list, and then repeat the process?

alternation

Which of the following is the best use of self-ratings?

as a way for the employee to prepare for performance feedback

Which of the following characteristics concerning pay-for-performance programs may help increase the probability that the program has the intended effects and decrease the probability of unintended consequences and problems?

balancing of objectives careful alignment with human resource strategy careful alignment with organizational strategy

Managers who attempt to define which behaviors employees have to exhibit in order to effectively complete their job are using the _____ approach to performance

behavioral

Which of the following is similar to behaviorally anchored rating scales except that it involves managers rating the frequency that employees exhibited certain behaviors during a specified rating period?

behavioral observation scale

The main influence of compensation is on instrumentality, which can be described as the perceived link between

behaviors and pay

The acceptability of a performance measure is determined, in part, by the extent to which the employees

believe the performance management system is fair

Organizations should choose a pay strategy in the context of how effectively it will further the organization's

business strategy

How do companies help reduce the biases associated with in-person job interviews?

by conducting interviews using multiple simultaneous interviewers

Strengthening a desired behavior by removing a displeasing consequence is:

negative reinforcement

When an interviewer asks job candidates about the biggest challenge they have faced in motivating employees, the interviewer is asking which of the following?

An experience-based question

Which of the following groups of applicants can be adversely affected by physical ability tests?

Applicants with disabilities Female applicants

Which is the most likely reason many managers doubt the effectiveness of performance appraisal systems?

Appraisal systems are rarely modified.

Whose theory states that contingent consequences, such as positive reinforcement and punishment, control behavior?

B. F. Skinner

Which of the following statements are true of Thorndike's law of effect?

Behaviors with favorable consequences tend to be repeated Behaviors with unfavorable consequences tend to disappear

Which of the following are classes of physical ability tests?

Cardiovascular endurance Muscular endurance Coordination

The process known -------- as validation involves testing individuals presently performing a job and then attempting to establish a correlation between those test scores and existing measures of job performance.

Concurrent

Which of the following are contexts over which we typically generalize selection methods?

Different jobs Different organizations Different samples of people

Which of the following are benefits of using video-based role-play over traditional paper-and-pencil methods?

It has higher levels of predictive validity. It is more engaging for applicants.

Which of the following statements is true about the developmental purpose of performance management?

It is designed to develop employees and improve performance.

Which of the following statements are true about managers as sources of performance information?

Managers have the ability to rate their employees. Managers know about their employees' job requirements.

Which of the following increase with increasing incentive intensity?

Motivation The chance of unintended consequences

Which of the following statements is true about peer evaluations?

Peer evaluations can be more motivating than managers' evaluations.

In measuring a team's performance, what potential drawbacks might be encountered?

Plans that do not recognize individual performance differences may demotivate top performers. Competition between individual team members may be reduced.

In what type of plan are monetary bonuses paid to employees if the ratio of labor costs to the sales value of production is kept below a certain standard?

Scanlon

The theory that there is a purposeful if-then link between a target behavior and a consequence is:

Skinner's operant theory

Which of the following are forms of honesty tests commonly used by U.S. companies today?

Tests with questions about admitting to past theft Tests inquiring about associations with others who have stolen from employers Tests for social conformity and conscientiousness

Though it can be useful, many employers are reluctant to use predictive validation due to

the large amount of time and effort it requires

Which statements refer to the legality of employee selection methods?

The methods should conform to existing legal precedents. The methods should follow existing laws.

What are two social trends in the United States that have affected the need for drug-use tests among employees?

The number of overdose cases involving opioids and other drugs in the workplace has been increasing. The legal status of marijuana use has changed in many states even though it remains illegal under federal law for many occupations.

Which of the following statements is true about approaches to measuring performance?

There is no one best approach to measuring performance but all should measure what is accomplished and how it is accomplished.

What is a disadvantage of behaviorally anchored rating scales?

They can bias information recall.

What term describes an approach to performance management that involves focusing on certain traits or characteristics possessed by individuals that are thought to be related to the company's success?

attribute

Which of the following are design features that potentially help differentiate pay-for-performance programs?

frequency of payout ways of measuring performance payment method

Interview questions that pertain to hypothetical situations that a job candidate might face if hired are considered

future-oriented

Which of following characteristics are generally indicative of a selection method's utility?

generalizability reliability validity

Situational interview items have

high predictive validity

When used well, pay plans have a(n)

incentive effect

The strength of the relationship between pay and performance is known as

incentive intensity

Reinforcement theory states that you can:

increase desired behaviors by providing pleasing consequences strengthen desired behaviors by withdrawing a displeasing consequence

Payments are not added into base pay and must be continuously earned in Blank______ plans.

individual incentive

On a balanced scorecard, what is the performance perspective that focuses on processes that influence customer satisfaction?

internal or operations perspective

If two individuals give a person's job performance approximately the same evaluation, the performance measure has

interrater reliability

Ownership in the company via stock options might be less motivational to employees because they Blank______.

may not realize any financial gain until they sell the stock

When measuring performance, team award plans consider which of the following?

meeting deadlines successful completion of product design cost savings

Cognitive ability tests are designed to measure an individual's

mental capacity

Which of the following does evidence suggest has the highest positive impact on future job performance?

merit bonuses

The compensation plan known as Blank______ involves payments being based on some measure of organizational performance, and the payments do not become part of the base salary.

profit sharing

Cutting the pay of two top executives at Carnival Cruises because of major accidents and mishaps is the form of behavior modification known as

punishment

Which performance management approach involves a preventative approach to errors, continuous improvement, and a customer orientation?

quality

The measurement of person's speed and accuracy in solving arithmetic problems is called

quantitative ability

An individual's capacity to come up with solutions to many diverse problems is known as their

reasoning ability

Which is the broadest of the cognitive abilities?

reasoning ability

According to the law of effect, rewards make responses

recur in the future

Consistency in performance and being free from random error is a measure of Blank

reliability

The degree to which a measure is free from random error defines its level of _____.

reliability

The personnel selection measure that is based on how consistent something is over time or over different contexts is called

reliability

In order for a test to have validity, it must be

reliable

Skinner concluded that behavior is:

respondent and operant

Which approach to performance management involves managing objective measures of outcomes of a job or work group?

results

It is important to pay high performers an amount they believe is equitable in order to them.

retain attract motivate

If standout employees score high on a specific trait, then a company using concurrent validation will likely use scores on this trait to do which of the following?

screen new hires

Performance management appraisals are sometimes not particularly useful because managers

tend to fear evaluating employees negatively

Which is considered the most fundamental criticism of the merit pay system?

that it does not actually exist

Who collects the majority of information on an individual's performance in traditional merit pay programs?

the immediate supervisor

Verbal comprehension tests are designed to test which of the following in applicants?

their capacity to understand written language their capacity to understand spoken language

Which of the following make ESOPs attractive to organizations?

their financing advantages the defense they offer against takeovers their tax advantages

Which of the following statements about the process of performance management is true?

to be effective, performance management should not be an event but a process.

What is a developmental purpose of performance management?

to identify employee weaknesses for managers to use in providing feedback and coaching

In order to predict future job performance by simulating a job through things like hypothetical case studies and role play, applicants are sometimes asked to take ______ tests

work-sample