Chapter 10 Principles of Management - Human Resource Management

A performance appraisal focuses on which basic categories?

behaviors traits results

Which are difficulties faced by employees who have been fired or laid off? (Select all that apply.)

being demoralized when seeking a new job feeling stigmatized a loss of self-esteem

______ occurs when an employee is trained by a superior and is usually the most effective and direct management-development tool.

coaching

When employee contributions and capabilities cannot be imitated by others, the employees become a source of Blank______.

competitive advantage

When employee contributions and capabilities cannot be imitated by others, the employees become a source of Blank______.

competitive advantages

An advantage of Blank______ recruiting is that employees may work hard and like the opportunity to move up within the organization.

internal

The knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics needed to perform a job is the Blank______.

job specification

When Takesha applied for her job, she had to demonstrate that she had an engineering degree, several years of management experience, and in-depth knowledge of computer systems. These requirements make up the Blank______.

job specification

What areas fall under human resources management (HRM)? (Check all that apply.)

labor relations staffing training performance appraisal

MBO is an acronym for Blank______.

management by objectives

The three stages in the HR planning process include which of the following?

planning programming evaluating

In situational interviews, job candidates are Blank______.

presented with possible job scenarios and asked how they would handle them

A sample question on an integrity test would not focus on Blank______.

professional experience

Using internal or external sources to develop a pool of qualified applicants from which management can select employees is the task known as Blank______.

recruitment

______ involves teaching managers and professional employees broader skills needed for their present and future jobs.

Development

Which are among the guidelines for choosing a performance appraisal method? (Check all that apply.)

Document the performance appraisal process carefully. Communicate performance standards to employees. Evaluate employees on specific performance-related behaviors.

______ is a strategic activity that includes meeting an organization's staffing needs.

Human resource planning

People who work at W. L. Gore have specialized capabilities and skills that help set Gore apart from its competition. Which criteria of HRM does this exemplify?

Is rare

What are two benefits of orientation training?

It results in lower employee turnover. It helps to increase morale.

Which type of interview explores what candidates have actually done in the past by asking questions about real events?

behavioral description

If an organization's people have talents that can be combined and deployed rapidly to work on a new assignment, those talents are considered a Blank______.

competitive advantage

Minnesota Materials has formal systems for identifying future management needs and developing high potential employees so the company can promote from within. These formal systems are a source of Blank______ for the company.

competitive advantage

Management training programs seek to improve managers' Blank______ skills.

people

When a company needs to hire employees, it wants to select people from a pool of qualified applicants. What is the process of forming this pool of applicants?

recruitment

The consistency of test scores over time and across alternative measurements is known as Blank______.

reliability

Performance appraisals can assess three basic categories of employee performance: traits, behaviors, and Blank______.

results

A Blank______ might be included as part of a background check for jobs involving driving.

vehicle record check

Selection builds on recruitment and involves decisions about Blank______.

whom to hire

What are two elements of a job analysis?

a job specification a job description

Job applications and résumés typically contain basic information on the candidate, including which of the following? (Check all that apply.)

education work experiences certifications

Which external recruiting methods do employers prefer? (Check all that apply.)

employee referrals online job boards

Cardi thought she was doing a good job, even though she didn't always arrive to work on time. She then got fired for tardiness. This is a case of Blank______.

employment-at-will

The legal concept that an employee can be terminated for any reason is known as Blank______.

employment-at-will

When a manager attends career fairs at local colleges and meets with groups in the community to look for potential recruits, this is known as Blank______ recruiting.

external

When a manager looks outside the organization to fill positions with people who have not worked for the company before, this is known as Blank______ recruiting.

external

True or false: Applications and résumés tend to be extremely useful for making final selection decisions.

false

Appraisals are most effective when they are based on a(n) Blank______.

familiar work relationship

In recent years, benefits costs have risen Blank______ wages and salaries.

faster than

Top companies invest a great deal to hire and train employees because they recognize that Blank______.

good talent is rare

An employee's pay is based on the performance of the employee's team in a(n) Blank______.

group incentive plan

People can provide a competitive advantage for a firm when their skills, knowledge, and abilities are Blank______. (Select all that apply)

hard to find superior to the competition

Training and development helps to ensure that employees Blank______. (Check all that apply.)

have the knowledge and skills needed to perform jobs effectively can take on new responsibilities are motivated to perform at high levels

By using empowerment programs, total quality initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts human resources can have a strategic impact on an organization because these programs Blank______.

help to create value

Issues relating to staffing, training, and labor relations are the domain of which department within the organization?

human resources

A(n) Blank______ test might question employees on whether they steal or believe that others steal.

integrity

People who depend on an employee's work output and provide performance appraisal information from within an organization are called Blank______.

internal customers

It is important to conduct reference checks on potential employees because Blank______.

it can be unwise to rely solely on the words of the candidates

Which types of analyses are useful to managers when conducting a needs assessment? (Choose very correct answer.)

job analyses performance measurements

In Torsten's job, he must collaborate with managers from other teams, prepare budgets, manage vendor invoices, and supervise a team of five. This is Torsten's Blank______.

job description

An organization's most distinctive and renewable resources are an employee's Blank______. (Check all that apply.)

knowledge abilities skills

Human resource leaders provide the most benefit to an organization in the long run when they promote which of the following values? (Choose every correct answer.)

legal strategic financial

Pay Blank______ refers to whether the organization is a high-, average-, or low-paying company.

level

One advantage of Blank______ is that it avoids the bias and measurement difficulties of trait and behavioral appraisals.

management by objectives

Managers conduct a(n) Blank______ to identify who and what needs training.

needs assessment

When giving performance feedback, the manager must be Blank______ and able to make tough decisions.

objective

Appraisals are most effective when they are based on what type of relationship with employees?

ongoing

One advantage of a 360-degree appraisal is that it captures information that Blank______.

other appraisal methods miss

The process of helping people who have been dismissed from the company regain employment elsewhere is known as Blank______.

outplacement

A clerk or administrative assistant may be asked to take a(n) Blank______ test, where the applicant performs a sample job task.

performance

A typing test is an example of a(n) Blank______ test.

performance

In order for pay to motivate employees to work at high levels, pay should be linked to Blank______.

performance

When managers evaluate employees' performance to assess their contributions to the organization, this is called a(n) Blank______.

performance appraisal

Important information on which to base human resource decisions, such as pay raises and promotions, can be acquired through Blank______.

performance are

In order to assemble teams with similar positive traits, an organization may give potential candidates a(n) Blank______ test.

personality

The first stage of the human resource planning process is Blank______.

planning

Which is the broadest and least individualized incentive plan?

profit-sharing plan

In which HR function are employees hired from among qualified applicants?

selection

Haben is interviewing for a customer service position. She is asked, "You receive a call from an angry customer. You listen to the customer's story and conclude, after some investigating, that the customer is wrong and did not comply with your company's stated policies. How would you handle this?" Haben is in a(n) Blank______ interview.

situational

When summarizing the employee's performance in a performance appraisal it is important to be Blank______.

specific

Appraisal feedback works best when it is Blank______.

specific and constructive

The Blank______ function of human resources consists of recruitment, selection, and outplacement.

staffing

Which is the next step after HR planning is completed?

staffing

When managers ask all of the job applicants the same set of standard questions in an interview, this is an example of a(n) Blank______ interview.

structured

As part of Suhindra's training as a new employee, he worked alongside a group of experienced employees. Suhindra was encouraged to actively participate, and the other employees shared their knowledge with him. Which type of training is this?

team training

"Get me the right kind and the right number of people at the right time." This statement refers to Blank______.

the human resources planning process

Which part of a job analysis details each job's specific and essential tasks, duties, and responsibilities?

the job description

In a structured interview, managers ask each applicant Blank______.

the same standard questions

People increase value through their efforts to decrease costs or provide something unique to customers. This can be achieved through the use of Blank______. (Select all that apply)

total quality initiatives empowerment programs continuous improvement efforts

In contrast to development, which occurs at higher levels in an organization, Blank______ involves teaching employees how to perform their jobs and helping them acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to be effective.

training

Which of the following refers to teaching lower-level employees how to perform their jobs?

training

Hassan, a social worker, is assessed based on his empathy and concern for others. This is an example of a(n) Blank______ appraisal.

trait

Hassan, a social worker, is assessed based on his empathy and concern for others. This is an example of a(n) Blank______appraisal.

trait

Managers can assess subordinates on personal characteristics that are relevant to job performance, such as initiative, leadership, and attitude, when Blank______ appraisals are used.

trait

The degree to which a selection test predicts or correlates with job performance is known as Blank______.

validity

______ training teaches employees the skills they need to work together and facilitates their interaction.

team

In a(n) Blank______ interview, a discussion occurs between a manager and employee about the employee's dismissal.

termination

A Blank______ has the advantage of giving a fuller picture of an employee's strengths and weaknesses.

360-degree performance appraisal

Which statement about employment-at-will is true?

There are exceptions to the employment-at-will doctrine.

How can organizations best avoid the need to significantly downsize?

by avoiding excessive hiring

Different pay rates for employees performing similar jobs in the same job family are determined by Blank______.

individual pay decisions

Which of the following entities is not included as a source for performance appraisal information?

stockholders

Which of the following statements about drug testing is true?

Almost half of U.S. employers screen for drugs.

______ validity refers to the degree to which a test actually predicts or correlates with job performance.

Criterion-related

Which are guidelines for giving feedback to an average employee?

Thank the employee. Raise relevant issues. Explain why employee's work is important. Express confidence in future performance. Summarize performance.

Which statements about behavioral appraisals are true? (Check all that apply.)

They are subjective. They focus on observable aspects of performance.

Which of the following statements about personality tests is true?

They can be discriminatory and may not accurately predict job performance.

Benefits now constitute about Blank______ percent of payroll costs.

30

A performance appraisal that gathers feedback from an employee's subordinates, peers, customers, and superiors is a(n) Blank______ appraisal.

360-degree

A(n) Blank______ appraisal uses multiple sources of appraisal to gain a comprehensive perspective on an employee's performance.

360-degree

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 and its amendments in 1978 and 1986 prohibit discrimination against people Blank______ years old and above.

40

Select the steps that are included when giving a performance appraisal to an employee who is performing below acceptable standards. (Check all that apply.)

Agree to a timetable for improvement. Agree to a solution. Describe the expectations and standards.

The human resource management activities that require the most attention in a given organization depend on which of the following?

An organizations rate of growth

What do managers need to build into their HRM plans to ensure that their employees are able to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform their jobs at a high level and take on new responsibilities as conditions change?

Training and development

Since the passage of the Blank______, applicants and employees of federal contractors and the Department of Defense must undergo drug testing.

Drug-Free Workplace Act

Most job positions are filled by word-of-mouth recommendations by employees. Which of the following are advantages of this method? (Check all that apply.)

Employees know who will be a good fit with the company. It is relatively inexpensive.

The 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act created which two employee categories?

Exempt and nonexempt

What law created two categories of employees (exempt and nonexempt)?

Fair Labor Standards Act

Which of the following people or institutions would a hiring organization contact as part of a reference check?

Former employers Educational institutions

Which statements are true of human resource management? (Check all that apply.)

Historically it was known as personnel management. It deals with managing people at work. The first interaction with an organization you wish to join involves its human resource function.

______ is the strategic value of employee knowledge and abilities.

Human capital

______ is a formal system for the management of people within an organization.

Human resource management

______ is the use of new ideas that emerge from the focused creativity of organizational members.

Innovation

Which statement about internal recruitment is true?

It can yield a limited applicant pool.

______ training is designed to introduce new employees to the company and familiarize them with policies, procedure, and culture.

Orientation

Which are crucial decisions for designing an effective pay plan?

Pay structure Pay level Individual pay

It is illegal to fire employees for which of the following?

Refusing to break the law Jury duty Whistle-blowing

A seemingly neutral employment practice that has a disproportionately negative effect on a group protected by the Civil Rights Act is known as Blank______ impact.

adverse

An equal number of qualified individuals applied for security jobs at the airport. All the individuals were required to take an employment test, the results of which led the airport to hire mostly male candidates. The test thus had a(n) Blank______.

adverse impact

When giving a performance appraisal to an underperforming employee you should Blank______.

agree to a timetable for improvement

Supervisors should meet with their employees face-to-face for termination interviews. It is also wise to include Blank______ in the meeting.

an HR manager

Organizations can achieve competitive advantage when they possess or develop human resources that Blank______. (Check all that apply.)

are rare are organized create value

A(n) Blank______ is composed of 10 to 12 managerial candidates who participate in a variety of exercises or situations.

assessment center

While trait appraisals assess what workers are like, what workers do is assessed by Blank______ appraisals.

behavioral

Chito is interviewing for a job as an IT specialist. He is asked to talk about a time he was under a tight time line and what he did to meet the deadline. He is then asked if he would do things differently knowing what he now knows. Chito is in a(n) Blank______ interview.

behavioral description

The degree to which selection tests measure a representative sample of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the job is known as Blank______ validity.

content

Adequate background checks include which of the following? (Check all that apply.)

criminal records check Social Security verification employment verification

Assessment center exercises tap a number of critical managerial dimensions, including Blank______. (Select all that apply)

decision-making skills leadership communication ability

The essential tasks, duties, and responsibilities involved in performing a job are known as the job Blank______.

description

When a performance appraisal is used to identify and plan additional training an employee needs, the appraisal serves a(n) Blank______ purpose.

developmental

Human resource management can build a competitive advantage when the resources create value, are rare, are Blank______, and are organized.

difficult to imitate

Performance appraisals serve some basic purposes. They provide Blank______.

documentation to justify decisions in court information for salary, promotion, and dismissal decisions documentation to be used to identify and plan training