OBHR 3300 exam 1

this replaced the 1930s system of occupational titles that existed due to technological changes and reduced the number of titles

Occupational Information network (O*NET)

the executive branch of the federal government a) consists of bodies such as the select committee on ethics b) consists of the house of reps and senate c) adjudicates criminal cases d) passes laws such as the civil rights act e) consists of the president and the many regulatory agencies the president oversees

e) consists of the president and the many regulatory agencies the president oversees

actual number of people that take the job from the number of people who went through the application process

yield ratio

includes work redesign, hr planning, selection, training/development, performance appraisal, career planning, and job evaluation

job analysis

a short term solution that helps avoid expected labor shortage, but reduces productivity in the long run

overtime

allows for consideration of human resource issues during the strategy formulation process. the HRM function is expected to provide input on potential strategies and then help implement chosen option

Two way linkage

sophie, the HR manager, checks her email, completes paperwork, and returns voicemail. These activities are part of the a) administrative linkage b) one-way linkage c) two-way linkage d) integrative linkage e) executive linkage

a) administrative linkage

The first step in the human resource planning process is a) forecasting b) goal setting c) program implementation d) program evaluation e) groupthink

a) forecasting

marisol, an hr manager at a technology firm, is entrusted with the task of hiring a member for a new team. she has already received information about what the new role will entail as well as the tasks the new employee will be performing. she is currently using several media to seek applicants for the role. which of the following HRM practices is marisol performing? a) job designing b) recruitment c) performance management d) training e) job analysis

b) recruitment

individuals who feel they have been discriminated against must file a complaint with the EEOC or a similar state agency within _____ days of the incident. a) 30 b) 60 c) 180 d) 270 e) 365

c) 180

Which stage in a work-unit activity analysis focuses on the product, information, or service provided? a) raw inputs b) equipments c) output d) activity e) human resource input

c) output

knowing the college is on the verge of a financial crisis, a few of the older professors get together and decide that they can help. which option will they choose? a) early retirement causes relatively less human suffering b) the human suffering after pay reduction is relatively low c) retraining causes comparatively more human suffering than other options d) a hiring freeze causes immense human suffering e) transfers cause the least amount of human suffering

a) early retirement causes relatively less human suffering

Due to a series of resignations from the organization, Zylon Inc., a large software firm, is facing an acute labor shortage. During which of the following human resource planning steps would the firm contemplate several options to address the labor issue? a) goal setting and strategic planning b) program evaluation c) forecasting d) program implementation e) data collection

a) goal setting and strategic planning

how does employees' use of mobile devices offer an advantage to companies? a) companies do not need to lease storage space in the cloud b) employees have access to work information at any time or location c) companies can decrease spending on desktop computers and software d) devices facilitate automation of key HR and business practices e) it minimizes social networking by employees during business hours

b) employees have access to work information at any time or location

which of the following agencies is responsible for enforcing title vii of the civil rights act and the americans with disabilities act? a) US dept of commerce b) Equal employment opportunity commission c) office of federal contract compliance programs d) US dept of Labor e) Us office of personnel managemnt

b) equal employment opportunity commission

a common practice for companies in today's market is to look within at what is working and what is not. This is an example of a(n) a) job analysis b) internal analysis c) job characteristics model d) competitor analysis e) job modeling

b) internal analysis

which of the following includes a list of the tasks, duties, and responsibilities that a job entails? a) job specification b) job description c) job standardization d) job satisfaction e) job evaluation

b) job description

katerina is looking for a job that will be quick to learn and not require a lot of thinking, so she can earn money and still focus on earning her degree. she is looking for a job that follows the _____ approach a) motivational b) mechanistic c) biological d) perceptual motor e) ergonomic

b) mechanistic

sampson lighting was struggling to make a quality product and meet its payroll. the costs for labor were too high. they visited several countries and then decided to move the production side of the business. this is called a) insourcing b) offshoring c) reshoring d) onshoring e) homesourcing

b) offshoring

a(n) _____ shows the proportion of employees in different job categories at different times a) invertible matrix b) transitional matrix c) definite matrix d) task role matrix e) orthogonal matrix

b) transitional matrix

the age discrimination in employment act of 1967 prohibits discrimination against employees over the age of a) 30 b) 35 c) 40 d) 18 e) 15

c) 40

which of the following was replaced by the occupational information network (O*NET)? a) position analysis questionnaire b) general apptitude test battery c) dictionary of occupational titles d) workforce learning link e) work profiling system

c) dictionary of occupational titles

michael and mohammed graduated from the same pilot training institute and applied for a job as a trainee pilot at a private american airline. despite both having similar profiles, michael was hired and mohammed was not, and the airline continued to look for other potential trainee pilots. in this case, mohammed was a possible victim of a) sexual harrassment b) quid pro quo harrassment c) disparate treatment d) disparate impact e) racial discrimination

c) disparate treatment

Butterflies and Blooms, a new florist in town, is attempting to maximize profits but knows the company cannot charge too much for its bouquets in this market. as the company explores locations, the florist notes rent, property taxes, and parking. these are examples of _____ costs a) acquistion b) procurement c) fixed d) variable e) marginal

c) fixed

organizational structure where decision making authority resides at the top and the process is typically slow

centralization

a ____ workforce describes the former workers to whom a firm still owes financial obligations a) contingent b) consultant c) temporary d) legacy e) contract

d) legacy

Selena is leading the strategic groups through an exercise to define the companys mission and goals through a swot analysis. she is employing a) strategy implementation b) task design c) selection and training d) strategy formulation e) strategy evaluation

d) strategy formulation

lowest level of integration; HRM function's attention is focused on day to day activities. No input from the HRM function is given to the company's strategic plan

Administrative linkage

______ ensures that all individuals have an opportunity for employment regardless of: race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, national origin, etc

equal employment opportunity commission (EEOC)

employment test of disparate impact

four fifths (80%) rule

the activity or practice carried on by the organization with the primary purpose of identifying and attracting potential employees

human resource recruitment process

lists of tasks and responsibilities of a job

job description

the process of defining the way work will be performed and the tasks that will be required in a given job

job design

the process of changing the tasks or the way work is performed in an existing job

job redesign

a retirement program sometimes including health insurance for a worker that is no longer working for the company

legacy workforce obligation

approach to designing jobs that focuses on the simplest way to structure work to maximize efficiency

mechanistic approach

job design approach that focuses on characteristics that affect psychological meaning and motivational potential and views job satisfaction as the most important outcomes of job design

motivational approach

how to determine success of strategy implementation

organizational structure, task design, selection/training, rewards, and information systems

job design approach that focuses on human mental capabilities and limitations

perceptual-motor approach

standardized job questionnaire containing items about information input, mental processes, work output, relationships, and other characteristics

positional analysis questionnaire (PAQ)

people who are prompted to apply for a certain job by someone in the organization

referrals

difference between training vs development

training for today, development for tomorrow

used for charting historical trends to determine labor supply

transitional matrices

which of the following approaches to job design identifies the one best way to perform a job? a) motivational approach b) scientific management approach c) biological approach d) perceptual motor approach e) cognitive task analysis approach

b) scientific management approach

when clean motors condensed all its parts factories into one large location, the company increased research and development and customer service, and decreased its sales force. how would this practice help the company become a low cost producer? a) the company created a product that was different from others in the market b) the company constructed efficient large scale facilities c) the company invested heavily in branding its product d) the company invested in creating a unique customer service process e) the company started using the latest machines for its production facility

b) the company constructed efficient large scale facilities

job design approach that focuses on ergonomics, such as physiological characteristics and physical work environment

biological approach

Over the next decade, which of the following people will have the most difficulty attracting talented employees due to a skills deficit? a) tracy, the owner of several fast food franchises b) Rex, the HR manager for a biotech research firm c) Yelena, the director of a mobile advertising company d) Franco, the HR director for a large grocery chain e) Barbara, the superintendent of an urban school system

c) Yelena

Mani is unsure of which 401k and retirement plan will meet his needs. he should make an appointment to see a counselor who works with a) training and development b) employee relations c) compensation benefits d) employee data and information systems e) legal compliance

c) compensation benefits

huan, a manager, decides to design jobs based on the principles of the motivational approach. if he does not balance them with some traits of the mechanistic approach, he will see minimal impact on a) job satisfaction b) employee engagement c) production d) employee retention e) leadership skills of employees

c) production

the strategic business planning function develops the plan and then informs the HRM function of the plan. HRM then helps with implementation

One way linkage

which of the following is considered a disability under the americans with disabilities act? a) cosmetic disfigurement b) obesity c) substance abuse d) eye color e) lefthandedness

a) cosmetic disfigurement

Section 1982 of the Civil rights act passed in 1886 granted all persons the a) same property rights as white citizens b) right to carry weapons for self defense c) right to sue governmental authorities d) freedom to elect members of parliament e) freedom from cruel and unusual punishments

a) same property right as white citizens

nikeyah has resisted advances from her male boss, who is interested in pursuing a sexual relationship with her. In addition, he has been withholding her promotions for more than a year for this reason alone. Nikeyah can sue her boss for a) sexual harrassment b) reasonable accomodation c) pattern and practice d) disparate impact e) disparate treatment

a) sexual harrassment

Pluto Inc., a large manufacturer of desktops and laptops, has decided to enhance revenues by expanding its product line. it has identified the tablet market as a possible market to expand and has identified Compco Inc as a potential competitor. Pluto Inc is currently in the ___ stage of its strategic management process a) strategy formulation b) strategy evaluation c) strategy execution d) strategy consultation e) strategy implementation

a) strategy formulation

dionne, the HR manager, has been asked to share issues in the strategy formulation process. How do you know this is part of a two-way linkage? a) the strategic planning function and the HRM function are interdependent b) the two way linkage level is the lowest level of integration c) the HRM executive has no time to take a strategic outlook toward HR issues d) the HR function is limited to monitoring day to day activities e) the strategic planning function and HRM function are completely dependent

a) the strategic planning function and HRM function are interdependent

when a company faces a shortage of employees in the workforce, and it predicts that current demand for products and services may not extend to the future, it will a) try to garner more hours out of the existing labor force b) recruit and train new employees c) be willing to hire part-time employees d) decrease the production rate by half to meet quality standards e) lease out its machinery to other factories, thereby maintaining income

a) try to garner more hours out of the existing labor force

which of the following HRM practices involves helping employees understand how their jobs contribute to the finished product? a) work design b) performance management c) training d) staffing e) compensation

a) work design

which of the following led to problems for mcdonalds when it began offering the mcwrap product? a) poor quality inputs b) complex work processes c) outdated equipment d) low task interdependence e) low outcome interdependence

b) complex work processes

____ are people who apply for a vacancy without prompting from the organization a) internal employees b) direct applicants c) referrals d) poached employees e) virtual employees

b) direct applicants

which of the following is true of statistical forecasting methods that capture historic trends? a) they are useful for predicting events in the labor market that have no historic precedent b) they are particularly useful in situations where there is no long, stable history c) they provide predictions that are much more precise than judgmental methods d) they remove the need for subjective judgement of experts e) they include variables such as intuition and guesswork in economic decision making

c) they provide predictions that are much more precise than judgmental methods

this includes company's mission, goals, external and internal analysis, and strategic choice

components of SMP

a generic strategy that focuses on reducing cost

cost strategy

once a law is passed in congress it must be signed by the ____ before it becomes law a) president pro tempore of the senate b) secretary of state c) attorney general d) president of the US e) speaker of the house

d) President of the US

Traditionally, the HRM department was primarily a(n) a) proactive agency b) finance expert c) employer advocate d) administrative expert e) payroll expert

d) administrative expert

when a company participates in lean thinking they evaluate current practices to a) do minimal work with highest attention and care for details b) deliver the best customer service while compromising on volume and quantity c) create quality products and services using maximum resources d) do more with less effort, time, space, and equipment e) discourage training and quality programs

d) do more with less effort, time, space, and equipment

which of the following rules states that an employment test has disparate impact if the hiring rate for a minority group is less than 80 percent of the hiring rate for the majority group? a) standard deviation rule b) mixed motive rule c) prima facie rule d) four fifths rule e) business necessity rule

d) four fifths rule

Che was being recruited by a competitor due to her success at her current company in getting several new patents. This is an example of _____ capital a) social b) customer c) human d) intellectual e) financial

d) intellectual

which of the following is the process of defining the way work will be performed and the tasks that will be required in a given job? a) job specification b) job evaluation c) job performance d) job design e) job satisfaction

d) job design

the approach that pays employees higher wages than what competitors pay their employees in similar roles is called the a) premium wage approach b) free-rider effect c) lead indicator approach d) lead-the-market approach e) first-mover approach

d) lead the market approach

jemma reviews job applicants and screens their applications into three piles: highly qualifies, qualified, and not qualified. she then lets the hiring manager see those who are highly qualified and qualified. this is part of a) career planning b) hr planning c) training d) selection e) job evaluation

d) selection

organizational structure where there is greater autonomy in lower level decision making (organic)

decentralization

organizational structure where the degree to which work units are grouped is based on functional or work flow similarities

departmentalization

Distinguishing an organization's products from the products of competitors on dimensions such as product design, quality, or after-sales service.

differentiation strategy

external growth, concentration, internal growth, merger/acquistion, downsizing

directional strategies

when a protected group is disproportionately excluded from employment opportunities due to created obstacles, yet employment practices seem natural (intent not necessary)

disparate impact

Differing treatment of individuals based on the individuals' race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability status.

disparate treatment

the planned elimination of large numbers of personnel designed to enhance organizational effectiveness

downsizing

which of the following is likely to happen when a private equity group hires an efficiency expert? a) overburdening people by removing machines b) modifying production processes to support excess inventories c) increasing the number of employees involved in a particular task d) limiting procedures that streamline operations e) decreasing movements that create no value

e) decreasing movements that create no value

which of the following is true about the Six Sigma process? a) it focuses on the end product of employee satisfaction b) it terminates once the processes have been brought within the six sigma standards c) it strives to attain quality through supervision of daily work, not training d) it discourages employees from lean thinking e) it aims to create a total business focus on serving the customer

e) it aims to create a total business focus on serving the customer

which of the following is the definition of a leading indicator a)it is an informal way of measuring the purchasing power parity between two currencies b) it is a measurement of consumer confidence, which is defined as the degree of optimism about the state of the economy c) it is an economic indicator found by adding the unemployment rate to the inflation rate of an economy d) it is an indicator to measure changes in the price level of consumer goods and services purchased by households e) it is an objective measure that accurately predicts future labor demand

e) it is an objective measure that accurately predicts future labor demand

Alpha consulting provides HR services to small companies that do not need full time HR. Contracting with Alpha consulting is known as a) e-commerce b) reshoring c) downsizing d) benchmarking e) outsourcing

e) outsourcing

which of the following actions is most likely to enable organizations to increase the impact that recruiters have on those they recruit? a) withholding the company's information b) excluding personnel specialists c) recruiting individually d) providing highly positive, unrealistic descriptions of the job e) providing timely feedback

e) providing timely feedback

Ashock has been brought in as a consultant for a large organization. He is tasked with identifying the goals, policies, and action sequences the company should take to offset competitive challenges. Ashock will be implementing a) operational management b) transactional management c) management by objective d) process mapping e) strategic management

e) strategic management

either party can terminate the employment without cause. however, there can still be potential for discrimination

employment at will policy

strategic planning that is based on continuing interaction. the HR executive is an integral member of the planning team

integrative linkage

a list of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics that an individual must have to perform a particular job

job specification

method for forecasting job supply/demand that utilizes the subjective judgment of experts not based off real data

judgmental forecasting

an objective measure of predicting future labor demand by analyzing economic trends

leading indicators

a process used to determine how to use less effort, time, equipment, and space but still meet customers' requirements

lean thinking

system of measuring, analyzing, improving, and controlling processes once they meet quality standards in order to give the customer what they want when they want it

six sigma process

method for forecasting job supply/demand that captures historic trends (turnover, data, etc) typically the best way to do it

statistical forecasting

a pattern of planned human resource deployments and activities intended to enable an organization to achieve its goals

strategic human resource management (SHRM)

strategic planning groups decide on strategic direction by defining company's mission and goals, external opportunities/threats, and internal strengths/weaknesses

strategy formulation

a systematic planned strategic effort by a company to attract, retain, develop, and motivate highly skilled employees and managers

talent management