HR Management Exam 2 Review

_____ involves training sessions in which participants observe other people demonstrating the desired behavior, then have opportunities to practice the behavior themselves.

Behavior modeling

Planners need to combine statistical forecasts of labor supply with expert judgments because:

Historical data may not always reliably indicate future trends.

Which of the following best describes content validity?

It is the consistency between the test items or problems and the kinds of situations or problems that occur on the job.

Which of the following is a characteristic of task analysis?

It is usually conduced along with person analysis.

Which of the following is true about a well-planned interview?

It should focus on the job and the organization.

Which of the following is true about predictive validation?

It uses the test scores of all applicants and looks for a relationship between the scores and future performance.

With regard to a performance measure, _____describes the consistency of the results that the performance measure will deliver.

reliability

A correlation coefficient of -1.0 between two sets of numbers indicates _____.

that when one set of numbers goes up, the other set goes down

The rules for drug testing include all of the following EXCEPT:

the drug test reports should not be sent to applicants.

Executive search firms:

A. find new jobs almost exclusively for high-level, unemployed executives. B. help organizations in on-campus recruiting. C. help only entry-level and inexperienced employees to find jobs. D. are agencies administered by the federal government or governmental organizations. E. serve as a buffer, providing confidentiality between the employer and the recruit.

Which of the following statements is true of apprenticeship?

Apprentices can earn an income while learning a trade.

Which of the following is an example of an on-the-job training method?

Apprenticeship

Which of the following is a difference between apprenticeship and internship?

Apprenticeship is sponsored by employee unions, whereas internship is sponsored by educational institutions.

Which of the following is a permissible question for job applications and interviews?

Are you a citizen of the United States?

How does an organization specify the aspects of performance that are relevant to the organization?

Based on the job analysis.

Which of the following is true of downsizing?

Downsizing often disrupts the social networks through which people are creative and flexible.

Which of the following types of professions would typically have an apprenticeship?

Bricklayer

Which of the following is one of the ways by which individuals acting as references for job applicants can minimize the risk of being sued for defamation or misrepresentation?

By only giving information about observable, job-related behaviors

Which of the following statements is true of case studies?

Cases practice trainees in weighing and acting on uncertain outcomes after evaluating a case.

A construction firm is in need of a construction superintendent, whose primary responsibilities involve organizing, supervising, and inspecting the work of several subcontractors. The firm administers a construction- error recognition test, where an applicant enters a shed that has 25 construction errors and where he/she is asked to record as many of these problems as can be detected. What type of validity is being established in this case?

Content validity

Which of the following is a strategy of avoiding a labor surplus where the amount of human suffering caused is high?

Demotions

Which of the following is an impermissible question for job applications and interviews?

Do you have any disabilities?

Which of the following is true according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1991?

Employers are required to make "reasonable accommodation" to disabled individuals.

Which of the following holds good under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986?

Employers must verify and maintain records on the legal rights of applicants to work in the United States.

Sean Mathers, a recruiter for a retail firm, is looking for candidates to fill a sales position. Since the job requires the salesperson to interact with customers, Sean is looking for candidates who are expressive and convincing with customers. He also wants the candidates to be friendly and social. Which one of the "Big Five" traits is Sean looking for in particular?

Extroversion

Evan Smith is the HR manager of a publishing company. He wants to know if a certain test of cognitive ability, used in the advertising industry, can be successfully used in his organization. In other words, he wants to know if this test is a(n) _____ method of personnel selection.

Generalizable

Which rater error leads employees to believe that no aspects of their performance need improvement?

Halo error

Temporary employment is popular with employers because:

It gives them flexibility in operations.

Which of the following best describes multiple-hurdle model of personnel selection?

It is a process of arriving at a selection decision by eliminating some candidates at each stage of the selection process.

Organizational recruitment materials that emphasize due-process policies, rights of appeal, and grievance mechanisms send a message that:

Job security is high in the organization.

Which of the following is an example of the cross-training method?

Mary, who is a cashier, is being trained to stock shelves in case there is a shortage of employees.

Which of the following is true about medical examinations of job candidates?

Medical examinations are conducted after the candidate has been given a job offer.

Which type of interview allows the interviewer discretion in choosing the questions to be asked and generally includes open-ended questions about the candidate's strengths, weaknesses, career goals, and work experience?

Nondirective

Training designed to prepare employees to perform their jobs effectively, learn about the organization, and establish work relationships is known as:

Orientation

Which of the following is a strategy to avoid labor shortage where the results can be obtained fast?

Outsourcing

A small company that manufactures special-order wood furniture has kept its employees busy on a 40- hours-a-week schedule for the past two years. The company just received the largest contract in its history from a Saudi Arabian company, opening offices in the area. The company does not expect repeat business. In order to complete the contract in the required one month, additional skilled labor is needed at short notice. Which of the following strategies is best suited to avoid this short-term labor shortage?

Overtime

Which of the following training methods is used for conveying facts or comparing alternatives?

Presentation methods

Sharon wants to apply for a job vacancy. She calls the recruiter who had advertised this vacancy to know more about the job. The recruiter gives some background information to Sharon about the positive and negative qualities of the job. Which of the following terms refers to the job information given by the recruiter?

Realistic Job Preview

A manufacturing company hit by a slump in demand is experiencing a labor surplus. The company expects the market to improve in six months and it does not want to layoff any of its employees. Which of the following strategies is an equitable way to handle this issue that results in spreading the burden more fairly?

Reduced work hours

What can an organization do to protect itself against discrimination and unjust dismissal lawsuits?

Requirements for job success should be clearly communicated to all the employees.

How does a manager motivate an employee who lacks the ability to perform?

Restructure the job so that the employee can handle it.

For most companies, the first step in the personnel selection process is _____.

Screening the applications to see who meet the basic requirements for the job

Which of the following processes identifies the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that training should emphasize?

Task analysis

Which of the following is a disadvantage of using résumés as a source of information about job applicants?

The content of the information is controlled by applicants.

Which of the following primary variables in a person analysis can be affected by training?

The employee's ability and skills.

Which of the following statements is true regarding referrals?

The use of referrals tends to promote nepotism.

Which of the following is a disadvantage of using temporary and contract workers?

These workers tend to be relatively less committed to the organization.

Which of the following is most likely to be an advantage of relying on internal recruitment sources?

They are generally cheaper and faster than other means.

What is the advantage of results-oriented performance measurement?

They are relatively easy to link to the organization's goals

Which of the following statements is true of simulators used in training?

They must have elements identical to those found in the work environment.

Which of the following is true about job performance tests?

They provide fair evaluations for applicants.

How does an organization promote fairness and reduce political behavior in the appraisal system?

Train managers to use the appraisal process.

_____ requires that employees actually learn the content of the training program and that the necessary conditions are in place for employees to apply what they learned.

Transfer of training

Which of the following is a fast option that can be used to avoid a labor surplus with only a moderate amount of suffering caused to the employees?

Transfers

Which of the following is an advantage of statistical forecasting methods?

Under the right conditions, the provide predictions that are much more precise than judgmental methods.

Which of the following is true of temporary workers?

Using temporary workers frees the employer from many administrative tasks.

The _____ of an employment test is indicated by the extent to which the test scores relate to the actual job performance.

Validity

Core competency refers to:

a set of knowledge and skills that make the organization superior to competitors and create value for customers.

Which of the following strategies could be used to avoid a labor shortage?

Work sharing

The performance measurement system that combines information from most or all of the possible sources, is known as:

a 360-degree performance appraisal.

Giving teams or work groups an actual problem, having them work on solving it and commit to an action plan, and holding them accountable for carrying out the plan describes:

action learning.

One form of experiential training, called _____, is a teamwork and leadership training program based on the use of challenging, structured outdoor activities.

adventure learning

Generally, the organization checks references _____.

after it has determined that the applicant is a finalist for the job

Organizations typically use résumés _____.

as a basis for deciding which candidates to investigate further

The most accurate way to evaluate the training program is to:

conduct pretests and posttests on all trainees.

The first step in the instructional design process is:

conducting a needs assessment.

In general, the results of reference checks for job applicants will be most valid if the employer _____.

contacts many references

Information that is gathered for measuring the effectiveness of a performance management system but is irrelevant represents "_____" of the performance measure.

contamination

If a manager considers one employee at a time and circles a number/word to signify the degree to which that employee demonstrates a particular trait, he/she is using a:

graphic rating scale.

The U.S. Army's "Army Strong" campaign, designed to create a generally favorable impression of the Army as a good place to work in, is an example of:

image advertising.

Managers can improve employee satisfaction with the feedback process by:

letting employees voice their opinions and discuss performance goals during the feedback process.

Organizations provide for orientation because:

it relieves the shock and surprise experienced when starting a new job.

Interviewing effectiveness may be enhanced by _____.

keeping the interviews narrow, structured, and standardized

The use of a neutral-appearing selection method that damages a protected group is _____.

legal if the employer can show that there is a business necessity for using that method

Organizational analysis looks at training needs with respect to the:

management's support for training activities.

A distributional error in which a rater favors lower rankings is known as _____.

strictness

The administrative purpose of a performance management system refers to:

the ways in which organizations use the system to provide information for day-to-day decisions about salary, benefits, and recognition programs.

Employers use application forms for all of the following reasons EXCEPT that:

they are not subject to equal employment opportunity standards.

An assessment center:

uses multiple selection methods to rate applicants on their management potential.