10. Human Resources Management

Which of the following employees would be a source of competitive advantage a. Angie, who graduated with decent grades from a mid-ranked college B. Paul, who has developed three patented systems for his company C. Herb, who attends company management training with 11 other employees D. Ruth, who is an entry-level employee with a high-school diploma E. Shi Hae, who is one of 15 customer-service representatives in the call center

B. Paul, who has developed three patented systems for his company

People are a source of competitive advantage when their skills, knowledge, and abilities are equally available to all competitors

False

Which of the following is included in a job analysis? A. A job description and a job specification B. A job description and a job appraisal C. A job specification and a job profile D. A job specification and a job appraisal E. A job profile and a job design

a. a job description and a job specification

Which of the following involves a managerial performance test in which candidates participate in a variety of exercises and situations? A. An assessment center B. A management rotation C. A cognitive ability test D. An integrity test E. A personality test

a. an assessment center

A thorough job ___ may help organizations successfully defend themselves in lawsuits involving employment practices a. analysis b. interview c. specification d. training e. description

a. analysis

A significant advantage associated with external recruiting is that it A. can inspire innovation. B. is the most cost-effective method. C. limits the applicant pool, easing selection decisions. D. motivates current employees. E. uses the job-posting system.

a. can inspire innovation

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 prohibits unequal pay based on A. gender. B. age. C. job type. D. merit. E. race or ethnicity.

a. gender

A tool for determining what is done on a given job and what should be done on that job is known as a job A. screening. B. analysis. C. orientation. D. profile. E. design.

b. analysis

The estimate an organization makes regarding the number and quality of its current employees and the availability of workers externally is called a(n) A. demand forecast. B. job analysis. C. environmental scan. D. situational analysis. E. supply analysis.

e. supply analysis

Demand forecasting is one of the most difficult parts of human resources planning

true

Diversity training focuses on identifying and reducing hidden biases against people with differences

true

_____ deals with formal systems for the management of people within an organization a. financial management b. human resources management c. customer-centric management d. information management system e. vertical integration

b. human resources management

The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 A. declared labor organizations legal. B. established right-to-work states. C. declared that management practices should be free of government interference. D. permitted workers to decertify a union as their representative. E. protected employers' free speech rights.

a. declared labor organizations legal

The legal concept that an employee may be terminated for any reason is known as A. plausible termination. B. employment-at-will. C. expatriation. D. memorandum of understanding. E. terminal validity.

b. employment-at-will

The final stage in the human resources planning process is to A. evaluate the activities conducted to ensure that they are producing the desired results. B. discharge those employees determined to be ineffective at realizing organizational goals. C. implement the plans determined earlier in the planning process. D. evaluate the decisions made for legal compliance. E. realize the organization's business plans to ensure that the right number and types of people are available.

a. evaluate the activities conducted to ensure that they are producing the desired results

In a performance test used for selecting employees, the test taker A. executes a sample of the job. B. takes a paper-and-pencil honesty test. C. is measured for general aptitude. D. observes others performing the job. E. completes a pre-test and a post-test.

a. executes a sample of the job

The human resources department of Global Prime Shippers make use of its employees database to analyze its past rates of turnover, terminations, and retirements. The company is looking at its __________ labor supply. a. internal b. external c. potential d. past e. excess

a. internal

Which of the following is true of training? A. It usually starts with a needs assessment. B. It is primarily given to higher-level employees. C. It focuses on teaching managers how to perform their future jobs. D. It involves teaching professional employees broader skills. E. It is given only to those employees who opt for it.

a. it usually starts with a needs assessment

Which of the following is one of the concerns of human resources managers? a. managing employee layoffs b. understanding the needs of customers c.

a. managing employee layoffs

_____ training is typically used to familiarize new employees with their new jobs, work units, and the organization in general. A. Orientation B. Diversity C. Team D. On-the-job E. Introductory

a. orientation

Firms can create a competitive advantage when human resources are a. rare b. trainable c. imitable d. unorganized e. submissive

a. rare

_____ activities increase the pool of candidates that might be selected for a job. A. Recruitment B. Benchmarking C. Mobilization D. Job enlistment E. Job enrollment

a. recruitment

____ becoming more difficult to obtain because of potential lawsuits. a. reference information is b. personality test results are c. resumes are d. drug test results are e. applications are

a. reference information is

Which of the following types of interviews focuses on hypothetical circumstances? A. Situational interviews B. Exit interviews C. Behavioral description interviews D. Unstructured interviews E. Nondirective interviews

a. situational interviews

The selection technique that involves asking all applicants the same questions and comparing their responses to a standardized set of answers is a(n) A. structured interview. B. termination interview. C. informal interview. D. nondirective interview. E. observational interview.

a. structured intervieew

Teaching lower-level employees how to perform their present jobs is referred to as A. training. B. performance appraisal. C. development. D. performance counseling. E. workplace education.

a. training

Which of the following benefits is required by law? A. Workers' compensation B. Retirement plans C. Pension plan D. Cafeteria benefit program E. Flexible benefit plan

a. workers' compensation

Lucinda applied for a job as a cashier at a hardware store. As part of her employment screening, she was asked to take an exam that had general mathematical aptitude questions in it. This type of selection test is referred to as a A. performance test. B. cognitive ability test. C. validity test. D. personality test. E. certification test.

b. cognitive ability test

In regards to new employees, selection concerns A. developing a pool of applicants. B. deciding which applicant to hire. C. deciding where to place new hires. D. attracting potential candidates. E. conducting a situational analysis.

b. deciding which applicant to hire

A job _____ refers to the essential tasks, duties, and responsibilities involved in performing a job. A. specification B. description C. design D. title E. validation

b. description

Phase two of training involves A. job analysis. B. designing a training program. C. a needs assessment. D. the selection of a training method. E. evaluating effectiveness.

b. designing a training program

The 2010 Affordable Care Act requires A. government assistance to be given when long-term care is needed for those under the age of 65. B. employers, except small businesses, to provide health insurance for employees or pay a fee. C. employers to subsidize child care services for employees if such services are not provided on-site. D. employers to pay for outpatient drug and alcohol counseling for affected employees. E. employers, except small businesses, to provide financial support to retirees.

b. employers, except small businesses, to provide health insurance for employees or pay a fee

Which of the following best describes recruitment? A. It involves choosing an employee for a job. B. It is the development of a pool of applicants for a job. C. It refers to selecting a group of applicants for employment. D. It involves determining the number of employees needed. E. It is an act of hiring from among qualified applicants.

b. it is the development of a pool applicants for a job

Which of the following is an external factor that affects the wage mix? A. Worth of job B. Legal requirements C. Employee's relative worth D. Compensation policy of organization E. Employer's ability to pay

b. legal requirements

_____ is a process in which specific performance goals set by a subordinate and a supervisor must be reached within a given time period. A. Span of control B. Management by objectives C. Employment-at-will D. Unity of command E. Benchmarking

b. management by objectives

Incentive plans are devised to A. save employers money. B. motivate employees to be more productive. C. help employees get along better with each other. D. decrease employee stress. E. bribe employees into working more.

b. motivate employees to be more productive

Tonya and Jackie were classmates who discovered that they had each been interviewed for the same position at the Best Flavor coffee shop. When they discussed their interview experiences, they learned that they had been asked the very same questions. The selection technique that was used by the coffee shop was the _____ interview. A. exit B. nondirective C. cognitive D. structured E. informal

b. nondirective

Which of the following statements is true about a 360-degree appraisal? A. It involves using a single source for appraisal information. B. Often the person being rated can select the appraisers. C. It often misses qualities that other appraisal methods capture. D. Its objective is to provide a basis for administrative decisions. E. Usually, feedback is obtained only from top level managers.

b. often the person being rated can select the appraisers

The process of helping people who have been dismissed from the company to gain employment elsewhere is known as A. expatriation. B. outplacement. C. outsourcing. D. inpatriation. E. downsizing.

b. outplacement

The consistency of test scores over time and across alternative measurements is known as A. integrity. B. reliability. C. factuality. D. content validity. E. criterion-related validity.

b. reliability

Legislation that allows employees to work without having to join a union is known as A. benefaction. B. right-to-work. C. arbitration. D. an anti-labor statute. E. a union decree.

b. right-to-work

The termination interview A. is usually easier than a selection interview since both participants know each other. B. should be conducted by the immediate superior. C. should be conducted away from company premises for security purposes. D. need not be in writing in order to avoid a lawsuit. E. should allow time for a lengthy question and answer session.

b. should be conducted by the immediate superior

Training that provides employees with the skills and perspectives they need to collaborate with others is known as A. orientation training. B. team training. C. on-the-job training. D. diversity training. E. needs training.

b. team training

What is human capital? a. the total value of the benefits package provided to an employee b. the strategic value of employee knowledge and abilities c. the amount of wages and salaries that a company pays annually d. the credits that employees can spend on the benefits that they desire e. the development of a pool of applicants for jobs in an organization

b. the strategic value of employee knowledge and abilities

Surveys show that _____ are the way most job positions get filled. A. want ads B. word-of-mouth recommendations C. private employment agencies D. unions E. drop-in applications

b. word-of-mouth recommendations

Validity refers to the A. qualifications needed for the job. B. qualifications of a job candidate. C. accuracy of a selection test. D. interpretation of the test scores. E. consistency of test scores over time.

c. accuracy of a selection test

____ is the term used when a seemingly neutral employment practice has a disproportionately negative effect on a group protected by the Civil Rights Act. a. discrimination b. prejudice c. adverse impact d. affirmative action e. arbitration

c. adverse impact

A test that measures a range of intellectual skills, including verbal comprehension and numerical aptitude, is a(n) ____ test. A. personality B. interest inventory C. cognitive ability D. mechanical dexterity E. assessment center

c. cognitive ability

Which of the following is an appropriate guideline to follow when conducting performance appraisals with an underperforming employee? A. For legal reasons, avoid documenting the process. B. Summarize the employee's performance with generalizations. C. Describe specific expectations and standards. D. Avoid getting into discussion of solutions to any problems. E. Do not raise issues and questions.

c. describe specific expectations and standards

Teaching managers and professional employees the skills needed for their present and future jobs is known as ____. a. training b. performance appraisal c. development d. performance counseling e. workplace educaton

c. development

If the region or country where company is located is experiencing a labor shortage, what should the company's management do? a. downsize the staff b. rightsize the staff c. increase training budgets d. decrease remedial budgets e. suspend the recruitment process

c. increase training budgets

Which of the following is the most popular selection tool for hiring employees? a. resumes b. job applications c. job interviews d. background checks e. personality tests

c. job interviews

A mechanism used for promoting open job positions internally is known as a _____ system. A. job rotation B. benchmarking C. job-posting D. vertical integration E. job bidding

c. job-posting

Human resources management (HRM) deals with formal systems for the management of a. raw materials for production b. the public image of the company c. people at work d. stockholder relations e. board of director selection

c. people at work

The news division of Channel 5 wanted to hire a new morning news anchor. As part of the interview process, candidates were asked to read several impromptu news stories from the teleprompter. This type of test is known as a _____ test. A. cognitive ability B. personality C. performance D. integrity E. informal

c. performance

The human resources planning process occurs in three stages a. planning, executing, and delivering b. hiring, training, and firing c. planning, programming, and evaluating d. planning, delivering, and appraising e. recruiting, screening, and hiring

c. planning, programming, and evaluating

Which of the following is the stage of the HR planning process in which the organization enacts specific human resources activities, such as recruitment and training? a. planning b. controlling c. programming d. directing e. forecasting

c. programming

Which of the following statements about the comparable worth doctrine is true? a. federal law requires employers to follow the doctrine b. the doctrine is the concept that women who perform the same jobs as men should receive the same pay c. some states have comparable worth laws for public sector employees d. the supreme court has made a decisive ruling on the doctrine e. the doctrine is based primarily on the idea of job seniority

c. some state have comparable worth laws for public sector employees

The skills, knowledge, abilities, and other characteristics needed to perform a job are detailed in a job A. description. B. portfolio. C. specification. D. profile. E. design.

c. specification

Which of the following statements about right-to-work states is true? a. they require works to join unions b. they require government employees to join unions c. they do not permit union shops d. they permit unions in all industries except government e. they ban unions from all industries except government

c. they do not permit union shops

Which of the following is true of personality tests? A. They measure a range of intellectual abilities. B. They are currently on a downswing. C. They might be seen as discriminatory. D. They accurately predict job performance. E. They allow no opportunity to cheat.

c. they might be seen as discriminatory

The use of a neutral third party to resolve a labor dispute is known as A. litigation. B. co-mediation. C. affirmative action. D. arbitration. E. bootlegging.

d. arbitration

During a job interview, Alicia questions Javier about his duties on his last job and what he accomplished during his time of employment. This type of interview is called a _____ interview. a. termination or exit b. structured c. nondirective d. behavioral description e. situational

d. behavioral description

Which of the following is the most effective means to develop managers? a. classes b. podcasts c. reading d. coaching e. testing

d. coaching

Salient Tech Corp. requires all job applicants for mid-level management positions to take a company aptitude test. This exam measures aptitude for management by measuring verbal comprehension, mathematical calculations, and other necessary management skills. Such a test is considered as a(n) A. personality test. B. performance test. C. integrity test. D. cognitive ability test. E. background test.

d. cognitive ability test

The principle of equal pay for different jobs of equal value is called A. employment-at-will. B. equal benefits. C. disparate impact. D. comparable worth. E. analogous worth.

d. comparable worth

Alpaca Softness Inc. is expanding its clothing line from sweaters to include alpaca fur-lined outerwear and winter accessories. At the same time, it wants to open two retail stores and not rely entirely on online sales. To staff the new manufacturing facilities and brick-and-mortar stores properly, the company should conduct a(n) A. situational analysis. B. utilization survey. C. inventory calculation. D. demand forecast. E. benchmarking analysis.

d. demand forecast

Programs that focus on identifying and reducing hidden biases against people with differences and developing the skills needed to manage a varied workforce is known as A. ethnicity training. B. team training. C. group training. D. diversity training. E. orientation training.

d. diversity training

Outplacement involves A. recruiting from external sources. B. hiring from external applicants. C. attracting applicants from other countries. D. transferring of employees to other branches. E. helping laid off workers find other employment.

e. helping laid off workers find other employment

The Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in 1990, prohibits A. workplace modifications to facilitate disabled employees. B. hiring people with contagious diseases. C. employing people addicted to drugs or alcohol. D. employment discrimination against people with disabilities. E. disabled people from being required to work.

d. employment discrimination against people with disabilities

When managers and executives describe the strategic value of value of skills and knowledge of employees, they use the term a. social capital b. emotional intelligence c. working capital d. human capital e. multiple intelligence

d. human capital

The programming stage of human resources management involves a. monitoring turnover and absenteeism b. estimating labor supply c. evaluating human resources activities d. implementing the company's plans e. discovering new HR trends

d. implementing the company's plans

The most common incentive system, which compares a worker's performance against an objective standard and bases pay on the worker's performance, is known as a(n) A. profit-sharing plan. B. integrated plan. C. gain-sharing plan. D. individual plan. E. particularized plan.

d. individual plan

_____ tests are used to assess a job candidate's honesty. A. Character B. Personality C. Reliability D. Integrity E. Cognitive ability

d. integrity

Priscilla applied for a summer job at a mall clothing store. Following her interview, she was asked to take a test on paper. One of the questions she was asked was, "What you would do if you were to find a coin purse with money on a display table?" This type of test would be described as a(n) A. personality test. B. validity test. C. intelligence test. D. integrity test. E. cognitive ability test.

d. integrity test

Another term for human capital is __________ capital a. hired b. individual c. personal d. intellectual e. social

d. intellectual

The system of relations between workers and management is called _____ a. incorporations b. collective relations c. union relations d. labor relations e. labor capital

d. labor relations

An analysis identifying the jobs, people, and departments for which training is necessary is a(n) A. development exercise. B. performance appraisal. C. situational analysis. D. needs assessment. E. environmental scanning.

d. needs assessment

Compared to other types of appraisals, _____ appraisals tend to be more objective and can focus on production data such as sales volume or profits. A. comparative B. behavioral C. trait D. results E. industry

d. results

Most jobs today are filled by _____. a. newspaper advertising b. internet job boards c. internal job posting d. word-of-mouth recommendations e. recruiting on college campuses

d. word-of-mouth recommendations

The process of using multiple sources of appraisal to gain a comprehensive perspective of a person's performance is called ____ appraisal a. circular b. pyramid c. all-level d. extreme e. 360-degree

e. 360-degree

According to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, discrimination is prohibited against people aged A. 60 and over. B. 50-70. C. 70-75. D. 20-40. E. 40 and over.

e. 40 and over

Which of the following acts prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin, and religion? A. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 B. The Immigration Act of 1990 C. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 D. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 E. The Civil Rights Act of 1964

e. The Civil Rights Act of 1964

The degree to which a selection test actually predicts or correlates with job performance is known as ____. a. real-life reliability b. job analysis c. arbitration d. selection e. content validity

e. content validity

Which of the following is one of the basic functions of a performance appraisal? A. Benchmarking technological innovation B. Evaluating potential product markets C. Recruitment of management D. Diversity training E. Developing employee capabilities

e. developing employee capabilities

Drexel Brothers is recruiting recent graduates with a physics or chemistry degree because of their problem-solving skills. The type of recruitment being used by Drexel Brothers is _____ recruiting. A. referral B. government C. internal D. diversity E. external

e. external

Which of the following is an advantage of internal recruiting? a. it brings new blood into the company b. it can inspire innovation c. it leads to a larger candidate pool than external recruitng d. it is the best way to find managers with new perspectives e. it draws on candidates who now the organization

e. it draws on candidates who know the organization

_____ are the traditional source of appraisal information because they are often in the best position to observe an employee's performance. A. Peers B. Subordinates C. Internal and external customers D. Team members E. Managers and supervisors

e. managers and supervisors

Companies invest a great deal to hire, train, and keep the best and the brightest employees in an attempt to gain competitive advantage by employing ____ human resources a. similar b. imitable c. empowered d. diverse e. rare

e. rare

Internal factors affecting the wage mix include the areas wage rates ,the cost of living, and collective bargaining

false

Recruitment involves decisions about whom to hire

false

The human resources planning process occurs in three stages: planning, organizing, and adapting

false

The majority of companies perform drug testing on all applicants

false

Employment-at-will means that an employee may be terminated for any reason

true

Performance appraisals serve two purpose: administrative and developmental

true

Poor supervisory practices can influence workers to vote for a union

true