HRM Exam 2
Which question can be answered by performing a person analysis?
Are employees ready for training?
Daniel is an employee at Atex Inc. Recently, he was moved to a new work team to help in the development of a new product. Chris, his supervisor on the new team, describes the set of behaviors that the new team members will expect of Daniel. Daniel, however, feels that these demands contradict the expectations set forth in his previous role at Atex Inc. Which situation is most likely to be the primary source of Daniel's dissatisfaction about his role?
Atex Inc. has brought together employees from different functions to form a team, leading to conflicting expectations.
John, a senior editor at TSS News, asks Ronda, the editor-in-chief, for a sabbatical. Which statement best explains why TSS News would pay John during the sabbatical, if Ronda approves it?
During the sabbatical, John can develop new skills and refresh his existing ones.
Which statement accurately characterizes electronic performance support systems (EPSSs)?
EPSSs provide expert advice when a problem occurs on the job.
Employee turnover at Wholesome Publishing is low, but many employees in the Children's Book Division seek transfers to other divisions. Which situation is most likely to explain the employees seeking to leave the Children's Book Division?
Employees consider the manager of the Children's Book Division to be unfair.
Keith, a human resource manager at Uno Inc., is considering the use of self-appraisals. Which statement is TRUE about self-appraisals?
Employees have a tendency to inflate their self-assessments
What is a potential problem of job rotation?
Employees typically develop a short-term perspective on their problems and solutions.
Employees at Atkins Inc. are frustrated with their manager, Kyle, who does not believe in providing feedback because he thinks it's a waste of time. His employees argue that they do not know how to hone their skills if they are not told what areas they should work on and what areas are satisfactory. Which statement would strengthen the employees' arguments?
Employees who receive feedback gain more clarity on their roles and how they fit within an organization.
________ are computer systems that incorporate the decision rules used by people who are considered to have proficiency in a certain area.
Expert systems
Which of the following is an example of an experiential training method?
John and his colleagues take part in a rafting course sponsored by their company.
Min, the production manager of Manning Inc., is writing a recommendation to begin gathering performance appraisal information from peers along with other sources of information. Which statement best supports Min's recommendation for getting peer feedback?
Peers have expert knowledge of job requirements.
At a high-performance organization, recruitment and selection aim at obtaining the kinds of employees who can thrive in this type of setting. These employees are
enthusiastic about knowledge sharing.
Which practice is most likely to enhance occupational intimacy?
establishing policies that show concern for employees' needs
Low job involvement and low organizational commitment are
examples of psychological withdrawal.
People experience ________ when they love their work, when they and their co-workers care about one another, and when they find their work meaningful.
occupational intimacy
For assessment to work efficiently, an employee must be
provided suggestions to improve his or her weak skills.
What is the last step in performance management process?
providing consequences for performance results
The two types of people in the organization who most affect an individual's job satisfaction are
supervisors and co-workers.
Which process identifies the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that should be emphasized by training?
task analysis
Gino, a team leader at a business process outsourcing firm, tells the human resource department that a significant share of his employees are missing deadlines. The department conducts a needs assessment and tells Gino that the employees' jobs require time management skills, so a training session on time management would be likely to improve performance. In this scenario, the department's recommendations would most likely be based on a(n)
task analysis.
Which element of a high-performance work system determines how the details of the organization's necessary activities will be grouped, whether into jobs or team responsibilities?
task design
Compared with other forms of diversity training, which approach do trainees tend to respond to most positively?
teaching employees skills for constructively handling communication barriers, conflicts, and misunderstandings that normally arise
The ________ approach to performance feedback is used by most managers.
tell-and-sell
With which step does the progressive discipline process end?
termination
Employees are satisfied with their jobs as long as they perceive that
their jobs meet their important values.
What is the main objective of diversity training programs that focus on behavior?
to change organizational policies and individual conduct that inhibit employees' personal growth and productivity
What is the organization's responsibility in the goal-setting stage of the career management process?
to ensure that the goal is specific, challenging, and attainable
Which group in an organization usually makes most of the decisions about organizational structure?
top management
Which of the following consists of an organization's planned effort to help employees acquire job-related knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors?
training
Which of the following refers to the computations and calculations involved in reviewing and documenting HRM decisions and practices?
transaction processing
According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Extroverted types (E) gain energy through
interpersonal relationships.
Behavior modeling is especially useful for improving
interpersonal skills.
Job rotation involves
moving an employee through a series of job assignments in one or more functional areas of the company.
Zachary was recently made the manager of his department at Cyscon Co. He has to evaluate his subordinates' behavior in the next two weeks and is unsure if he should use the behaviorally anchored rating scale (BARS) or the behavioral observation scale (BOS) to assess their behavior. Which characteristic of the two would help Zachary decide the scale that would be most appropriate for him to use?
A BOS uses many instances to define the behaviors necessary for effective performance.
________ is the limit on training's effectiveness that arises from the conditions within the organization.
A situational constraint
Just Right Construction Company has a system of progressive discipline. Even so, in which situation would it be appropriate for the company to follow a stricter policy and dismiss an employee after a first offense?
A welder ignored safety procedures and started a fire that caused serious damage
Which statement is true of an apprenticeship?
An apprentice can earn an income while learning a trade.
Which statement is true of an apprenticeship?
An apprentice usually assists a certified tradesperson at the worksite.
What distinguishes an apprenticeship from an internship?
An apprenticeship is sponsored by employee unions, whereas an internship is sponsored by educational institutions.
________ involves training sessions in which participants observe other people demonstrating the desired behavior, then have opportunities to practice the behavior themselves.
Behavior modeling
BigFive Inc. has been known for its excellent customer service since its start more than 40 years ago. The company carefully selects employees based on their combination of skills and commitment to the company's values of service and quality. How does BigFive's selection process contribute to the company's high performance?
BigFive's employees not only know how to do their work but also are enthusiastic and committed.
________ helps employees select development activities that prepare them to meet their career goals.
Career management
Trevor, an employee of HigherEd Corp., demonstrates a series of unacceptable behaviors. Carmela, his manager, wants to refer Trevor to the company's employee assistance program. Which situation would call for such a referral?
Carmela has reason to believe Trevor's behavior problems are related to alcohol abuse.
Which statement is TRUE regarding case studies?
Cases encourage trainees by giving them practice in weighing and acting on uncertain outcomes after evaluating a case.
________ training remains the most widely used method of training.
Classroom
________ is a team training method that trains a team on how to share information and decisions to obtain the best team performance.
Coordination training
The human resource department of a consumer electronics manufacturer wants to set up a learning management system for its global sales force. This way, sales personnel can get training in new models and product lines even while on the road, and managers can ensure their employees are keeping up to date. The HR manager looks into "training systems" and identifies five top results. Which system describes a learning management system?
Crimson: a system that automates the process of administering and delivering training
The HR team at Rod Inc. is meeting to discuss ways to improve the validity of its performance management system. One staffer suggests adding customer evaluations of the sales representatives in order to gauge their impact on customer satisfaction and sales. What is the major challenge of this approach?
Customer evaluations could cost hundreds of dollars for each salesperson.
Derrick, a sales manager at Kappa Corp., finds that Jack, a salesman, lacks motivation to perform well in his job. In the context of finding solutions to performance problems, what is the right way to deal with this situation?
Derrick must counsel Jack to help him understand the factors that are affecting his motivation.
________ increases an employee's ability to move into jobs that may not yet exist.
Development
Dylan, a vice president of human resources, recommends adding self-appraisals to the company's performance management system. The other executives wonder why, since people would certainly want to inflate scores of their own performance. Which statement best supports Dylan's idea of using self-appraisals?
Evaluating one's contributions gets employees thinking about their performance.
The human resource department of Tull Time is reviewing its performance management system to make sure it can show fairness if an employee ever complains of discrimination. Which statement is a problem that must be addressed if Tull Time is to meet that goal?
Evidence shows that raters tend to give higher ratings to persons of the rater's own race.
________ can uncover reasons why employees leave and perhaps set the stage for some of them to return.
Exit interviews
Deepak, a trainee at NextGen Corp., is known among his colleagues for his arrogance, rude behavior, and short-tempered nature. His supervisor, Garin, does not feel like Deepak is performing well and wants to fire him. However, Marissa, the manager of the HR department, advises Garin to rethink his decision in order to avoid the possibility of Deepak reacting violently or filing a lawsuit when he receives the news. In this scenario, which situation is most likely to result in an amicable discharge of Deepak from NextGen Corp.?
Garin encourages Deepak to think about whether he is a good fit for the job and whether he might want help finding another.
Daniel, an accounting manager at Plot Co., agreed to work with a coach. He chose this in order to become more of a team player, which would, in turn, lead him to being considered for a larger role in management. After two months, however, he complained to the human resource manager that the process was time-consuming and he has not seen any positive results. Which response to Daniel's complaint would best reflect how coaching can contribute to employee development?
Getting results can take several months—and the employee has to keep practicing
Which situation is an example of involuntary turnover?
Gisele, an employee at Innovative Tech, is fired because of theft.
Marytime Inc., an apparel manufacturer, employed a large-scale recruitment drive to hire some of the country's best fashion designers. The company's HR team was responsible for measuring the success of this recruitment drive to quantify its returns. In this scenario, the HR team can use a process referred to as
HR analytics
Barry, a manager at a leading IT firm, is reviewing trends in his department. He notices the programming team has significantly increased the amount of work they have completed, but the testing team continues to stay at the same productivity level. What human resource information system tool would allow Barry to view such data?
HR dashboard
The HR department at TRP Consulting uses a human resource information system (HRIS). The employees of the department can view and track their individual progress as well as the progress that the department has made using HRIS. The component of the HRIS that enables this is called an
HR dashboard.
________ refers to a process of systematically developing training to meet specified needs.
Instructional design
A formal review of the outcomes of HRM functions, based on identifying key HRM functions and measures of business performance, is referred to as a(n)
HRM audit.
When Keenan joined Rod Riders as its human resource manager, he was surprised to hear some of the executives repeatedly laughing over stories about how the company's founder ensured that his fraternity brothers moved into management positions. According to the stories, the executives embellished the performance appraisals of these employees, which also influenced later staffing decisions. Keenan talked to some employees about performance management at Rod Riders and learned that the system was widely viewed as corrupt. What can Keenan do, besides discouraging the storytelling, to decrease the political behavior related to performance management?
He should persuade executives not to tolerate or ignore distorted ratings.
Saad was an employee at a chemical company called FGR Inc. He noticed that several of the security personnel at FGR allowed tankers to be filled over the legal limit with highly inflammable gases. Saad gathered ample evidence of such instances and presented it to senior management. A few months later, the company had not acted, and Saad contacted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Less than a week later, the company fired Saad. Assuming that Saad had not had disciplinary issues and wanted to file a claim alleging he was wrongfully discharged, what would be the strongest basis for his claim?
He was disciplined for doing what the law requires.
Jordan, the CEO of Sinc Co., believes in providing employees with a flexible and open environment to enhance their skills and growth in the company. In the context of performance management and ethical issues associated with it, which of the following would Jordan most likely oppose and why?
He would be against electronic monitoring systems because they make the employees feel like robots and that they are being watched.
Helen, a supervisor at Covington Materials, asks Hunter, the human resource manager, for advice on delivering performance feedback. Helen finds that the meetings tend to be confrontational and don't lead to performance improvement. She tells Hunter how she carefully fills out the appraisal form ahead of time and then invites the employee into the conference room to discuss her feedback immediately, before the employee has time to think up excuses for poor performance. What advice should Hunter give Helen for delivering performance feedback?
Helen should give employees a chance to complete a self-assessment ahead of time.
As part of his company's initiative to create a high-performance work system, Cody, an HR manager, has been reorganizing work so that teams of employees will concentrate on coordinating their efforts to make sure customers are satisfied. The vice president of human resources has asked Cody to explain to a team of executives how this project will help the company's financial performance. What would be the most effective explanation for Cody to use?
Improving customer satisfaction should increase demand, leading to greater sales and profits.
Tahoma Inc. has extensively made use of cloud computing for several functions of its HR department. This technology has helped manage department functions, store necessary data, and also has given employees access to the required databases to resolve customer queries and complaints. Which scenario, if true, would disrupt the services provided by this arrangement?
Internet access in the facility becomes intermittent for three hours every day
Which statement is true of effective performance management?
It can tell top performers they are valued.
Identify the correct statement regarding computer-based training.
It gives a company the flexibility in scheduling training.
Identify the advantage of a relational database.
It helps HR staff in retrieving information about specific applicants.
What is true of job enlargement?
It involves adding challenges or new responsibilities to employees' current jobs.
Which statement is true about the 360-degree feedback process?
It involves rating an individual in terms of work-related behaviors.
Which statement is true about task design?
It involves the clustering of details pertaining to an organization's required activities.
Which of the following best defines job withdrawal?
It is a set of behaviors with which employees try to avoid the work situation physically, mentally, or emotionally.
Identify the correct statement regarding an employee assistance program
It is a system that supervisors can use to refer their employees for professional treatment when necessary.
What is true about a transfer?
It is an assignment of an employee to a position in a different area of the company, usually in a lateral move.
What is an advantage of using results-oriented performance measurement?
It is relatively easy to link to the organization's goals.
What is a characteristic of task analysis?
It is usually conducted along with person analysis.
What is the perception about training in a learning organization?
It is viewed as an investment in the organization's human resources.
Identify the correct statement about succession planning.
It provides a set of developmental experiences that managers must complete to be considered for top management positions.
job satisfaction.
It supports lifelong learning by enabling all employees to continually acquire and share knowledge.
Identify a true statement about the mixed-standard scale.
It uses several statements describing each trait to produce a final score for that trait.
Which of the following is an example of the cross-training method?
Jill, a cashier, is being trained to stock shelves in case there is a shortage of employees.
Kate, the CEO of Era Co., wants to carry out the first company-wide performance appraisal. However, she needs to make sure that the information obtained for performance appraisal is free of bias and that the managers have provided information about subordinates without any personal issues influencing the information. Which option will assist Kate in obtaining her objective?
Kate must hold calibration meetings because they hold managers accountable for the appraisal information they provide about their subordinates.
Lillian is the purchasing manager at Ceramic Central, a maker of housewares. She has evaluated the first year's performance of Jason, a purchasing agent. In the evaluation, she noted that he places orders accurately, but when employees in the company ask about the status of their orders, he has difficulty finding the information for them in a timely manner. What should be the next step in performance management in this situation?
Lillian should arrange for training so Jason can learn how to look up the status of orders.
Pen & Paper Inc., a publishing company, administered the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment to its editorial team and learned that some individuals are drawn toward gathering the facts and details needed for decision making, while others focus more on noticing relations among the facts. Some of the employees enjoy learning this about themselves, but the human resource specialist who administered the assessment cautions them not to use the results to limit their understanding of what they can do. Which statement best explains the need for caution in applying the results of this assessment?
MBTI scores are not necessarily valid and reliable.
Sylas, a manager at LiveWell Corp., believes that he can fire Madison, his subordinate, at any time he wishes to do so. Which of the following, if true, would help strengthen Sylas' belief?
Madison does not have a specific employment contract with the company.
What is a characteristic of a successful formal mentoring program?
Managers are rewarded for employee development.
Cameron, a supervisor at Margolia Co., needs to appraise the performance of her subordinate, Stefan. In the context of performance information, what is the least biased source of information for appraisal and why?
Managers because their success depends on the employee's productivity.
Identify the correct statement regarding e-HRM.
Most administrative and information-gathering HRM activities can be part of e-HRM.
________ is a process for resolving disagreements by taking them to a panel composed of representatives from the organization at the same levels as the people in the dispute.
Peer review
Nick, a highly skilled technician, has been one of the most productive employees at Swank Inc. But after the company went through a downsizing effort, Nick has taken on many more responsibilities and is struggling to keep up. What is the most likely consequence of this situation?
Nick experiences role overload and becomes dissatisfied with his job.
Choose the correct statement about personal dispositions.
People with a positive core self-evaluation tend to experience job satisfaction.
According to the lifestyle dichotomy of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, individuals with a ________ preference enjoy surprises and dislike deadlines.
Perceiving (P)
Ty, the HR manager at Elrod Engines, is preparing a newly promoted employee for her role as a supervisor. In his experience, he will need to address the new supervisor's nervousness about conducting performance appraisals. What is the most likely cause of this nervousness?
Performance management supports administrative decisions that have a great impact on employees.
Virginia considers Howard, her office assistant, to be both highly skilled and highly motivated. Howard frequently surprises Virginia with his creative problem solving, above and beyond the basic job requirements. What response should Virginia make to Howard's performance?
She should reward Howard and offer him opportunities for career development.
Ricky is a hardworking, reliable employee in a warehouse. His supervisor notices that this is the fifth year in a row in which Ricky's performance appraisal shows that he has met requirements for every performance standard of his job. Even so, the supervisor has identified areas for improvement. Which statement gives the most significant reason for seeking improvement in Ricky's performance?
Ricky may seek further career development within the company, which will be aided by improving his performance.
________ is uncertainty about what the organization and others expect from the employee in terms of what to do or how to do it.
Role ambiguity
________ is an employee's recognition that demands of the job are incompatible or contradictory.
Role conflict
Delany, the learning and development manager at StudyHelpers Inc., believes that in addition to providing superior benefits to employees, it is important to create an environment in which employees are able to develop. She suggests a new program that encourages employees take time out of their workday to research relevant topics and share knowledge with their colleagues. Which statement best supports the value of this program to StudyHelpers?
Shared knowledge can lead to new innovations for StudyHelpers, as well as the development of internal talent.
Management at an IT firm is thinking of promoting Tad, a customer service representative, to the position of senior customer relationship manager. Which scenario would make the promotion less likely to happen?
Slow growth is limiting the opportunities available in the company.
________ refers to the ways an organization's people encourage training.
Social support
The human resource department of Wallace Corp. brings in a consultant to evaluate its performance management system. The consultant says he evaluated the validity of the system's performance measures and identified some deficiencies. What does the consultant mean?
Some behaviors that contribute to business success are not being measured.
The ________ is a self-assessment tool that helps employees identify their occupational and job interests.
Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory
Dina, the human resource manager at K-Pack Inc., wants to use subordinates as sources of performance appraisal information. Which statement best supports that idea?
Subordinates often have reliable information about a manager's behavior toward employees.
________ is the process of identifying and tracking high-potential employees who will be able to fill top management positions when they become vacant.
Succession planning
Anthony, a human resource executive for Beta Equipment, is preparing a recommendation to the company's executives that the company develop a program of succession planning. The company has been growing rapidly, so he anticipates some resistance to the time required for careful planning. Which statement would best support Anthony's idea for succession planning?
Succession planning ensures that Beta Equipment is ready with candidates if a key position becomes vacant.
Which term refers to a detailed description of a situation that trainees analyze and discuss and is designed to develop higher-order thinking skills?
a case study
Identify the statement that accurately describes an avatar.
a computer depiction of employees that can be manipulated in an online role-play
________ is a training method that coordinates the performance of individuals who work together to achieve a common goal.
Team training
Ron, the vice president of HR at Masters Inc., claims that the department's effectiveness has improved since it implemented the use of an HR dashboard. What capabilities of an HR dashboard best explain this improvement?
The HR dashboard provides an easy-to-scan review of HR performance on a companywide basis.
StrongSkills Consulting tests its salespeople on listening skills and then implements a training program to teach all of them to be better listeners. At the conclusion of the last training session, it conducts a posttest to measure listening skills again. Based on the results, the training manager reports that the training program increased listening skills by a significant amount. Which statement represents the main weakness in the manager's conclusion?
The actual impact of the training can only be evaluated by comparing the performance of employees who underwent training and those who did not.
Veronica is the supervisor of the recruiting department at Kintex Inc. She is currently in charge of filling a few high-demand positions at Kintex Inc. and is planning to poach talent from rival companies, luring their employees away with job benefits. Drew, the HR head of Kintex Inc., however, argues that Veronica's plan will not work. Which explanation is most likely to strengthen Drew's argument?
The candidates are looking for higher pay, not better benefits.
Patricia, a training manager, is making a presentation to her company's business leaders. She says meeting the company's five-year plan will require skills in using some new technology. Employees and their supervisors are eager to learn, but Patricia says some situational constraints are standing in the way of meeting these objectives. What could be such a constraint?
The company has not budgeted sufficient funds for training.
According to the hot-stove rule, which quality makes discipline more effective?
The consequences for breaking a rule are immediate.
William, a supervisor, is discussing an employee with Barb, the human resource manager at his company. The employee's performance has been falling, and the employee has been absent on several workdays. William is concerned about this change in behavior. The HR manager suggests that William encourage the employee to contact the employee assistance program (EAP) for a referral to a counselor. In which situation would Barb's advice be most appropriate?
The employee has the necessary skills but lacks motivation.
The receptionist at Brunt Inc. is punctual, polite, and always cheerful. The firm's employees and customers all love her. However, she has difficulty with the clerical tasks that the firm's prior receptionists handled. The receptionist's supervisor recommends redesigning the receptionist's job. That recommendation would be most appropriate in which situation?
The employee is highly motivated but lacks ability, and training is not expected to help.
Which statement is true of the relationship between training and development?
The goal of training is preparation for the current job, while the goal of development is preparation for future job opportunities.
Circumstances that resemble an invisible barrier that keep most women and minorities from attaining the top jobs in organizations are referred to as the
glass ceiling.
Spencer & Solomon, CPAs, brought in an HR consulting firm to evaluate the firm's performance management system. The firm has offices in six locations, and the manager of each location rates the office's staff members using a 5-point rating scale. After studying the appraisal results from the past three years, the consultants reported that they cannot make comparisons among the offices. What is the most likely problem?
The managers are making distributional errors, each using only part of the rating scale.
Which statement is true about the outcomes of high-performance work systems?
The outcomes of each employee contribute to a system's overall high performance.
How can an organization protect itself against discrimination and unjust dismissal lawsuits?
The requirements for job success should be clearly communicated to employees
Infinity Inc. uses simulators to train its cable installers. Several employees who completed the simulation training did not pass the test in which they were supposed to demonstrate the necessary skills. The training manager investigated and identified the source of the problem. Which of the following would be the most likely source?
The simulation contained elements unlike those found in Infinity's work environment.
The employees at Foster Center acknowledge that their supervisor is excellent at his work and that he has received many accolades during his 40-year career. However, they claim he is a dysfunctional manager. When confronted, the supervisor argues that his work should speak for itself and the employees' opinions of his behavior are irrelevant. Which statement, if true, would support the employees' claim?
The supervisor often discourages employees from challenging tasks, saying that they are incapable of accomplishing them.
Maddie, an HR manager, is coaching a supervisor who needs to develop her leadership skills. Maddie suggests that the supervisor use performance feedback as a tool for the development of her employees. Which action would be an example of this purpose of performance feedback?
The supervisor uses performance measures to identify assignments that will help employees build on their strengths.
Fernando, a manager at a top engineering company, believes he can hire a few employees by promising them job security and later terminating them if business slows down. On what grounds could such a termination be considered a wrongful discharge?
The terminations deviate from the promise of job security in the work agreement.
Michael, the training coordinator at Jaxon Solutions, inspected the written materials for a new training program and concluded that the materials were not very readable. Which condition would most likely lead Michael to this conclusion?
The training material consisted of too many long sentences.
What attitude do employees typically express toward performance feedback?
They appreciate regular feedback, because they want to know if they are on track.
Identify the statement that accurately characterizes behavioral approaches to performance measurement.
They link the company's goals to the specific behavior required to achieve those goals.
Which statement is true of simulators used in training?
They must have elements identical to those found in the work environment.
What is true of in-basket exercises?
They simulate the administrative tasks of a manager's job, using a pile of documents for the employee to handle.
According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, what is true of individuals with a Sensing (S) preference?
They tend to gather the facts and details to prepare for a decision.
Which statement is true of high-performance work systems?
To develop a high-performance work system, organizations need to determine what kinds of people fit their needs and then locate, train, and motivate those special people
Catarina, the founder of Platter Place, believes in employee empowerment, so as soon as she began hiring managers, she made subordinate reviews part of her company's performance appraisal system. However, she and her human resource manager have realized that the managers don't always place enough emphasis on efficiency and results, perhaps out of fear that their employees will give them lower ratings. What would be the best way for Platter Place to use subordinate feedback?
Use the results of subordinate feedback to identify avenues for employee development.
Which condition contributes to high performance?
Work design gives employees the opportunity to utilize a variety of skills.
Christine, a human resource manager, is developing a plan for ensuring the company has enough engineers. She has already gathered forecasts for the number of mechanical engineering graduates from nearby colleges. Now she wants to test various salaries and determine the corresponding percentages of graduates who would accept a job offer with her company. This will allow the HR manager to advise the best salary range to offer, given the supply of labor. Which information system is intended for this kind of analysis?
a decision support system
Linda, an employee of Fortitude Co., is having trouble in her current position. Her manager's constant feedback is that she does not maintain consistency in her work. In a meeting with Linda's manager, the HR team decides to shift her to a department that would not require as much skill as her current position requires. In this scenario, which approach to employee development is Linda experiencing?
a downward move
Identify the HRM practice that can assist firms in becoming a high-performance organization.
a job-related and legal selection system
The glass ceiling is likely caused by
a lack of access to developmental relationships.
The HR department at Tremont Communications oversees the recruitment and training of employees at the firm. As the firm grows and recruits more employees, overseeing individual training programs has become too much for the HR staff to handle. Which application should the HR department use to help with employee training?
a learning management system
Which work setting is most likely to benefit from team training?
a military brigade
Which HRM practice helps organizations achieve high performance?
a performance management system measuring customer satisfaction and quality
Prime Computing, an auditing firm, purchases a management information system called Gamma Dot. Most of Prime Computing's employees are unfamiliar with the functional aspects of Gamma Dot, and management decides to approach external trainers to train its employees. Melinda, the company's training coordinator, is tasked with finding suitable trainers. Melinda sends an e-mail, with a document outlining the company's training requirements, to multiple vendors and asks them to provide suitable trainer profiles and cost quotes. What is the document called that Melinda sends out to training vendors?
a request for proposal
Who would be most likely to hear and resolve a case if arbitration is used?
a retired judge
Using avatars for training purposes is an example of
a simulation
Which of the following best describes a learning management system?
a software application that automates the administration, development, and delivery of training programs
A customer at Jaquine, a French restaurant, complains to Brent, the owner, about a specialty dessert being unacceptable. Brent inspects the dessert and finds that the brie, a type of cheese, used in the dessert is overripe. Brent questions the new pastry chef, Mason, who acknowledges he should have substituted another type of cheese for the brie. Brent analyzes the situation and concludes that Mason should be put through additional training to avoid such mistakes in the future. What type of analysis has Brent performed in this situation?
a task analysis
Bruce heads a waste management firm. Recently, his firm was under scrutiny from environmental organizations. To counter any possible negative claims by these organizations against his company, Bruce assigned five of his junior managers to study the issue and propose plans or initiatives that could make the company appear more environmentally friendly. He also instructed senior managers to mentor their subordinates as they devised new ideas. Which of the following form of team training was applied by Bruce?
action learning
Gavin and his team, employees of an online retailing company, are being trained on cyber surveillance and user security. As part of their training, they are working to identify a solution to the problem of cyber-phishing and data breaches. Which group-building method is being employed by Gavin's team?
action learning
Which form of group building gives teams or work groups an actual problem, has them work on solving it and commit to an action plan, and holds them accountable for carrying out the plan?
action learning
The final step in the career management process is
action planning and follow-up.
Identify a guideline that helps increase the readability of training materials.
add checklists and illustrations to clarify the text
Which form of experiential training is a teamwork and leadership training program that uses challenging, structured outdoor activities?
adventure learning
The difference between adventure learning and cross-training is that
adventure learning helps team members understand themselves and each other, while cross-training helps team members learn each other's job roles.
Open-door policy, peer review, and mediation are methods of
alternative dispute resolution
The decision-making dimension of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator relates to the
amount of consideration given to others' feelings when making a decision.
Katie has been through a series of self-assessments and has received constant feedback. She has listed her goals for the future and thought of various ways in which she can accomplish them. The act of determining the various methods to accomplish Katie's goals is an example of
an action plan.
Gizmo Multimedia Corp. is an organization that follows the process of progressive discipline. The organization communicates with Lyla, an employee, about unacceptable behavior and responds to a series of her offenses. Which step would immediately precede a threat of temporary suspension?
an official written warning
Which of the following is an HRM function in an HRM audit?
appraisal
Which of the following is a work-study training method that teaches job skills through a combination of on-the-job training and classroom training?
apprenticeship
Hetrick, a firm that specializes in building construction, hires Mark, an unemployed teenager, to work in its carpentry division. Since Mark does not have the required skills to work as a carpenter, he is provided training that helps him pick up carpentry skills on the job. Mark learns by assisting other master carpenters and journeymen. In addition to the skills Mark acquires, he is paid by Hetrick. The form of training exemplified in this scenario is called
apprenticeship.
What is an example of an alternative dispute resolution method?
arbitration
Brianna, a supervisor in a shoe store, observes Charles, an employee, becoming anxious and defensive when a customer complains about some shoes. The customer reacts to Charles' behavior by raising her voice and demanding to talk to a manager. When should Brianna give Charles performance feedback related to his handling of customer complaints?
as soon as she is finished talking with the complaining customer
A work team can be empowered by
authorizing the team to make decisions traditionally made by managers.
New technology usually involves ________, which is using equipment and information processing to perform activities that had been performed by people.
automation
The ________ performance management method requires managers to rate the frequency with which an employee has exhibited a behavior during a rating period.
behavioral observation scale
The management of D&D Group wants to begin electronically monitoring the computer work of the employees who process claims filed by customers. Eden, the company's human resource executive, expects that employees will resist the monitoring, because they will feel robbed of their human dignity. How could the human resource department best address this concern?
by applying the data to employee development programs that can help employees advance in their careers
In which way do modern information systems contribute most directly to the creation of a high-performance work system?
by enabling organizations to give many employees access to information
How can data analytics improve the measurement of employees' performance?
by finding patterns in an employee's behavior
According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, how do Introverted types (I) gain energy?
by focusing on inner thoughts
How can managers improve employee satisfaction with the feedback process?
by letting employees voice their opinions and discuss performance goals during the feedback process
Payton was recently dismissed from her job in a hardware store. She had often been late for work, and she was so unresponsive to customers' needs that the store had received several complaints about her. Furthermore, she frequently complained about policies and procedures. A week after Payton's dismissal, the store's manager learned that Payton intended to sue the company for wrongful dismissal. She was saying she had complained of management's misdeeds, so the company retaliated. How should the human resource department have prepared the company for this situation?
by setting up a performance management system that documents employee performance problems
Identify the occupation that would typically employ an apprentice.
carpenter
One of the least expensive and least time-consuming ways to train multiple trainees on a specific topic is through
classroom instruction.
Century Clothes is a retailer with outlets in more than 30 cities in the United States. After a recent expansion of an additional 25 outlets, Century Clothes looked to expand its IT infrastructure to make it easier for workers to apply for jobs and for employees to submit their time sheets. The IT department decided against increasing the capacity of the company's servers. Instead, the team used a third-party hosting service for running these applications. The employees at the megastores are allowed access to this information through a web interface. In this scenario, Century Clothes is employing
cloud computing.
Conducting personal business online during work hours is called
cyberslacking.
A peer or manager who works closely with employees to motivate them, help them develop their skills, and provide reinforcement and feedback is known as a
coach.
Unon Inc. offers its employees a career management program in which they can take a variety of self-assessments. When employees complete these self-assessments, what is the organization's responsibility in the next stage of the career management process?
communicating to the employee the results of the performance evaluation and any development opportunities available
Which of the following is a customer satisfaction measure that indicates the success of the compensation system designed by the HR department of an organization?
competitiveness in the local labor market
What is the most accurate way to evaluate a training program?
conduct pretests, train only part of the employees, then compare the trained employees to the untrained
Foreign assignments can be highly disruptive to family members, and the resulting role ________ is the top reason that people quit overseas assignments.
conflict
Danielle works at a leading restaurant. She is scared of making mistakes at her workplace, so she is very keen on paying attention to details. She also prioritizes quality in her work. In the context of Inscape's DiSC assessment, she would most likely score high in
conscientiousness.
In a high-performance work system, organizational structure promotes cooperation, learning, and
continuous improvement.
Each employee's and each group's ongoing efforts to gather information and apply the information to their decisions in a learning organization is referred to as
continuous learning.
Benny, a supervisor, needs to assess Amanda's, a subordinate's, performance. He considers Amanda to be reliable and meets all his requirements, so he rates her as a good performer. But then Benny thinks about an exceptional employee, Christina, in his department, and decides that, compared with her, Amanda is just average. In this way, Benny's rating is a ________ error.
contrast
The positive or negative bottom-line views that people have of themselves are known as
core self-evaluations.
All Natural Grocer hired Tim to maintain inventory records and Jenny to place orders for new inventory when stocks run low. To ensure that the warehouse can continue to function when either is on vacation, the company also trained Tim to place orders and trained Jenny to maintain inventory records. Which training method does this situation illustrate?
cross-training
Team training in which team members understand and practice each other's skills so that they are prepared to step in and take another member's place is referred to as
cross-training.
What is the first step in performance management process?
defining performance outcomes for company division and department
The most popular way of empowering employees is by
designing work so that it is performed by teams.
Using job experiences for development assumes that
development is most likely when an employee's skills do not fully match the skills required.
Subordinate evaluations are the most appropriate to use for which purpose?
developmental
"Performance management serves as a basis for improving employees' knowledge and skills." This statement corresponds to which purpose of performance management?
developmental purpose
Which type of training allows trainees at different locations to attend programs online, using their computers to view lectures, participate in discussions, and share documents?
distance learning
Outcomes of a high-performance work system include higher productivity and
efficiency.
In a high-performance work system, task design makes jobs
efficient while encouraging high quality.
Reagan, the manager of a car dealership, finds it impossible to train his mechanics on the details of every potential repair problem because of the increasing complexity and variety of today's vehicles. Hence, he provides them with a training program that familiarizes them with the basics of engine, emission, and other types of repair. Additionally, in case of a particular problem, the training program allows the mechanics to seek expert advice through an online computer application. Which learning approach is being implemented by Reagan?
electronic performance support system
Managers provide for ________, a combination of formal education, job experiences, relationships, and assessment of personality and abilities to help employees prepare for the future of their careers.
employee development
Which of the following would most likely aid in the formation of a high-performance work system?
employees' rewards and compensation that relate to the company's financial performance
Historically, if an organization and employee do not have a specific employment contract, the employer or employee may not require a specific time to end the employment relationship. This is referred to as the ________ doctrine.
employment-at-will
A learning culture creates the conditions in which managers
encourage experimentation.
A(n) ________ refers to the meeting of a departing employee with the employee's supervisor and/or a human resource specialist to discuss the employee's reasons for leaving.
exit interview
Employees with negative affectivity are inclined to
experience feelings of anger, contempt, fear, and guilt.
A firm's HR department uses a computer system that assists in the selection of candidates to be interviewed for a job opening. The computer system enables the interviewer to act as both an interviewee and interviewer in a simulation, thus providing the HR specialist with comprehensive knowledge about the firm's overall interview and selection process. This computer system is likely to be a(n)
expert system.
Kris is a technical analyst at Tulla Inc. and has consistently impressed her managers with her ability to perform outstandingly in all projects assigned to her. Her manager, Robert, understands that she is really good at her job, but also recognizes that she might experience burnout because of the repetitive nature of the job. He talks to her about developing other possible skills by working full time for a short period at a different company. In this scenario, which approach to employee development is Robert encouraging?
externship
Antonio, a manager at the Colonial Inn, is training a new group of employees. After each training session, the employees complete various exercises to test their knowledge. After evaluating the results, Antonio speaks one-on-one with the employees to help them define their areas of weakness and encourage them to keep fine-tuning their strengths. In this scenario, Antonio is providing his employees with
feedback.
The step in the career management process in which employees receive information about their skills and knowledge and where these assets fit into the organization's plans is called
feedback.
Sabrina, a production manager at Orrin Co., needs to measure the performance of 12 of her subordinates. She divides the number of employees into categories like exceptional, above average, average, and below average. She assigns a certain percentage of employees to each category to determine the quality of their performances. In the context of methods for measuring performance, Sabrina is using the ________ method.
forced-distribution
A sales firm regularly enrolls some of its employees in a six-month marketing course with a leading university. At the end of the course, the employees are able to perform better in the organization. Which method of employee development has the firm used?
formal education
Greene Creations, a popular furniture manufacturer, provides employee support through various workshops on interior design techniques. It also offers three-month courses on various aspects of decorating a home, from suitable paint for a media room to contemporary outdoor furnishings. This adds to employees' existing knowledge and skill sets, helping create customer satisfaction. In this scenario, which approach to employee development is Greene Creations taking?
formal education
The four general approaches that companies use for employee development include
formal education, assessment, job experiences, and interpersonal relationships.
Gabby, an employee at Lewis Inc., finds it difficult to attain a promotion even after working for seven years at the firm. She believes that she is not being promoted because she is a woman. In this scenario, Gabby's progress in the organization is restricted by a
glass ceiling.
Sebastian, an employee, understands that he has great potential after taking a self-assessment test at his company. He decides to create a checklist of short-term objectives to achieve to help him hone his skills. In this scenario, Sebastian is employing ________ as a mechanism of career management.
goal setting
What is a component of a basic career management system?
goal setting
Besides a discussion of the employee's past behavior, what other topic(s) are most important to include in a performance feedback meeting?
goal setting and a decision about when to follow up
Joel is a manager at Malan Inc., and he uses a rating approach to evaluate his employees. He considers one employee at a time and circles a number or a word to signify the degree to which that employee demonstrates a particular trait in the scale. Which approach is Joel using to assess his employees?
graphic rating scale
What is the name of the rating error that leads employees to believe that no aspect of their performance needs improvement?
halo error
Plankton Inc. determines that it needs to train 200 employees on using a new software application. Jason, the training administrator, is investigating options to find the one that will meet the company's needs within the budget available. He determines that no one at Plankton knows enough about the software to provide the training. Which plan would be most likely to achieve training objectives at the lowest cost?
having employees participate in a general outside training course for the software
High-performance work systems result in
high product quality.
Identify a way in which an organization can promote fairness and reduce political behavior in the appraisal system.
hold a calibration meeting in which managers discuss employee performance ratings and provide evidence supporting their ratings
When an employee evaluates his or her manager low on all performance criteria due to dissatisfaction with the manager's disposition, the employee has most likely committed a(n)
horns error.
Which principle of discipline or metaphor for discipline holds that an organization's discipline should give a clear-cut warning and follow up with consistent, objective, and immediate consequences?
hot-stove rule
XYZ Equipment, a firm that produces manufacturing equipment for various industries, experiences an influx of new sales employees due to a recent expansion. Despite possessing a vast amount of sales experience, most of the new employees perform poorly. This is because the new recruits possess inadequate technical knowledge about the products sold by XYZ Equipment. To address the issue, the HR department decides to implement a training program using the instructional design process. As part of the process, the HR department's first step should be to
identify what the sales representatives will need to learn.
In the feedback step of the career management process, the employee is primarily responsible for
identifying what skills he or she could realistically develop in light of the opportunities available.
The board of directors of Nature's Crop is worried about company theft and decides to institute an immediate search of the employees on the job. However, the head of the HR department, Lisa, believes that doing so could maximize the likelihood of a lawsuit due to privacy concerns. Which condition would strengthen Lisa's belief?
if the search is done only on employees and not supervisors
Job design aimed at empowerment
includes access to resources.
A year ago, a production facility of a beverage company became the subject of negative news coverage following complaints that it had been slow to alert the community to some contamination of the water supply. During the reporters' investigation, several employees came forward to blame a supervisor who they claimed ignored their suspicions about the contamination. After the stories spread, the human resource department noticed that the number of workers applying for jobs at the facility had rapidly declined and so had the quality of applicants who did apply. The troublesome manager was dismissed, and now the human resource department is investigating how to improve the ethical climate at the facility. Which measure would contribute most to the effort?
including measures of ethical behavior in performance management
Allie was recently promoted at a leading IT firm. Her supervisor has given her access to previously restricted programs, and Allie can now retrieve certain confidential data necessary to her job responsibilities. Given the nature of her work, which element of a high-performance work system is illustrated in this scenario?
information systems
A perception of ________ is a judgment that the organization carried out its actions in a manner that took the employee's feelings into account.
interactional justice
Henry, an employee at Marine Corp., is known for his short temper. One morning, he gets into a heated argument with one of his supervisors and responds with hostility. Rather than immediately terminating Henry, his manager, Evelyn, calls him in for a discussion. Evelyn treats Henry with dignity and respect, listening to what he has to say about the incident. This scenario can be best categorized as one that uses
interactional justice.
Yvonne, a student at Carlitto College, is pursuing a degree in international business management. As part of her program at Carlitto College, she accepts an opportunity to work at Pullman Consulting for a period of six months, where she will gain experience related to her field. Yvonne's employment at Pullman Consulting is an example of a(n)
internship.
John and Nina, managers at Aderton Enterprises, want to the check the consistency of results for a performance measure that uses ratings by a supervisor. They want to know if different supervisors would rate the same behavior the same way. In the context of criteria for effective performance management, John and Nina are interested in the measure's
interrater reliability.
Terminating an employee for the use of illegal drugs is an example of a(n) ________ turnover.
involuntary
Tracey, an employee at Holander Holdings, was suspended for two weeks for drug use. Six months later, she was fired from the job because her productivity did not show any improvement even after undergoing treatment for drug use. Which form of discharge did Tracey experience?
involuntary turnover
More than 40 percent of the employees at Hile Corp. lost their jobs during a recent recession. The human resource department of Hile Corp. would term this as
involuntary turnover.
Managers are most likely to support training if
it will solve a significant problem.
The combination of relationships, problems, demands, tasks, and other features of an employee's jobs is referred to as
job experiences.
Teamwork and empowerment contribute to high performance when they improve
job satisfaction.
Identify the occupation that would typically employ interns.
journalist
Which assessment center exercise is being used when a team of five to seven employees is assigned a problem and must work together to solve it within a certain time period?
leaderless group discussion
At Healthy Beauty Solutions, Carly created an award-winning line of lip balm, lip gloss, and lipstick after many hours of research and discussions with experts. Now, with her manager's encouragement, she frequently conducts workshops for other employees about lip color and other beauty products. In this scenario, which feature of Healthy Beauty Solutions is exemplified?
learning culture
Angor, a manager at Primely Co., is asked by his manager to rate his subordinates' performances. He needs to rate 30 employees on a scale that ranges from 1 to 10. He rates 25 employees with a score of 8. In doing so, Angor commits a rating error. In the context of types of rating errors, Angor's mistake is called
leniency.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) identifies individuals' preferences for source of energy, means of information gathering, way of decision making, and
lifestyle.
One way performance management systems can support organizational goals is by
linking performance measures to meeting internal and external customers' needs.
To improve job satisfaction, organizations can
make jobs more complex.
Paula, a human resource executive, is setting up a mentoring program at her company. Which action will best help the program succeed?
making sure the performance management system rewards managers for employee development
Bernard, the CEO of RTT Co., believes the goals of the company must be divided into smaller departmental and individual goals. The accomplishment of these smaller goals will allow employees at all levels to contribute to accomplishment of the bigger goals of the company. In the context of measuring performance results, Bernard's belief can be best justified using
management by objectives.
Organization analysis looks at training needs in light of the
management's support for training activities.
What is a characteristic of effective training objectives?
measurable performance standards
If peer review does not lead to a compromise, a neutral party from outside the organization hears the case and tries to resolve the conflict and attempts to reach a compromise. This process is called
mediation.
Trace, a neutral party outside of Integrated Inc., is helping simplify a conflict between two technical teams of the company. Though Trace's solution has no binding power, both teams decided to accept his solution. This is an example of
mediation.
The ________ method of performance measurement uses several statements describing each trait to produce a final score for that trait.
mixed-standard scale
Fred works at a publishing house. He is fond of his work and is a passionate team member. His colleagues show concern for him and his work, and he experiences a positive feeling about his work. In the context of job satisfaction, the feeling experienced by Fred is known as
occupational intimacy.
Par On, a firm that creates games for mobile devices and PCs, has an unusual training program for all its new employees. The program lasts for five days and does not involve doing any work. During this period the trainees, in teams of three, visit different departments, gathering information about the company and various department functions. Additionally, they are paired with more experienced employees to discuss their goals at the company and to learn more about the organization's culture and policies. The form of training used for new employees at Par On is known as
onboarding.
Which type of alternative dispute resolution functions well only to the extent that employees trust management and managers who hear complaints listen and are able to act?
open-door policy
Faller and Whitney Company, a firm that builds enterprise resource planning products for customers, wants to implement training programs for its employees as an HR initiative. Senior management proposes the use of an instructional design process. What should ideally be Faller and Whitney's next step?
organization analysis
Identify the term that refers to the way in which an organization groups its people into useful divisions, departments, and reporting relationships.
organizational structure
Giebel United is a new firm located in Indianapolis. The firm has to hire qualified individuals, compartmentalize them into different departments, and hire a set of managers who will be able to instruct, monitor, and guide these employees to ensure smooth functioning of the organization. In this scenario, Giebel United is creating a(n)
organizational structure.
Andrew, an employee at Fulton Corp., arrives late at the office on a Monday morning due to a personal emergency. His manager fires him, although this was the first instance of Andrew arriving late at work. Andrew is upset because some of his other co-workers are chronically late to work, but they have not been fired. In this scenario, Andrew would conclude a lack of ________ in dealing with employees who arrive late at work.
outcome fairness
Destiny is an employee at ColorBlock Inc. She loves gossiping about her colleagues during office hours, which causes her to receive a reprimand by her supervisor, Alfonso. A few days later, Alfonso fires Colt, another subordinate, from work for a similar reason. The employees reporting to Alfonso are most likely to conclude he demonstrates a lack of ________ in dealing with employees who gossip at work.
outcome fairness
Ricky reprimanded five of his employees for coming to work drunk after a lunch outing. The next week, Ricky fired another employee for being drunk at work. The employees under Ricky can conclude a lack of ________ in dealing with employees being drunk at work.
outcome fairness
OutCode Inc. is an organization that tries to avoid the potential for violence or a lawsuit each time an employee is asked to leave the company. It does this by having the former employees meet with a specialized member of the HR staff to discuss their feelings while also getting help to find a new job. Which strategy does OutCode Inc. use in this scenario?
outplacement counseling
Sean has just been discharged from his job after the company he was working for started downsizing. Confused about his state of joblessness, Sean threatens to sue the company for reparations. Which program can help the company avoid such situations from exiting employees?
outplacement counseling
Michelle, a professional counselor, is asked to talk to an ex-employee of GearTech Corp. about his performance issues. Michelle talks to this ex-employee about his grief and fear, as well as some strategies for finding a new job. Which role is Michelle performing?
outplacement counselor
After an organization downsizes, it may expect much of its remaining employees. This high expectation and demand occur in a state of role ________ for the employees.
overload
A client asks Term Technologies to complete a project that involves working with a software tool called ELIM, which is new to the company. The training manager in Term Technologies's HR department begins by conducting a needs assessment. Which method will the training manager use to identify individuals' needs and readiness for training?
person analysis
Jimmy, the marketing manager for an automobile manufacturer, observes frequent conflicts between two of his subordinates, Trent and Luke. He asks the human resource department to help, and the department's training manager, Emily, investigates. She tells Jimmy that the two subordinates lack interpersonal communication skills but would be likely to improve with proper training. This scenario suggests that Emily has conducted a(n)
person analysis.
An employee's tolerance for uncertainty and the ability to get along with others are assessed in
personality tests.
Eva, an employee at Value Hardware, is regularly late for work and takes excessive sick days. In this scenario, which type of job withdrawal is Eva experiencing?
physical job withdrawal
In terms of job dissatisfaction, an employee who calls in sick or arrives to work late is engaging in
physical job withdrawal.
Retaining top performers is not always easy because ________ for high-demand positions, such as software engineers, from other companies has become the norm.
poaching talent
Which approach to performance feedback is generally most effective?
problem-solving
People's perception of ________ is their judgment that impartial methods were used to determine the consequences an employee obtains.
procedural justice
Which process seeks to avert misbehavior and to correct, rather than merely punish, misbehavior?
progressive discipline
A(n) ________ involves moving an employee into a position with greater challenges, more responsibility, and more authority than in the previous job.
promotion
Which aspect of satisfaction is among those emphasized by the Job Descriptive Index?
promotions
Which of the following is NOT a measure of customer satisfaction that indicates the success of the benefits programs implemented by the HR department of an organization?
promptness in handling claims
Carmella, a human resources executive, emphasizes to her staff that the department should focus on serving its "customer," the company's employees. Which activity best expresses treatment of employees as customers?
providing employees with the training they need to succeed at work
Anita is very dissatisfied with her job situation, but she does not perceive any other employment opportunities, so she stays and spends most of the workday dreaming about non-work matters. What is Anita experiencing?
psychological job withdrawal
Which selection method is used by organizations to identify employees who innovate, share ideas, and take initiative?
psychological testing
Matt is employed as a supervisor at Total Charge Industries. However, he gets fired from his job when he refuses to break local laws and discharge harmful chemicals from the company's production facility into a nearby river. Matt files a wrongful discharge suit Total Charge Industries. Which exception to the employment-at-will doctrine is Matt likely to choose when filing his suit?
public policy
In the context of principles of learning, which of the following is defined as the difficulty level of written materials?
readability
Which term refers to a combination of employee characteristics and positive work environment that permit training?
readiness for training
TTI Inc., a software company, is currently looking for new candidates to fill vacant positions. It is looking for prospective candidates who are enthusiastic about their work and willing to share their knowledge on various topics related to their field. The HR department is responsible for finding the right type of candidate to fit the open roles in the organization. In this scenario, the HR department contributes to high performance through
recruitment and selection.
A standard feature of a modern HRIS (Human Resource Information System) is the use of ________ databases, which store data in separate files that can be linked by common elements.
relational
Kathryn, a manager at Harper Haw, uses a rating tool to evaluate the performance of her subordinates. However, she finds that the scale she used did not yield consistent results, and she could not determine if a change had taken place in the performance of the employees. What was lacking in the rating scale?
reliability
In the context of planning a training program, even though it is time-consuming, putting together a ________ is worthwhile because it helps an organization clarify training objectives, compare vendors, and measure results.
request for proposal
When using an outside training expert, a complete ________ should indicate funding for the project and the process by which the organization will determine its level of satisfaction.
request for proposal
Talent poaching makes it difficult for companies to
retain their top performers.
Bill is an experienced employee at an organization. The latest policy implemented by the firm's management provides only new employees with bonuses and other perks for exemplary performance. Bill has raised concerns regarding the revised policy, but management stands firm on its revised policy. For Bill's company to be a high-performance work system, which element is Bill seeking to improve?
reward systems
Which element in a high-performance work system contributes to high performance by encouraging people to strive for objectives that support the organization's overall goals and includes the performance measures by which employees are judged?
reward systems
Hadley, a human resource manager at Ion Consulting, believes that it is important for employees to feel a sense of satisfaction about their jobs, because a satisfied employee will contribute more to the organization than an employee who is dissatisfied with his or her job. Which action by Hadley's department would best contribute to employee satisfaction?
rewarding employees for meeting goals
The ________ is a process of formally identifying expectations associated with a role.
role analysis technique
Heidi is a single mother who works full-time and attends to the needs of her two young children. She often feels a lot of pressure in balancing her work and looking after her children. What is Heidi experiencing?
role conflict
In ________, a participant takes the part of a manager or employee in a situation involving the skills to be assessed.
role-plays
Phillip is a senior journalist at a news agency. He goes on a temporary leave for six months and travels around different parts of South Asia during his leave. He records his travel experiences in a book and shares it with his colleagues upon his return. During his leave, he was also being paid by the organization. This is an example of a(n)
sabbatical.
Providing employees with the opportunity to get away from the day-to-day stresses of their job and acquire new skills and perspectives is known as a(n)
sabbatical.
Ensuring that employees are ready for training in terms of their attitudes, motivation, basic skills, and work environment is the ________ step of the instructional design process.
second
When in situations they dislike, employees with positive core self-evaluation tend to
seek change in socially acceptable ways.
Warm 'n Go, a leading brand in microwavable food items, prides itself on helping its employees with their career paths. The employees are highly efficient and are motivated to define areas of weakness in their job performances and work to eliminate them. The employees take various tests to help them assess their career interests and behavioral tendencies, thus helping them work on becoming successful. In this scenario, which system for career management is being employed at Warm 'n Go?
self-assessment
Promoting employee engagement is a way to improve all of the following EXCEPT
self-evaluations.
Outplacement counseling programs are
services in which professionals try to help dismissed employees manage the transition from one job to another.
Meghan is the new HR manager at Turner Times. She meets with the company's leaders to discuss how she intends to support business objectives. Meghan tells them that Turner Times has a performance management process that delivers reliable information, but it needs to be more strategic. Which action would best make performance management more strategic?
setting individual performance measures that are linked to the organization's goals
For a learning organization to function well, employees ought to
share the information that was acquired during the learning process.
In the context of methods for measuring performance, alternation ranking is a variation of ________ ranking.
simple
Fiona, a supervisor at Ronaldo Co., wants to compare the performance of her employees. If she does this by listing the employees from best to worst performer, which term describes her method?
simple ranking
Which training method involves representing a real-life situation with trainees making decisions resulting in outcomes that mirror what would happen on the job?
simulation
Enrique is hired as a seasonal firefighter by the Oregon Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The training used to prepare Enrique for his firefighting job involves an online training module. In this game-like module, Enrique is virtually placed in a real-life scenario such as a garage fire or a restaurant fire, and his goal is to put out the fire and save as many lives as possible. This form of training is referred to as a(n)
simulation.
Kapcom Telecom wants to implement an on-the-job training program for the sales staff who are unaware of the technical aspects of the firm's products. The lack of technical knowledge among its sales staff is harming the company's prospects of securing lucrative contracts. Although Kapcom's IT team is well versed in various technologies, it is not well suited to handle a training program. However, the best IT trainers in the industry cost more than Kapcom can afford to spend on the training program. This scenario illustrates
situational constraints.
At All County Auto, managers encourage employees to receive training and praise them when they demonstrate new skills. Employees are excited about how learning helps them succeed at work and take on more responsibility. Which aspect of readiness for training does this example describe?
social support
Opec Technology, a firm that manufactures mobile phones, has seen a major improvement in cost reduction since it instituted a three-week training program for all of its new recruits. During the training program, the new employees are constantly encouraged to express their thoughts and ideas. Good ideas are rewarded immediately by the trainers, thereby encouraging active participation. Which factor most likely explains the success of the training?
social support
A number of techniques are available for measuring HRM's effectiveness in meeting its customers' needs depending on the situation. These techniques include reviewing a set of key indicators, measuring the outcomes of ________, and measuring the economic value of HRM programs.
specific HRM activities
In the context of an HRM audit, the ratio of acceptances to offers made primarily serves as a business indicator for ________ activities.
staffing
The HR department of Laser Line identifies the per capita requirement costs in its annual audit. It also calculates the average number of days taken to fill open positions at the firm. The data gathered were used as business indicators in the audit. The business indicators are most likely to measure the performance of the ________ activity of Laser Line.
staffing
April, a production manager at Alton Corp., needs to evaluate the performance of her employees. She asks her subordinate, Tiff, to carry out this job. Tiff uses a rating scale, which ranges from 1 to 10, to rate 50 employees. She gives a score of 3 to 39 employees. In doing so, Tiff commits a ________ error.
strictness
Brian, the HR manager at Haller Co., establishes a performance management system for his company. He wants to check the consistency of results over time. In the context of criteria for determining the effectiveness of performance measures, Brian is trying to check the ________ of the performance management system.
test-retest reliability
In the context of performance management, which term refers to a measure that obtains consistency of results over time?
test-retest reliability
The three things human resource management needs to define in a customer-oriented approach are
the customer groups, the customer needs, and the activities required to meet those needs.
What is a business indicator of the success of the employee appraisal and development programs implemented by the HR department of an organization?
the distribution of performance appraisal ratings
In the role analysis technique, role occupant refers to
the employee who fills a role in the organization.
The primary use of assessment centers is to identify
the employees who have the personality characteristics and skills needed for managerial positions.
Who has the main responsibility of developing a formal discipline process for the workplace?
the human resource department
As a predictor of job dissatisfaction, nothing exceeds
the nature of the task itself.
Georgia, a new employee at Dino Co., has demonstrated low productivity for a long period. Her manager evaluates her performance and finds that she requires more training to improve her productivity. In the context of improving employees' performance, Georgia lacks
the necessary abilities.
For a business conducting an HRM audit, what is an important customer satisfaction measure in assessing the success of training programs conducted by HR?
the quality of introduction or orientation programs
Which of the following best defines a high-performance work system?
the right combination of people, technology, and organizational structure that makes full use of the organization's resources and opportunities in achieving its goals
The HR department at ZET Resources is having a tough time documenting its hiring decisions. In addition, irregularities were uncovered when reviewing the offers made to job candidates during the previous year. As a solution to these issues, the human resource manager proposes that all activities related to employee selection be documented thoroughly with the help of computers. In this scenario, the manager proposes using
transaction processing.
What is a typical first response in the progressive discipline system?
unofficial spoken warning
Most companies use ________ moves as an option for employee development.
upward, downward, and lateral
The simplest approach to evaluating training is to
use only a posttest.
In general, HR departments should be able to improve their performance through some combination of greater efficiency and greater effectiveness. In this context, greater efficiency means the HR department
uses fewer and less-costly resources to perform its functions
In performance appraisal, ________ refers to whether an appraisal measures all the relevant aspects of performance and omits irrelevant aspects of performance.
validity
In the context of effectiveness of performance management, ________ means the extent to which a measurement tool actually measures what it is intended to measure.
validity
Which of the following is a computer-based technology that provides an interactive, three-dimensional learning experience?
virtual reality
When employees initiate a turnover, when the organization would prefer to keep them, it is called ________ turnover.
voluntary
Hameta is a top manager at her current company. However, she is leaving the company for a better job at a competing firm. Which form of turnover is illustrated in this scenario?
voluntary turnover
In general, HR departments should be able to improve their performance through some combination of greater efficiency and greater effectiveness. In this context, greater effectiveness means that
what the HR department does has a more beneficial effect on employees' and the organization's performance.
According to research evidence, in which situation would an employer most have to guard against raters giving unfair low performance ratings to black employees?
when most of the employees in a work group are white
Under which circumstance is appraisal politics most likely to occur?
when senior employees tell newcomers stories about distorted ratings
The practices that do most to promote employee engagement are opportunities for career progress, recognition for accomplishments, and
· brand alignment.
When employees cannot work with management to make changes, they may engage in ________, taking their charges to the media in the hope that if the public learns about the situation, the organization will be forced to change.
whistle-blowing
Jacob, the vice president of Money-Makers, is reviewing the development program for the company's middle managers. He notes that management development includes psychological profiles and mentors, as well as lateral moves to positions that give managers a broader view of the company. Jacob would like to add a component of formal education. Which option could be included in this new component?
workshops involving business games and simulations
Adam, an employee at Trite Holdings, decides to leave the company. However, during his exit interview, an HR supervisor learns that Adam had no complaints about the work he did or the pay he received. What would be a source of job dissatisfaction for Adam and likely to lead to his departure?
· Adam experienced uncivil behavior from his co-workers, and it was not addressed by management.
Keith is paid for assisting a welder on a construction site. He also is adding to his welding skills by attending a local trade school. When he finishes his training program and demonstrates he has mastered specific skills, he will become a journeyman welder. Which statement best identifies that Keith is in an apprenticeship program?
· Apprentices have hands-on experience assisting a tradesperson.
David was part of a formal mentoring program and was mentored by Angela. The mentoring sessions were conducted over a period of six weeks to improve David's communication and interpersonal skills in the workplace. The sessions, however, were unsuccessful. Which scenario, if true, would most likely have caused the failure of the mentoring sessions?
· David's participation was involuntary, and he had little understanding of the details of the program.
_______ is a necessary condition of high performance because it contributes to good long-term relationships with employees, customers, and the public.
· Ethical behavior
Which manager is using the most effective approach to conducting a performance feedback session?
· Evan works with each employee to solve performance problems respectfully, focusing on behaviors.
To determine the outcomes of the HR functions at Veranda International, several top-level managers suggest conducting a formal review of the HR department to evaluate its functions. The CEO approves the implementation of this suggestion. Which way to measure the effectiveness of human resource management would Veranda use?
· HRM audit
What is true of formal education as an approach to employee development?
· Organizations organize formal educational programs at the workplace or off-site to support employee development.
Which of the following helps identify employees' preferences for working in different types of environments, such as sales and counseling?
· Self-Directed Search
A manufacturing firm aims to become a high-performance work system. To do this, a survey team asks employees for comments and suggestions on how they can improve the firm. Some of the newest hires say they feel left out of decision-making processes, while some of the experienced employees say their objections towards the firm switching to cheaper manufacturing equipment went unheard. Which condition would help the firm strengthen the formation of its high-performance work system?
· The management should allow experienced employees to participate in planning changes in equipment, layout, and work methods.
________ 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
If employers covered by the ________ do not notify the employees (and their union, if applicable) of layoffs, they may have to offer back pay and fringe benefits and pay penalties as well.
· Workers' Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act
The ways in which organizations use the system to provide information for day-to-day decisions about salary, benefits, and recognition programs falls under the ________ purpose of a performance management system.
· administrative
Tony, a production manager at Brighton Biometrics, needs to measure the performance of 10 subordinates. He writes their names on a paper and circles Paul's name as the best-performing employee of the group. He then circles Erma's name as the worst employee of the group. He rates the remaining employees as second best, second worst, and so on. In the context of methods of performance measurement, Tony is using the ________ method.
· alternation ranking
Peer review is an example of
· alternative dispute resolution.
The process of collecting information and providing feedback to employees about their behavior, communication style, or skills is known as
· assessment.
In the context of an HRM audit, average unemployment compensation payment primarily serves as a vital business indicator for activities related to
· benefits.
The slogan of Nature's Source Products is "Loving the Planet." This is more than just an advertising message. The company hires people who not only have job-related skills but also a commitment to sustainability and enjoyment of nature. The employees regularly have opportunities to sign up for service projects such as river cleanups and recycling drives. Employees are enthusiastic about developing and marketing products made with all-natural ingredients sustainably sourced. The HR department uses its communication tools to remind employees about how everyone contributes to realizing this eco-friendly vision for the company. Together, these efforts at Nature's Source Products create
· brand alignment.
Maria and Devin are both data-entry clerks in the same department of a company. On the anniversary of her employment, Maria receives a 2 percent increase in salary. Later that day, while talking to Devin, she learns that on his anniversary, his pay increase was 4 percent. How could the company's supervisor and human resource department best ensure that Maria will perceive outcome fairness in this situation?
· by demonstrating that raises of different sizes are associated with differences in performance
Compensation systems can help create the conditions that contribute to high performance. Consequently, organizations can increase empowerment and job satisfaction by
· communicating the basis for decisions about pay.
The employees at the Seacliff Foundation are continuously conducting research on ways to improve facilities and benefits for the impoverished children they care for. They then implement the ideas resulting from their research. This is an example of
· continuous learning.
Which term refers to a referral service that employees can make use of to pursue professional treatment for emotional problems or substance abuse?
· employee assistance program
Lee, the CEO of Opal Inc., a digital media startup, holds a meeting with his employees, telling them he wants them to put 100 percent effort into their daily work. He adds that in every quarter the company meets its sales targets, employees will receive a $500 bonus. In this scenario, Lee's actions are most likely to improve
· employee engagement.
The top management at Lion Manufacturers decides to search its employees on the job. However, Rajat, Lion's HR manager, believes that it could generate privacy issues. Which condition would strengthen Rajat's belief and maximize the likelihood of a lawsuit?
· if the search involves communications, such as e-mails, that are searched without probable cause
Rebecca, a supervisor, is meeting with an employee whose performance has deteriorated since the previous year. The employee used to do the same work well, so Rebecca believes the problem is not likely to be related to ability. Which response would be most likely to help in this situation?
· investigating whether the employee feels she has been treated fairly
The aspects of a task—namely the complexity of the task, the degree of physical strain and exertion required, and the value an employee places on the task—have particular significance when they are viewed as linked to
· job dissatisfaction.
A media company gives its employees monetary bonuses at the end of the company's fiscal year based on employees' contributions to the firm's financial success. This is a method of
· linking compensation to performance measures.
Which form of training prepares employees to perform their jobs effectively, learn about the organization, and establish work relationships?
· orientation
People's perception of ________ depends on their judgment that the consequences of a decision to employees are just.
· outcome fairness
Which approach to performance feedback is generally most effective?
· problem-solving
What does an employer violate when it terminates an employee for refusing to do something unethical, unsafe, and illegal?
· public policy
Venus is concerned about an unacceptable level of job dissatisfaction among a number of work teams in her organization. She has determined that the primary cause of the dissatisfaction is the uncertainty that exists among employees regarding what is expected of them. Based on this limited information, the most appropriate intervention would be
· role analysis technique.
Why might an organization demote an employee to a lower-level position?
· so that the employee can learn different skills
Milton Inc., a software company, conducts Inscape's DiSC inventory assessment to evaluate its employees. The assessment reveals that there are very few employees who are calm, supportive of others, and work far ahead of any deadlines. Which DiSC category applies to the employees described in the scenario?
· steadiness
Which of the following best describes needs assessment?
· the process of evaluating the organization, individual employees, and employees' tasks to determine what kinds of training are necessary
Identify the main purpose of diversity training programs that focus on attitudes.
· to increase participants' awareness of cultural, ethnic, personal, and physical differences in the workforce
What is a measure of customer satisfaction that indicates the success of the staffing efforts of an HR department?
· treatment of applicants
The stage to prepare for evaluating a training program is
· when the program is being developed.
Jeremiah, a vice president of human resources, wants to ensure that his company's performance management process is effective, so he sets up an annual review of the process. What should that review measure?
· whether measures of individual performance support the department's and company's objectives