HRtest1

3 trends in high performance work systems

-reliance on knowledge workers -empowerment of employees to make decisions -use of teamwork

job characteristics model

-skill variety -task identity -task significance -autonomy -feedback

skills of HRM professionals

-technical -interpersonal -business -leadership

job sharing

a work option in which two part time employees carry out tasks associated with a single job

Which of the following is true of the Occupational Information Network (O*NET)?

It uses a common language that generalizes across jobs to describe the abilities, work styles, work activities, and work context required for various occupations

leading indicators

objective measures that accurately predict future labor demand

Which of the following is a type of person who works for an organization only when they are needed?

on-call workers

Which of the following aspects of recruitment is most likely to affect the nature of the positions that are vacant?

personnel policies

position

set of job duties performed by a particular person

telework

the broad term for doing one's work away from a centrally located office

baby boomers

1946-1964

gen x

1965-1980

Which of the following statements is TRUE of a psychological contract?

A psychological contract is not formally put into words

Steve contends that a manager conducting a job analysis is required not only to define jobs when they are created but also to detect changes in jobs. What is the validity of Steve's argument?

Errors in job analysis have multiple sources, but most result from outdated job descriptions.

Marjorie has joined the HR department of Thomas Johnson Inc. as an intern. The organization plans on giving all newly hired site engineers copies of their job descriptions to help them understand what the organization expects of them. Marjorie has been given the task of conducting job analyses and creating job descriptions for the site engineers. Which of the following should Marjorie consider while creating the job descriptions?

Job descriptions contain detailed specifications of the tasks involved in carrying out each duty.

A survey of employee satisfaction among a county's 9-1-1 dispatchers found that employees struggle to keep up with calls, feel little or no control over their situation, and constantly worry about making mistakes. A suggestion is made to simplify the jobs in order to deal with these sources of dissatisfaction. Why would simplifying the jobs be beneficial in this case?

The costs of employee errors are severe.

Which of the following is a correct statement regarding skilled knowledge workers?

They are not easily replaced because they own the knowledge that the company requires to produce its products.

A manager of a functional department would require skills in aligning employees' efforts with the organization's higher-level goals. This is a valid statement because

employees in functional departments tend to identify more with their own departments.

knowledge workers

employees who contribute to organization are specialized knowledge of: -customers -processes -profession

Job enrichment differs from job rotation in that job enrichment

empowers workers by adding more decision-making authority to their jobs.

HR planning

helps meet business objectives and gain a competitive advantage over competitors

Moore Corp., a financial services company, specializes in customers' preferences and cost-efficient processes. They also encourage self-managing teams that make all decisions regarding business development and the sale of services to their customers. The firm ensures that there is a good fit between its work system and its people. This scenario implies that Moore has a

high-performance work system.

Bob, an HR manager at Delair Inc., is expecting a labor surplus for the company in the month of December. This gives Bob nearly eight months to deal with the problem. In order to reduce the labor surplus, Bob decides to use a _____ strategy, which causes less suffering for employees.

hiring freeze

Which of the following are the most widespread methods for eliminating labor shortages?

hiring temporary workers and outsourcing work

Which of the following responsibilities is specifically associated with the HR function of support for strategy?

human resource planning and forecasting

external labor market

individuals actively seeking employement

Koland Corp. is an interior design firm based in California. The firm has a team of interior designers working closely with manufacturers to create home décor products. In the context of a work flow analysis, the interior designers, manufacturers, and home décor products required to provide interior design services collectively constitute the _____.

inputs

job redesign

involves changing an existing job design

Job analysis is so important to HR managers that

it has been called the building block of all HRM functions

job description

list of tasks, duties, and responsibilities (TDR's) that a particular job entails

other characteristics

job-related licensing, certifications, or personality traits

occupational information network (O*NET)

online job description database developed by the labor department

incumbents

people who currently hold the position in the organization

Which of the following is defined as the process of ensuring employees' activities and outputs match an organization's goals?

performance management

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

reduced work hours

When an organization undertakes a complete review of its critical work processes to make them more efficient in an effort to deliver higher quality, it is engaging in

reengineering

Which of the following is true of early-retirement programs that are used as a method of downsizing?

they are humane

workflow analysis

use of quantitative tools and scientific methods to analyze data from HR data bases and other sources to make evidence based decisions that support business goals

_____ refers to the use of quantitative tools and scientific methods to analyze data from human resource databases and other sources to make evidence-based decisions that support business goals.

workforce analytics

job enlargement

broadening types of tasks performed in a job

Why is temporary employment popular with employers?

It gives employers flexibility in operations.

Which of the following best describes job sharing?

It is a work option in which two part-time employees carry out the tasks associated with a single job.

Which of the following is a strategy used by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to increase ergonomic job design?

enforcing violations of its requirement that employers have a general duty to protect workers from hazards, including ergonomic hazards

job extension

enlarging jobs by combining several relatively simple jobs to form a job with a wider range of tasks

job rotation

enlarging jobs by moving employees among several different jobs

competencies for HR professionals

-HR expertise -business acumen -critical evaluation -ethical practice -relationship mgmt -global/cultural effectiveness -communications -leadership and navigation -consultation

strategic HRM

-analysis and design of work -hr planning -recruiting -selection -training and development -performance mgmt -compensation -employee relations

cost control

-downsizing -reengineering -outsourcing

job enrichment

-empowering workers by adding more decision making authority to jobs -based on herzbergs theory of motivation

forecasting steps

-forecast labor demand -determine labor supply -determine labor surplus or shortage

3 stages of HR planning

-forecasting -goal setting and strategic planning -program implementation and evaluation

ethics in HRM (employee rights)

-free consent -privacy -freedom of conscience -free speech -due process

self-managing work teams

-have authority for an entire work process or segment -team members motivated by autonomy, skill variety, and task identity

supervisor responsibilities

-help define jobs -forecast HR needs -provide training -interview and select candidates -appraise performance -recommend pay increases and promotions -communicatie policies -motivate

OSHA's four pronged strategy

-issue guidelines for specific industries (nursing homes, grocery stores, poultry-processing plants) -enforce violations -advise employers -national advisory committee on ergonomics defines research needs

to design jobs effectively, a person must thoroughly understand:

-job itself (through job analysis) - its place in the units work flow (work flow analysis)

trends in job analysis

-organizations must analyze jobs in the context the organization's structure and strategy -jobs change and evolve over time, job descriptions need to be flexible -downsizing has affected organizations in the nature of their jobs -expanded use of project-based org structures

four objectives of downsizing

-reduce costs -replace labor with technology -mergers and acquisitions -move to more economical location

options for avoiding a shortage

-reduce hours -early retirement -contract workers -overtime and expanded hours -outsourcing -temporary workers

business strategy issues affecting HRM

-total quality management -mergers and acquisitions -reengineering -international expansion -downsizing -outsourcing

the organization's structure brings together people who must collaborate to efficiently produce desired outputs

1. centralized 2. decentralized 3. functional 4. product or customer

transitional matrix answers two questions

1. where did people in each job category go? (horizontal) 2. where did people now in each job category come from? (vertical)

ethical companies act according to 4 principles

1.mutual benefits 2.assume responsibility 3.sense of purpose 4.fairness

millenials

1981-1995

A physicist at AdVanTech recently received an award for several patents he earned that enabled AdVanTech to help slow climate change by reducing carbon emissions. Shelby, AdVanTech's vice president of human resources, is eager to get news coverage of the physicist's award. She knows that, in addition to drawing positive attention to the company, the publicity will support recruitment. Which statement best supports Shelby's thinking?

Creating the impression of AdVanTech as a place where talented people make a difference can attract talented job candidates.

Wilma heads the production department at Riden Inc., a firm that stresses the importance of maintaining regular contact with customers. Wilma is expecting a labor surplus in the future. John, a supervisor, recommends downsizing as an option to deal with this labor surplus, however, Wilma rejects this option. Which of the following statements will validate that Wilma made the right decision?

Downsizing would hurt long-term organizational effectiveness.

Fiona, a manager at Norman Corp., is responsible for workforce analytics in the organization. Her supervisor, Martin, argues it is an unnecessary expense as he believes that collecting employee-related information is just an administrative responsibility. Which of the following statements, if true, would weaken Martin's argument?

Fiona identified subordinates who showed the potential to become leaders in the company based on the data.

Gordon, a supervisor at AutoMate Inc., realizes that a couple of months from now, he might experience a labor shortage for approximately two weeks due to increased demand for the company's products. Which of the following options would be best for dealing with this labor shortage?

Gordon should encourage employee overtime because it helps to increase productivity for a short period of time.

Identify the correct statement regarding human resources.

Human resources have no good substitutes.

In the context of HRM functions, the activities of performance management include

In the context of HRM functions, the activities of performance management include

Henry has been newly appointed as the head of the HR team at AAS Technologies. In an attempt to establish a more efficient and reliable workflow, Henry has taken up the responsibility of creating job descriptions and job specifications for the newly hired and current engineers within the organization. While doing so, Henry gathers information about the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) required for an engineer to successfully perform the job. How will determining the KSAOs most benefit the organization?

KSAOs play a significant role in interviews and selection decisions.

Leeding Engines Inc. specializes in manufacturing internal combustion engines. Recently, Leeding has decided to create a division for the flexible fuel field. During this time, Mark, the HR manager, has been reviewing and updating job descriptions. With the knowledge that a new division of jobs will be created, what would be the appropriate course of action for Mark to take next?

Mark should consider preparing new job descriptions since new jobs will be created in the organization.

In high-tech industries, such as computer software development, employers press the federal government for immigration laws that allow for a greater supply of foreign-born workers. What is the main reason these companies cite for that effort?

Qualified technical workers are scarce in the United States.

Richard, a researcher, is of the opinion that organizations should empower employees, and suggests this should be done by designing work to be done by self-managing teams. Which of the following statements would validate Richard's argument?

Self-managing teams are highly involved in decision making.

Bright Sky Health Care Systems set up a program that encourages employees to share their ideas for patient satisfaction and cost savings. After a year of collecting these ideas, the HR department conducted an employee survey and learned that its employees did not feel very empowered. What else should Bright Sky do to improve the sense of empowerment?

Show that management is listening to the ideas and implementing the valuable ones.

Adam, an HR executive observes that telework or telecommuting has been a rising trend. He considers developing a policy to allow telecommuting at his company. Which of the following statements is a fact about telecommuting that would support implementing this policy?

Telecommuting may support a strategy of corporate social responsibility.

Craig, one of the senior managers at Clayton Inc., insists that company supervisors handle employee relations as part of their jobs. Which of the following statements strengthens Craig's argument?

The supervisors represent the company on a day-to-day basis.

ability

a general enduring capability that an individual possesses

Neo Pharmaceuticals and Ayurva Medicines combined their businesses to create a new company, Ayurva Pharmaceuticals Inc. This is an example of

a merger

flextime

a scheduling policy in which full time employees may choose starting and ending times within guidlines

A chemical company buying a medical equipment manufacturing company is an example of

an acquisition.

skill

an individual's level of proficiency at performing a particular task

high performance work systems

an organization in which technology, organizational structure, people, and processes all work together to give an organization a competitive advantage

recruiting

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

forecasting

attempts to determine supply and demand for various types of HR to predict areas within the organization where there will be labor shortages/surpluses

transitional matrix

chart that lists job categories held in one period and shows proportion of employees in each of those job categories in a future period

communication

communicate with employees from variety of backgrounds

CSR

companies commitment to meeting the needs of stakeholders

total quality management (tqm)

company wide effort to continuously improve the ways people, machines, and systems accomplish work

reengineering

complete review of organizations major work with processes to make them more efficient and able to deliver higher quality

HR information systems (HRIS)

computer system used to acquire, store, manipulate, analyze, retrieve, and distribute information related to an organization

Which of the following is a responsibility that is specifically associated with the HR function of employee relations?

conducting attitude surveys

trend analysis

constructing and applying statistical models that predict labor demand for next year, given relatively objective statistics from previous year

employee relations

create a work environment that's comfortable for all and fosters creativity

task identity

degree to which a job requires completing a "whole" piece of work from beginning to end

autonomy

degree to which the job allows an individual to make decisions about the way work will be carried out

The manager of a local grocery store introduces a short conveyor belt that allows customers to place items on it prior to checking out. This saves the cashier from the physical strain of bending forward and reaching into the carts to retrieve the items. This change is an example of the _____ approach to job design.

ergonomic

skill variety

extent to which a job requires a variety of skills to carry out tasks involved

feedback

extent to which a person receives clear information about performance effectiveness from the work itself

task significance

extent to which the job has an important impact on lives of other people

knowledge

factual or procedural information necessary for successfully performing a task

Zoe is a recruiter with a bachelor's degree in business administration. She is well respected among her peers for her professional standards and understanding of the HR field. However, she has noticed that when she recruits engineers for her company, they sometimes seem unresponsive to her. According to your text, the most likely reason for this is because Zoe

is perceived as less credible because she is an HR specialist.

fleishman job analysis

job analysis technique that asks subject matter experts to evaluate a job in terms of the abilities required to perform a job

N-Pax Technology Corp., a microchip manufacturing company, is hiring for the position of marketing manager for its new division. Nathan, the HR manager, considers the requirements of the job, including the necessary knowledge, level of proficiency, enduring capabilities, and other personality traits, such as persistence or motivation to achieve. Which of the following documents includes these considerations to help Nathan in selecting a candidate?

job specification

job specification (KSAO)

list of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAO needed to perform a particular job)

human capital

organizations employees described in terms of their: -training -experience -judgement -intelligence -relationships -insight

high performance work system

organizations have the best fit between their: -social system (people and how they interact) -technical system (equipment and processes)

internal labor force

organizations workers includes it's employees and people who have contracts to work at the organization

Walters & Williams, a consulting firm, equips all of its employees with laptop computers, which they use at their desks and carry to client meetings. What ergonomic challenge may result from employees using these devices throughout the day?

physical strain to wrists from improper positioning for typing

In an attempt to motivate its current employees and to attract skilled professionals, Labyrinth Inc. decides to increase salaries as well as year-end bonuses for its best performers. Which of the following HR functions is demonstrated in this scenario?

planning and administering pay and benefits

HRM

policies, practices, and systems that influence employees behavior, attitudes, and performance

work flow design

process of analyzing tasks necessary for production of a product or service

job design

process of defining how work will be performed and what tasks will be required in a given job

performance management

process of ensuring employees activities and outputs match organizations goals

job analysis

process of getting detailed information about jobs

development

provide carrier development for employees with different backgrounds and abilities

performance appraisal

provide feedback based on objective outcomes

Steve applies for a job at Texel Inc. because his friend Dan, who is a manager there, prompts him to do so. In this scenario, Steve is a(n) _____.

referral

Which of Kant's basic human rights is violated when a supervisor requires an employee to do something that is unsafe or environmentally damaging, in spite of the employee clearly objecting to the order?

right of freedom of conscience

core competency

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

job

set of related duties

position analysis questionnaire (PAQ)

standardized job analysis questionnaire containing 194 questions about work behaviors, work conditions, and job characteristics that apply to a wide variety of jobs

ergonomics

study of interface between individuals' physiology and characteristics of physical work environment (goal is to minimize physical strain on worker)

industrial engineering

study of jobs to find simplest way to structure work to maximize efficiency

talent management

systematic, planned efforts to attract, retain, develop, and motivate highly skilled employees and managers

Kidzi Inc. is a toy manufacturing company. As the new production manager, Andrew notices that the production unit has been underperforming. In an attempt to streamline the existing work flow, Andrew brings in an HR specialist to help him conduct a work flow analysis. Andrew describes to specialist the quantity and quality of products to be produced. What will the HR specialist have Andrew define next?

the work processes used to generate the end product

Which of the following is the objective of job enlargement?

to make jobs less repetitive and more interesting