MGT TEST 3 (ch11-14)
A mom-and-pop dog grooming salon with three employees is most likely to adopt which of the following organizational designs? - Functional structure - Divisional structure - Simple structure - Matrix structure - Network structure
Simple structure
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be an external factor that influences the HRM process? - Demographic trends - The influence of employee labor unions - The legal environment - The economy of the environment in which the organization works - The personal sympathies of the president of the organization
The personal sympathies of the president of the organization
Which of the following sentences is true about communication in customer service? - Even though an organization may have a strong service culture, it might not have institutionalized the value of taking care of customers. - Managers have quite a lot of control over how the customer communicates. - There are three components in any service delivery process. - Managers are often the first to hear about or notice service failures or breakdowns. - The quality of the interpersonal interaction between the customer and the contact employee does not influence customer satisfaction.
There are three components in any service delivery process.
Good communication is an essential part of all of the following EXCEPT ________. - agreeing with the communicator's message - decision-making - effective job redesign - creating ideas - effective management
agreeing with the communicator's message
Interpreting and trying to make sense of the message is known as ________. - encoding - jargon - filtering - the channel - decoding
decoding
All of the following are true about formal and informal communication EXCEPT ________. - informal communication can improve an organization's performance - informal communication occurs when employees talk as they pass in hallways - formal communication occurs when an employee communicates with a manager about a problem - informal communication is defined by the organization's structural hierarchy - informal communication allows employees to satisfy their need for social interaction
informal communication is defined by the organization's structural hierarchy
All of the following are drawbacks inherent in global teams EXCEPT ________. - stereotyping - dislike of team members - communication problems - mistrust of team members from diverse cultures - limited groupthink
limited groupthink
Electronic media consists of ________, email, and instant messaging. - memos - bulletin boards - telephone calls - social media - face-to-face conversations
social media
One of the major disadvantages of technology in terms of managerial communication is ________. - the decrease in the number of Wi-Fi hot spots - increased online spending - the psychological cost of an employee always being accessible - the use of internal social media sites - fewer opportunities to collaborate and share information
the psychological cost of an employee always being accessible
Which statement about a team structure is FALSE? - A team structure complements a divisional structure. - With a team structure, the whole organization is made up of teams. - Team structures allow for flexibility. - A team structure provides a clear chain of command. - With a team structure, an organization can have the efficiency of a rigid structure but also flexibility.
A team structure provides a clear chain of command.
What percentage of CEOs say that their "human capital" is the key source of sustained economic value? - 13 percent - 94 percent - 47 percent - 35 percent - 71 percent
71 percent
Which of the following is NOT a typical reaction to downsizing in the workplace? - Anger - Anxiety - Frustration - Acceptance - Stress
Acceptance
Which of the following is the best description of organizational communication? - Communication that includes all relevant information, is true in every sense, and is not deceptive - Communication that flows upward from employees to managers - Specialized terminology or technical language that organizational members use to communicate among themselves - All the patterns, networks, and systems of communication within an organization - Communication that is not defined by the organization's structural hierarchy
All the patterns, networks, and systems of communication within an organization
What is a key benefit of the critical incident method of performance appraisal? - Quick implementation - Multiple feedback sources - Employee comparisons - Highly quantifiable - Behavior-related examples
Behavior-related examples
Which of the following is true about how wireless capabilities have affected communication in the workplace? - New technology is making the jobs of managers harder to maintain. - Cell phones are being utilized as work tools. - Managers are focusing on their primary job of being in the office working with employees. - A small number of employees are beginning to use the Internet at work. - Employees must be using a computer to stay connected to other employees.
Cell phones are being utilized as work tools.
Which of the following is true about organizational communication networks? - Communication networks are formed when vertical and horizontal flows of organizational communication are combined into a variety of patterns. - The wheel network is the best network to use for all situations. - The all-channel network represents communication flowing between a strong leader and team members. - In the chain communication network, communication flows freely among all members of a work team. - The three common communication networks are channel, wheel, and all-chain.
Communication networks are formed when vertical and horizontal flows of organizational communication are combined into a variety of patterns.
In reference to internal collaboration, what is the difference between a cross-functional team and a task force? - Cross-functional teams are permanent, and task forces are temporary. - Cross-functional teams are temporary, whereas task forces are permanent. - Cross-functional teams are also called ad hoc committees, and task forces are known as virtual teams. - A task force is a special committee, but cross-functional team members have normal jobs that they continue to do while working on a project. - Cross-functional teams continually form teams to complete projects, but task force members have normal jobs that they continue to do while working on a project.
Cross-functional teams continually form teams to complete projects, but task force members have normal jobs that they continue to do while working on a project.
When Jennifer receives confirmation of a big order from a new client, she thrusts her fist in the air and hollers "We did it!" exultantly to her team members. Which function of communication does this illustrate? - Information - Understanding - Motivation - Control - Emotional expression
Emotional expression
What is a potential psychological drawback of an employee being constantly accessible to an employer due to IT? - Employees needing to integrate work and decisions throughout different departments - Employees sharing too much information with others in the organization - Employees having access to more resources and other employees - Employees traveling less due to wireless capabilities and more advanced IT - Employees staying involved in work even during their off hours
Employees staying involved in work even during their off hours
Raj, a manager, needs to make major changes to the job of his assistant, Drew. Drew will now be required to work a longer shift and take on many additional tasks and projects. Which communication method would be best for Raj to use? - Email - Memo - Voice mail - Face-to-face - Bulletin board
Face-to-face
When he joined the accounting department, Mark spent two weeks learning the payroll system in the organization. He then was assigned to the accounts payable department for a few weeks, and finally to the accounts receivable department so he would have a solid base of knowledge in all of the accounting functions in the company. What term best describes Mark's activities? - Organizational orientation - Work unit orientation - Mentoring and coaching - Job rotation - Apprenticeship
Job rotation
Which statement about managing an organization's knowledge resources is most likely FALSE? - Online information databases facilitate the sharing of knowledge among employees. - Today's managers need to make it easy for employees to communicate. - Managers do not need to consider the emotional impact of communication. - Organizations that use tools like interactive websites and videoconferencing face communication problems like filtering and defensiveness. - Organizations should encourage the sharing of knowledge and internal collaboration.
Managers do not need to consider the emotional impact of communication.
Which statement about mechanistic and organic organizations is true? - Organic organizations have standardized jobs, and mechanistic organizations are adaptive. - Mechanistic organizations can adjust to changing environments more than organic organizations. - Mechanistic organizations have low formalization, and organic organizations have high formalization. - Organic organizations are flexible, and mechanistic organizations are stable. - Organic organizations are centralized, and mechanistic organizations are decentralized.
Organic organizations are flexible, and mechanistic organizations are stable.
When new employees join the company, HR specialist Angelica gives them a brief tour of the facility and then spends several hours introducing them to the company's history, goals, and philosophies and providing them with an overview of HR policies. What term best describes Angelica's activities? - Apprenticeship - Organization orientation - On-the-job training - Work unit orientation - Mentoring and coaching
Organization orientation
Which of the following employee benefits would LEAST likely be considered a family-friendly benefit? - Job sharing - Telecommuting - Flextime - Pension plan - Subsidized child care
Pension plan
What is one of the primary challenges of managing communication in a digitally connected world? - Social media oversight - Information overload - Federal mandates - Security issues - Excessive personal interaction
Security issues
Which of these conditions is a characteristic of an organic organization? - The organization has a loose structure. - The span of control is kept small. - The number of formal rules is significant. - Many managers are needed because of departmentalization. - Workers perform routine, specialized tasks.
The organization has a loose structure.
In which type of communication network does a clearly identifiable leader serve as the hub through whom all communication passes? - Y-pattern - Wheel - Circle - Chain - All-channel
Wheel
Which of the following questions is LEAST relevant when a manager needs to determine the best communication method? - Can communicators be fairly sure their messages are received only by those intended? - How well does this method communicate interpersonal warmth? - Which method is the most popular one being used by other senders? - Can the sender easily and quickly use this channel? - Does the sender or receiver have control over when the message is dealt with?
Which method is the most popular one being used by other senders?
All of the following are methods for managers to gain valuable employee input and let employees know their input matters EXCEPT ________. - using collaborative problem analysis - holding town-hall meetings - providing employee suggestion boxes - avoiding sharing negative news - investing in training so that employees see how they impact the customer experience
avoiding sharing negative news
________ communication includes all relevant information, is true in every sense, and is not deceptive in any way. - Formal - Diagonal - Informal - Upward - Ethical
ethical
All of the following are generally major types of training courses offered by companies, EXCEPT ________. - supervisory skills - exit interview skills - industry-specific training - customer service training - compliance information
exit interview skills
To ensure that new employees are successful on the job, they should most likely be ________. - given a complete tour of the facilities and shown the important areas of work - acclimated to the union procedures and the processes for filing grievances - shown workplace safety videos and made to sign informed consent papers - familiarized with the organization's culture - given the appropriate time cards and identification
familiarized with the organization's culture
All of the following are structural areas where differences in managing global teams can be seen, EXCEPT ________. - cohesiveness - social loafing - conformity - finances - status
finances
Downward communication ________. - occurs among employees on the same organization level - is only used to inform employees of new information - flows from employees to managers - flows from a manager to employees - crosses both work areas and organizational levels
flows from a manager to employees
All of the following are characteristics associated with effective teams, EXCEPT ________. - negotiating skills - appropriate leadership - unified commitment - individual goals - mutual trust
individual goals
Ethical communication ________. - is not institutionalized simply by establishing clear guidelines for ethical behavior - omits essential information if the audience need not know that information - distorts the truth if it benefits the organization - is complete, true, and not deceptive - is not a responsibility of the manager or upper management
is complete, true, and not deceptive
In her supervisor's absence, Ciera consults with another customer service representative to determine the appropriate procedure for issuing a refund. This is an example of ________ communication. - informal - downward - diagonal - lateral - upward
lateral
A hierarchical organization characterized by highly centralized authority, formalized procedures and practices, and specialized functions is referred to as a(n) ________. - functional structure - divisional structure - mechanistic organization - organic organization - simple structure
mechanistic organization
Two IT developments that are most significant for managerial communication are ________. - mobile technologies and wireless capabilities - tracking software and security - universal laptop chargers and e-commerce - open-source software and cloud computing - social media and computer-mediated groupware
mobile technologies and wireless capabilities
The expectations and standards accepted by group members are called ________. - regulations - instructions - models - norms - roles
norms
Bella is a new employee at Butonic. Her manager is informing her about the company's goals, history, philosophy, procedures, and rules. This is typically part of ________ orientation. - job-specific - decruitment - exit - work unit - organization
organization
Effective ________ are BEST described as using descriptive language to state the importance of following a course of action and the likely benefits. - informal communication skills - speaking skills - writing skills - descriptive imagery skills - persuasion skills
persuasion skills
Jill wants to improve her ability to convince her subordinates to change their behavior in the workplace. Which skill is most relevant to this? - Speaking skills - Soft skills - Writing skills - Persuasion skills - Reading skills
persuasion skills
Which skill involves an understanding of written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents? - Speaking skills - Writing skills - Reading skills - Active listening skills - Persuasion skills
reading skills
Information technology (IT) has affected managerial communication in all of the following ways EXCEPT by ________. - requiring employees to be at their desk to communicate with others in the organization - making organization members increasingly accessible - allowing employees to have better information to make faster decisions - improving a manager's ability to monitor employee performance - providing employees more opportunities for collaboration
requiring employees to be at their desk to communicate with others in the organization
Which skill involves the ability to communicate information through talking so others can understand? - Persuasion - Writing - Reading - Managing - Speaking
speaking
Your employee, Charles, has approached you stating that he's having many challenges communicating information and ideas with his team members so that they can understand. As his manager, you recommend Charles take a training class to enhance his ________. - reading comprehension skills - speaking skills - team skills - persuasion skills - writing skills
speaking skills
During the ________ stage of group development, team members experience intragroup conflict as they encounter differing personal agendas and ideas. - forming - storming - adjourning - norming - performing
storming
The informal organizational communication network is best defined as ________. - collaboration - lateral communication - the grapevine - gossip - diagonal communication
the grapevine
A virtual team ________. - is characterized by efforts to solve specific issues - tends to be more relationship-oriented - is always responsible for getting work done and for managing themselves - is unaffected by time differences between employees - uses technology to help physically separated members accomplish a shared goal
uses technology to help physically separated members accomplish a shared goal
As a sales associate at a luxury auto dealership, Andre receives a base salary each month, but he also receives commission based on the number of vehicles he sells and a percentage of the net profit on the vehicles sold. This is an example of ________. - skill-based pay - seniority pay - variable pay - wages - pay-for-knowledge
variable pay
Anton is a project manager at a large, multinational insurance company in Minnesota. His team members are located in Ireland, New York, and New Mexico. They work remotely via information technologies. This is an example of a(n) ________ team. - informal - self-managed work - cross-functional - problem-solving - virtual
virtual
George wants to get better at communicating effectively using email. Which skill is most relevant to this? - Reading skills - Persuasion skills - Writing skills - Speaking skills - Technology skills
writing skills
What are the four major functions of communication? - Control, motivation, emotional expression, and notification - Control, motivation, empathy, and information - Control, manipulation, emotional expression, and information - Control, motivation, emotional expression, and agreement - Control, motivation, emotional expression, and information
Control, motivation, emotional expression, and information
Which statement about groupthink is most likely true? - Groupthink typically leads to improved group effectiveness. - Groupthink occurs when group members want to stand out from the crowd. - Groupthink refers to a prestige position or rank within a group. - Groupthink involves group members pressuring an individual to agree with the majority. - Groupthink occurs when group members hold a negative group image they want to eliminate.
Groupthink involves group members pressuring an individual to agree with the majority.
Which statement concerning human resource management (HRM) is FALSE? - High-performance work practices improve a firm's ability to adapt to changing markets. - HRM is a key component of organizational strategies. - HRM is a major source of competitive advantage. - HRM is important in U.S. firms but insignificant in foreign firms. - The way that firms treat their employees impacts organizational performance.
HRM is important in U.S. firms but insignificant in foreign firms.
When April returned from a weekend away, she had 274 email messages and 46 voicemail messages. She quickly became frustrated. Which barrier to communication was April experiencing? - Jargon - Filtering - Information overload - Noise - Semantics
Information overload
Christy and Laurie co-teach the same 1st-grade class. Christy teaches the class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Laurie teaches on Tuesday and Thursday. They each receive a pro-rated portion of the traditional full-time position's salary and benefits. Which term best describes this arrangement? - Flextime - Telecommuting - A compressed workweek - Job sharing - Contingent workers
Job sharing
Which statement about a project structure is true? - Project structures are rigid. - Project structures are slowed down by hierarchies. - Managers act as coaches to employees. - Employees are assigned permanently to departmental teams. - Teams are based on formal organizational hierarchy.
Managers act as coaches to employees.
Which type of work team functions without a supervisor and is tasked with completing a work process? - Independent work team - Self-managed work team - Problem-solving teams - Virtual teams - Cross-functional team
Self-managed work team
Which of these statements about the effect of environment on structure is NOT true? - Companies that have organic structures can meet the changing needs of customers better than mechanistic organizations. -When facing an economic downturn, a company would be better off with an organic structure. - The air travel industry is a stable industry and should use a mechanistic design. -Managers can minimize uncertainty by adjusting the company's structure. - A stable environment facing little uncertainty would find mechanistic designs more effective.
The air travel industry is a stable industry and should use a mechanistic design.
Which of the following laws protects workers, their families, and communities by requiring most employers with 100 or more employees to provide notification 60 calendar days in advance of plant closings and mass layoffs? - Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act - Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act - Occupational Safety and Health Act - Title VII of the Civil Rights Act - Vocational Rehabilitation Act
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
If you're late for a product development team meeting at LaBella Fashions, you have to put $2 in a "pizza kitty" that is then used to buy lunch for the team on the first Friday of the month. This is an example of ________. - social loafing - groupthink - a role - a norm - role conflict
a norm
Managers should do all of the following when downsizing EXCEPT ________. - explain the impact of layoffs to others - provide counseling for remaining employees - focus on boosting morale - delay or prolong the process of informing those who are being let go - make plans for empty office spaces
delay or prolong the process of informing those who are being let go
Tomas disagrees with the committee's ideas for the theme of this year's charity event. However, the last time he disagreed with the group, they criticized him and made fun of his ideas. He doesn't want to experience that again, so he just keeps his thoughts to himself and goes along with what others seem to think. This is an example of ________. - social loafing - a norm - role conflict - functional conflict - groupthink
groupthink
An organized association of workers formed to protect the rights and interests of its members through the collective bargaining process is known as a ________. - worker coalition - labor union - wage alliance - board representative - work council
labor union
Which statement about organizational structures is FALSE? - A functional structure is similar to organizational departmentalization. - In a divisional structure, the division is controlled by a parent company. - With a divisional structure, each division has limited choices. - In a functional structure, specialties are grouped together. - A functional structure is the simplest form of organizational structure.
A functional structure is the simplest form of organizational structure.
Which statement about groups is most likely true? - A formal group tends to form around friendships and common interests. - An informal group is a work group defined by the organization's structure. - An informal group is typically assigned flexible, creative tasks to accomplish. - A formal group occurs naturally in the workplace. - A group consists of at least two individuals who work to accomplish a specific goal.
A group consists of at least two individuals who work to accomplish a specific goal
Which statement best describes a simple structure? - Regulations are necessary to keep a simple structure running smoothly. - A simple structure requires significant departmentalization. - Most simple structures are highly bureaucratic when first established. - A simple structure has a narrow span of control. - A simple structure has centralized authority around a single person.
A simple structure has centralized authority around a single person.
Which of the following would be described as an organic organization? - An organizational design that groups similar or related occupational specialties together - An organization that is highly adaptive and flexible - An organizational structure made up of separate business units or divisions - An organizational design that is hierarchical, rigid, and tightly controlled - An organization with low departmentalization, wide spans of control, centralized authority, and little formalization
An organization that is highly adaptive and flexible
What happens to the structure of a small company when employees are added? - The structure will become loose because there are more employees to do the work. - The company will have a simpler structure. - As the company becomes larger, it will become more specialized. - Departmentalization will decrease as highly skilled people perform a variety of work. - Levels of management will be eliminated to streamline the company.
As the company becomes larger, it will become more specialized.
Which of the following decruitment options involves reducing the workforce by simply not filling openings created by voluntary resignations or normal retirements? - Attrition - Transfers - Firing - Layoffs - Early retirements
Attrition
Which of the following is NOT a demographic trend predicted to occur in the future for the United States? - By 2050, Hispanics will grow from today's 13 percent of the workforce to 24 percent. - The 55-and-older age group in the workforce will increase. - By 2050 the number of Asians in the workforce will decrease from 11 percent of the workforce to 5 percent. - There will be four generations working side-by-side in the workplace. - The percentage of Gen Y members in the workforce will increase.
By 2050 the number of Asians in the workforce will decrease from 11 percent of the workforce to 5 percent.
Which of the following is true about labor unions? - Collective bargaining agreements usually define criteria for hiring, promotions, and layoffs. - In more industrialized countries the rate of unionization in private enterprise is increasing. - Labor unions primarily represent organizational interests. - In the United State there is a higher rate of unionization than there is in Japan. - In more industrialized countries, the rate of unionization in the public sector is decreasing.
Collective bargaining agreements usually define criteria for hiring, promotions, and layoffs.
Which of the following statements regarding conflict management is true? - The traditional view of conflict proposes that some conflict is absolutely necessary for a group to perform effectively. - The interactionist view of conflict argues that conflict must be avoided. - The traditional view of conflict argues that conflict is not always negative. - Conflict refers to perceived incompatible differences that lead to opposition. - The human relations view of conflict proposes that some conflict is absolutely necessary for a group to perform effectively.
Conflict refers to perceived incompatible differences that lead to opposition.
Jeff works as a litigation paralegal. He is an independent contractor and works for a law firm involved in a major lawsuit only for the duration of the lawsuit. When the lawsuit is over, he moves on to find another position, perhaps with another law firm or with the same firm on a different lawsuit. Which term best describes this arrangement? - Telecommuting - A compressed workweek - Job sharing - Contingent worker - Flextime
Contingent worker
Which of these statements best defines organizational design? - Dividing work activities into distinct job tasks - Allowing top managers to make decisions - Grouping common jobs together - Engaging in accomplishing long-term goals - Creating the structure of an organization
Creating the structure of an organization
Janyce is a member of a quality improvement group consisting of members of design engineering, manufacturing engineering, production, procurement, and quality control. This group is charged with the responsibility of continuously improving the quality of the company's products. Which term best describes this group? - Strategic partnership - Learning organization - Cross-functional team - Community of practice - Virtual organization
Cross-functional team
In sexual harassment suits, which question is most important for the court system to determine? - How long has the person filing the suit worked at the organization? - Did the immediate supervisor personally know the accuser and the accused? - Was the immediate supervisor aware of the intention to file a law suit? - Did the employer organization know about the alleged behavior? - What is the gender of the person filing the suit?
Did the employer organization know about the alleged behavior?
How does strategy affect a company's structure? - Strategy affects structure by creating formalization. - Strategy creates a more centralized decision-making process. - Strategy affects a company's structure by determining the span of control. - There is no relationship between a company's strategy and its structure. - Goals are an important part of a company's strategy, and the structure of the company should reflect its goals.
Goals are an important part of a company's strategy, and the structure of the company should reflect its goals.
Which statement regarding the stages of group development and effectiveness is most likely FALSE? - In some cases, groups in the storming stage outperforming those in the norming stage. - Groups can be in different stages at the same time. - Managers need to know what stage a group is in to prepare for problems that are likely to occur. - Group development moves sequentially from one stage to the next. - High levels of conflict are favorable to high levels of group performance under some conditions.
Group development moves sequentially from one stage to the next.
Which of the following statements about understanding social networks is true? - A social network structure is the patterns of formal connections among individuals within groups. - A group's informal social relationships usually hinder group effectiveness. - Research suggests that teams with a high degree of interpersonal interconnectedness are more effective. - Managers do not need to be concerned with social networks or the social relationships of work groups. - Research has shown that people tend to choose someone who is more capable over a friendly colleague when they need help with a task.
Research suggests that teams with a high degree of interpersonal interconnectedness are more effective.
Which of these statements about Woodward's study on the effect of technology on structure is FALSE? - The study covered companies with varying levels of technological complexity. - The research was divided into three categories: unit, mass, and process production. - Process production is the most technically complex category in the study. - The study found no link between technology and structure. - This study was the first to be done on technology's effect on structure.
The study found no link between technology and structure.
Which of the following statements about work teams is correct? - Work team members work on a specific, common goal. - Work teams are the same as work groups. - Studies indicate that individuals outperform teams when tasks require more than one skill. - In a work team, there is no need for members to engage in collective work that requires joint effort. - Work teams are infrequently used by organizations because they are less flexible than traditional departments.
Work team members work on a specific, common goal.
What are the six key elements in organizational design? - Chain of command, departmentalization, work specialization, organizational structure, centralization, and delegation - Work specialization, chain of command, departmentalization, line of authority, responsibility, and span of control - Work specialization, departmentalization, chain of command, span of control, centralization and decentralization, and formalization - Mechanistic organization, formalization, decentralization, authority, responsibility, and departmentalization - Delegation, organic structure, organizational chart, work specialization, span of control, and authority
Work specialization, departmentalization, chain of command, span of control, centralization and decentralization, and formalization
Recruitment efforts focus on ________. - reducing the workforce size - locating, identifying, and attracting skilled job candidates - locating, incentivizing, and rewarding capable candidates - defining the job description and evaluating the job pool - making recommendations to top management
locating, identifying, and attracting skilled job candidates
All of the following are contingency factors affecting an organization's structural choice EXCEPT ________. - technology - environmental uncertainty - market share - strategy - size
market share
A(n) ________ team is composed of individuals from the same department or functional area involved in efforts to improve work activities or solve specific issues. - cross-functional - self-managed work - problem-solving - virtual - informal
problem-solving
High-performance work practices include all of the following EXCEPT ________. - improving the abilities of employees - promoting employee involvement - increasing employee motivation - enhancing the retention of quality employees - quickly punishing incorrect or unethical behavior
quickly punishing incorrect or unethical behavior
Human resource planning is best defined as the process by which managers ensure they have the ________. - right number and types of people to meet current and future HR needs - long-term financial projections to determine recruitment needs - necessary budgeting figures to implement job training - most accurate marketing figures to ensure sales team planning - internal rate of return projections to support HR initiatives
right number and types of people to meet current and future HR needs
In regard to building team skills, ________. - team-building exercises help develop specific skills that are needed on teams - everyone will eventually learn to be a team player - managers should take the role of observers and stay out of the development of team skills - managers should realize that people have innate abilities to be effective team members - team-building exercises are ineffective
team-building exercises help develop specific skills that are needed on teams
All of the following are high-performance work practices EXCEPT ________. - the decruitment of competent employees - performance-based compensation - increasing employee access to information - self-managed teams - flexible job assignments
the decruitment of competent employees
Downsizing is defined as ________. - an assessment that defines jobs and the behaviors necessary to perform them - a pay system that rewards employees for the job skills they can demonstrate - the planned elimination of jobs in an organization - Organizational programs that enhance the status of members of protected groups - screening job applicants to ensure that the most appropriate candidates are hired
the planned elimination of jobs in an organization
Which component of the communication process is defined as the receiver retranslating the sender's message? - Encoding - Decoding - Channeling - Making noise - Providing feedback
decoding
A job analysis is a tool that has the primary role of ________. - helping locate job candidates - reducing a firm's workforce - assisting with gathering employee referrals - comparing similar jobs in terms of salary - defining the behaviors necessary to perform a job
defining the behaviors necessary to perform a job
For permanent work groups, the final stage of development is the ________ stage. - performing - storming - forming - norming - adjourning
performing
Managers should pay careful attention to the ________ within their teams because the patterns of informal connections among individuals within a group may impact team effectiveness and goal achievement. - group cohesiveness - social network structure - norms - social loafing - groupthink
social network structure
Martina's performance appraisal isn't based solely on her boss's opinion. Feedback is solicited from several of her coworkers, colleagues in other departments with whom she interacts on a regular basis, and even her subordinates. What performance appraisal method does Martina's company use? - MBO - BARS - Multiperson comparison - Critical incident - 360-degree appraisal
360-degree appraisal
Which of the following organizations would likely favor a mechanistic structure? -A financial services firm with 35 employees in a highly competitive industry - A mom-and-pop dog grooming business with 5 employees - A corporation with 2,500 employees that is in a relatively stable environment - A corporation with 2,000 employees in an industry where change is a constant and there is a high level of environmental uncertainty - A start-up software company with 16 employees
A corporation with 2,500 employees that is in a relatively stable environment
Which statement about valid and reliable selection devices is FALSE? - Managers must show a selection device is validly related to job performance. - A reliable selection device measures the same thing consistently over time. - Any single individual's score on a device may shift dramatically over time, but that is to be expected. - A proven relationship exists between the device and a relevant criterion. - Federal managers cannot use test scores for hiring purposes unless evidence indicates that once on the job, high-scoring individuals outperform low-scoring individuals.
Any single individual's score on a device may shift dramatically over time, but that is to be expected.
Which statement is true about variable pay systems? - They are not very popular in either the U.S. or Canada. - They reward employees for the job skills they can demonstrate. - An employee's tenure determines compensation. - An individual's compensation is linked to performance. - They tend to be more successful in manufacturing organizations than in service organizations
An individual's compensation is linked to performance.
The organizational structure of Dixon Industries consists of separate business units that each has limited autonomy. What type of structure is used by Dixon? - Cross-functional structure - Simple structure - Functional structure - Organic structure - Divisional structure
Divisional structure
What is the major goal of the first three activities of the HRM process? - Disciplining workers who don't follow organizational policies - Providing employees with up-to-date knowledge and skills - Informing workers of the organizational mission - Ensuring that the organization retains competent and high-performing employees - Ensuring that competent employees are identified and selected
Ensuring that competent employees are identified and selected
At Robins Manufacturing, there are separate departments for accounting, manufacturing, engineering, purchasing, human resources, and sales/marketing. Based on this information, what type of organizational structure does Robins Manufacturing most likely have? - Matrix structure - Functional structure - Network structure - Simple structure - Divisional structure
Functional structure
Which of the following statements about managing global teams is true? - The manager's role in global teams has little impact on team effectiveness. - Most managers will not have to manage a global team. - The group member resources of a global team are the same as those of a nonglobal team. - Using global teams always has a positive effect on the organization. - Many of today's organizations are global and require work to be done by teams.
Many of today's organizations are global and require work to be done by teams.
Which factor applies only to matrix organizations? - Matrix organization employees have two managers. - Matrix organizations are made up of teams. - Matrix organizations have a unity of command. - Matrix organizations are not limited by levels and hierarchies. - Matrix organizations are boundaryless.
Matrix organization employees have two managers.
Which of the following is a characteristic of a mechanistic organization? - Cross-functional teams - Highly adaptive - Loose structure - Narrow span of control - Free-flowing information
Narrow span of control
Which of the following statements is correct concerning the number of employees and a company's structure? - Small organizations are the least affected when more employees are added. - If a company has less than 1,500 employees, it can only be organic. - Once a company has about 2,000 employees, it is quite mechanistic and can no longer be organic. - Once a company has 500 employees it can no longer be organic. - There is no evidence that size affects a company's structure.
Once a company has about 2,000 employees, it is quite mechanistic and can no longer be organic.
Which activity within the HRM process involves retaining competent and high-performing employees? - Training - Performance management - Orientation - Human resource planning - Selection
Performance management
________ refers to how many workers a supervisor can effectively and efficiently supervise. - Formalization - Unity of command - Departmentalization - Span of control - Responsibility
Span of control
Which statement concerning sexual harassment is most likely FALSE? - Sexual harassment undermines workers' ability to perform tasks. - Sexual harassment costs firms in terms of absenteeism and turnover. - The majority of people filing sexual harassment suits are women. - The organizational monetary costs of sexual harassment are minimal. - Sexual harassment is a problem for firms both inside and outside of the United States.
The organizational monetary costs of sexual harassment are minimal.
What is the primary reason that women may, at some point, become the majority group in the workforce? - Women are less likely to unionize, so they are able to keep their jobs even during strikes. - Women are willing to work for less money, so companies are more eager to hire them. - Women have less interest in moving up the corporate ladder, so they are content to remain in the lower-level workforce. - Women tend to be employed in industries that are less sensitive to economic variations. - Women have less need for vacation time or sick leave, so they tend to work longer hours.
Women tend to be employed in industries that are less sensitive to economic variations.
Which of these statements about work specialization is FALSE? - Work specialization can lead to repetitiveness and boredom. - Work specialization helps workers to increase output. - Work specializations allows for a more efficient use of resources. - Work specialization requires employees to work above their skill level to meet outputs. - Work specialization requires highly developed skills as well as lower skill levels.
Work specialization requires employees to work above their skill level to meet outputs
A performance management system most likely ________. - provides a forum for employees to discuss current events and their impact on the company's business - allows employees to publish one-way messages to managers with suggestions for improving the evaluation process - helps employees to state their dissatisfaction with managerial processes and regulations - establishes performance standards used to evaluate employee performance - encourages employees to publicize their accomplishments
establishes performance standards used to evaluate employee performance
Organizational compensation and benefits packages most likely include all of the following EXCEPT ________. - options for healthcare coverage - salary add-ons - exclusion from federally mandated training programs - base wages and salaries - incentive payments
exclusion from federally mandated training programs
The ________ stage of group development involves people joining the group and then defining the group's purpose, structure, and leadership. - norming - performing - adjourning - storming - forming
forming
A company's work unit orientation program would most likely familiarize an employee with the ________. - goals of the work unit - previous problems involving former employees in the work unit - upper management and board of directors of the corporation - company's economic environment - financial projections for the work unit and budget for new projects
goals of the work unit
All of the following are major components that determine group performance and satisfaction, EXCEPT ________. - external conditions - group structure - group member resources - group location - group tasks
group location
On Tuesday mornings before work, Cecelia and a few of her colleagues meet in the company conference room for bible study. This is an example of a(n) ________. - formal group - cross-functional team - self-managed team - informal group - command group
informal group
The communication process is susceptible to noise, which ________. - can only be created by the sender - facilitates decoding - is limited to sounds only - improves the transmission of the message - interferes with understanding
interferes with understanding
Communication includes both ________ communication between two or more people and ________ communication, which involves systems of communication in a company. - primary; secondary - formal; informal - organizational; nonpersonal - traditional; modern - interpersonal; organizational
interpersonal; organizational
A mechanistic organization is an organizational design that ________. - allows for a low level of departmentalization - is rigid and tightly controlled - has a simple structure - is adaptive - empowers employees with more authority
is rigid and tightly controlled
A ________ is a written statement describing job content, environment, and conditions of employment. - performance appraisal - job specification - job analysis - job description - position assessment
job description
According to the text, communication is ________. - agreement with the message being conveyed - always used and interpreted by men and women in the same way - the transfer and understanding of meaning - utilized by managers only a fraction of the time - helpful, but not necessary for effective managers to learn
the transfer and understanding of meaning
Fast food chains dividing work activities into separate job tasks, such as cooking burgers, drive-thru order-taking, and cashiering dine-in orders, is a great example of ________. - departmentalization - the chain of command - centralization - work specialization - formalization
work specialization
