Fundamentals of Human Resource Management, 4e (Dessler)
Chapter 8 Performance and Talent Management
1) The process of evaluating an employee’s current and/or past performance relative to his or her
performance standards is called ________.
A) recruitment
B) employee selection
C) performance appraisal
D) organizational development
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
2) Which of the following is NOT one of the recommended guidelines for setting effective
employee goals?
A) assigning specific goals
B) assigning measurable goals
C) administering consequences for poor performance
D) encouraging employees to participate in setting goals
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
3) SMART goals are best described as ________.
A) specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely
B) strategic, moderate, achievable, relevant, and timely
C) specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and tested
D) straightforward, meaningful, accessible, real, and tested
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
1
4) All of the following are reasons for appraising an employee’s performance EXCEPT
________.
A) assisting with career planning
B) making decisions about promotions
C) creating an organizational strategy map
D) determining appropriate salary and bonuses
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
5) In most organizations, which of the following is primarily responsible for appraising an
employee’s performance?
A) employee’s direct supervisor
B) human resources manager
C) EEO representative
D) employee’s peers
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
6) Which of the following is LEAST likely to be used by firms as an alternative source of
performance appraisal information?
A) peers
B) rating committees
C) the employee
D) outside experts
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
2
7) Peer appraisals have been shown to result in a ________.
A) reduction of social loafing
B) reduction of group cohesion
C) decrease in satisfaction with the group
D) tendency to inaccurately predict promotions
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
8) At Dixon Consulting, employees are allowed to rate themselves for performance appraisals.
Which of the following is the most likely result?
A) Interrater reliability is higher.
B) Appraisals are subject to halo effects.
C) Ratings are higher than when supervisors give ratings.
D) Ratings are about the same as when determined by peers.
AACSB: Application of knowledge
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Application
3
9) At M&M Enterprises, subordinates rate supervisor performances anonymously. Which of the
following refers to the process used at M&M?
A) downward feedback
B) upward feedback
C) paired evaluation
D) peer evaluation
AACSB: Application of knowledge
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Application
10) Upward feedback primarily helps top-level managers to ________.
A) implement organizational strategies
B) compare appraisal techniques
C) diagnose management styles
D) document critical incidents
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
11) When subordinates provide feedback for supervisors, the comments should be anonymous
because identifiable responses tend to result in a higher incidence of ________.
A) critical responses
B) negative attitudes
C) inflated ratings
D) contradictory statements
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
4
12) Which of the following terms refers to a performance appraisal based on surveys from peers,
supervisors, subordinates, and customers?
A) committee rating
B) team appraisal
C) upward feedback
D) 360-degree feedback
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
13) Which of the following is LEAST likely to occur during performance appraisal?
A) setting work standards
B) providing employee feedback
C) initiating job enlargement procedures
D) comparing employee performance to standards
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
5
14) Setting work standards, assessing an employee’s performance against those standards, and
providing employee feedback are the three steps of the ________.
A) orientation process
B) development analysis
C) ratio analysis method
D) performance appraisal cycle
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
15) In order to be the most effective, the performance management process should occur
________.
A) occasionally
B) continuously
C) periodically
D) annually
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
6
16) Laurie received a performance appraisal from her immediate supervisor and three other
supervisors at MJX Enterprises. Which of the following performance appraisal methods is most
likely used by MJX Enterprises?
A) rating committee
B) peer appraisal
C) 360-degree feedback
D) self-rating
AACSB: Application of knowledge
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Application
17) Which term refers to the continuous process of identifying, measuring, and developing the
performance of individuals and teams and aligning their performance with the organization’s
goals?
A) organizational development
B) performance management
C) strategic management
D) performance appraisal
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
7
18) According to the text, Ball Corporation improved production by ________.
A) assigning work teams daily performance goals
B) giving applicants valid selection tests
C) encouraging employee referrals
D) using online training programs
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
19) What is a benefit of using rating committees for performance appraisals?
A) improve managerial performance
B) rank employees on a scale
C) minimize rater bias
D) align assessments
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
20) Crowd-sourcing recognition and appraisal software tools enable employers to gather
comments from ________ for employee performance appraisals.
A) supervisors
B) co-workers
C) suppliers
D) customers
AACSB: Application of knowledge
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
8
21) In order to ensure that performance goals are challenging and relevant, Matthew, a marketing
manager, should independently set goals for his subordinates because participatively set goals
usually produce lower job performance.
AACSB: Reflective thinking
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Application
22) 360-degree feedback is usually used for developmental purposes rather than pay purposes.
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
23) Studies suggest that managers who receive upward feedback from identified subordinates
view the upward appraisal process more negatively than do managers who receive anonymous
upward feedback.
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Concept
9
24) What is the purpose of performance appraisals? Who do you think should conduct
performance appraisals? Why?
AACSB: Application of knowledge
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Synthesis
25) What are the advantages and disadvantages of using upward feedback?
AACSB: Application of knowledge
Chapter: 8
LO: 8.1: Explain the purpose of performance appraisal.
Skill: Application
10