If a team is paid based on meeting its production goals, and each member of the team
must contribute a minimal percentage toward that goal to share in the team award, then
the pay-for-performance system is:
A) promoting increased employee involvement in corporate growth.
B) promoting the belief that performance makes a difference.
C) using other HRM programs at the same time.
D) using multiple layers of rewards.
The first step in conducting a critical incident job analysis is to:
A) interview the incumbents.
B) generate the dimensions to be examined.
C) generate a list of critical incidents.
D) examine the methods used to perform the work.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is responsible for
which of the following?
A) Enforcing safety regulations throughout the United States
B) Creating new health and safety standards
C) Developing state workers’ compensation programs
D) Performing safety inspections of businesses
Management at Carson Enterprises decides employees are taking breaks that are too
long and limits all employees to 10 minutes a day. Labor files a grievance over this
decision. This is a(n) ________ grievance.
A) unfair management practice
B) employee discipline
C) contract interpretation
D) economic
Theresa Gomez has brought discrimination charges against Paper Makers, Inc. and has
established a prima facie case based on the four-fifths rule. What most likely happens
next?
A) Theresa must contact the EEOC for a right-to-sue letter.
B) Paper Makers, Inc. must now prove that the discrimination did not occur.
C) Theresa must prove that she is qualified for the position and was discriminated
against simply because of her gender.
D) Paper Makers, Inc. must prove that it has been meeting the four-fifths rule for all
other protected groups.
You are reviewing various ways to deliver EEO law training to about 400 managers.
Managers need exposure to the material, and consistency of delivery is your key
concern. Your best choice is the use of ________ for delivery.
A) slides
B) lecture
C) role play
D) a simulation
Tom is the HR manager of a publishing company. The firm needs to hire several new
employees, and Tom’s assistant suggests that the new employees be telecommuters.
Tom likes the idea but is not sure about the best way to manage telecommuters. Which
of the following is the best suggestion for Tom?
A) Telecommuters need flexible deadlines to meet their varied schedules and other
commitments.
B) The contract for the telecommuters should include performance expectations with
measurable results.
C) The company should make no requirements to telecommuters about how often they
must come to the office.
D) Select telecommuters who are creative and introverted since they will not likely
interact with the rest of the staff.
One of your managers returns from a management seminar eager to use a relative
judgment system for performance appraisals. He asks you for your opinion about the
value of such systems. It would be most accurate for you to state that relative judgment
systems:
A) require supervisors to differentiate between employees.
B) minimize employee conflict regarding performance assessment.
C) clarify performance differences between similarly ranked employees.
D) force managerial judgments based exclusively on performance standards.
Steve, an HR supervisor at APEX construction, has recently noticed a shortage of
skilled workers due to a building boom in the area. He must find new workers quickly
because it is uncertain how long the boom will last. He decides to hire nontraditional
laborers. The most likely disadvantage of using nontraditional laborers is the:
A) high costs of making reasonable accommodations.
B) additional training that will be necessary.
C) extensive involvement of the EEOC.
D) high advertising costs.
You have a number of new hires that need to learn about the company benefit plan.
They are spread throughout six offices in different states across the country. Employees
typically ask a number of questions about benefits regardless of the clarity of
explanations by trainers. The best presentation option in this situation would be:
A) videotape.
B) teletraining.
C) computer-based training.
D) classroom-based training.
The U.S. labor relations system is most similar to the:
A) Swedish labor relations system.
B) U.S. court system.
C) British parliamentary system.
D) German economic system.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of U.S. labor relations?
A) Labor contracts
B) Business unionism
C) Collective bargaining focus
D) Unions structured by region
A job requires rotating shift work. Which is an acceptable question for evaluating an
applicant’s ability to perform that shift work?
A) You understand that this job requires a rotating shift, don’t you?
B) What childcare provisions have you made in order to be available for this rotating
shift?
C) Does your faith keep you from working weekends?
D) Are there any physical limitations that would make it difficult for you to work a
rotating shift?
Additional Case 2.1
Benson Manufacturing is a young, small firm that makes computer components and
peripherals for assemblers like Dell and Gateway. Benson’s market share is highly
volatile based on the entrance and exit of competitors into the market. Benson buys raw
materials from several suppliers who also supply competitors. The firm has two layers
of management between the CEO and the component maker on the line.
The firm’s CEO read a book about innovation and organizational change and now wants
to look at what HR should do about reorganizing and changing staffing practices. The
CEO wants to reduce costs in order to increase profit margins because he believes that
margins will continue to shrink.
While productivity and quality are largely functions of the machines used in the
process, the CEO still wants to focus on motivating Benson employees. He wants to
motivate them by increasing wages through a bonus program, improving working
conditions, and providing job security.
Refer to Additional Case 2.1. Given the market demand for computer components, the
best flexible work design to use would be:
A) part-time workers.
B) telecommuters.
C) condensed workweeks.
D) temporary workers.
Sami is on Patents, Inc.’s selection board, which has been assigned to choose an
expatriate for an international subsidiary in Negril. She should most likely suggest that:
A) technical ability serves as the most important qualifying criterion.
B) the company screen applicants but not their families.
C) the board chooses someone who has had previous international experience.
D) the company not choose a foreign-born employee to serve as an expatriate.
Which of the following would be the best way to market yourself?
A) Attending seminars
B) Studying business issues
C) Facing conflicts at work
D) Requesting an executive mentor
Which of the following is the most popular employee service?
A) On-site health services
B) Education subsidies
C) Emergency loans
D) Childcare
Which of the following countries has the most significant shoplifting and employee
theft problems?
A) Germany
B) Taiwan
C) India
D) U.S.
Additional Case 9.2
Martin, the director of HR at Austin Designs, is meeting with the career development
team. The firm’s CEO has decided that the company needs to invest the time and effort
into improving the direction and development phases of the current career development
program; however, development funds are limited. The CEO and most of the executive
management team are self-made professionals who believe strongly in individual
responsibility. The organizational structure of Austin Designs is very flat. The company
has a wide variety of jobs but few levels of high responsibility. Feedback from
employees suggests that they don’t know when promotional opportunities are available.
Refer to Additional Case 9.2. Which of the following best supports the idea of
generating broad career paths for employees at Austin Designs?
A) The firm employs many young workers who have expressed an interest in job
variety.
B) Managers report that employees lack communication skills necessary for promotion.
C) Employees at the firm require additional training for advanced technical skills.
D) The majority of employees at the firm are nearing retirement age.
Additional Case 13.1
The HR department at Devlin Enterprises has a variety of communication tasks it has
been assigned to handle. First, Isabelle, the HR benefits specialist, needs to
communicate recent benefits policy changes to all employees at Devlin. Second,
Randall, an operations manager, wants to provide feedback to his subordinates about
their performance in his TQM program. Randall also wants to let other managers and
employees at Devlin know how well his TQM teams are performing each day. Finally,
David, a customer service manager, requests low-cost training for some of his customer
service representatives who work from off-site telemarketing centers.
Refer to Additional Case 13.1. Executives at Devlin have expressed an interest in
publishing a monthly newsletter. Which of the following would best support this
decision?
A) Devlin lacks a sense of community spirit.
B) The value of Devlin stock has plummeted recently.
C) Comparisons with Devlin’s competitors foster productivity.
D) Devlin employees have complained of information overload.
Company-maintained records of employees’ abilities, skills, knowledge, and education
are:
A) career paths.
B) job-posting systems.
C) assessment systems.
D) skills inventories.